[Steam-engine] Firebox door (rookie question #999,999)

[Andy glines]

Jeff and James, thanks for the input.  I kind of
suspected that it had someting to do with cooling but
wasn't sure.  I've see openings on other boilers and
even coal/wood stoves and could never understand their
function.  Even SIAM's little vertical boiler has a
damper in the door.  Seems like it would be
counterproductive to ever open it almost the same
effect as opening the door all of the time..  Guess
that I worry to much.
--- James Hansen <jhsg at sasktel.net> wrote:
> The plate behind catches most of the heat from the
> fire, the vent keeps the
> door from getting so hot from the cooling effect of
> the air entering
> betweent he layers and cooling the door.
> In theory, you want a damper- because you should be
> able to shut the fire
> off when all the dampers are closed.  This hole
> would let oxygen in to keep
> the fire going.  Not ideal, but then again it keeps
> you from getting burned
> on the door...
> -James
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From:
> steam-engine-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com
>
[mailto:steam-engine-bounces at lists.stationary-engine.com]On
> Behalf Of Andy
> glines
> Sent: Monday, April 25, 2005 1:15 PM
> To: Steam
> Subject: [Steam-engine] Firebox door (rookie
> question #999,999)
> 
> 
> We have talked about keeping the door closed when we
> are running our engines because this lets air come
> over the top of the fire instead of coming up
> throught
> the grates where it will aid combustion.  Closing
> the
> door along with the damper allows you to choke the
> fire down.  Sarturday I visited Francis Lindauer in
> Ferdinand, IN to borrow the door from his 16 HP
> Huber
> to use as a pattern to have a new one made for my
> engine.  I had noticed the hole in the door before
> but
> never thought much of it.  Paul Pavlinovich has a
> good
> pic here:
>
http://www.steamengine.com.au/events/reports/old_threshers_2001/pics/DSC0109
> 8-huber-firebox-door.jpg
>  As you can see there is a baffle behing the hole
> but
> there is a hole in the bottom of it about the same
> size.  What is the purpose of this hole?  Should it
> have some type of damper to close it off?
> 
> Andy Glines
> Evansville, IN
> 


Andy Glines
Evansville, IN

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