Repository: UIHistories Project: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1918 [PAGE 188]

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184

BOARD OF TRUSTEES

[December 14,

sity of Illinois, through its Engineering Experiment Station, and the committee on Locomotive Feed-water Heating of the International Railway Fuel Association; also between the University of Illinois and the American Arch Company. November 24, 1916 President Edmund J. James, University of Illinois

M Y DEAR PRESIDENT J A M E S :

Progress in perfecting locomotive design has led to the introduction of a so-called brick arch over a portion of the fire in the firebox. The effect of this arch is to increase the temperature of the fire, to elongate the flame-way, and by so doing to improve combustion and reduce the production of smoke. Other effects incidental to these have an important bearing upon the problem of locomotive maintenance and efficiency. Many locomotives are operated without arches, and it happens that reliable data concerning the precise extent of the effects produced by the introduction of an arch are extremely limited. Problems affecting the design of the arch itself are numerous. With these facts in mind, the American Arch Company, 30 Church Street, New York City, as represented by Mr. John P. Neff, Vice President, after conference with Professor Edward C. Schmidt, has formally agreed to cooperate with the Engineering Experiment Station in the development of data concerning the behavior of certain designs of fire-box arches, all under the following conditions: 1. By an arrangement with the International Railway Fuel Association and with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, the proposed tests can be made upon the locomotive of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which is now in our laboratory for work which is being undertaken in conjunction with that Association. 2. The extent of the tests will be determined by Professor Edward C. Schmidt in consultation with Mr. John P. Neff. 3. All results secured from such an investigation will be the property of the Engineering Experiment Station. They may be published as Station bulletins, or otherwise, as may be determined by the Director. T h e results also will at all times be open to the inspection and use of the representatives of the American Arch Company. 4 The University will contribute the use of its plant and such survice of its expert staff as may be necessary to the supervision of the work and the summarization of data. 5. The American Arch Company will perfect arrangements involving the continued use of the locomotive for the proposed work, will supply funds which may be used for the purchase of fuel and all other supplies, will equip the locomotive with the devices to be tested, and will provide the services of such men as are necessary to operate the locomotive and laboratory, take readings, and work up the results. T h e American Arch Company also will protect the Station in all matters of cost by making deposits in advance of actual expenditures. Agreement to this arrangement is confirmed by correspondence which