“There is an Engineering Reason” dates to 1945 and was produced by the Yarnall-Waring Co. of Philadelphia, and narrated by Lowell Thomas.
The film explains how steam is used in utilities, industrial processing, and buildings, and then details various Yarway products like the “seatless blow-off valve,” boiler water level indicators, expansion joints, and impulse steam traps, highlighting their design, function, and widespread applications across industries and even marine use. It also briefly covers Yarway’s manufacturing and research processes.
0:00 Steam power’s history from James Watt and its modern economic importance. 0:52 Steam powers major utilities like Philadelphia Electric’s Richmond station, energizing cities. 1:18 In processing, steam provides essential heat for industries like petroleum, textiles, and food. 1:55 Steam also provides comfort in buildings, functioning as power and heat, thanks to engineers.
2:41 Modern steam systems rely on auxiliaries; Arnold Waring Co. developed superior steam devices over 40 years. 3:18 Their products are “big little things” in steam engineering, resulting from extensive research and ingenuity. 4:30 Waring’s “seatless blow-off valve” was their first product, adopted by over 12,000 plants, preventing common valve issues. 5:22 A cutaway of the “seatless” tandem valve’s design. 6:07 Nitralloy plungers and special packing rings ensure durability and a perfect, drop-tight seal. 7:35 For higher pressures the “unit tandem” valve, combining seatless and hard seat designs. 8:01 The hard seat valve blows, while the seatless valve seals, preventing full blow force. 8:31 Stellite-faced components ideal for high-pressure plants. 9:06 Common in high-pressure power networks like Philadelphia Electric’s School station. 9:22 Boiler water level indicators 9:47 High-low alarm water column provides a foolproof warning system using a displacement principle. 10:06 Alarms trigger when water levels drop or rise, due to weights no longer submerged. 10:36 Water columns widely used for constant monitoring. 11:08 Remote water level indicator for accurate panel readings 12:57 Metropolitan Edison’s Gilbert Station remote display of boiler water levels. 13:17 The “gun-packed expansion joint” eliminates costly repacking, allowing additions under full steam pressure. 13:47 Plastic packing is forced into the stuffing box by pressure guns for even distribution. 14:13 These joints operate continuously for up to 8 years without repacking, as seen at New York Hospital 14:42 Gland-packed expansion joints 14:55 The “impulse steam trap,” a small, simple design, efficiently removes condensate. 15:18 Impulse trap opens for heavy condensate loads, then discharges intermittently, keeping lines clear and hot. 16:24 Over 350,000 impulse traps are used in industries. 17:09 Traps are used on equipment like inner tube vulcanizers at Lee Tire and Rubber Co. 17:41 They are essential in canneries, heating large volumes of tomato juice efficiently. 18:30 Impulse traps are found in paper mills, keeping steam headers clear and drier rolls hot. 19:31 At Continental Mills, impulse traps are used in textiles. 20:33 The impulse trap in petroleum refining. 20:56 They keep meter boxes and piping free from condensate and oil lines warm in freezing temperatures. 21:47 Yarway traps are also suitable for marine use, speeding up crude oil discharge from tankers. 22:40 For higher pressures/temperatures, Yarway offers the “integral strainer trap” with durable forged steel and Stellite facing. 23:24 These traps are used at Baltimore’s Consolidated Gas Electric Light and Power Company’s Westport station for high-pressure steam lines. 24:29 The film showcases Yarway’s manufacturing at their plant, starting with the unique steam laboratory. 24:54 The laboratory performs accelerated tests; a remote liquid level indicator ran for 50 years’ equivalent. 25:25 An improved gun-packed expansion joint is undergoing continuous performance monitoring. 26:02 The laboratory develops new designs, materials, and tests impulse steam traps, developed in-house. 26:42 Visual flow studies use glass tubes, and the laboratory ensures material quality control. 27:17 Steam trap machining and assembly department features automated production, making traps cost-effective. 27:54 Marine-type integral strainer traps are assembled, valued by engineers for trouble-free service.
This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
