Boekel Scientific 25515016 Cement Autoclave - Manual (Page 6)

Carefully place the gasket in the groove. Use a fresh gasket for each run.
3) Place the specimen holder with specimens in the cylinder. The specimen holder rests
on the ledge near the bottom of the cylinder.
4) Inspect the seal ring of the cylinder head and remove all gasket material adhering to
it. Place the cylinder head loosely on the gasket with the bolt holes matching. The
cylinder head should be set in such a way that the thermometer well and safety valve
are in the position most convenient for the operator.
IMPORTANT: OUTLET PORT OF SAFETY VALVE SHOULD BE POSITIONED
AWAY FROM THE OPERATOR.
The clearance between the top spider of the short-bar specimen holder and the
bottom the cylinder head is usually less that the corresponding clearance for the
holder designed for the eight longer bars. Therefore, the short-bar specimen holder
must be placed in the cylinder so that the thermometer well in the bottom of the
cylinder head will protrude into one of the holes provided in the top spider of the
holder.
5) Insert the sixteen alloy steel 1/2 inch hex head bolts (cap screws) after applying
graphite to their threads. The T-handle socket wrench provided with the autoclave
should be used to tighten the bolts gradually, uniformly and systematically, according
to the diagram in Figure 3 and the following directions:
First tighten the bolts in opposite pairs in the sequence, 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., indicated in
Figure 3, so that each bolt exerts only a slight pressure on the cylinder hear. Repeat
the gradual tightening of the bolts at least two more times, following the same
numerical order. Tighten the bolts progressively around the bolt circle. Repeat this
tightening sequence two or three times until all the bolts are bearing firmly and
uniformly against the cylinder head. It is recommended to tighten bolts to a torque
value of 90 IN/LB.
6) Move the draft lever to the “closed” position, at the extreme right. This reduces the
draft through the autoclave to the small amount desired for uniform temperature
control. The damper should be left closed until the beginning of the cooling period, as
described on the following pages.
7) Place the large insulated cover on top of the autoclave.
8) Check to see if the vent valve is open to vent the air freely during the early part of the
heating period.
9) Place the thermometer in the well provided in the cylinder head.
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