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ABOVE:
Alot of overhead steel and iron debris had to be removed to clear the
engine for removal. This large I-beam was directly over the
engine. The beam was cut and let down to the floor using cables
and pulleys.
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ABOVE:
This pile of electrical conduit, wood and iron was just some of the
overhead clutter removed. The I-beam at the 3 o'clock position in this
photo is the same one pictured in the photo to the left.
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ABOVE:
All
the debris
in the flywheel pit had to be dug out by hand to reach a solid floor on
which to build a cribbing pile. In this photo, much less than half of
the coal ash
and other junk has yet to been removed from the pit.
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ABOVE:
In
order to free the engine frame from its concrete and grout foundation,
the weight of the flywheel and crankshaft had to be lifted off the
frame. In order to lift the flywheel, cribbing had to be built up under
it. This cribbing had to be on firm footing to hold the weight of the
flywheel/crank assembly. In this photo, not all the debris is yet
removed. |
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ABOVE:
This
photo shows some of the small parts (connecting rods, main bearing cap,
etc) that have been removed from the engine.
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ABOVE:
The
bolts holding the flywheel halves together had to be loosened. The
bolts on this side were particularly stubborn since they were buried
under the coal ash in the pit. The flywheel had to be turned using a
come-along until the halves of the flywheel were at top and bottom.
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ABOVE:
A view of the inboard main bearing assembly after removal of the
bearing cap.
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ABOVE:
A view of the engine as prep work procedes.
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ABOVE:
Back down
in the pit, water has begun to seep in but the concrete floor of the
pit has been reached.
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ABOVE:
Now, with
a firm footing for the cribbing, a pile is built, centered under the
flywheel. To lift the flywheel, a 30 ton capacity airbag is used.
The airbag is placed between the cribbing and the flywheel and inflated
with compressed air. This lifts the flywheel about two inches, enough
to insert wedges. The airbag is then deflated and the flywheel/crank
assembly now rests on the cribbing pile, free of the engine frame.
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ABOVE:
Another
view of the inboard main bearing with the crankshaft now lifted clear
of the engine frame. All grout surrounding the engine frame is
now jackhammered free to expose the base of the engine frame.
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ABOVE:
Now, using
a combination of mechanical and hydraulic jacks, the engine frame can
be broken loose of the remaining grout and lifted free of the
foundation. With the grout removed, the bolts that held down the engine
frame can be torched.
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ABOVE:
A good
view of the engine frame sitting on wood blocking and free of the
foundation.
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ABOVE:
It was a
dirty job, but with Ray's careful planning and the hard work of
dedicated volunteers, the engine is now ready to be lifted out of the
building. All of the work described on this page was carried out
in three weekends!
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