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CAMA Gets a Corliss Steam Engine
Part 5: Preparing the footing/foundation for engine installation

In November, 2007, we began installing our Nagle-Corliss steam engine in the Industrial Hall.  The first priority is to provide a firm footing for this very heavy engine.  This involves digging a 8 foot deep hole and setting forms to pour a reinforced concrete footing. On top of this is then poured a heavily reinforced concrete base with strong "T" bolts to mount and immobilize the engine frame.  The footing and foundation are poured using reinforced concrete and the engine is prepared to be moved into position.
Industrial Hall location    
   Excavator
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The location for the Nagle is laid out in the Industrial Hall
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A small excavator is used to dig the hole for the footing/foundation

 Excavated hole 
  Foundation forms
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The hole for the footing is dug lower than the footing for the Industrial Hall
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Here, the footing has already been poured with re-bar to tie into the foundation. The foundation forms are being assembled in this photo.
T bolts 
   T bolts in position
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These hold-down "T" bolts are about 4 feet long. The plastic tubes around each one are used to allow fine-tuning of the bolt to align with the engine frame.
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The "T" bolts in their tubes are suspended at the proper locations to line up with the bolt locations in the engine frame.  Once the frame is set in place, the tubes around each  hold-down bolt will be filled with cement grout to immobilize the bolt.  The foundation is then poured.
fresh pour
Foundation
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The concrete has been freshly poured.
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The base of the engine foundation is complete. The new forms shown here will make up the final pour for concrete pedestals to mount the engine.


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This page was created on 7/29/08 by Jim Anderson