Fusible plug for preventing boiler explosions
- Made:
- 1862 in Greater Manchester
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Fusible plug for preventing boiler explosions
Fusible plugs have long been used as an additional safety appliance to steam boilers. The plug comprises a threaded metal cylinder, with a tapered hole drilled through its length filled with metal which melts at a pre-determined temperature. If the boiler's water level falls too low, potentially causing an explosion, the plug is exposed to the boiler's very high internal temperature and the fusible metal melts, venting steam into the firebox at pressure and alerting the operator to the potential danger.
