inspections,  talk  to  galley  personnel  about  the operation  of  the  coppers.  These  personnel  can  give you  information  that  will  assist  you  in  diagnosing possible operational or maintenance problems. A few factors  for  inspecting  direct-steam  coppers  (fig.  5-1) are as follows: inspection and maintenance of coppers are provided in table P of appendix II. STEAM CHESTS MONTHLY  inspection: Check the faucets, valves, and piping for leaks. Check   the   steam   pressure-reducing   valve   to ensure  it  is  in  good  condition  and  functions properly. Lubricate the hinges of the cover with mineral oil. Steam  chests  are  used  to  cook  food  through  a steaming  process.  The  escape  of  steam  from  a  steam chest harms the food being prepared and also poses a safety   hazard   to   personnel.   To   ensure   steam-tight operation, ensure the door latches, hinges, and gaskets are  kept  close  fitting.  A  physical  preventive maintenance  inspection  of  the  steam  chests  (fig.  5-2) should be made each week. ANNUAL  inspection: The  weekly  inspection  should  ensure  the following: Check the copper for leaks, cracks, and dents. Examine the cover, hinges, and latch for warp and alignment. The compartment drains are free of obstructions. The  door  hinges,  locking  devices,  and  shelf drawbars work well. Check the steam and condensate piping, valves, and traps for leaks and obstructions. The  pressure  setting  of  the  gauge  pressure  is correct. Remove the safety valves and remove any rust and  corrosion  using  Navy-approved  solvents. Then, lubricate and calibrate the valves before replacing them. Other   than   visual   inspections,   each   individual piece  of  galley  equipment  requires  its  own  type  of When  a  plunger  type  of  valve  is  used  with  the locking  device,  the  plunger  must  be  adjusted  so  the valve is fully depressed when the door is closed. This action  allows  a  full  measure  of  steam  to  enter  the compartment.  When  the  door  is  opened,  the  valve must function to stop the steam supply completely. To ensure a tight fit of the doors, replace hinge pins and bushings  when  they  show  too  much  wear.  Some full-floating   doors   are   adjustable   by   means   of hexagon-head  bolts  extending  through  the  door  near each corner. When door gaskets must be replaced, you must remove the door from the unit because this makes it  easier  to  remove  the  worn  gasket  and  to  clean  the channel. Failure to complete these actions can provide a  path  for  steam  leakage.  Apply  gasket  cement,  and then  force  the  new  gasket  into  the  channel  at  the corners, working it in toward the center of the sides and ends.  You  are  now  ready  to  hang  the  door;  but  first, place  paper  along  the  edge  of  the  door  opening  to prevent  excess  cement  from  adhering  to  the  mating surfaces when the door is closed. Any surplus cement can be cleaned off after it has hardened. When the door has hexagon-head bolts, adjust them so the closed door touches  the  steamer  evenly  without  binding  at  the corners. Unless you have a good fit, the gasket will cut by the corners of the door and steam will escape. For inspection  and  preventive  maintenance  of  the  steam service  and  condensate  system,  include  those  items that apply in table P of appendix II. preventive maintenance. Recommended schedules for Figure 5-1.—A pedestal and a trunnion or tilt type of direct-steam  coppers. 5-2