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Member postings for Stephen Lawson

Here is a list of all the postings Stephen Lawson has made in our forums. Click on a thread name to jump to the thread.

Thread: Vertical steam driven boiler feed pump
13/01/2012 22:33:53
Thanks for you contribution Brian,
The pump remains a problem on steam but fine on air.
It is part of a display illustrating a marine boiler and five stationary engines but I doubt I will ever run it on steam again.
Thread: GWR Small Prairie 5inch model
23/12/2011 10:21:02
For info - John has sent me a copy of article printed in ME dated February 1962. By Martin Evans, the article describes the construction of 5" Firefly in great detail including working drawings.
After mentioning my difficulty to a neighbour, also named John, he came up with a book "Manual of Model Steam Locomotive Construction" by Martin Evans.
My cup runneth over !
 
Many thanks John & John
22/12/2011 23:51:33
Figured it out -"eventually"
22/12/2011 23:36:00
Please excuse my ignorance John - PM?
22/12/2011 17:02:26
Many thanks for your reply John. Yes, we think it is Firefly to the Martin Evan's design. Personally, I am not familiar with "simple internal screw-down" regulator. If anyone is able to supply further info or a reference to location of info I would be very grateful. Drawings would be great but expensive to purchase.
We have not tried to steam the engine yet, just trying to sort out the obvious problems first. However John, on your recomendation, it would appear the thing to do. Watch this space !
 
Thanks again
 
Steve
22/12/2011 13:59:13
The Liskeard Model Society have taken on the task of refurbishing a 5 inch gauge GWR 45 class (Small Prairie). Several problems have been solved but one which we are would like some advice on concerns the regulator. It appears to be seized. There is no steam dome as such but the regulator looks to be fitted in the smoke box. Are we right ? How should we go about accessing it ? Is it necessary to remove the superheaters ? Any communication would be appreciated. Regards Steve Lawson
Thread: Vertical steam driven boiler feed pump
20/03/2011 16:31:37
Progressing with investigation.
Having removed steam valve chest and shuttle chest from the cylinder, I re assembled them temorarily of the cylinder and applied air to the steam inlet.
By operating the valve rod by hand, I was able to observe the shuttle move up and down correctly.
19/03/2011 11:56:29
Hi Andy,
 
I think you are right about the shuttle.
 
Would I be right in thinking then that the shuttle is designed to work "opposite" the first slide valve to apply steam to the correct end of the piston as the slide valve alone would be at the wrong end ?
 
Hope that makes sense.
 
Steve
19/03/2011 10:42:16
Many thanks Ian,
That' s another very valid point that needs to be checked.
 
Steve
19/03/2011 10:14:41
Thanks again Dick and thanks also to MGJ
 
I agree temperature has got to be the main suspect cause of the problem.
 
As a means of progressing my investigation, I intend detaching both valve chests from the pump, bolting them together, applying (A) air and (B) steam to check the operation of the slide vavles by moving the valve rod by hand. Does this sound feasible ?
 
I will keep you posted.
 
Steve
15/03/2011 12:15:30
Many thanks for you reply Dick.
I think several points you raise may be discounted but I am no expert by an means.
 
As part of my attempts to diagnose the problem, when running the pump on air, I half filled the boiler and pressurized it with air to 60 PSI. The pump was able to inject water into the boiler as seen on the water level guage.
 
On steam, the pump piston was hard at one extreme and required considerable manual force to move it off the stop. On release, the piston jumped back to the same position it had been forced from.
 
The steam passages in the valve chest appear quite complex and difficult to follow. There are two slide valves, one on top of the other. The first and nearest the steam inlet is operated by the valve rod seen in the photographs. The other side of this port face and between it and the cylinder is another slide valve which can only be operated by movement of the first. The port face of this second valve is on the side of the cylinder. If only I could ascertain how it is designed to operate, I might then be able to understand the prblem.
 
The fault symptoms do not alter if one or both the water inlet and outlet are disconnected.
 
 
 

Edited By Stephen Lawson on 15/03/2011 12:17:39

15/03/2011 10:07:07

I was given this 4" high vertical pump and after a little cleaning and lubrication it appeared to run well on compressed air and after fitting to a horizontal marine boiler, it did the business - on air.>>

On raising steam, the pump failed to run and just rested in one position. No proding or forced action could encourage it to run. Adjustments of the steam valve stroke also failed to get any movement.>>

Back on air it runs well !>>

Disassembling the valve chests at the top end, I could not understand the complicated double steam valves and fail to comprehend how it should work.>>

Is there anyone out there who can tell me the name of the pump, perhaps has a set of drawing that will help me or has previous experience of the little beast ?
This pump is quite different to that in Model Engineer started in Vol.204 No. 4368


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Thread: Quintet Engine
04/11/2010 14:02:52
Thanks for your reply Ady.  Brilliant faux pas on my part - forgot to mention "steam".
 
Photographs attached



03/11/2010 21:48:53
I have acquired a model stationary engine with a name plate calling it "Quintet".
It has five oscillating cylinders with all five pistons linked to a central crank.  Before I attempt any restoration, I would like to obtain information about the design and if possible, plans of this particular engine. Can anone out the help please ?
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