Atkinson Lorry

Need help and advice with the Atkinson.

The 7/16" copper pipe, shown resting against the wheel, will connect from the boilers steam regulator to the inlet manifold of the engine.

I am worried that in use that any flexing of the chassis and engine assembly may cause the stream pipe to fail or worse damage the engines inlet manifold.

Does any form of high pressure flexible tube exist. Any suggestions as to some form of flexible joint. Or am I worrying about nothing.??

Hi Mr Saxalby,

what a lovely job.....

as for the pipe do u need to have the elbow to make it look correct.......I think ur allowed a little freedom with the design there here....as per usual any fractures would be around any of the joints....less joints less problems....

If it were mine I make the pipe in one piece and allow enough material for a loop in the design, even a slightly longer elbow would help......

it depends if u can do it ur-self..?,...it's not so hard....do u have the tube benders....?.....if it were bigger u could blank off one end and fill with sand....annealing first of course.....have u many more to fabricate..?

personally if u are worried find ur-self a friendly Hydraulic engineers they have all the necc equipment to shape it any way u wish...no kinks or ripples.....remember they normally work with steel or stainless......they are used to working with delicate materials and they are aware of keeping it looking a smart job....

wish luck....more photos please....like ur work...what a brilliant forum......

Frank in France

Hi Frank,

Thanks for your suggestions. The pipe is the shape it is so as to pass around the various fittings etc below the cab footplate. I made it in two parts, with the elbow joint, for ease of construction. There would not be enough room to get a "loop" in the pipe.

Yes will post some more photos. The boiler is finished, just needs painting. Can't decide what colour to do it.

Barry

Hi Barry, just seen your posting here re the Atkinson wagon, well i could not see the pics as date, so assume its the steam wagon to ray primes design , love to hear from you as im building one! l would very much like to read any comments you have about your building of your wagon, must be getting on now as this posting is a few years old. I have some useful notes from another builder, with his mods. My e is [email protected]. Look forward to hearing from you. If you have anything left over im interested! anything to save time! Thanks vic

Hi Barry,

I think you may be worrying about nothing (although I also can't see the pictures). My grandad has almost finished building his wagon and the distance between the regulator and the engine is far enough that any flex that might be present would be taken up by the pipe, but the design of the chassis is quite robust and very unlikely to flex....you would have to hit something bl**dy hard or have a chassis loosely bolted for it to flex.

Keep us posted with your build, I'd be interested to see how it turns out!

Cheers,

Dan