Author Topic: Fail Safe?  (Read 2682 times)

Offline Sackett

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Fail Safe?
« on: January 10, 2016, 01:52:27 AM »
Does anyone know how fail safes were installed on flyball govenors. I'm sure full size engines had them in case the belt broke,, but I've never seen details

Offline Robert Hornby

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Re: Fail Safe?
« Reply #1 on: January 10, 2016, 01:56:04 AM »
Would it not just be the case that should the drive belt failed the governor balls would fall and shut the steam valve down?
Robert

Ok I was not focused at all there   -  sorry
« Last Edit: January 11, 2016, 01:30:02 AM by Robert Hornby »
Age and treachery will always overcome youth and skill

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: Fail Safe?
« Reply #2 on: January 10, 2016, 02:00:41 AM »
Interesting question!  It would seem that if the belt breaks and the flyballs fall, that would open up the steam valve ( the same as would happen when engine rpms fall) and since the increasing speed of the engine wouldn't push the balls back out (lacking the drive belt) it would "run away."

Bill

Offline Dave Otto

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Re: Fail Safe?
« Reply #3 on: January 10, 2016, 02:17:22 AM »
I think Bill is correct.

Here is a link to an interesting article.

http://www.rustyiron.com/literature.html

Download and have a look at the flywheel explosions article.

I know on the large Snow IC pumping engines there was a pin in the flywheel that when it reached a certain speed it extended and tripped an ignition shutoff switch.

Dave

Offline yogi

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Re: Fail Safe?
« Reply #4 on: January 10, 2016, 08:55:12 PM »
When you get a chance, check out David Richards YouTube channel. Some really interesting stuff.

In this episode he explains his engine and also explains and demonstrates the fail safe on the governor.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTIEjEwH7QI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTIEjEwH7QI</a>

Regards,
yogi


Offline Sackett

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Re: Fail Safe?
« Reply #5 on: January 10, 2016, 11:57:44 PM »
Tks guys. I'v seen the vid that Yogi posted, plus a couple of engines that I knew as a youngster had fail safes,, but no idea how they work

 

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