Author Topic: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES  (Read 12210 times)

Offline Brian Rupnow

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REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« on: June 23, 2018, 08:19:16 PM »
I was so impressed with the way my new reversing valve worked on my double wobbler that I have to share it. This is by no means an original design, as I was helped by a couple of forum members to figure out exactly how this kind of valve would work. About the only difference in a valve like this working on steam as opposed to air engines, is that the air inlet tubes should be threaded into the main valve block and not just Loctited as I have shown. I know for sure that this reversing valve will work on a wobbler (oscillating) engine. I'm not sure if it will work on a conventionally valved engine like the Cretors Popcorn engine or not.

« Last Edit: June 23, 2018, 08:52:06 PM by Brian Rupnow »

Offline Brian Rupnow

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #1 on: June 23, 2018, 08:22:34 PM »
Three more of the components


« Last Edit: June 23, 2018, 08:55:01 PM by Brian Rupnow »

Offline Brian Rupnow

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #2 on: June 23, 2018, 08:36:42 PM »
And the last three components.


« Last Edit: June 23, 2018, 09:01:35 PM by Brian Rupnow »

Offline Brian Rupnow

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #3 on: June 23, 2018, 08:51:44 PM »
And, if the jpeg files shown aren't clear enough, this download link will get you the drawings as pdf files.
http://www.mediafire.com/file/tddcqq87r5ob79k/REVERSING%20VALVE%20FILES.zip
« Last Edit: June 23, 2018, 08:56:57 PM by Brian Rupnow »

Online crueby

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #4 on: June 23, 2018, 09:23:26 PM »
Thanks very much for sharing these!

Offline JC54

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #5 on: June 23, 2018, 10:38:00 PM »
Many thanks for your drawings Brian, I have been at Rutland Water (UK) today and spotted a steam launch with a similar designed reversing valve on an oscillating engine. I didn't realize wobblers were used at full size  :shrug:, I thought that they were just for us beginners (ME) to begin with or in Mamod. I will take camera tomorrow and upload pics if anyone interested.   :DrinkPint:
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Offline Brian Rupnow

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #6 on: June 27, 2018, 09:53:04 PM »
If anyone builds this reversing valve I have shown, I would really appreciate seeing a build log.---Brian

Offline Brian Rupnow

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #7 on: June 27, 2018, 11:49:53 PM »
Andrew in Australia built one yesterday for use with live steam. He sent me some finished pictures, and it looks great. He has yet to try it, but will let me know the results.--Brian

Offline Ramon Wilson

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #8 on: June 28, 2018, 09:40:45 AM »
Hi Brian - thanks for taking the time to draw this design out  :ThumbsUp:

I first did it around the late seventies for two small vee twin oscillators set side by side and running in opposite directions to each other. Destined for a model 'toy' boat that never happened due to the boiler I built for it, having been made from brass  ::) de-zincified within a short time the end plates weeping severely as pressure was applied.

The design I guess is as old as the hills - I think I took it from KN Harris's book in the first instance but even then that was probably repeating it from further back too.

I don't have a build log of mine to share - either that early one or the one I posted for you, but I think the rebuild of the oscillator that this one is on may be of interest so perhaps I'll do that a bit later.

Incidentally - I sold those first two little vee oscillators still in their twin set up at the last aeromodelling swap-meet held at Watford here in the UK. That would be quite some time ago now  but some time back, maybe two three years or so, Jo kindly posted some pics of engines she had taken at a model show. I was absolutely convinced that one of them was one 'side' of my twin set up but try as I might I can't find that pic again.

Regards - Tug
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Offline Jo

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #9 on: June 28, 2018, 09:54:36 AM »
Incidentally - I sold those first two little vee oscillators still in their twin set up at the last aeromodelling swap-meet held at Watford here in the UK. That would be quite some time ago now  but some time back, maybe two three years or so, Jo kindly posted some pics of engines she had taken at a model show. I was absolutely convinced that one of them was one 'side' of my twin set up but try as I might I can't find that pic again.

Was it this one

Jo
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Offline Ramon Wilson

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #10 on: June 28, 2018, 10:05:29 AM »
Thanks Jo but no, not that one - very similar though but then they all do have a similarity eh? .

As I recall mine had the pipework going into small brass manifolds bolted to the side of the standards. They were 'square' too 3/8 bore by 3/8 stroke I think which kept the height quite low. I may, somewhere up the loft have an old photograph from a Forncett day where they whirred away each year on air. I have to go up there later - I'll see if I can find something.

Regards - Tug
"I ain't here for the long time but I am here for a good time"
(a very apt phrase - thanks to a well meaning MEM friend)

Offline Jasonb

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #11 on: June 28, 2018, 10:44:45 AM »
Ramon, your restoration of the V twin is still on the boating forum where you posted it before which may save you some typing if you are going to post the rebuild here.

Offline Ramon Wilson

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #12 on: June 28, 2018, 10:27:53 PM »
Thanks Jason -  :ThumbsUp:

No luck on  a specific photo but a couple of general ones where you can see it on the table - made for a great distraction in ending up looking at a lot of photos of all sorts of past times  :)

Regards - Tug
"I ain't here for the long time but I am here for a good time"
(a very apt phrase - thanks to a well meaning MEM friend)

Offline Brian Rupnow

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #13 on: June 28, 2018, 10:45:28 PM »
We all know what curiosity done to the cat. Ever since I designed this reversing valve, I have wondered if it would work on a conventional steam engine or not. Today, due to absolute boredom, I got one of my more conventional steam/air engines down of the shelf and modified it a little bit so I could hook the airline to the exhaust pipe. I didn't think it would work, and I was right.---It didn't. So--it works on wobblers, but not on conventional engines.

Offline Brian Rupnow

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Re: REVERSING VALVE FOR AIR/STEAM ENGINES
« Reply #14 on: June 29, 2018, 01:44:53 AM »
The deeper I get into this, the more I learn. The reversing valve will work on both "oscillating" and "piston valve" style engines. It won't work on slide valve engines.

 

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