Model Engine Maker

Supporting => Engine Ancillaries => Topic started by: sshire on October 18, 2013, 02:43:13 AM

Title: Whistle Redux
Post by: sshire on October 18, 2013, 02:43:13 AM
Whistle Redux

"If you want me just whistle. You know how to whistle don't you? Just put your lips together and blow."

LAUREN BACALL, To Have and Have Not

In my previous whistle build, I was designing as I went. All of the critical factors were absolutely random. The whistle worked, but I wasn't very happy with it. One chime was good; nice sound and didn't need much air to get a decent tone. The other two chimes?  Not so much.

I did register for the steam whistle group on Yahoo and learned a lot by reading past posts. The group seems to be mainly collectors of full size whistles.

After reading about mouth arcs, resonant frequencies, discharge coefficients and organ vs 360 degree bells vs Helmholtz bells, I decided to just build the damned thing but, this time,  armed with more information. I realized that I was not at all interested in the physics, the math or the fund mechanics of whistles. I just want one on my boiler.

For your viewing pleasure,  a three-chime, 360 degree mouth whistle.

I needed some Super Glue. The best I've found is the type that wooden bowl-turners use as a finish. Off to the woodworker store. (It's OK.I wore a disguise.)
Of course, there was a sale table with about 500 carbide router bits. One shape was particularly fascinating and at only $7.50 it came home with the Cyanoacrylate. (I'm quite sure I have $7.50 worth of brass chips under the lathe.)

Many of the old whistles had decorative caps on top of the bell. With the router bit in a QC tool holder and the lathe running in reverse, I had a form tool.

(http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l604/sshire/Steam%20Whistle%202/a0edf546-beff-4ac1-89a8-77a56a616dfd.jpg) (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/sshire/media/Steam%20Whistle%202/a0edf546-beff-4ac1-89a8-77a56a616dfd.jpg.html)

(http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l604/sshire/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-2.jpg) (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/sshire/media/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-2.jpg.html)

Two more to make

(http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l604/sshire/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-3.jpg) (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/sshire/media/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-3.jpg.html)

Some preliminary polishing and parting for the bells.

(http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l604/sshire/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-4.jpg) (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/sshire/media/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-4.jpg.html)

I've now got this group of parts.

(http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l604/sshire/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-5.jpg) (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/sshire/media/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-5.jpg.html)

The three bottoms for the bells will be soldered in recesses in an air chamber. First, I centered the brass round on the mill.

(http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l604/sshire/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-6.jpg) (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/sshire/media/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-6.jpg.html)

The DRO was given all of the information for the bolt hole circle and the recesses were milled.

(http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l604/sshire/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-7.jpg) (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/sshire/media/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-7.jpg.html)

Using the same bolt hole circle coordinates, I drilled each pocket. The hole will be tapped 5-40 for a threaded rod which will support the aperture and the bell.

(http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l604/sshire/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-9.jpg) (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/sshire/media/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-9.jpg.html)

(http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l604/sshire/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-8.jpg) (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/sshire/media/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-8.jpg.html)

The larger, second hole in each recess is the air passage.

The piece was then flipped over to make the air chamber.

I had no end mill between, 0.75" (a bit small) and 1.0" (too large). The boing head fixed that issue.

(http://i1126.photobucket.com/albums/l604/sshire/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-11.jpg) (http://s1126.photobucket.com/user/sshire/media/Steam%20Whistle%202/Whistle2-11.jpg.html)

Hoping to complete this tomorrow or Saturday Then I can make the whistle valve.
Stay tuned.
Title: Re: Whistle Redux
Post by: Steamer5 on October 18, 2013, 05:29:08 AM
Hi Stan,
 Sitting up taking notes!! is it possible to give dimensions? My Dad is looking for a chime whistle for his loco......maybe he can make two or maybe three....about 2 to 2.5 inches tall.

Cheers Kerrin
Title: Re: Whistle Redux
Post by: tel on October 18, 2013, 09:21:11 AM
Quote
I needed some Super Glue. The best I've found is the type that wooden bowl-turners use as a finish. Off to the woodworker store. (It's OK.I wore a disguise.)

Well, I am relieved to hear that - gotta maintain some decorum!

Nice work Stan!
Title: Re: Whistle Redux
Post by: AussieJimG on October 18, 2013, 09:29:20 AM
I have used my carbide router bits in the mill but never thought of using them in that mode in the lathe.

Isn't it amazing how one can miss something like that.

Thanks Stan, I hope I remember it when the time comes.

Jim
Title: Re: Whistle Redux
Post by: steamer on October 18, 2013, 10:21:28 AM
I'm with ya there Jim!....Hadn't thought of that either! 

Duly noted!

Nice one Stan!


Dave
Title: Re: Whistle Redux
Post by: zeeprogrammer on October 18, 2013, 11:48:13 AM
Nice Stan.
Listening for the whistle.

Interesting idea with that router bit. It's got me thinking.
Title: Re: Whistle Redux
Post by: b.lindsey on October 18, 2013, 12:45:50 PM
This is looking great Stan. If it sounds as good as it looks (and I betting it will), you will be one happy camper for sure!!

Bill
Title: Re: Whistle Redux
Post by: sshire on October 21, 2013, 02:54:39 AM
Whistle Redux Redux

After spending the day yesterday building the 3-chime whistle, i managed to get one pipe to sound, sort of. The other two were completely uncooperative. Being a total lunatic who refuses to put something in a box and hide it under the bench, I decided to approach this from another direction.
Guy Lautard's Second Bedside Reader has a drawing for a small Lunkenheimer whistle. My thinking was that if I built that one (and it worked), i might be able to see what the problem is with the 3-chime.
I made a copy of the drawing, taped it over the bench and built it today. I did it in aluminum because I just couldn't bring myself to use brass until i knew that it would work.

I realized, after assembling it, that the apertures in the 3-chime are WAY TOO BIG. I'll remake them and see if that solves the problem. In the meantime, a quickie video of the build.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPQT_H-p20Y

Title: Re: Whistle Redux
Post by: Kim on October 21, 2013, 06:48:12 AM
Pretty cool Stan!  :ThumbsUp:
I take the whistling at the end of the video to be a demonstration that it worked, right?  :)
Kim
Title: Re: Whistle Redux
Post by: sshire on October 21, 2013, 01:33:44 PM
Yes, it worked. The audio is the mini Lunkenheimer.  And, it's loud on 10 psi. Lautard said to use hearing protection.
I'm going to use the same base and try various length bells. Also curious about trying the expanded bells that Lukenheimer used. It wiill be a side project now that I know it works. I really need to start the Liney RV1 build.
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