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Author Topic: Displacement Lubricator  (Read 5632 times)

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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« on: October 06, 2024, 05:14:34 pm »
Well just to jump in in the other side of the fence, I think the original looked more realistic. 

The story goes the plant operations technician decided the engine needed a lubricator even though the steam was very wet.  He sent the order off to the maintenance shop.  After they had a look at the existing plumbing and what they had on hand - remember this company's philosophy was cheep and nothing wasted (borrowed that philosophy from a well known local railroad, CNW).  They had some pipe, a tee, a 45, and beat up old displacement lubricator.  They put it all together and guess what.  That 45 had some buggered up threads and they could not crank that 45 into a position to get the lubricator vertical.  No leaks, so why buy a new 45?  Turned out with it pitched up like that it left more space on one side to stand, empty the water in a bucket, and fill the lubricator back up.  A memo went out that all future lubricators would be installed at an angle to ensure ease of maintenance.

So please put it back so I can get in there and maintain the thing without getting burned on those unisulated steam pipes. Which were that way because they heated the plant area, again it was a balance between making more steam and heating the building, a study had been made.

Thank You
Bob