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Author Topic: Displacement Lubricator  (Read 5639 times)

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Displacement Lubricator
« on: October 04, 2024, 10:38:29 pm »
I finally did it… I installed a displacement lubricator on my S-50 plant.  This was a very tricky feat because I originally built the plumbing 7-8 months ago and didn’t plan for a Lubricator and I was also a newbie and didn’t understand as much as I do now about model engineering and steam engines.  I’ve been keeping the cylinder lubricated by shooting oil onto the piston rod and into the exhaust pipe running the engine in reverse before starting.

Checked the cylinder walls and piston itself for any wear and tear and it’s in good shape.

Installing the lubricator wasn’t easy due to having to redesign the entire steam inlet.  I ended up putting the lubricator on an angle for aesthetic purposes plus it’ll help use gravity to drain oil into the steam chest.

Let me know your thoughts. [ Guests cannot view attachments ] [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2024, 02:01:49 am »
It would be better IMO if you could have the lubricator level Travis.
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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2024, 02:43:15 am »
Quote from: Jim on October 05, 2024, 02:01:49 am
It would be better IMO if you could have the lubricator level Travis.

May I ask why? I emptied the entire oil cup in 30 minutes of run time.  And I probably had the valve open too much.   
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The steam engine has done much more for science than science has done for the steam engine.”

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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2024, 06:46:18 am »
Bonjour,
To my opinion, the angle does not matter except the fact that the oil above the steam pipe will flow quickly.
If you operate at about 30 PSI (2 Bar) the steam is said "saturated" with water which is lubricant.
So, you have just to manage the needle valve to have the content enough for all your operation.
Important, I commonly use grade 400/500 steam oil (1 000 for scale 1 machines), a thinner oil would be consumed too quickly.
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Raphaël, Membre du Modèle Yacht Club de Paris : http://mycparis.fr/
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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #4 on: October 05, 2024, 06:56:01 am »
Quote from: Steamburns on October 05, 2024, 02:43:15 am
Quote from: Jim on October 05, 2024, 02:01:49 am
It would be better IMO if you could have the lubricator level Travis.

May I ask why?

Because IMO it looks stupid.
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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #5 on: October 05, 2024, 07:19:22 am »
Bonjour Jim,

Sorry to ask this question, but what "IMO" means ?
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Raphaël, Membre du Modèle Yacht Club de Paris : http://mycparis.fr/
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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #6 on: October 05, 2024, 07:22:45 am »
Quote from: Jim on October 05, 2024, 06:56:01 am
Quote from: Steamburns on October 05, 2024, 02:43:15 am
Quote from: Jim on October 05, 2024, 02:01:49 am
It would be better IMO if you could have the lubricator level Travis.

May I ask why?

Because IMO it looks stupid.


Jim, 

You Aussies are usually very respectful and cool.    I think the word “stupid” is the wrong word here.    “Stupid” means that I am incompetent or something like that.  I purposely made this on an angle because I thought it looked “cool”;  but since you say it looks stupid… I might just have to change it.

I do appreciate your opinion albeit not what I was expecting to hear.    Cheers mate.
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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #7 on: October 05, 2024, 09:49:24 am »
IMO means in my opinion.
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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #8 on: October 05, 2024, 11:37:34 am »
Bonjour,
Merci  ;)
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Raphaël, Membre du Modèle Yacht Club de Paris : http://mycparis.fr/
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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #9 on: October 05, 2024, 11:36:36 pm »
Quote from: Jim on October 05, 2024, 06:56:01 am
Quote from: Steamburns on October 05, 2024, 02:43:15 am
Quote from: Jim on October 05, 2024, 02:01:49 am
It would be better IMO if you could have the lubricator level Travis.

May I ask why?

Because IMO it looks stupid.


Fixed it! [ Guests cannot view attachments ]
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The steam engine has done much more for science than science has done for the steam engine.”

― Lord Kelvin

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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #10 on: October 06, 2024, 12:25:16 am »
[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #11 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
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Re: Displacement Lubricator
« Reply #12 on: October 07, 2024, 07:42:54 am »
Quote from: Bobsmodels 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

Brilliant Bob.

Reading your post made me smile.  :)
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