Southworth Engines boiler feed pump

[Grandfathertyke]

I'm new to this forum, and fairly new to model engineering! I'd like to build a Southworth Engines 6 inch boiler feed pump to service my Sweet Pea. Does anyone know of any article(s) on building one of these? I'd much prefer some guidance before consigning anything to the local scrap-merchant.

Thanks in advance,

Frank

[ron]

Hi Frank
Don't know offhand of any articles but I've ordered the parts to make one with a view to using it as a feed pump on a Hunslet I'm building so if you don't come up with anything I'll let you know how I get on making it.
Ron

[grandfathertyke]

Thanks Ron. I'll PM you on this.

Frank

[engineernut]

Reading this thread reminded me I have a set of these Southworth castings for the 6" vertical pump sat on the shelf. ;D Bought then about 3yrs ago and never got round to making it.
Decided to check them this morning, and as I had a bit of time free thought I'd make a start with the steam cylinder top cover.
First look at GM castings is favourable. Although there was not a lot of spare meat on the cover when I machined it. Sufficient but you had to be very careful, well it was like that on mine.
Plans are reasonably straightforward. Easier than their 6" horizontal duplex pump (well to me anyway) that I made about 3 yrs ago and that worked when finished. ;D
Not sure how many other parts I will end up making in this session on this pump, as a few other jobs (not engineering) to do and wanting to get back to my Allchin Traction engine. Will use this pump as a fill in job, If not finished will end up back on shelf till later date.

[engineernut]

Still not the weather to do the jobs I want to do outside so machined the base cover and started the lower steam cover.
Posting a couple of pics so if anyone is interested will post a few pics as I go along if of any help.
There is a Myford nose fitted to the rotary table so machined the face of the cover on lathe and transferred chuck onto rotary table on mill.
Locked rotary table so rigid and used dro to position holes.

[grandfathertyke]

Excellent photo. This is of great help to a tyro like me. More please!!!

[engineernut]

Oct 13, 2009 21:24:58 GMT grandfathertyke said:

Excellent photo. This is of great help to a tyro like me. More please!!!

Probably finish pump afterall now. ;D
Seem a shame to leave it partly done, plus I can use it on one of my coal fired boilers.
I have machined all four covers now and hope to make a start on steam cylinder tomorrow. ;D
Will post more pics soon.

[grandfathertyke]

Good news, that! I'm looking forward to seeing the photos. I've got the drawings, but I can't get my mind round just how the thing works, so pics of the steam cylinder (with words to go with the music) would be great!

[engineernut]

Oct 14, 2009 17:58:43 GMT grandfathertyke said:

Good news, that! I'm looking forward to seeing the photos. I've got the drawings, but I can't get my mind round just how the thing works, so pics of the steam cylinder (with words to go with the music) would be great!

Hope to have cylinder finished early next week so will post pics then. ;D

[ron]

Hi Engineernut,
I've now received the castings and drawings, the castings look very good quality, I'll make a start in the next few weeks when I finish the chassis work I'm doing at present on the Hunslet, I look forward to seeing more pictures of your progress, a picture is definitely worth a thousand words.
Ron

[engineernut]

Hi Ron & Frank,
Finished the four covers and made a start on cylinder.
Thought I'd post pic of work so far.
Machined valve face, top, base and bored cylinder.
Made a start on drilling steam ways. I think they show up ok on pic.
I have drawn, in black marker pen on valve face, where the remaining two steam ways link up from "E" to "C" & "D" & "B". These two holes have to be drilled at an angle.
Yes very good quality castings. You have to be very careful as not a lot of spare material.
I found on my cylinder casting I had to move the cylinder bore hole in casting over about 20thou to get the correct distance from centre of bore to edge of valve face. (Not sure if I explained that correctly but basically just offset bore and started boring hole off centre.)
Once you get a few holes drilled it falls into place of how/why it works.
I found you had to be very accurate when drilling these steam way holes as they run quite close to each other, and also the depth of "E" hole as that does finish about 1/16th to 3/32nd (cannot remember exactly but it is fairly close) from breaking through cylinder wall when you drill it.
Hope to get cylinder finished next week and will post more pics then.
Dave

[grandfathertyke]

Thanks Dave. Could you perhaps share with us the how and why of the workings? I just can't get my head around what happens to the steam once it goes into the chest. I asked the question yesterday at the Blackgates stand at the Midlands Exhibition, and they didn't know either!

Frank

[engineernut]

Hi Frank,
Managed to get the four cross holes drilled, pic enclosed. Black line drawn to show direction drill went.
If my memory serves me correct then the workings of these engines is very similar to the Stuart feed pump. Long time ago since I made one of those.
The spindle (No20) operates the pilot valve (No17) and this in turn allows steam in to operate the shuttle valve (No15).
The shuttle valve is only operated by steam (basically free floating) and is either pushed up or down depending which steam holes are covered / uncovered. This shuttle has to be a reasonable loose fit.
When I have finished the cylinder then I will probably finish steam chest etc before I start on the pump part. Will post more pics as I go along.
Obviously one can make the parts in any order but if you follow the same sequence that I am doing then I think you will find it falls into place as you go on.
Very interesting engines and I find very enjoyable and functional rather than display purposes when finished.
Dave

[grandfathertyke]

Thanks once again, Dave. These pictures and comments are really helpful - please keep them coming. I think I'll be having some castings and making a start.

Frank

[engineernut]

Nearly finished steam chest and here are a couple of pics showing steam ways etc.
Have placed a couple of 1/6th drills through steam chest into cylinder to show where the two 1/16th steam holes line up between cylinder and chest.
You will probably see on plans, but if not a quick note, that the centres of these two steam holes (shown with drills through) are not the same centre height as the holes that bolt the steam chest cover on. These two holes are slightly lower / higher (depending which hole your looking at). ie They are both further in from the edge.
Hope you can understand this?
Dave

[engineernut]

Second pic.

[ron]

Hi Dave
Thanks for that, I've now made a start and completed the end covers, as you posted there is not a lot of meat on some of the castings but they do the job [just!]
It looks to be an interesting project, hopefully the rest goes as well as the end covers.
Ron

[engineernut]

Oct 23, 2009 10:10:23 GMT ron said:

Hi Dave
Thanks for that, I've now made a start and completed the end covers, as you posted there is not a lot of meat on some of the castings but they do the job [just!]
It looks to be an interesting project, hopefully the rest goes as well as the end covers.
Ron

Ron,
If you require further pics of cylinder or steam chest then please say.
I only have to blank the four holes off on the cylinder & steam chest and they are finished.
Will make the shuttle valve etc etc etc next and possibly make the water pump cylinder the last job, I think?
I must admit I always measure twice and cut once, but with the complexity of the steam ways etc it is measure twice then go back to plans and start the sequence all over again (probably 3 or 4 times before I actually cut or drill.
Once it falls into place then I found it is quite straightforward (so far and famous last words ).
Dave

[grandfathertyke]

Dave,

Your pictures and descriptions have been very helpful. I've now got the castings and will be making a start as soon as I get the Clerk of Works at the household off to work on Monday. I still can't quite figure out how it all works, though. Can you tell me what happens to the steam from where it enters the chest to its exit in the cylinder block?

Thanks,

Frank

[engineernut]

Oct 24, 2009 18:10:04 GMT grandfathertyke said:

Dave,

Your pictures and descriptions have been very helpful. I've now got the castings and will be making a start as soon as I get the Clerk of Works at the household off to work on Monday. I still can't quite figure out how it all works, though. Can you tell me what happens to the steam from where it enters the chest to its exit in the cylinder block?

Thanks,

Frank

Hi Frank,
The steam enters the steam chest and then as the valve (the one on the right hand side driven by the linkage) in the steam chest goes up and down this alters the steam flow through the steam ways to drive the shuttle valve (on left hand side) and this in turn allows steam in to the cylinder to drive piston either up or down which then moves linkage to move original valve on the right hand side up/down and alters steam flow to move the shuttle again and piston in opposite direction.
Sounds difficult but very clever. This is why the steam way holes are critical.
I will be making the valve and shuttle next and will post pic with it all in place which hopefully might explain it better than my description.
Dave