[modeleng] Re: FW: Rail Accident Investigation alert: RAIB investigation - Kirklees
- From: "Jesse Livingston" <fernj1@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 13:37:20 -0500
While on the subject of fusible plugs, does anyone use them in our minature
locomotive boilers?? I know I don't use them myself nor do I know of any of
our club members who do. Phill, is TEL ailing? I haven't heard any words
of wisdom from him the last few days.
Jesse in Troy, TN where it is raining right now.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Phill Smith" <steam@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Friday, July 29, 2011 9:24 AM
Subject: [modeleng] Re: FW: Rail Accident Investigation alert: RAIB
investigation - Kirklees
> G'Day Peter,
>
> I was not knocking the fusible plug, but the report itself. I found it to
> be
> typical of a gov't report that has been written by someone who doesn't
> actually know much (if any thing) about the topic that they are writing
> about..... I saw it as Rich did. My comments were purely a facetious view
> of
> the report, and it's lack of saying anything worthwhile, while seeming to
> blame everybody..... Especially the driver who desperately needs his arse
> kicking for, not dropping the fire until the fusible plug had started
> melting, which he also failed to notice....... How bloody slack is
> that!!!!!
>
> I feel I must also apologise for my dry sense of humour...... As this
> could
> be taken the wrong way.
>
>
> On another serious note.
>
> Fusible plugs have the same chances of failing as RCD's and all other
> safety
> devices. Right now, I am trying to think of one that is completely
> failsafe,
> and can't. ( If anyone can think of one, then please tell me what it
> is!! )
> What can make it hard for fusible plugs to work, is if they get a thick
> enough scale build up over the top of them...... This, while under test,
> has
> been found to hold back the steam in some circumstances. There is a very
> simple cure for this, and that is to replace the plug at every testing of
> the boiler as the minimum frequency. That seems to nail it for the hobby
> boiler very nicely. For the commercial boiler, they have to be replaced
> according to the relevant standard. Over here (West Aust.) it is annually
> at
> a minimum frequency. In the marine world, I believe it's at every
> inspection, which is (I believe) every 2 years.......? I can't remember
> now.....
> Regardless, they are the best safety device known to man so far...... I
> suppose we could invent a infer-red temp scanner that will read the temp's
> of all the firebox plates and set of an alarm if the plates get too
> hot.....
> And the best bit is that you need to measure the fire side of the sheets
> as
> they are much hotter than the water side...... So now it must withstand
> 1500°C, and would need to be calibrated annually to ensure that it is
> actually working... at the time of calibration......
> Nothing is perfect, so we just have to do the best we can.
>
>
> Have a great weekend.
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Phill.
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "The Sheppard Residence" <psbr20252@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Sent: Friday, July 29, 2011 6:30 PM
> To: <modeleng@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: [modeleng] Re: FW: Rail Accident Investigation alert: RAIB
> investigation - Kirklees
>
>> On 29/07/2011 10:59, Peter Sheppard wrote:
>>> MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST.
>>>
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>>
>> Always blank from web-mail?
>>
>> This is what I writ!
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Phil,
>>
>> I'd rather they investigate a "near miss" before we have to investigate
>> why a boiler exploded!
>>
>> There are many examples in the safety world (in all industries) where if
>> people had noted the warning signs, the accident may not have occurred.
>>
>> I always feel that fusible plugs are a potential "weak point" (pardon
>> the pun) in the safety of a boiler. You have to hope that they work
>> when required, but then, you only know if they don't work when they
>> don't (if you see what I mean). You can't test them! You can test one
>> similar, but not the one in situ! (A bit like wire fuses).
>>
>> It may have only partly worked, the report will be interesting.
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Peter
>>
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>
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