Sunday, August 21, 2011

THE INDEPENDENT BRAKE VALVE

This valve has four operating positions which are, Running, Service, Lap and Release.



RUNNING POSITION:
This is the position this valve should always be in when not in use. In this position, a connection is made between it and the application chamber of the Distributing Valve and then to the Automatic Valve.

LAP POSITION
This position will hold the independent brakes applied after the desired cylinder pressure is reached.

RELEASE POSITION
Used to release pressure in the application chamber when the Automatic Brake Valve is not in running position.

SERVICE POSITION
This position will apply the independent brakes when moving the Brake Valve to the application position. The supply pressure is then regulated to a maximum level as set by the reducing valve, preventing overpressure of the cylinders.









5 comments:

Anonymous said...

HI! I like your work on K-36's especially. How come you're going to all this trouble? What CAD program are you using?

Bob said...

Thanks!

I chose the K-36 for several reasons:

-1) It is the largest and most advanced locomotive ever built for narrow gauge. (The k-37's are converted standard gauge engines, famous for their track-jumping antics)

-2) It's the first NG engine I ever saw, up in Chama, NM.

-3) We had a RR club in Santa Fe that made excursions to Chama in the days when the C&T had only 484 and 487 operational, So I developed an attachment to the two old troopers.

-4) The trip to Chama was short enough that I could go and take photos and get measurements whenever I felt like it.

I use AutoCad 2000.It's old but more than sufficient for the job.

Bob said...

Oh yeah...

Why am I doing it?

I used to be a member of the NMRA and had several first place contest models to my credit.

When I decided to build a K-36 model, I discovered there was next to nothing of useful information about them. so I decided to get it for myself.

Everybody had photos and had lots of yadda-yadda about the locos, but nothing about say... the shape and size of a firebrick. (I know now :P )

Still not finished, but I bet I have more accurate information on a K-36 in my databases than anybody on earth.

I have now completed all the scaled and dimensioned drawings of the 1904 Passenger Folio, all done with AutoCad . I am now in the process of having it published in a landscape mode book.

Maybe, maybe not.

Anonymous said...

Hi, me again. I only recently discovered the C&TSRR -- what a treasure. I noticed you can buy a set of K-36 drawings at http://www.livesteamlocomotives.com/drawings/drgw_2-8-2.htm
They are pretty expensive and they are also copyrighted. What would keep you from publishing yours? Will you ever make your database available electronically? Are any of the original drawings from Baldwin or D&RGW available?

Bob said...

My K-36 drawings will eventually be put into a book similar to my Folio 6 drawings.

I have no idea what those drawings are that you mentioned, or if the quality is sufficient to warrant those outrageous prices.(they offer no sample drawings on the site to determine)

My experiecne with the original DRG drawings is that they lack vast amounts of detail, making them hardly more than unique wallpaper.

But that's my experience, yours may vary.