Valve Gear Design

     
Best design rules, unlimited variation possibilities, quick results:

We have implemented the basic design rules for valve gears (Walschaerts) in our design software. But not only this, our tools allow us to also integrate deviations from these rules in a highly efficient manner and still get best possible valve event results without much effort. So in most cases we are able to design a valve gear from scratch in a highly efficient manner.
Additionally, we can supply comparision and diagram result data in nearly no time. So our optimization precess – if necessary at all – takes place on an extremely high level of abstraction and quality standard.


Get in contact and see what is possible!


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Valve Gear Optimization

     
Optimization of existing or planned valve gears:


For existing valve gears:
If your steam locomotive shows suboptimal results in valve gear behavior, there are different ways to get this solved:

• Especially for railroad clubs or owners of fun park railways it is could be interesting to save money by modeling their valve gear themselves using my valve gear design software. This already was done and the solution took me only very few hours afterwards.


• As another option, you can directly take piston and valve piston positions for several degrees of cylinder filling for me to draw a valve event diagram, analyze, and find what is wrong.

Both options for already existing valve gears are described in "Valve Gear Troubleshooting".


For valve gears in design phase:
If there is a layout of a new valve gear already, the nearest recommendation of how to proceed depends on the amount of basic design rules that were used until then.
Our tools enable us to design valve gears from scratch in a highly efficient manner. So the earlier you contact us, the faster you get a nearly perfect solution. Read more about this in the "Valve Gear Design" section.


Get in contact and see what is possible!


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Valve Gear Troubleshooting by diagram - locally or remote

     
How valve gear troubleshooting "by diagram" can be applied remote:

• A valve event diagram with relative X-Y coordinates is taken by the operating crew moving the steam locomotive step by step and measuring the piston position and according valve piston position for each step, for certain degrees of cylinder filling. For this, outside reference points are sufficient, so no cylinder needs to be opened.


• We check whether the diagrams look good or the valve gear should be modified.


• If the diagrams look good (but still without an absolutely fixed diagram origin), the reason for bad valve events must be looked for in the valve piston environment or setting (Y offset in the slide diagram).


• If the diagrams do not look good, the valve events are compared to an optimal version of the valve gear with ideal valve events, optimized by our software. This comparison shows which parts of the valve gear to modify and how.

Get in contact and see what is possible!


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Valve Gear Troubleshooting by geometry - remote and affordable

     
How valve gear troubleshooting "by geometry" can be applied remote:

This version needs some more initial effort for measurement by the operating crew, but this gives the opportunity to widely lower and more exactly predict their costs for our contribution.

• A valve event diagram is created by our software, based on valve gear dimensions measured and entered by the operating crew. A suitable slide center position is initially assumed (Y coordinate origin in the slide diagram).


• We check whether the diagrams look good or the valve gear should be modified.


• If the diagrams look good (but still without an absolutely fixed diagram origin), the reason for bad valve events must be looked for in the valve piston environment or setting (Y offset in the slide diagram).


• If the diagrams do not look good, the valve events are compared to an optimal version of the valve gear with ideal valve events, optimized by our software. This comparison shows which parts of the valve gear to modify and how.

Get in contact and see what is possible!


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New version of valve gear developed

     
New valve gear without open loop, with excellent diagram results

We created is a new design for steam locomotive valve gears which - in our opinion - is clearly superior to Walschaerts valve gear, both in the symmetry of valve events and also concerning maintenance requirements.
For a first implementation customer, we are open to give extensive support and superb licensing conditions.

If interested, please send us your full contact data and request access for more details on the component innovations / new valve gear page.


Get in contact and see what is possible!


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Where this offer comes from:

     
Engineering and steam tec hobby

Years ago, I did some successful troubleshooting for a small 600 mm gauge steam loco's valve gear.
We measured the piston and valve positions in 4 steps, I drew an Excel diagram ellipse, extracted the proportional part of valve piston movement, calculated the new dimension of a lever bearing position via the rule of three (all this within about 2 to 3 hours), the loco's owner made two new levers from flat steel, - and the loco got back its power like in new state, or even more.

Now I own a valve gear simulation software with optional semi-automatic optimization which allows me to rapidly simulate and analyze your valve gear and find the point to be modified, even starting from a photo and some measured coordinates of piston and valve position.

I really would love to support you via remote troubleshooting to help you getting an excellently working valve gear.


Get in contact and see what is possible!


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