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[pettyofficernick]

Hi All, does anyone know of a supplier of flexible tube, I need it to make up a boiler filling pipe. The plan is to have a fitting on the deck, so I can screw the pipe on to replenish the boiler from an external pump and thank. Initial experiments have been unsuccessful, as soon as there is a reasonable boiler pressuer the silicone tubing pops off the check valve. I want to make up a filling pipe that will stand enough pressure to overcome boiler pressure, but not have to deal with a rigid copper pipe, a case of connect up, pump in water, disconnect and carry on sailing.

[john s 2]

I understand your problem.The best solution would be to fit a water tank and hand pump to work at boiler pressure or one of the modified servos incorperating a pump.These have been shown in steam threads in the past..As to flexible tube the reinforced clear poly pipe as used for fuel lines for cars and also for paint spraying hose comes to mind,with appropiate clamps.John.

[pettyofficernick]

My problem is that I do not have room for a tank and pump, or I would have gone down that road, Thanks for the tip re the hose, I hadn't thought of that, I shall visit my local car bits shop and get some this afternoon.
Regards,
Nick.

[mrsgoggins]

Small bore high pressure nylon tube and fittings are often available on ebay from pneumatic equipment suppliers.

Regards
Keith

[derekwarner]

Nick....the issue is if attempting to use a synthetic hose .....the connection point to the lower point of the boiler will be @ approx 120 degrees C

Typically a hand pump replenishing a boiler could be required to attain >+ 3 Bar or 45 PSI........

   ...good luck..........Derek

[Circlip]

But don't forget, some use Silicone tubing to connect the engine to the boiler and also to act as a safety valve. I don't understand why there's all the panic about safety.

  Regards  Ian.

[steamboatmodel]

Have you looked at using a Goodall valve like the G 1 train guys do?
Regards,
Gerald.

[geoff p]

A year or so ago, desperate to test my engine under steam, I used some reinforced (braided) gas tube from the pressure cooker to the engine.

The tube fitted nicely over the pressure-weight-spigot and was a good, tight fit.  But, of course, it softened as the hot steam did its thing, and blew off.  A pipe clip cured that problem, despite some apprehension about no longer having a 'safety valve'.

After a while the tube swelled alarmingly where the gas flames were licking up the sides of the pressure cooker causing extreme softening, and the bubble burst, releasing all my lovely steam.

Now the pressure cooker is intended to run at about 5 to 10 psi and I doubt I had achieved even that, but the heat and pressure together destroyed the reinforced tubing.

If your feed clack leaks at all, your filler tube will gradually fill with hot water.  Then you pressurise it and pop-goes-the-weasel.

Geoff

[knoby]

is it possible to run copper pipe from the clack valve to the deck fitting, perhaps even with some kind of stop valve in the run? that way it would help eliminate the need to directly couple to the hot clack valve. Then i would imagine the steel braided gas hose would work OK, especially as soon as it is connected you would be pumping cold water through it. Another alternative would be braided brake hoses for motorbikes, as these are quite small bore & can be obtained from bike breakers so they wont cost a fortune.

Glenn

[pettyofficernick]

Thanks guys for all the tips, I had planned to use a deck fitting connected to the clack valve by 1/8" copper pipe, so I could just bring the boat alongside, connect up the flexible hose and pump away.

[kiwimodeller]

PPS Steam Models http://www.pps-steam-models.co.uk/  offer a hand pumped plastic bottle with a valve etc for filling train boilers  (look on the MMS and Mamod Modifications page)  but I figure that most of these setups that are used on trains to refill while still at pressure probably only need to pump above a relatively low boiler pressure. Alan is very good to deal with and I am sure will give good advice as to whether it will do what you want. Cheers, Ian

[cuppa]

Thanks for posting that link Ian.

Cheers
          Jon

[pettyofficernick]

Hi all, I have spoken to Alan at PPS and purchased the aforementioned boiler filling kit. It was installed last night and will be tested today. Alan informed that these valves will work up to 65psi, so it should be fine as my safety valve is set to 40 psi. I will post results ans photo later.
Cheers
Nick