| Author |
Message |
    
Fynn Ricard
Visitor
| | Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 02:19 pm: | 
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Hello, i'am from Germany so my English not as good as i want. I have a question about the wheelhouse controls for a Atlas-Imperial engine in the tug READY shown in this picture.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/oldtacomamarine/2336655042/sizes/l/in/set-721576041 29043229/
As i found on oldtacomaengine.com and another site in the web the morse control is for remote actuation of the reverse/starting wheel and the control near the tachometer is to regulate the fuel pressure. Where is the throttle? According to the manual the fuel pressure is regulated in coordination with the engine speed so there should be both controls available in the wheelhouse. I assume that the plunger-like control on the far left of the console may be the throttle - or the clutch?
Thank you for your help. |
george_iv
Senior Member
Username: george_iv
Post Number: 71
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 10:52 pm: |
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Hello Fynn Ricard,
When these tugs were converted to wheelhouse control the fuel pressure regulator also controls the governor, or engine speed. After diesel fuel became somewhat standardized in viscosity, vaor pressure, etc, the need to regulate fuel rail injection pressure became less important. In this picture you can see the hydraulic cylinder mounted to the latch box that pulls the governor rod for engine speed.
http://www.ghcoates.com/images/P1250013.JPG
The cylinder is connected to the fuel rail and the pressure varies according to the regulator setting.
I hope this helps, and if you want more explaination, just ask!
See everyone at Calvert!!!
George IV |
george_iv
Senior Member
Username: george_iv
Post Number: 72
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 24, 2009 - 10:55 pm: |
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PS. The plunger button is the start button.
George IV |
Fynn
Visitor
| | Posted on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 02:05 am: |
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Thanks for the answers but the second post implies the next question - the engine is started, stopped and reversed using the control wheel via the wheelhouse-mounted morse control. Why a additional starting button? May be a cold-start device? |
george_iv
Senior Member
Username: george_iv
Post Number: 73
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 08:22 am: |
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During the conversion to wheelhouse control the starting valve was removed from the engineers station. The air hoist that operates the control wheel is not sensitive enough to turn the wheel to start then to run as the operating instructions state.
In manuveringthe Morse handle is moved to the astern or ahead position and the hoist moves the control wheel. The pointer on the other side of the Morse station mimics the movement of the pointer on the engine. When the wheel reaches maximun travel a stop on the hoist chain contacts the hoist stop and the Morse handle is forced to the off position. The the start button is pressed until the engine runs. The pressure regulator is not normally used to stop the engine because it takes considerable cranking to rebuild pressure after reducing it enough to stop the engine. |
Fynn
Visitor
| | Posted on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 08:55 am: |
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Just for my understanding: Moving the morse lever into the Ahead or Astern position starts the air hoist and the chain would run as long the lever is in one of these positions. So there are stops to disengage the air host when the control wheel is in the desired position. The morse lever returns to Neutral (center) and the pointer reminds the helmsman what direction the engine is set. Now the engine is started. Makes sense. Very fascinating.
Thank you for the comprehensive informations. If i had posted a comparable question in a German forum i never would get this ammount of response. |
george_iv
Senior Member
Username: george_iv
Post Number: 74
Registered: 07-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, April 25, 2009 - 04:10 pm: |
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You are very welcome. The whole operation takes about 10 seconds from ahead to astern. It's alot like driving a truck and trailer through the city with no brakes. Planning is esential! |
boatbum
Member
Username: boatbum
Post Number: 13
Registered: 05-2006
| | Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 03:49 am: |
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My Atlas controls are rather different. It is operated via a Westinghouse air system 2A2B that is a single lever in the wheel house. The lever controls a series of pnuematic systems that operate the reversing, fuel, fuel pressure regulator,engine speed,starting air, etc. on the engine. Actually quite neat when working properly. |
Fynn
Visitor
| | Posted on Sunday, April 26, 2009 - 01:42 pm: |
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There are many systems for remote control of a direct-reversible engine. I found a German one, that belongs to SKL engines (made in the former GDR) but nobody could me explain the function. Perhaps a user in this board knows about, so here is a picture.
http://www.ddr-binnenschifffahrt.de/fotogalerie-gross/glauchau-bea-002.JPG |
Fynn
Visitor
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 - 01:53 am: |
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Finally found an answer: the large wheel mounted lengthwise is for reversing the engine (pneumatic) and the small one for throttle control. |
