Dockstader valve gear simulator software

The valve gear is responsible for timing the cylinders inlet and exhaust. The first simulator software i came across was the famous one by charlie dockstader who originally came up with the idea for proving the valve gear on one of his friends locos. Valvegear constructor to get a translation function for the main site and some subsites, click on the flag right on top of the main site and follow the instructions. I have used the suggestion from john w1 and installed wine on my imac and then downloaded the charlie dockstader simulator and it works. It quickly became popular, and was probably the most common kind of valve gear that was inherited by the lner.

It was extensively used in steam locomotives from the late 19th century until the end of the steam era. There are a number of valve gear systems that are used in north american steam. Then i added a visualization subroutine to the program. It displays measured and computed values and a theoretical card. In the interests of keeping these available to everyone, i have installed the programs and his documentation on my website. Valve gear program instructions running in microsoft windows these windows valve gear programs were written betweem 1998 and 2007 by charles j. Here you can see, graphically, the resultant changes in steam flow and therefore engine performance caused by variations in valve gear geometry, angle of advance, and. The stephenson valve gear remained the most commonly used valve gear on 19thcentury locomotives. Valve adjustment training simulator description free software imagine being the top maxton control valve adjuster on your teampractice makes perfectstart today. The following pic is the stephenson valve gear that gordon fitted to the 45mm gauge philadelphia models that he built about 20 years ago. Staying competitive requires engineers to constantly innovate and find new ways to improve their designs while reducing the development costs and time to market. The stanley steam engine stephenson valve gear computer simulation program charles dockstader has created an excellent program that simulates the operation of stephenson valve gear action. Charles dockstader has created an excellent program that simulates the operation of stephenson valve.

Jul 18, 2017 don ashtons valve gear simulation software by chris newman jul 18, 2017 don ashtons website offers downloadable simulation software for several types of valve gear plus useful information, articles and links to other sites of interest. Ive been attempting analysis of valve gear on an engine and searching for new free software to simulate 2d kinematics. They are not large scale drawings but the layout is all there. Allan wallaces own valve gear simulation software can be downloaded from his. Stephenson valve gear applied to outside admission unbalanced slide valve. Operation conditions for a control valve in a parallel pipeline system. Havent looked at the other simulators yet but i can run windows progs now on a mac osx without having to install windows as wine lets you just execute the programs and i dont have to worry about windows. I have made and fitted all the parts and am now in the process of making a stand so that i can suspend it to make it easier to. To download or link as appropriate, simply click the blue highlight. It provides all of the kinematic and force data you need to make the right design decision. The gear is sometimes named without the final s, since it was incorrectly patented under that name.

This detailed hydraulic elevator simulation program utilizes the uc4m series valve in conjunction with the safetach unit for enhanced hydraulic elevator valve adjustment training. Steam engine valve gear on the computer downloadable freeware simulations of every kind of valve gear youve ever heard of by charles dockstader ca. Simulation by computer relieves the tedium of complex mathematics and provides the means of speedy evaluation and adjustment. Valve gear on the computer ed pick in 1986, charlie dockstader wrote the first version of software to simulate various types of valve gear. Mechdesigner models machines, mechanisms, cams gears, belts. The red area represents steam admission and the blue, steam exhaust. The steam diagram defines the potential output and efficiency of the engine. Dr allan wallace has proofread predicting locomotive performance and has found a few minor typographical errors in some of its equations. Maxton hydraulic elevator valve training simulators maxton. The valve cylinders in both simple and compound setups are allimportant in admitting controlled volumes of steam, saturated or superheated, to both faces in turn of the doubleacting power cylinders that actually drive the rods to the crankpins. The bitter creek western railroad bcwrr is a privately owned 7. Through these sine curves one can easily see the amount a valve port is open at any crank position. Charlie has added a few more valve gears which should appear on the new host site. Since then, he has made continuous additions and improvements to add other types of valve gear and improve functionality and ease of use.

Valve gear definition is any of numerous gears by which motion is given to the valves of an engine and especially a steam engine. Charlie has put this program in the public domain but is not to be sold. Dockstaders is good also, but i would recommend wallaces for a beginner. Charlie dockstader simulator program model engineer. Originally i wanted a quick way to calculate the valve gear action for my arkona steam boat engine. The programs can be used with the default settings to view operation and. Don ashtons valve gear simulation software advanced steam. This page uses frames, but your browser doesnt support them. You could model the linkage in dockstader s valve gear simulator software to be sure you had it correct before cutting any metal. Charlie has put this program in the public domain but is. Stephenson valve gear is a convenient arrangement for any engine that needs to reverse and was widely applied to railway locomotives, traction engines, steam car engines and to stationary engines that needed to reverse, such as rollingmill engines. The valve gear of a steam engine is the mechanism that operates the inlet and exhaust valves to admit steam into the cylinder and allow exhaust steam to escape, respectively, at the correct points in the cycle. Calculation of the pressure surge on clousure valve.

Charlie dockstaders valve gear simulations charlie dockstader has produced a comprehensive set of valve gear simulation programs for windows. Don ashtons website offers downloadable simulation software for several types of valve gear plus useful information, articles and links to other sites of interest. Charlie dockstader s valve gear simulations charlie dockstader has produced a comprehensive set of valve gear simulation programs for windows. The first simulator software i came across was the famous one by charlie dockstader who originally came up with the idea for proving the valve gear on one of. This is a simulation of the walschaerts valve gear, one of the most widely used designs towards the end of the steam era. Southern valve gear applied to inside admission piston valve. Valve gear design simulator software charles dockstader has written a program for ms windows which will take the geometry of your valve gear design pretty much every gear type imaginable and show the physical arrangement of the motion, animate the events, draw an indicator card, etc.

I also remember thinking that the trouble with the dockstader software is that it isnt very interactive. Instructions for download and installation the bcwrr is delighted to host charlies valve gear program on its web site. To view his description and download the programs, click here. The socalled basic module is the foundation for all simulationx modules. Stephenson valve gear for climax loco the home machinist. If it has a layout for the gear you are interested in, then it can give some help. Charles dockstader has written a program for ms windows which will take the geometry of your valve. Muncaster, the model engineer and electrician, march 9 1905 p223. You could model the linkage in dockstaders valve gear simulator software to be sure you had it correct before cutting any metal. See how the valve gear systems work engineman wook. Valve gear definition of valve gear by merriamwebster. Many thanks paul and waggy, i am really impressed with that site, i am at present trying to sort out the baker valve gear on a 3 12 juliet. It is fitted to 040wt dolgoch, preserved on the talyllyn railway.

Each design may include many different complex motions. There is no step by step instruction with a typical set of parameters to go about using their software. The hall program shifts the valve setting automatically to compensate, denying useradjustment, but usefully records unequal expansion link swings. The program itself can be switched to english or german language within the headline. Maxton hydraulic elevator valve training simulators.

Thanks to don ashton, bill hall, alan wallace, and charlie dockstader, we now have access to design and simulater programs and equations that enable us to design a valve gear that is. Charlies has by far the most numerous of valve gear designs there are 67. There are several items, including three simulators, of particular interest to the valve gear student, all downloadable without charge. Stephenson valve gear was an early type of valve gear that allowed the cut off of steam admission to be finely adjusted from the footplate. I, the author accept no responsibility for any claim arising from the use of the software.

Baker valve gear applied to inside admission piston valve. Dorot alsintec valve utility program free download software from alsintecdorot company. Valve event, cylinder event and valve ellipse diagram explanation pdf. Don ashtons valve gear simulation software advanced. Jamie keyte of the 5at group is in the process of developing a new steam loco performance simulation package which he has appropriately named steam see separate page of this website. Allan wallace and charlie dockstaders valve gear simulators as i want to run them in bootcamp mode on an imac running os x 10. James valve gear 1832, used first by baltimore and ohio railroad, united states. The walschaerts valve gear was slow to gain popularity. I have made and fitted all the parts and am now in the process of making a stand so that i can suspend it to make it easier to check all the bits are working how they should. He made the software freely available by placing it in the public domain as freeware. Deerfield and roundabout railway an educational demonstration steam powered 7 and 12 inch gauge railway operated by the. Charlie dockstader valve simulation programs the home machinist. Charlie dockstader jamie foster of colorado springs, colorado.

Simulationx for experts offers various modules which you can combine as you see fit depending on your industry sector you work in and the development tasks at hand. Online program for valve gear design walschaerts, further valve gears coming later. Simscale is a 100% cloudbased cae software for valve simulation that lets you test, validate, and optimize your designs through cfd, heat transfer and thermal analysis. Ive run my gear on charlie dockstaders simulator and. To give you some sense of scale, the coupled wheelbase is 53mm, the driver dia.

For each of the three valve gear animations presented the. Wallace of adelaide, author of another valve gear simulator, has kindly removed the anchor link constraint, very cleverly maintaining first design. Steam engine valve gear on the computer windows version by charles dockstader hcr 69 box 3111 california valley ca 93453 805 475 2519. However, the walschaerts valve gear had the advantage that it could be mounted entirely on the outside of the locomotives, leaving the space between the frames clear and allowing easy access for service and adjustment. Box 3111 california valley, ca 934533111 tel 805 475 2519 the programs have been placed in public domain and are freeware. The baker valve gear had one operating advantage over the walschaerts in that it could be set up for a larger valve wlonger valve travel, 812 vs. A simulation of joys valve gear, using dimensions from a model by h. It was used on the overwhelming majority of marine engines. Thanks to don ashton, bill hall, alan wallace, and charlie dockstader, we now have access to design and simulater programs and equations that enable us to design a valve gear that is as near perfect as possible. Valve gear definition of valve gear by the free dictionary. Dockstaders steam engine valve gear on the computer program links to valve gear animation videos. Several programs covering a variety of valve gears has also been created by charles dockstader of the usa and are downloadable from his website.