locomotive safety valve manufacturer

Kunkle Relief Valve OverviewWhen it comes to industrial and commercial safety and relief valve products, Kunkle’s valve’s catalog is second to none in steam, air, gas, and liquid applications.

Kunkle relief valves range in size from ¼” NPT to 6” flange and are suitable in cryogenic and high temperatures up to 800°F environments at vacuum to 7,500 psig pressure. Kunkle Valve’s code certifications meet several global and national board standards, including ASME Section I, Section IV, and Section VIII, PED, CRN, TU and Chinese, as well as non-code requirements.

Relief Valves for Steam ServiceSteam supplies heat for industrial and chemical processes and also is used to heat buildings, supply mechanical energy, and drive mechanical equipment. Steam moves from the boiler to the end point, then heats by direct heating or indirect heating through a heat exchanger. Kunkle steam relief valves are critical to protecting equipment such as boilers, steam lines, and pressure valves, from being over-pressurized.

Relief Valves for Air ServiceKunkle designs valves for air service, for example for air compressors in mechanical shops and small factories where either low-pressure or high-pressure air is required. NASVI stocks Kunkle relief valves for air service in iron, steel and bronze for a variety of uses.

Relief Valves for Liquid ServiceKunkle also makes valves for liquid service, which provide bypass relief in a variety of applications and liquid types.

More About KunkleKunkle Valve is a renowned pressure relief valve manufacturer. Erastus B. Kunkle invented the safety valve to prevent overpressure in locomotive engines. Kunkle patented it in 1875. Since that time, Kunkle has earned its reputation for high-quality valves, and other equipment manufacturers ship their products with Kunkle’s valves pre-installed.

NASVI has stocked Kunkle safety relief valves since we opened in 1975, so we are confident when we call ourselves Kunkle safety valve experts. Every day we fulfill orders for our customers looking for Kunkle relief valves for steam, air, gas, and liquid applications.

... -start valve with Series MX2 air treatment units without the need for additional connection interfaces. The soft-start valve is positioned upstream of the safety valves, ...

Two hands safety valve, which allows a safety use of two hands pneumatic controls (for example two push-button 3/2 N.C. to a certain distance) excluding false signals in case of push-button ...

The SI2 safety valve prevents the allowed operating pressure from being exceeded by more than 10%. If, after opening, the adjusted response pressure falls ...

... stainless steel full-lift clean service safety valve designed to AD Merkblatt A2 and TRD 421 standards and suitable for pure steam, vapour and inert gases.

Insert style flow control valves are comprised of a precision orifice in parallel with a check valve, combined into a single component. Each is designed for easy installation into metal housings using ...

Press-in style flow control valves are comprised of a precision flow orifice in parallel with a check valve, combined into a single component. Each part is designed for easy installation into plastic ...

If you have been searching for a safety release valve that you can use to reduce short-term pressure surges successfully and diminish the effects of gas leaks, this is the product for you. With a pe of ...

... have been type tested as well. These pressure regulators have safety valves which will slam shut in the event of emergencies, such as the gas reaching too high a pressure level. The valve ...

This product has hydraulically actuated class A gas safety valves to EN 161 used for automatic shut-off. It shuts off when unstimulated for gas and air, or even biologically produced methane. It has AISi ...

The S 104 Safety Shut Off valve is mainly used to avoid any damage to components as well as to avoid too high or too low pressure in the gas train. This could cause high financial losses and/or injured ...

The S50 Safety Shut Off valve is mainly used to avoid any damage to components as well as to avoid too high or too low pressure in the gas train. This could cause high financial losses and/or injured ...

The S100 Safety Shut Off valve is mainly used to avoid any damage to components as well as to avoid too high or too low pressure in the gas train. This could cause high financial losses and/or injured ...

... Pressure Safety Valve + Rupture Disk is protected and may be utilized autonomously as essential security gadgets or in conjunction. There are 3 possible combinations. The first combinations ...

Excavator pipe-rupture valves prevent uncontrolled cylinder movement in the event that a pipe or hose bursts. The ESV valve fulfills all of the requirements of the ISO 8643 and EN 474-5 standards for ...

Material: Body- CF8M; Valve Seat- CF8M Métal Seat, PTFE Soft Seat available Orifice Size: fc"(15mm), 3/4M(20mm), l"(25mm), l1/4,’(32mm)I ltë”(40mm), ...

The Safety valves from ATOS are designed to guarantee protection for application on various devices, especially those that monitor spool position. They are also recommended for hydraulic ...

Erastus Boise Kunkle, born on December 14th, 1836, learned the machine trade from his dad. Kunkle labored in a high pressure job before inventing the relief valve.

He worked in the locomotive shops for Pennsylvania Railroad where he invented a lock-up pop safety valve, designed to release steam pressure in locomotive engines. Boiler over pressure was a serious problem, yet relief valves were unheard of at the time.

The Fort Wayne Safety Valve Works, operated by E.B. Kunkle & Company grew and a 100 years later a modified version of the original invention was still in production and the eggbeater was a standard kitchen tool .

In 1947 Kunkle Valve acquired the valve division of the Star Brass Manufacturing . The navy used Kunkle relief valves on ships and later on nuclear submarines.Valve shipments were over 1,000 a day in the 1970s.

In 1991, Kunkle Industries became a division of Anderson, Greenwood & Company. Anderson Greenwood (AGCO) is a current leader in pressure management valve solutions and has a unique back story all it’s own in aviation design.

Contact Flotech for all your valve requirements including pressure safety valves , control valves, manual valves or anything that requires an expert and/or fast turn around.  Contact us for Crosby Valves, Kunkle Valves, Consolidated Relief Valve Repairs, Varecand many other Valves.

Kunkle delivers quality products from cryogenic to high temperature and vacuum to high pressure Steam, Air, Gas, and Liquid applications. Kunkle Valve provides code certifications that meet various global standards such as ASME, PED, CRN, TU and Chinese as well as non-code requirements.

The boiler of a steam locomotive has a maximum operating pressure, which is 250 pounds per square inch (psi) in our case. It is very important that this pressure is not exceeded, as a boiler explosion would have disastrous effects. Therefore, we have safety valves on our boiler to release any excess steam pressure. The correct operation of the safety valves is so important for the safety of the boiler that the regulations state that we need at least two. We have three to ensure that excess steam can always be released quicker than it can be generated.

The three safety valves are positioned, side by side, on top of the boiler barrel, just behind the regulator dome. The middle one points directly upwards, and the other two, because of the curvature of the barrel, point slightly outwards. We set the middle one to lift first, at 250 psi, because a vertical plume of white water vapour looks better. We have the one on the fireman’s side set to lift next, very slightly above 250 psi, so that the fireman can see it. The one on the driver’s side is set to lift last, as that is more likely to dislodge debris from bridges and tunnels, obscuring the driver’s view and damaging the loco.

Our safety valves are of the Ross “pop” type. They are designed to open suddenly at the set point, which allows the fireman to keep the boiler pressure quite close to 250 psi without wasting much steam through “feathering”. They also close suddenly, making a “pop” sound – hence the name.

The valve is held down on to its seat by a coil spring. This, in turn, is held down by the main casing of the safety valve, which is screwed down on to the body. The valve has a guide to keep it in position, and there is an outer lip, known as the Adams Lip.

When the valve starts to lift, and steam escapes, the surface area subject to the pressurised steam is larger, because of the Adams Lip, increasing the force operating on the spring. This makes the transition from shut to feathering quite definite.

As the pressure from the feathering valve builds inside the chamber, it exerts an upward pressure on the cap. When the pressure has increased enough, the cap rises and lifts the nut slightly. This decreases the downward force on the valve, causing it to rise. As it rises, more steam escapes, the pressure in the chamber increases, and the downward force on the valve decreases even more. All this happens almost instantaneously, and this is why the safety valve lifts very suddenly.

The safety valves have to be set. There are two adjustments. The pressure at which the valve lifts is set by screwing or unscrewing the outer casing, which adjusts the compression of the spring. The number of holes in the top cap can be adjusted, which affects the threshold between the valve opening and it closing again.

The safety valves are roughly set beforehand, but the only way to set them accurately is with the engine in steam. Setting them usually requires four people. There are two on top of the firebox, setting the valves, and there are two on the footplate. One of those on the footplate is controlling the pressure, and the other is relaying the readings to those on the firebox. The people working on the safety valves have to have a lot of trust in the people on the footplate.

The boiler pressure is brought up up to see where each valve lifts, and it is then brought down again so that any adjustments can be made. This involves partially dismantling the valve. The top nut and the cap are removed first, using a screwdriver and pliers. The parts are too hot to touch, and you mustn’t put your hand over the valve, just in case it lifts unexpectedly. We then use a specially designed large spanner to turn the outer casing, and adjust the compression of the spring.

As soon as mankind was able to boil water to create steam, the necessity of the safety device became evident. As long as 2000 years ago, the Chinese were using cauldrons with hinged lids to allow (relatively) safer production of steam. At the beginning of the 14th century, chemists used conical plugs and later, compressed springs to act as safety devices on pressurised vessels.

Early in the 19th century, boiler explosions on ships and locomotives frequently resulted from faulty safety devices, which led to the development of the first safety relief valves.

In 1848, Charles Retchie invented the accumulation chamber, which increases the compression surface within the safety valve allowing it to open rapidly within a narrow overpressure margin.

Today, most steam users are compelled by local health and safety regulations to ensure that their plant and processes incorporate safety devices and precautions, which ensure that dangerous conditions are prevented.

The principle type of device used to prevent overpressure in plant is the safety or safety relief valve. The safety valve operates by releasing a volume of fluid from within the plant when a predetermined maximum pressure is reached, thereby reducing the excess pressure in a safe manner. As the safety valve may be the only remaining device to prevent catastrophic failure under overpressure conditions, it is important that any such device is capable of operating at all times and under all possible conditions.

Safety valves should be installed wherever the maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) of a system or pressure-containing vessel is likely to be exceeded. In steam systems, safety valves are typically used for boiler overpressure protection and other applications such as downstream of pressure reducing controls. Although their primary role is for safety, safety valves are also used in process operations to prevent product damage due to excess pressure. Pressure excess can be generated in a number of different situations, including:

The terms ‘safety valve’ and ‘safety relief valve’ are generic terms to describe many varieties of pressure relief devices that are designed to prevent excessive internal fluid pressure build-up. A wide range of different valves is available for many different applications and performance criteria.

In most national standards, specific definitions are given for the terms associated with safety and safety relief valves. There are several notable differences between the terminology used in the USA and Europe. One of the most important differences is that a valve referred to as a ‘safety valve’ in Europe is referred to as a ‘safety relief valve’ or ‘pressure relief valve’ in the USA. In addition, the term ‘safety valve’ in the USA generally refers specifically to the full-lift type of safety valve used in Europe.

Pressure relief valve- A spring-loaded pressure relief valve which is designed to open to relieve excess pressure and to reclose and prevent the further flow of fluid after normal conditions have been restored. It is characterised by a rapid-opening ‘pop’ action or by opening in a manner generally proportional to the increase in pressure over the opening pressure. It may be used for either compressible or incompressible fluids, depending on design, adjustment, or application.

Safety valves are primarily used with compressible gases and in particular for steam and air services. However, they can also be used for process type applications where they may be needed to protect the plant or to prevent spoilage of the product being processed.

Relief valve - A pressure relief device actuated by inlet static pressure having a gradual lift generally proportional to the increase in pressure over opening pressure.

Relief valves are commonly used in liquid systems, especially for lower capacities and thermal expansion duty. They can also be used on pumped systems as pressure overspill devices.

Safety relief valve - A pressure relief valve characterised by rapid opening or pop action, or by opening in proportion to the increase in pressure over the opening pressure, depending on the application, and which may be used either for liquid or compressible fluid.

In general, the safety relief valve will perform as a safety valve when used in a compressible gas system, but it will open in proportion to the overpressure when used in liquid systems, as would a relief valve.

Safety valve- A valve which automatically, without the assistance of any energy other than that of the fluid concerned, discharges a quantity of the fluid so as to prevent a predetermined safe pressure being exceeded, and which is designed to re-close and prevent further flow of fluid after normal pressure conditions of service have been restored.

The boiler of a steam locomotive has a maximum operating pressure, which is 250 pounds per square inch (psi) in our case. It is very important that this pressure is not exceeded, as a boiler explosion would have disastrous effects. Therefore, we have safety valves on our boiler to release any excess steam pressure. The correct operation of the safety valves is so important for the safety of the boiler that the regulations state that we need at least two. We have three to ensure that excess steam can always be released quicker than it can be generated.

The three safety valves are positioned, side by side, on top of the boiler barrel, just behind the regulator dome. The middle one points directly upwards, and the other two, because of the curvature of the barrel, point slightly outwards. We set the middle one to lift first, at 250 psi, because a vertical plume of white water vapour looks better. We have the one on the fireman’s side set to lift next, very slightly above 250 psi, so that the fireman can see it. The one on the driver’s side is set to lift last, as that is more likely to dislodge debris from bridges and tunnels, obscuring the driver’s view and damaging the loco.

Our safety valves are of the Ross “pop” type. They are designed to open suddenly at the set point, which allows the fireman to keep the boiler pressure quite close to 250 psi without wasting much steam through “feathering”. They also close suddenly, making a “pop” sound – hence the name.

The valve is held down on to its seat by a coil spring. This, in turn, is held down by the main casing of the safety valve, which is screwed down on to the body. The valve has a guide to keep it in position, and there is an outer lip, known as the Adams Lip.

When the valve starts to lift, and steam escapes, the surface area subject to the pressurised steam is larger, because of the Adams Lip, increasing the force operating on the spring. This makes the transition from shut to feathering quite definite.

As the pressure from the feathering valve builds inside the chamber, it exerts an upward pressure on the cap. When the pressure has increased enough, the cap rises and lifts the nut slightly. This decreases the downward force on the valve, causing it to rise. As it rises, more steam escapes, the pressure in the chamber increases, and the downward force on the valve decreases even more. All this happens almost instantaneously, and this is why the safety valve lifts very suddenly.

The safety valves have to be set. There are two adjustments. The pressure at which the valve lifts is set by screwing or unscrewing the outer casing, which adjusts the compression of the spring. The number of holes in the top cap can be adjusted, which affects the threshold between the valve opening and it closing again.

The safety valves are roughly set beforehand, but the only way to set them accurately is with the engine in steam. Setting them usually requires four people. There are two on top of the firebox, setting the valves, and there are two on the footplate. One of those on the footplate is controlling the pressure, and the other is relaying the readings to those on the firebox. The people working on the safety valves have to have a lot of trust in the people on the footplate.

The boiler pressure is brought up up to see where each valve lifts, and it is then brought down again so that any adjustments can be made. This involves partially dismantling the valve. The top nut and the cap are removed first, using a screwdriver and pliers. The parts are too hot to touch, and you mustn’t put your hand over the valve, just in case it lifts unexpectedly. We then use a specially designed large spanner to turn the outer casing, and adjust the compression of the spring.

As soon as mankind was able to boil water to create steam, the necessity of the safety device became evident. As long as 2000 years ago, the Chinese were using cauldrons with hinged lids to allow (relatively) safer production of steam. At the beginning of the 14th century, chemists used conical plugs and later, compressed springs to act as safety devices on pressurised vessels.

Early in the 19th century, boiler explosions on ships and locomotives frequently resulted from faulty safety devices, which led to the development of the first safety relief valves.

In 1848, Charles Retchie invented the accumulation chamber, which increases the compression surface within the safety valve allowing it to open rapidly within a narrow overpressure margin.

Today, most steam users are compelled by local health and safety regulations to ensure that their plant and processes incorporate safety devices and precautions, which ensure that dangerous conditions are prevented.

The principle type of device used to prevent overpressure in plant is the safety or safety relief valve. The safety valve operates by releasing a volume of fluid from within the plant when a predetermined maximum pressure is reached, thereby reducing the excess pressure in a safe manner. As the safety valve may be the only remaining device to prevent catastrophic failure under overpressure conditions, it is important that any such device is capable of operating at all times and under all possible conditions.

Safety valves should be installed wherever the maximum allowable working pressure (MAWP) of a system or pressure-containing vessel is likely to be exceeded. In steam systems, safety valves are typically used for boiler overpressure protection and other applications such as downstream of pressure reducing controls. Although their primary role is for safety, safety valves are also used in process operations to prevent product damage due to excess pressure. Pressure excess can be generated in a number of different situations, including:

The terms ‘safety valve’ and ‘safety relief valve’ are generic terms to describe many varieties of pressure relief devices that are designed to prevent excessive internal fluid pressure build-up. A wide range of different valves is available for many different applications and performance criteria.

In most national standards, specific definitions are given for the terms associated with safety and safety relief valves. There are several notable differences between the terminology used in the USA and Europe. One of the most important differences is that a valve referred to as a ‘safety valve’ in Europe is referred to as a ‘safety relief valve’ or ‘pressure relief valve’ in the USA. In addition, the term ‘safety valve’ in the USA generally refers specifically to the full-lift type of safety valve used in Europe.

Pressure relief valve- A spring-loaded pressure relief valve which is designed to open to relieve excess pressure and to reclose and prevent the further flow of fluid after normal conditions have been restored. It is characterised by a rapid-opening ‘pop’ action or by opening in a manner generally proportional to the increase in pressure over the opening pressure. It may be used for either compressible or incompressible fluids, depending on design, adjustment, or application.

Safety valves are primarily used with compressible gases and in particular for steam and air services. However, they can also be used for process type applications where they may be needed to protect the plant or to prevent spoilage of the product being processed.

Relief valve - A pressure relief device actuated by inlet static pressure having a gradual lift generally proportional to the increase in pressure over opening pressure.

Relief valves are commonly used in liquid systems, especially for lower capacities and thermal expansion duty. They can also be used on pumped systems as pressure overspill devices.

Safety relief valve - A pressure relief valve characterised by rapid opening or pop action, or by opening in proportion to the increase in pressure over the opening pressure, depending on the application, and which may be used either for liquid or compressible fluid.

In general, the safety relief valve will perform as a safety valve when used in a compressible gas system, but it will open in proportion to the overpressure when used in liquid systems, as would a relief valve.

Safety valve- A valve which automatically, without the assistance of any energy other than that of the fluid concerned, discharges a quantity of the fluid so as to prevent a predetermined safe pressure being exceeded, and which is designed to re-close and prevent further flow of fluid after normal pressure conditions of service have been restored.

Rail Associates Enterprises, multi-decade experience in the Production of WABCO E-1 SAFETY VALVE Manufacturer in India. Rail ASSO is Leading WABCO E-1 SAFETY VALVE Supplier in India and Overseas Companies. (Operationalized in 1995) is one of the oldest such units in India Who is Exporting WABCO E-1 Inter Cooler Safety Valve in India, We are supplying WABCO E-1 Inter Cooler Safety Valve in India. The Rail ASSO specializes in the sale of WABCO E-1 Inter Cooler Safety Valve distribution in India.

Model Steam Engines are our speciality and we have a wide range of products in stock for your locomotive needs, whether you are a keen collector or are you are building your first model train.

In 1872 Henry G. Ashton patented a new steam-boiler safety valve to help prevent boiler explosions. In that year, or perhaps in 1871, he established Ashton"s Lock Safety Valve Co., with C. J. Bishop, operating out of premises on Pearl Street in Boston. The 1872 Boston Fire burned them out. They relocated briefly to 9 Rowe"s Wharf, and in 1874 they relocated to 262 Purchase Street. By this time the business was doing well and Ashton continued to improve his safety valve. In 1878 or "79 they relocated briefly to 83 Federal Street but another fire forced them to move again in 1879, this time to 271 Franklin Street. Sometime during 1878 or "79 they reorganized as the Ashton Valve Co.

In 1892 they acquired the Boston Steam Gauge Co., and steam gauges would become at least as important a product line as their safety valves. They were also making other accessories for steam boilers and engines, such as a feed-water heaters and water relief valves, and they had introduced a line of steam heating valves.

Henry G. Ashton died in 1895; his son Albert, a recent engineering graduate from MIT, replaced his father as vice-president and continued running the day-to-day operations for more than a quarter century. By 1922, when Albert died, the company was at its peak, with about 250 employees and robust sales. Harry Ashton, who was sales manager, took over some of his brother"s responsibilities but as steam power became increasing obsolescent the company never expanded into other markets. In 1948 the Ashton Valve Co. merged with the Crosby Steam Gage & Valve Co.

1874 Massachusetts Register and Business Directory lists, under "Boiler Safety Apparatus", "Ashton"s Lock Safety Valve Co. C. J. Bishop, 9 Rowe"s wharf".

1875 Sampson, Davenport & Co."s Boston Directory lists "Ashton"s Lock Safety Valve Co., H. G. Ashton, patentee, C. J. Bishop. treas., 262 and 264 Purchase".

1879 Sampson, Davenport & Co."s Boston Directory lists "Ashton Valve Co., 93 Federal". H. G. Ashton was listed as owner and William Howell Reed was treasurer.

1885 Annual Report of the Executive Committee of the Western Railroad Association reports that Consolidated Safety Valve Co. was suing several others, including Ashton Valve Company, for infringing their G. W. Richardson patents 58,294 and 85,963..

1887-06-29 American Engineer has a text ad for "The Ashton Valve Co., / the Ashton noiseless blow back locomotive safety valve, / the Ashton lock safety valve, / the Ashton water relief valve..."

1890 Annual Report of the Executive Committee of the Western Railroad Association reports that Ashton Valve Company had brought suit against the Coale Muffler & Safety Valve Company for infringement of patents 200,119 and 299,504.

1907-01-01 The Plumbers Trade Journal, Steam and Hot Water Fitters" Review. "The Ashton Valve Co.—When the Ashton Valve Company, of 271 Franklin street, Boston, Mass., was organized twenty-five years ago, the officers elected were: President, Charles J. Bishop; treasurer, William Howell Reed, and Henry G. Ashton, vice-president and general manager. Since that time several changes have been made and at the present time John Avery is president; Fred A. Case, vice-president, and Albert S. Ashton, secretary-treasurer. The firm manufactures a line of well-known specialties, including pop safety valves, steam heating valves, water relief valves, and pressure and vacuum gauges."

According to patent records, Ashton Valve Co. was located in Hartford, CT., between 1900 and 1902; in Boston, MA, between 1909 and 1924; and in Cambridge, MA, between 1927 and 1938.

The J-1 Safety Valve installed vertically in the main reservoir system vents pressure at a predetermined setting to atmosphere in order to prevent excessive main reservoir pressure buildup.its used railway.

A safety valve is a valve mechanism for the automatic release of steam from the boiler of a steam locomotive, which helps prevent from a steam locomotive from exploding.

Safety valves were first used on steam locomotives during the industrial revolution in the late-1800"s. Early boilers without them were prone to accidental explosion.

Vacuum safety valves (or combined pressure/vacuum safety valves) are used to prevent a tank from collapsing while emptying it or when cold rinse water is used after hot water.

The calculation method is not defined in any normal temperature when sizing a vacuum safety valve, particularly in the hot/cold water scenario, but some manufacturers have developed simulations to do so.