In article <
ctkco7tk8m6oon24f...@4ax.com>,
sac...@omen.net.au says...
>
> On Wed, 21 Mar 2012 10:07:38 -0000, DaveB <
g8...@uko2.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >I remember a standby genset doing the same thing at a telephone exchange
> >when I worked for them as a tender apprentice all those years ago.
> >Trouble was, it had a large sump, with lots of engine oil to use. The
> >"Remote Off" control of course did nothing.
> >
> >I was told that when a tech type went to sort it (it was thought at
> >first to be an electrical problem) he couldnt get near the site at first
> >as Plod+Fire had cordoned off the exchange as they thought the place was
> >on fire there was so much smoke.
> >
> >Dunno how it was eventualy stopped, vague memory has something about a
> >fire hose (or similar) in the engine inlet!
>
> That isn't a very smart way to deal with a runaway diesel. Normally,
> you just put a stout metal plate over the inlet.
>
> Older series landies had a "strangle" valve that would do the same
> thing by a cable to the steering column. Especially for the scenario
> of the oil bath air cleaner feeding the engine....
The cable pull by the steering column on a series diesel, is the main
engine stop. It operated a lever on the side of the injection pump,
that somehow (I forget exactly) prevents injection presure being built.
Nothing to do with the posiblility of injesting air cleaner oil.
The "strangle valve" bolted onto the inlet manifold of some, was to
build vaccuum for the brake servo where fitted (on 109's) it was coupled
to the throttle pedal and "sort of" closed off the inlet, when you took
your foot of the pedal, so you got some vaccuum for the servo. Worked
suprisingly well, when adjusted right..
(There was also a non return valve, and a vaccuum storage tank too,
"Tee'd" into the hose to the servo.)
It is useless to stop the engine when the trottle return spring on the
side of the pump breaks and fall's off (happened twice to me, crossing
the England Scotland border on both ocasions. At night too!) All it
does is create a "naval quality smoke screen" behind you, while the
engine races at full chat as normal. Probably be more effective if it
was using engine oil as fuel, but I sort of doubt it, just changing the
colour of the smoke at a guess.
The "Stout metal plate on the inlet" trick, only works if the inlet is
accessable, and is able to be nicely "blanked" like that, you *Have*
such a plate available, and you can make a good seal with it, plus you
have a volunteer with no sence of personal safety. Would you want to
aproach a run-away engine and do that?
I'd doubt the fire service would have done the hose in the inlet trick
lightly (*If* that's what they did) and not after considering
alternative options. (CO2 in the inlet?) The engine was probably scrap
by then, long before it was finally killed off in any case.
Regards.
Dave B.