Author Topic: Hancock Inspirators vs Sellers Injectors Part 1  (Read 5541 times)

Roger Whitney

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Hancock Inspirators vs Sellers Injectors Part 1
« on: November 25, 2011, 09:04:24 PM »
My apologies for not posting on Thursday due to storm related router problems.....here it is today, Friday.....

Hancock Inspirators vs Sellers Injectors Part 1
   The year 1912 saw a lot of correspondence between Vulcan Iron Works of Wilks-Barre PA and Superintendent Morrill.  They were to build a new locomotive for the Monson, as the two original Hinckleys were rapidly wearing out.
   In a letter to G.F. Barnard Gen Mgr of the Monson dated January 15, 1913, (shortly before delivery)  Supt Morrill pointed out to Barnard that Vulcan specified using Sellers Injectors rather than Hancock Inspirators.  However earlier in the negotiations, Morrill changed that to Hancock Inspirators, his reasoning being that since the original engines (Hinckleys No. 1 and No. 2) had the Hancocks “it would be better to have the new ones interchangeable with the old ones.”
   However someone must have been talking to Morrill about changing back to the Sellers, and was successful. The last paragraph of the letter confirms that he had been talking with “those who used the Sellers”, probably not his own engine crews as they were long time employees of the Monson.
In this letter Harold is asking that his decision be reversed and that the new locos come with Sellers injectors.
   Harold went on to state that “We are continually having trouble with the Hancock Inspirators and they always have to be sent to the manufacturer to be repaired, and frequently after being returned to us, they do not work well.”  They currently have two “new ones” which have had to go back after very little use.
   The change was made in the specs for Vulcan No. 3.  But what was wrong with the Hancocks???  What’s the difference between an injector and an inspirator???  More on the next blog…….
   

Keith Taylor

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Re: Hancock Inspirators vs Sellers Injectors Part 1
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2011, 12:02:23 PM »
    But what was wrong with the Hancocks???  What’s the difference between an injector and an inspirator???     


Roger the difference between an Inspirator and and Injector is an inspirator is a double apparatus that combines the lifting and forcing tubes in one instrument with a closed overflow. In an injector they are all seperate entities. (In one chamber)
Basically...a Hancock inspirator has more connected moving parts with levers connected to the operating handle that automatically closes the overflow. The Sellers was a much simpler arrangement, but was made under license from Giffard in France...the inventor of the injector. I'm guessing that Hancock went with the more complex inspirator to get around the Giffard patent on injectors.
Keith
« Last Edit: December 01, 2011, 03:59:37 PM by Keith Taylor »