Ramsbottom Safety Valve

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The Ramsbottom safety valve was designed for Bharat Electronics Limited, Ministry of Defence in 2012. Invented in 1855 by John Ramsbottom, the locomotive superintendent of LNWR, this innovative valve aimed to enhance reliability and tamper-resistance. The valve comprised a pair of plug valves held down by a common spring-loaded lever with a single central spring. To encourage safe usage, the lever was designed to check if either valve was sticking in its seat, and would free up the valves alternately when rocked. Various forms of this valve were produced over time, with some being separate fittings, housed within a U-shaped structure or even set inside the boiler shell. However, the increased complexity led to potential maintenance issues, as misassembly could lead to faulty functioning and even catastrophic accidents such as the 1909 Rhymney Railway explosion. Naylor valves, which reduced strain on the spring for more consistent force, were introduced around 1866 to address these drawbacks.