WH S6 Governor Asbestos Remediation

Andy Nold · **Joined:** Tue Dec 14, 2004 5:45 pm **Posts:** 297

I have been going through the components of a safety car control equipment for our Northern Texas Traction Birney. In looking at the Westinghouse S6 beetleback governor, I see that the interior of the cover is lined with asbestos. It is in generally good condition, but I am wondering about remediation and replacement and what materials are suitable for relining the cover when the asbestos is replaced. Has anyone found a good replacement liner material?

Dave · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:31 pm

Hey Andy - working on the same things now for Esmerelda, our Portuguese Victorian single truck. There's a product called TRANSITE that replaces the rigid asbestos millboard, and another - I need to find my notes - 1/32" thick product that replaces the felt. If the asbestos lining isn't coming apart, perhaps simply encapsulating it in a few coats of red insulating varnish would last for quite a while, especially if you annually recoat as needed.

Do you have a source for the cast iron grid sections for Rosie?

Dave

Dave · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2015 2:40 pm

Glastic FHT 1800.

David H. Hamley · **Joined:** Tue Aug 24, 2004 3:07 pm **Posts:** 705

When I hear the word "Transite" what comes to mind is a hard, dense gray board made mostly of asbestos--the rigid kind not prone to turning into floating white fuzzies. Or is there some other formulation now?

The woven insulating medium is "Nomex," a DuPont product I believe. It sees a lot of use as housing liners, replacing the soft asbestos cloth.

Andy Nold · **Joined:** Tue Dec 14, 2004 5:45 pm **Posts:** 297

I was thinking several coats of glyptal for the time being, but ultimately I think replacement would be preferable.

http://www.redseal.com/non-metallic-insulation-products/transite-ht.aspx

http://www.redseal.com/non-metallic-insulation-products/transite-1000.aspx

http://www.dupont.com/products-and-services/electronic-electrical-materials/electrical-insulation/brands/nomex-electrical-insulation.html

The modern transite materials sound like the old hard board asbestos containing product that David mentions. Not sure that it would be practical to line the curved cover of the compressor governor with hard materials. I found a link to nomex paper, which sounds like something that may more readily be pressed into the cover as a liner.

Dave · **Posted:** Wed Nov 11, 2015 4:43 pm

New Transite is not asbestos. The Glastic isn't rigid, but it isn't cloth either, sort of a fiberous cardboardish sheet better suited for lining controller covers. The Nomex might be more easily fit into a compound curve with less finicky cutting and lapping, haven't used it. I'd be interested in your experience if you try it.

Andy Nold · **Joined:** Tue Dec 14, 2004 5:45 pm **Posts:** 297

I meant that it sounds like the new transite has similar properties as the old transite as far as flexibility.

I have put in an email to a insulation supplier asking about Nomex Paper and other suitable replacements for the asbestos cloth. I will share when I hear back. The 410 paper I initially looked at was about $14 per 24"x36" sheet when purchased in quantities of 100.

Brian Norden · **Posted:** Sat Nov 14, 2015 3:40 am

Here is the link to the Wikipedia page about "Transite." It tells of the historic material and the current product (with links to that product):

Wikipedia: Transite

EDM · **Posted:** Sun Nov 15, 2015 12:02 am

I worked in a transformer factory during my college years, winding coils, and we used both Nomex and a flexible yellow material called varnished glass for layer insulation and for finel wrappers on coils. I believe varnished glass was a woven fiberglas material, coated with some sort of varnish; this might be another alternative.

Dave · **Posted:** Sun Nov 15, 2015 9:49 am

That's a good idea -a nonconductive woven fiberglass type cloth that can be saturated with Gyptol. Who knows about fiberglass fabrics?

Andy Nold · **Joined:** Tue Dec 14, 2004 5:45 pm **Posts:** 297

Dave, that's pretty close to the same suggestion that the sales person recommended after I sent him a sketch of the governor. He was worried that the paper might not conform to the curved cover of the governor.

Quote:

After seeing it, I don't recommend the Nomex 410 as it won't conform really well to the bell jar shape. You might be able to either line it with an epoxy coating or
epoxy a woven glass fabric to the wall. For the 600 VDC, voltage I don't think you
are going to need much more than a positive space factor making sure that nothing
goes to ground through the housing.

Epoxy powder coaters might be able to offer you a more permanent solution. More
important that in electrical strength is the arc track resistance. This is when the
electricity tracks along the surface looking for ground potential.