Author Topic: The Rainbows Engine.......  (Read 16039 times)

Offline Stilldrillin

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The Rainbows Engine.......
« on: February 22, 2014, 08:34:20 AM »
Every year, members of my other forum have a charity steam up, at Eastwood in Nottingham. Near to Junction 26 of the M1 motorway.

Hence..... The J26 Steamup. On behalf of the Rainbows Children's Hospice.

Last year, we made over £2,500.

Presentation day.......





At the end of the day, this orphan was left on my table.

It will be recycled, then auctioned on forum.........




I believe it has traveled all the way from Australia. Then had a little adventure here. Before finally coming to me.........




Stripped.........




Another poorly designed Seig engine. Unfortunately, there are a few things, not right.

The aftermarket perspex base holds the burner in the wrong position.
The displacer is too short, compared to the swept volume of the hot cap.
The ratio between pistons is only 1.15.

I'm thinking of enlarging the displacer volume, this time. As opposed to (usually) sleeving down the power cylinder.


Hopefully, there will be steady progress. As and when, I can get comfortable workshop time........

David D
« Last Edit: March 21, 2014, 04:54:34 PM by Stilldrillin »
David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Online steamer

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2014, 08:50:14 AM »
That's cool Dave!... :ThumbsUp:

Dave
"Mister M'Andrew, don't you think steam spoils romance at sea?"
Damned ijjit!

Offline K.B.C

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #2 on: February 22, 2014, 10:44:45 AM »
Dave,
Leave it to Chief Engineer MIA, she'll fix it, no problem !!!!!!!!

Great stuff with the RAINBOW TRUST.

George.
Your never too old to learn.

Offline Ian S C

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #3 on: February 22, 2014, 11:09:46 AM »
I was just wondering, does it work with that ratio, and does it take a lot of heat to get it moving?      Ian S C

Offline ths

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #4 on: February 22, 2014, 11:55:35 AM »
There must be thousands of these engines incapable of movement world wide. I'm looking forward to your corrections!

Hugh.

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #5 on: February 22, 2014, 01:46:15 PM »
Thank you, Dave!  :ThumbsUp:

George.
That young apprentice needs a little more tool training, as yet.......
She gave her engine a couple of clonks with her twister. Knocking off several chips of lovingly applied paint!  :wallbang:
The twister's been replaced by a standard, 4mm allen key. She's not impressed! 

Ian.
There is a posting on the steam forum, dated 2010. Not sure if it ran happily, if at all. If that is the same engine.......

As we know, the recognized minimum is 1.5. I reckon I can beat that. Probably!  ;)

Hugh.
My sentiments, exactly! I'm looking forward to it performing on my tartan table, at the J26 show!  :)

David D
David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Offline b.lindsey

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #6 on: February 22, 2014, 02:05:16 PM »
I am sure you will work your magic on it David resulting in another fine runner. Once auctioned, do the proceeds benefit the Hospice? If so, I can't imagine a more worthy cause!!

Bill

fcheslop

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #7 on: February 22, 2014, 02:22:03 PM »
Hi David, that will keep you out of mischief for a while :ThumbsUp: Good luck with the auction.
All proceeds go to the charity and David and Pete do a tremendous job every year   :NotWorthy: :NotWorthy: :NotWorthy:
Will give you a bell tonight just email youre number again :facepalm:Maybe at Keddleston Hall Sunday so you can hide under the table
Cheers
« Last Edit: February 22, 2014, 07:36:31 PM by fcheslop »

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #8 on: February 22, 2014, 08:12:21 PM »
Thanks for your confidence, Bill!  :ThumbsUp:

I'm sure there will be the odd stumble, along the way......  ;)

Every penny we make goes to the hospice, at the handover. Usually mid August.


Thanks Frazer.

If you're passing. We'll not be hiding......  :)

David D

David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Offline krv3000

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #9 on: February 22, 2014, 09:51:14 PM »
hi as looking forward to this

Offline Ramon Wilson

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #10 on: February 22, 2014, 11:03:48 PM »
I can't say hot air engines are especially my cup o' tea David but good luck with your rebuild of this one, and particularly for such a noble cause  :ThumbsUp:

Ramon
"I ain't here for the long time but I am here for a good time"
(a very apt phrase - thanks to a well meaning MEM friend)

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #11 on: February 28, 2014, 08:01:38 PM »
Bob, Ramon.
Thanks for your kind comments!  :ThumbsUp:


I had a good think, about making a new hot cap/ displacer, with the largest possible diameter. The 24mm dia locating recess is the limiting factor.

Trepanned through the square flange.

Piece of 1" dia tube. It's bore cleaned up at 22.5mm.........




Set up central to the mounting holes pcd.......




And bored to 24mm, plus a bit........




Friction turned a 1.5mm thick, end plug.

The machining heat glued it to the delrin. Handy for deburring........




Flux and silver solder.......




Penetrated nicely........




Cleaned up nicely.........




T'other end. No small dia solder in stock.........




Nicely filled, and penetrated........




Cleaned up ok. Spigot to 24mm......




That should make an improvement.......




Steel displacer, next.

Thanks for looking in.....   :)

David D
David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Offline Stilldrillin

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #12 on: March 09, 2014, 10:38:35 PM »
Next job. The displacer.
 
I found a piece of thin wall steel tube. (Handle from a Vileda mop), 21.5mm o/d. Perfectly matching the hot cap bore of 22.5mm.

Silver soldered the hot end. Same as hot cap, previously.

Turned a top hat bush, with 6mm spigot to accommodate the M3 thread. Also, a groove, for solder......




Formed solder ring. Fluxed. Then closed together........




With no vent hole, the solder burped a couple of times as it melted. Worked ok though.......




Cleaned up. Drilled/ tapped, then fitted the displacer shaft.

Comparison to original components.......




I adjusted the displacer to give 1mm clearance, at either end of stroke.

Then literally, just screwed the parts together. For test purposes.


And, tested..........

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-XZYav6HrI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-XZYav6HrI</a>


It's a (noisy) runner! Oh HAPPY DAY!!!  :whoohoo:   :cartwheel:



Several of the sloppy linkages need bushing/ shimming. A couple of shafts need replacing, and a new wooden base. But, overall I'm pleased with progress.  :)

Thanks for looking in!

David D
David.
Still modifying bits of metal... Occasionally, making an improvement!
Still drilling holes... Sometimes, in the right place!

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #13 on: March 09, 2014, 11:07:42 PM »
A happy orphan! What are the plans for it?
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
"To work. To work."
Zee-Another Thread Trasher.

fcheslop

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Re: The Rainbows Engine.......
« Reply #14 on: March 09, 2014, 11:10:46 PM »
A runner :NotWorthy: :NotWorthy: :NotWorthy:
still think we have to be mad to play with these engines :insane: but its fun
Good luck with the auction
« Last Edit: March 09, 2014, 11:16:05 PM by fcheslop »

 

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