Author Topic: A visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester).  (Read 2700 times)

Offline ShopShoe

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Re: A visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester).
« Reply #15 on: September 14, 2018, 02:15:32 PM »
FYI

There is also information on "Water Engines" and hydraulic power here:

http://www.douglas-self.com/MUSEUM/POWER/waterengine/waterengine.htm

ShopShoe

Offline Gas_mantle

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Re: A visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester).
« Reply #16 on: September 14, 2018, 02:48:29 PM »
Thanks guys  :)

Until visiting the museum I hadn't realised hydraulic power was used on fairly large scale operations, looking at it now with the benefit of an electric National Grid a water version sounds like a non starter but clearly it was reasonably successful. It would appear the Manchester network was still expanding as late as 1948 when there were 35 miles of under street pipes and it still operated in a reduced form as late as 1972 !

You really have to give the Victorians credit for coming up with a system that enabled them to wind up the Town Hall clock and power the Opera House curtains using under street water at 1100psi  :headscratch:

Graham, I hadn't really thought much about the fuel source needed for a model Otto Crossley engine but that along with the engineering challenges in building one explains why you don't see many  ;)


Offline Alyn Foundry

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Re: A visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester).
« Reply #17 on: September 14, 2018, 04:10:52 PM »
Well Peter.

If you thought that was interesting, how about another forgotten energy source, also used before electricity became the norm.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trompe

Perhaps more up " your alley " as the compressed air was used to drive converted steam engines. This could almost be considered " free " energy as Mother Nature provides.

Cheers Graham.

Offline crueby

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Re: A visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester).
« Reply #18 on: September 14, 2018, 05:00:04 PM »
Well Peter.

If you thought that was interesting, how about another forgotten energy source, also used before electricity became the norm.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trompe

Perhaps more up " your alley " as the compressed air was used to drive converted steam engines. This could almost be considered " free " energy as Mother Nature provides.

Cheers Graham.
Thats a slick system, simaler effect to water feed into a boiler from the steam flow itself. Never seen this before, intersting!

Offline kvom

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Re: A visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester).
« Reply #19 on: September 14, 2018, 05:56:17 PM »
At the Henry Ford museum near Detroit I saw a small engine that was powered by home water pressure;  I believe it powered a washing machine although I may be mistaken about that.

I'm estimating that the grasshopper haulage engine's cylinder is about 3' high with a 6' diameter flywheel.  I'm trying to decide what scale my Muncaster should be in order for any brickwork to look correct.  Dollhouse brick is 1:12, so if I use that my engine's putative prototype would have an 11' flywheel.  My alternative, that I'll experiment with, is to make brickwork myself via engraving on aluminum with orange powdercoat; that can me made to any scale.

Is there any historical info on how large this type of engine could be?

Offline gary.a.ayres

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Re: A visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester).
« Reply #20 on: September 18, 2018, 11:36:56 PM »







Offline crueby

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Re: A visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester).
« Reply #21 on: September 18, 2018, 11:40:31 PM »
Wonderful photos Gary! Those would be worthy of a tech calendar!

Offline gary.a.ayres

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Re: A visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester).
« Reply #22 on: September 18, 2018, 11:48:11 PM »
Thank you Chris   :)

Offline zeeprogrammer

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Re: A visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester).
« Reply #23 on: September 18, 2018, 11:50:55 PM »
The close-ups are great! One doesn't get very many of those. I can see them hanging on a wall.
Carl (aka Zee) Will sometimes respond to 'hey' but never 'hey you'.
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Zee-Another Thread Trasher.

Offline gary.a.ayres

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Re: A visit to the Museum of Science and Industry (Manchester).
« Reply #24 on: September 18, 2018, 11:51:51 PM »
Thanks Carl   :ThumbsUp:


 

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