Horizontal Uniflow

[PaulR]

I'm contemplating trying to make a horizontal version of the simple uniflow engine I built last year:

https://www.modelenginemaker.com/index.php/topic,12542.0.html

Is there likely to be an issue using a ball/activator rod in a horizontal orientation ie could it end up with a situation like the diagram or will the air lift it onto its seat?

[Jasonb]

I think you will need to guide it into the seat or at the very least have a lot less clearance around it than shown and also have a light spring otherwise your balls are likely to drop!

[PaulR]

I think you will need to guide it into the seat or at the very least have a lot less clearance around it than shown and also have a light spring otherwise your balls are likely to drop!

I was thinking about making the approach conical (basically a drilled hole leading to a flat bottom with the seat. Would that do it?

[Jasonb]

So long as it is fairly steep, too shallow and the bal could get stuck.

If you work out the area around the pin, you only need a similar area around the ball as the air flow will be limited by what can get past the pin  so the hole for the ball only needs to be a little larger than it's diameter.

[PaulR]

So long as it is fairly steep, too shallow and the bal could get stuck.

If you work out the area around the pin, you only need a similar area around the ball as the air flow will be limited by what can get past the pin  so the hole for the ball only needs to be a little larger than it's diameter.

Got it, thanks. It might be a bit tricky to make a cone of the right size/shape though... I'll ponder some more while finishing off the current build. 

[PaulR]

Had a rather large  moment... why didn't I just lie the vertical engine on its side to test the idea?!

Seems to work...

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4lOvumJ_gI" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4lOvumJ_gI</a>