Engines > From Plans
Greene Automatic Cutoff Steam Engine
kvom:
I will be picking up a set of castings at NAMES for this engine. The origins are from Historic Models and Reproductions from whom I got the castings for the Joy engine. The plans and castings are now owned by Downriver Tools. From their website:
--- Quote ---- Improved Green Automatic Cut-Off Engine
This horizontal steam engine castings and drawings kit is based on the original automatic steam cut-off engine design by Nobel Green in 1838. The model has a 1 1/2 inch bore, 3 inch stroke and the flywheel is 11 ˝ inches diameter.
This engine, built by the Providence Steam Engine Company in Providence, Rhode Island, incorporated variable steam cut-off several years before George Corliss patented his famous variable cut-off Corliss valve gear. Our model is based on a 150 HP, 17 inch bore and 36 inch stroke Improved Green Automatic cut-Off Engine that has been restored and preserved by the New England Wireless and Steam Museum in East Greenwhich, RI.
Green’s engine design used what has been known as a detachable valve-gear. The detachable valve-gear varies the steam cut-off point by using the engine governor to raise or lower trip points that operate levers to open the steam inlet valves. The higher the trip point, the longer the steam inlet valve stays open allowing more steam into the engine’s cylinder. The detachable valve gear was designed by Frederick Sickels and patented in 1841. Sickels was only interested in the marine applications of his valve gear and sold the rights to use his patent on land based engines to the Providence Steam Engine company. Then, when George Corliss introduced his variable cut-off valve gear in the late 1840’s, the Providence Steam Engine Company sued Corliss for patent infringement.
The court battle between George Corliss and the Providence Steam Engine Company raged on for over 10 years and became a landmark court case over what can and cannot be patented. In the course of the court battle, Corliss won an injunction preventing the Providence Steam Engine Company from building and selling the Green designed engine. The court case was finally settled in Corliss’ favor and Corliss’ original patent was extended by the US patent office on the basis that the law suits had prevented Corliss from benefiting from his patent.
In 1869, the Corliss valve gear patents finally expired and the Providence Steam Engine Company began producing the Green engine again. The Green Engine was given some minor upgrades and changes and then introduced as the “Improved” Green Automatic Cut-Off Engine even though it was basically the same engine Noble Green designed in 1838.
Specifications:
Scale: 1 inch = 1 foot (1:12)
Cylinder: 1-1/2 inch bore x 3 inches stroke
Flywheel: 11-1/2 inches diameter
Overall size: 22-1/2 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches high
--- End quote ---
I suspect this will prove a good challenge. The photo below is from their website and represents the only example I've seen running (twice at NAMES). I don't know the builder's name, but he likes to surface grind as much of the parts as possible. Mine will look a bit different color wise, and probably not as finely built. I purchased the plans a year ago so I've had some time to get an idea where the problems will be.
crueby:
That should be a very interesting model.... Gotta go check the popcorn kernel supply...
fumopuc:
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Hi Kirk, here a model build from bar stock of one of our German forum member.
http://www.dampfundmehr.de/HP/green/im_bau/green_0.htm
crueby:
--- Quote from: fumopuc on April 28, 2019, 07:53:56 PM ---
Hi Kirk, here a model build from bar stock of one of our German forum member.
http://www.dampfundmehr.de/HP/green/im_bau/green_0.htm
--- End quote ---
That is a beautiful model! One bit I have never seen before is a part on the crankshaft next to the eccentric and the governor belt takeoff - looks to be hinged over to the base casting, and wobbles back and forth - some sort of oil pump? You can see it in one of the photos, and partway through the video at timestamp 1:15. Any idea what it is?
Admiral_dk:
I might be mistaken, but look later in the video where you see the bottom two valves controlled by an axel that only oscillates a few degrees back and forth .... :old:
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