What sort of engine is this?

[PaulR]

Of the thousands of engine on Youtube this has to be one of my favourites but I can't find out any more details, does anyone here know anything about it please?

It seems to be fed with steam in the same manner as the early Murdock oscillating engines, with a (rotary?) valve in a very large chamber, controlled by an eccentric. There seems to be a constant rather than pulsed flow of exhaust steam from the opposite trunnion.

I'd like to build something based on this arrangement as it looks fairly straightforward (apart from the steam connections!).

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OZgJZnlTBM" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OZgJZnlTBM</a>

[Sanjay F]

Now that's a piece of kit, luv it! Seems like a resting dragon has awoken in a bad mood! 

I came across this when looking, different crank

[EricB]

Here's a longer video of that engine. Still no information on it. Neat engine!

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc2m436_WNk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc2m436_WNk</a>

Eric

[crueby]

That is a neat engine and also the saw. That engine has plenty of power, and does have a snorting dragon aura!

[Jasonb]

There are a lot of different ways to actuate the valves of oscillating engines, some have much like your recent build and just use porting in the mating faces. Others use a fixed point linkage that actuates the valve, others a quadrant and finally an eccentric. That one looks to have  arocking valve rather than a slide valve

The sealing of the trunnions is not too difficult to arrange, just needs some good concentric turning. That one should be quite easy as the inlett and exhaust connections are free to rotate, it's a bit harder when you don't have flexible pipes and they need to remain stationary. Assuming you are not wanting to make a scale looking replica but just replicate the mechanics it would be quite easy to just have two side plates with a hole in them which would be enough for a simple pivot.

I think the constant flow from the exhaust is likely blowby on an old worn engine, possibly the valve leaking..

Couple of types I have done

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQl8cqJ17Fc" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQl8cqJ17Fc</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE2lvebyZlk" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hE2lvebyZlk</a>

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBbB2WvekKo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBbB2WvekKo</a>

[Michael S.]

Unfortunately, I couldn't find a drawing of this motor. My old mechanical engineering books only describe the more complicated versions.

Jason, I really like the motor in the first video 👍.

Michael

[PaulR]

Thanks for all the replies, info, video and images. It looks more like a steam robot sat in a rocking chair pedaling the flywheel to me 

Jason, I'd like to shoot for something using the same mechanism but not a scale replica! I'd prefer not to have the inlet pipe free to rotate but need to give that some thought. What do you think the valve is like internally on this engine -  flats on a shaft like the other engine I did recently?

I made this engine years ago but never finished it properly. It had an inlet pipe which rotated.

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny2OehkQdiY" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ny2OehkQdiY</a>

What's the deal with the arm and long 'snout' on the engine - just a rod guide and lubrication point on top?

[Jasonb]

The simple flat like you use before would do but I think you only used that on a single acting piston?. I suspect the one on this engine is a bit more detailed with three passages going into the circular steam chamber and a more hollowed out valve spindle but again it should be possible to do a simple flat and drilled passages.

Yes it is just a long guide for the piston rod but could be done with a basic trunk guide or just a long gland on the cylinder cover.

[PaulR]

The simple flat like you use before would do but I think you only used that on a single acting piston?. I suspect the one on this engine is a bit more detailed with three passages going into the circular steam chamber and a more hollowed out valve spindle but again it should be possible to do a simple flat and drilled passages.

Yes it is just a long guide for the piston rod but could be done with a basic trunk guide or just a long gland on the cylinder cover.

OK thanks 

[PaulR]

Some of their later engines (1892 catalogue):

https://archive.org/details/eire-city-iron-works-1892-32/mode/2up

EDIT: This relates to the Erie engine in the long video, no the oscillating one.

[PaulR]

How does the steam get to the valve chest - inside this part of the casting (and out via the matching one on the other side)?

[Michael S.]

I think it's like the one depicted in a Dutch blueprint for a similar oscillating steam engine. There are cast iron channels for the steam on the left and right sides of the cylinder.

Michael

[PaulR]

Thanks Michael. Those passages are quite close to the bore, with my unreliable drill I'll probably have to come up with a slightly different solution...

[Jasonb]

Yes the steam travels through those additions to the casting.

It can be done with drillings but if you are going to be using your 19mm square cylinder material will need some care, I suppose the cylinder could be held in the 4-jaw for the drilling which may be more accurate.

A you will have a square cylinder to start with things are a bit easier and it may be possible to have a plate between steam valve body and the cylinder with some passages cut into that.

What I would probably do is make the cylinder pivot as one solid piece and drill in from each end leaving an undrilled piece in the middle. Then drill across the cylinder material and solder the pivot into place. This will ensure your pivots either side line up. You can then bore the cylinder right through and would only need to drill down two holes to meet the ones previously drilled in the pivot.

[PaulR]

A you will have a square cylinder to start with things are a bit easier and it may be possible to have a plate between steam valve body and the cylinder with some passages cut into that.

What I would probably do is make the cylinder pivot as one solid piece and drill in from each end leaving an undrilled piece in the middle. Then drill across the cylinder material and solder the pivot into place. This will ensure your pivots either side line up. You can then bore the cylinder right through and would only need to drill down two holes to meet the ones previously drilled in the pivot.

With the recent fabricated cylinder successes I'm thinking about making it a bit more like the original, a round cylinder with square valve chest, and maybe a bit bigger than usual. I could still make the pivot from one piece, cross drilling the cylinder in the lathe then soldering. I need to get some more materials and threading equipment for smaller and finer threads and make a dividing widget/detent for the lathe so might take a few weeks to get going on this one (might wait til the October show see if there are any bargains to be had  ). Might make something simpler in the meantime.