Mystery steam engine

[chris123]

I am looking at the relative positions of reversing handwheel shaft that runs across on end of the engine and the weighshaft that runs down the side and moves the reversing gear. If there was a lever on the end of the weighshaft then I would expect the revesing shaft to have been threaded. As it is not, I think perhaps it should have a worm and sector arrangement.

It also seems to be missing the 'lifting links' from the weighshaft to the pins on the ends of the curved 'expansion links'.

Thank you charles
Would you have a guess for the make?
Could u send a pic if possible
I think i know what u mean
Im new to steam
Regards chris

 

[Charles Lamont]

No idea who designed or made it, but it has some high-end features. How big is it?

 

[chris123]

No idea who designed or made it, but it has some high-end features. How big is it?

 

[chris123]

Hi charles have u seen what green twin
Said ?
I leave it alone until i know exactly what im doing
Needs a boiler
Can make one if suitable plans avalable
Anyway
How should i proceed?

 

[chris123]

The Stuart vertical compound engines appear to have the steam chests generally on the outsides of the cylinders, not like yours which are between the cylinders on the inside.

https://www.stuartmodels.com/products/set-of-castings/page/2/

Here is a photo from Preston Services (no my photo).
I think some sort of arm is what you need, similar to this, but not this complex.

View attachment 163373

Yes that looks about right

 

[chris123]

Also, be cautious about disassembling the engine, especially the eccentrics and valve gear, since it may be very difficult to get the timing set back correctly again.

Can you machine things?
The arm is not a complex thing to fabricate, assuming you know how to fabricate/machine things.

It is a matter of finding the right radius, and matching the holes required on both ends of the arm.

You can reverse-engineer entire engines from photos alone, so the fact that you have an almost comlete engine puts you way ahead of most situations.

.

Hi green twin
Yes i got a lathe rotarytable and miller
And more i can machine stuff
And i will if i know exactly what i have to do
You know. How long these rods have to be
And how can i get this radius ?
We wil see i hope some more people have a look and give their opinion
You helped me bigtime thank you

 

[GreenTwin]

There are a couple of approaches.
Off the top of my head, I would say the horizontal link rod length can be determined by putting the link in mid position, and the arm that is on the horizontal shaft in the vertical position.
The length of the rod should be from the centerline of the link boss to the centerline of the arm when it is in the vertical position.

You can test this with some temporary rods made from wood or something.
With this length rod, you should be able to rotate the horizontal shaft, and get full link travel in the forward and rear positions.

The full forward and full rear link positions will determine positions on the shaft that can be worked backwards into where the gear teeth need to be on the pie-shaped gear that will be on the horizontal shaft.
I am assuming you will need a pie-shaped gear on the horizontal shaft that is driven by a worm gear on the shaft that has the round handle.

Mock-up the pie shaped gear in cardboard or something.

You could possibly find a gear that works with a worm drive gear, and cut that gear into a pie shape, assuming you could get your centers correct.
Otherwise you will have to fabricate the gears.
.

 

[chris123]

You are the man
Thank you
Any suggestions for a boiler?
Chris

 

[GreenTwin]

Boilers are a thorny topic, give that some insist that they be made as certified to some code, and some don't think they need to be made certified.
A boiler that is not made correctly is a very dangerous thing.
I can't really get into the boiler topic; there is too much to that, and not complete agreement on how to safely build one.
.

 

[Steamchick]

Chris, is Wyomyng Sydney in Australia? You need plans for boilers that are already approved to the latest Australian Regulations. Only a boiler made expertly, and inspected at various stages of build, will be likely to be certified by a boiler inspector.
It is all about insurance and liability.
First join your nearest model Engineering club that has boiler inspectors and insures members' boilers.
Ask them hat plans are accepted, and ask them to help you make the boiler.
Then they will likely test and approve the boiler.
Otherwise, it can cost more than buying a new certified boiler!
UK rules have changed and a surprising number of guys can't get approval for boilers now.
COVID quarantine restrictions stopped people getting continuity of certification, and now have to get "new" boiler assessment and certification.
It has become harder than it was...
K2

 

[chris123]

Boilers are a thorny topic, give that some insist that they be made as certified to some code, and some don't think they need to be made certified.
A boiler that is not made correctly is a very dangerous thing.
I can't really get into the boiler topic; there is too much to that, and not complete agreement on how to safely build one.
.

Chris, is Wyomyng Sydney in Australia? You need plans for boilers that are already approved to the latest Australian Regulations. Only a boiler made expertly, and inspected at various stages of build, will be likely to be certified by a boiler inspector.
It is all about insurance and liability.
First join your nearest model Engineering club that has boiler inspectors and insures members' boilers.
Ask them hat plans are accepted, and ask them to help you make the boiler.
Then they will likely test and approve the boiler.
Otherwise, it can cost more than buying a new certified boiler!
UK rules have changed and a surprising number of guys can't get approval for boilers now.
COVID quarantine restrictions stopped people getting continuity of certification, and now have to get "new" boiler assessment and certification.
It has become harder than it was...
K2

Hi steamchick
Yes it is wyoming in nsw australia
Wow i didnt know eaven for models?
Approved ….
Ok i try to find a club here
Wasnt aware it actually exists here…
could u have a look at this steamengine
If u got time
The upper part had an alu hull wit timber underneath fake planks
Any ideas???
Thank you very much
Chris

 

[chris123]

Boilers are a thorny topic, give that some insist that they be made as certified to some code, and some don't think they need to be made certified.
A boiler that is not made correctly is a very dangerous thing.
I can't really get into the boiler topic; there is too much to that, and not complete agreement on how to safely build one.
.

Hi green twin
Thank you for the info
I didnt know ….
Thats why no one talks about boilers …
So if i would make a boiler to plans which
Would be on that ship with that engine
And they not happy with that..
So i cant run it?
Well
I didnt know thank you again for the info
Regards chris

 

[chris123]

Hi green twin
Thank you for the info
I didnt know ….
Thats why no one talks about boilers …
So if i would make a boiler to plans which
Would be on that ship with that engine
And they not happy with that..
So i cant run it?
Well
I didnt know thank you again for the info
Regards chris

I start soon to lay out does arms
Will send u pic and letting u know how it
Looks
Chris

 

[chris123]

There are a couple of approaches.
Off the top of my head, I would say the horizontal link rod length can be determined by putting the link in mid position, and the arm that is on the horizontal shaft in the vertical position.
The length of the rod should be from the centerline of the link boss to the centerline of the arm when it is in the vertical position.

You can test this with some temporary rods made from wood or something.
With this length rod, you should be able to rotate the horizontal shaft, and get full link travel in the forward and rear positions.

The full forward and full rear link positions will determine positions on the shaft that can be worked backwards into where the gear teeth need to be on the pie-shaped gear that will be on the horizontal shaft.
I am assuming you will need a pie-shaped gear on the horizontal shaft that is driven by a worm gear on the shaft that has the round handle.

Mock-up the pie shaped gear in cardboard or something.

You could possibly find a gear that works with a worm drive gear, and cut that gear into a pie shape, assuming you could get your centers correct.
Otherwise you will have to fabricate the gears.
.