Nice solenoid powered model engine

[cfellows]

Found this engine on youtube this morning. Very nicely done and runs extremely well.

[ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=9a1rgkcm0cA]http://youtube.com/watch?v=9a1rgkcm0cA[/ame]

Chuck

 

[DICKEYBIRD]

Thanks Chuck,

That type "engine" really interests me. Anybody have a link to a site showing the design details? Stuff like coil turns, wire gauge, coil resistance, timing, switching, etc?

 

[shred]

The 'piston' looks a lot like a stock solenoid plunger to me, so there might just be a regular solenoid coil hiding under the cylinder wall.

Were I to make one of these, my first thought would be to set a microswitch under a cam-- set the switch to click on and energize the solenoid at BDC, then turn off at TDC or so. That looks to be what's going on with the brass part just beyond where his fingers are when he turns it over. With a little more electronics, the 'points' switch could be dispensed with.

Googling for 'solenoid engine model' turns up a number of promising hits.

 

[cfellows]

I left a comment on the youtube video asking the builder if he wound the solenoid himself or used something off the shelf. Haven't received a response yet.

I, too, have a lot of interest in solenoid engines. Here's a video of an Atkinson style engine built by a fellow whose name is also Atkinson. This engine gets two power pulses per revolution of the crankshaft. He's apparently going to offer "kits" for this engine shortly. He has several hit n miss solenoid engines on youtube.

[ame=http://youtube.com/watch?v=jVHHPEcHtbw]http://youtube.com/watch?v=jVHHPEcHtbw[/ame]

 

[shred]

Lathes ought to be great for winding solenoid coils in any case.. assuming you can still get magnet wire at Radio Shack (hmm.. that could be an issue; last time I was in there all they had was cell phones and TV sets.. :-[ )

[Update-- I popped back by YouTube and he's replied-- the solenoid and microswitch are off the shelf)

 

[cfellows]

eBay is a pretty good source for Magnet wire. Looks like the Atkinson video is no longer available on youtube.