LeChatNoir
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- Joined
- Oct 7, 2007
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First off, for those who may not have seen my introductory post in the Welcome, thread,
Hello!!
After my brief intro in that thread, Mel, aka lugnut, asked that I post some pics and a brief history of the project that has lead me to this forum. Ill try to keep it brief but interesting, but be warned Im known for long posts sometimes.
The short version:
I want to make a steam engine to power a vehicle that I've created, and hope to increase my knowledge of steam power, in part, by hanging out around here.
The longer version:
In December 2006 I decided to undertake a project for an event Ive been participating in for some years now, known as the Burning Man arts festival. This event is held in the very flat, very hard packed dry lake bed of the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. My project, known as The Contraption, was made specifically for this event and constructed of junked farm implements that had been laying around my place for many years.
My goal was to create a vehicle that never was, and to make it appear as if it were some relic from 100 years past, discovered in a barn and brought back to life. It is comprised primarily of three implements: a horse drawn disc harrow, a horse drawn tobacco setter, and a tractor pulled ground powered hay rake, or windrow maker. All other parts were either created or compiled from various pieces, forgings, and weldments.
Its human powered via the reciprocation of a pump mechanism which charges a flywheel. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a lever which engages a dual v-belt final drive. The entire unit moves at a whopping 2.2 mph and was very effective in engaging people, getting them to interact with each other and the machine (one of the main premises of the event is interaction and participation no spectators).
While the human powered aspect of The Contraption was great fun, its natural progression is to become motorized. Though Ive toyed with the idea of an antique hit-n-miss engine, Im leaning towards steam, since there is already a large contingent of steam machines and art projects that appear at the event. These things really capture my heart, so to name a few of the larger ones, Kinetic Steam Works brings a Case Traction Engine, theres The Steam Punk Treehouse, and alsoNeverwas Haul, a self motivating steam powered Victorian house.
So it looks like thats the direction Ill be going.
Im hoping to both learn from this forum and contribute as well. My skill set is such that I feel able to machine my own engine without issue and so thats my ultimate goal.
Thanks for taking the time to read all this, and please forgive me if I've overloaded you. Following are some pics and a short description for each. Please do comment as Id love to hear others ideas on what type of engine, what look and feel, anything you have to add, I'm open to it.
Until then, I'm going to be exploring the forum.
Thanks again for the warm welcome,
LCN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
The Contraption, ready for loading and departure:
The 24" diameter flywheel in the shop, just completed:
A shot of the brakes and linkages:
In the pilot's seat (note the gears at the bottom of the tiller):
And finally an eerie shot taken during an intense dust storm in the Black Rock Desert, at around 2:00 pm on a sunny day. 60mph winds at times during this particular storm.
Hello!!
After my brief intro in that thread, Mel, aka lugnut, asked that I post some pics and a brief history of the project that has lead me to this forum. Ill try to keep it brief but interesting, but be warned Im known for long posts sometimes.
The short version:
I want to make a steam engine to power a vehicle that I've created, and hope to increase my knowledge of steam power, in part, by hanging out around here.
The longer version:
In December 2006 I decided to undertake a project for an event Ive been participating in for some years now, known as the Burning Man arts festival. This event is held in the very flat, very hard packed dry lake bed of the Black Rock Desert in Nevada. My project, known as The Contraption, was made specifically for this event and constructed of junked farm implements that had been laying around my place for many years.
My goal was to create a vehicle that never was, and to make it appear as if it were some relic from 100 years past, discovered in a barn and brought back to life. It is comprised primarily of three implements: a horse drawn disc harrow, a horse drawn tobacco setter, and a tractor pulled ground powered hay rake, or windrow maker. All other parts were either created or compiled from various pieces, forgings, and weldments.
Its human powered via the reciprocation of a pump mechanism which charges a flywheel. Power is sent to the rear wheels via a lever which engages a dual v-belt final drive. The entire unit moves at a whopping 2.2 mph and was very effective in engaging people, getting them to interact with each other and the machine (one of the main premises of the event is interaction and participation no spectators).
While the human powered aspect of The Contraption was great fun, its natural progression is to become motorized. Though Ive toyed with the idea of an antique hit-n-miss engine, Im leaning towards steam, since there is already a large contingent of steam machines and art projects that appear at the event. These things really capture my heart, so to name a few of the larger ones, Kinetic Steam Works brings a Case Traction Engine, theres The Steam Punk Treehouse, and alsoNeverwas Haul, a self motivating steam powered Victorian house.
So it looks like thats the direction Ill be going.
Im hoping to both learn from this forum and contribute as well. My skill set is such that I feel able to machine my own engine without issue and so thats my ultimate goal.
Thanks for taking the time to read all this, and please forgive me if I've overloaded you. Following are some pics and a short description for each. Please do comment as Id love to hear others ideas on what type of engine, what look and feel, anything you have to add, I'm open to it.
Until then, I'm going to be exploring the forum.
Thanks again for the warm welcome,
LCN
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
The Contraption, ready for loading and departure:
The 24" diameter flywheel in the shop, just completed:
A shot of the brakes and linkages:
In the pilot's seat (note the gears at the bottom of the tiller):
And finally an eerie shot taken during an intense dust storm in the Black Rock Desert, at around 2:00 pm on a sunny day. 60mph winds at times during this particular storm.