mklotz
Well-Known Member
Some years ago, there was a series in "Model Engineer" devoted to building 'valveless' steam engines. The idea intrigued me and I built my own version of the simplest design shown in that series.
The piston is a length of 1/4" drill rod that extends out of the bottom of the cylinder. Attached to the bottom of the piston is a complicated linkage that links the piston to the crankshaft. As the crankshaft rotates, this linkage forces the piston to turn through an angle of +/- 45 degrees or so as the piston moves up and down. A flat milled into the portion of the piston inside the cylinder alternately uncovers the intake and exhaust ports as this oscillation occurs. Like the elbow engine, this engine is completely symmetrical so it can be reversed by simply interchanging the inlet and exhaust ports.
It's an interesting engine and fun to watch when operating. The gyrations of the linkage are particularly eye-catching.
The piston is a length of 1/4" drill rod that extends out of the bottom of the cylinder. Attached to the bottom of the piston is a complicated linkage that links the piston to the crankshaft. As the crankshaft rotates, this linkage forces the piston to turn through an angle of +/- 45 degrees or so as the piston moves up and down. A flat milled into the portion of the piston inside the cylinder alternately uncovers the intake and exhaust ports as this oscillation occurs. Like the elbow engine, this engine is completely symmetrical so it can be reversed by simply interchanging the inlet and exhaust ports.
It's an interesting engine and fun to watch when operating. The gyrations of the linkage are particularly eye-catching.