Search found 1069 matches

by barts
Sat Mar 24, 2012 3:28 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Stephenson's Link Hookup Question
Replies: 29
Views: 25637

Re: Stephenson's Link Hookup Question

Note that the effectiveness of short cut-offs in traditional engines is limited; the practical number of expansions is limited by condensation. Traditional triples were significantly less efficient running linked up; they were designed for a particular cruising speed. Uniflow engines, on the other h...
by barts
Thu Mar 22, 2012 5:10 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Manual Oiler
Replies: 13
Views: 11839

Re: Manual Oiler

I'd think you'd use as little oil as possible... just form a paste/slurry. The piston valve engine I have now seems to need little/no oil, EXCEPT when laying up... the bronze piston valve does love to get stuck in its bore; I made this a pretty close fit since there are no rings, and any bit of rust...
by barts
Mon Mar 19, 2012 4:41 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Stuart Turner 6A - Crankshaft Casting
Replies: 25
Views: 28932

Re: Stuart Turner 6A - Crankshaft Casting

The pinch bolt type method of building cranks have worked very well for Rolly Evans... As he says: "The two webs are tack welded together before drilling then they are lapped to a tight twist fit of the shaft. Next the plates are numbered for left and right and separated. Next a cross bolthole is dr...
by barts
Fri Mar 16, 2012 1:43 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: UP IN SMOKE
Replies: 24
Views: 18974

Re: UP IN SMOKE

If we're firing with propane, we should admit only enough air to burn all the propane present; this keeps the flue gases as hot as possible and maximizes heat transfer. Placing a pot over the stack should make the fire go out; if not where is the exhaust going? You either have leaks or are admitting...
by barts
Thu Mar 15, 2012 4:20 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: temperature of your hot well?
Replies: 21
Views: 17824

Re: temperature of your hot well?

Note that the boiler itself is at saturation temperature: 300-400F depending on steam pressure. This means that it cannot efficiently absorb heat from the flue gases once they;re down to 500 or 600F or so - too much area is required. This is where the economizer comes it - because the water is relat...
by barts
Thu Mar 15, 2012 3:39 am
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Manual Oiler
Replies: 13
Views: 11839

Re: Manual Oiler

Hmmph. A simple displacement oiler will handle most lubrication needs; two valves in a vertical row with a oil cup on top will replace a manual pump oiler. Just close the bottom valve, open the top, add oil to the cup, close the top valve, open the bottom one. Kudos to those not opening both valves ...
by barts
Thu Mar 15, 2012 2:31 am
Forum: Technical - non Engines and Boilers
Topic: Possible steamboat?
Replies: 6
Views: 6323

Re: Possible steamboat?

In general, when evaluating boat plans, you need to decide first: 1) who and what is coming with you, e.g. how many people and how much stuff. 2) how long do you want to go out for? A hour? An afternoon? All day? Overnight? A week or more vacation? Live aboard? 3) when and where are you taking the b...
by barts
Tue Mar 13, 2012 1:56 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Perfect control of monotube boilers in our lifetimes!
Replies: 22
Views: 29856

Re: Perfect control of monotube boilers in our lifetimes!

Thanks for filling in some of the details. I've written various kinds of software for digital control include multi-axis robots; I always enjoy writing software that has a immediate physical effect, and yes, control algorithms are always a challenge - esp. when one is programming on a limited enviro...
by barts
Sun Mar 11, 2012 9:33 pm
Forum: Technical - Engines and Boilers
Topic: Perfect control of monotube boilers in our lifetimes!
Replies: 22
Views: 29856

Re: Perfect control of monotube boilers in our lifetimes!

That looks like a neat project... but my experience with wire wrapped boards in high vibration environments has not been good; the wire fatigues after a while. For a boat carrying people, I'd want to make sure things kept working. Perhaps it's our roads, but the vibration and shocks of trailering te...
by barts
Sun Mar 11, 2012 6:50 am
Forum: General Steamboat stuff
Topic: flooring
Replies: 5
Views: 6210

Re: flooring

I'd be losing stuff in the bilges even more with one of those - does look nice, though.

- Bart