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TWIN 32 x 38 mm - steam engine for small boats or canoes

Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2021 8:11 pm
by dampfspieler
Hello,

as so often the story begins with "once upon a time ..."

There was a second cylinder block when i got my steam lorry MARTIN because there was a water hammer on the steam engine so that the cross head guide and the piston rod were destroyed. I repaired them and the lorry runs well but the cylinder block was now left.

This cylinder block with the given external dimensions forms the basis for a small steam engine comparable to that of my steam lorry. I checked the steam channels and found them to be too small and expanded them in the first step.
Twin3238_018kl.JPG
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Twin3238_019kl.JPG
the expanded steam channels
Twin3238_019kl.JPG (110.17 KiB) Viewed 17463 times
Best Dietrich

Re: TWIN 32 x 38 mm - steam engine for small boats or canoes

Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 2:52 am
by DetroiTug
Dietrich,

Very nice work and clever use of a solid piece of cast iron to make a twin cylinder.

Ron

Re: TWIN 32 x 38 mm - steam engine for small boats or canoes

Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 4:18 pm
by cyberbadger
dampfspieler wrote:
Mon Oct 25, 2021 8:11 pm
Hello,

as so often the story begins with "once upon a time ..."

There was a second cylinder block when i got my steam lorry MARTIN because there was a water hammer on the steam engine so that the cross head guide and the piston rod were destroyed.
The more you try to button up a steam engine the more likely hydrolock is to happen.

I always try to do the right thing and start with the cylinder petcocks open, always advisable from a stopped engine state.

I have noticed that the worn brass air valves I use as cylinder cocks that are on my Toledo seem to seal up the steam pretty well - even hold a vacuum, but they can exude drops of water if you leave the valve ever so slightly not completely closed - very desirable because the water is getting out of the engine. They almost work like how I thought steam traps might work...

It can be desirable to have a very tiny leak, I have also seen water ooze out of the side of the Viton gaskets I made for the Toledo because they are squishier, perhaps they are a little thick...

-CB

Re: TWIN 32 x 38 mm - steam engine for small boats or canoes

Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 5:11 pm
by fredrosse
It is worth noting that the early steam traps were just that: A small restriction to flow that would pass water condensate and not allow much steam leakage. An orifice will pass many times more saturated water than steam, about a 10:1 ratio for a single orifice at 125 PSIG, but even larger ratios with a series of designed orifice area ratios. Great to have a reliable fluid device with no moving parts.

On several of the steam plants I have been acquainted with, boiler water level was controlled with a simple steam trap, mounted where the water level is to be controlled on the boiler shell. If water level runs higher, the trap lets water out and maintains level with no operator action. Feedwater pump is of course, needed, to pump at least what is being used as steam output, but the trap assures no unintended high level.

One large scotch boiler had the steam line to a reciprocating steam pump connected at the desired water level. When level was high, the steam pump choked up and ran very slowly, pumping very little feedwater (and blowing down more water than was being pumped). When level was lower, the steam pump worked properly, bringing boiler water level up. This was on US Army (USACE) derrick barge no 29, built in the 1920s, and still working into the 1960s.

Re: TWIN 32 x 38 mm - steam engine for small boats or canoes

Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 6:08 pm
by dampfspieler
Hi,

in order to make a real steam engine out of the cylinder block, I measured the steam lorries and designed a new one with the dimensions I found with my CAD-system.

The finished work can be seen here - some renderings.
TWIN3238_20211022ReHi.26.jpg
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TWIN3238_20211022LiVo.24.jpg
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TWIN3238_20211022LiHi.27.jpg
TWIN3238_20211022LiHi.27.jpg (91.92 KiB) Viewed 17360 times
Dietrich

Re: TWIN 32 x 38 mm - steam engine for small boats or canoes

Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 6:13 pm
by dampfspieler
Hi,

here the last picture.
TWIN3238_20211022ReVo.25.jpg
TWIN3238_20211022ReVo.25.jpg (89.33 KiB) Viewed 17357 times

The outer dimensions are shown here.
Twin3238_kplt_miMa_20211026.jpg
Twin3238_kplt_miMa_20211026.jpg (121.09 KiB) Viewed 17347 times

Hope it enjoys
Dietrich

Re: TWIN 32 x 38 mm - steam engine for small boats or canoes

Posted: Tue Oct 26, 2021 10:53 pm
by fredrosse
Very nice work you do. What software do you use to make the drawings? Is the software compatible with CNC machining programs? I ask because I need to move into the 21st century as machine shops simply will not look a conventional (old style) drawings to have a machine or part made.

Re: TWIN 32 x 38 mm - steam engine for small boats or canoes

Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2021 7:09 am
by dampfspieler
Hello Fred,
Very nice work you do. What software do you use to make the drawings? Is the software compatible with CNC machining progr8URL=ams?
1. thank you.
2. It is ALIBRE Design 3D CAD/CAM Software.
3. Yes, you can find out what capabilities you will need.

I have been using ALIBRE design for years for all my constructions and i was able to solve all tasks to my satisfaction. It is easy to use for rapid prototyping and 3D-printing.

Best Dietrich

steam operated drain cocks

Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 2:57 am
by dampfspieler
Hi,

i want to equip the engine with steam operated steam cocks. They have two functions. On the one hand, this allows the condensate to be drained from the cylinder and, on the other hand, prevents hydrolock in the cylinder because the piston can move freely and is only held in the working position by the control steam.

A scetch without dimensions.
left - operational steam
at the top - condensate from cylinder
right - condensate drain

Zylinderentwässerungsventil_kplt.jpg
drain cock sectional view
Zylinderentwässerungsventil_kplt.jpg (40.65 KiB) Viewed 17121 times
--
Dietrich

Re: TWIN 32 x 38 mm - steam engine for small boats or canoes

Posted: Mon Nov 01, 2021 8:11 pm
by Kelly Anderson
Dietrich,

I had sent you a pm/email on 10/29. Let me know if you didn’t receive it.

Thanks.