Riggs Patent Reversing Gear

A special section just for steam engines and boilers, as without these you may as well fit a sail.
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Johnlanark
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Riggs Patent Reversing Gear

Post by Johnlanark » Sun Oct 07, 2012 8:39 pm

I was browsing an old book "Drawing for Machinists and Engineers" and came across this idea which I have not seen before.
If the crank of a single cylinder engine stops at dead centre, no motion can take place until it moves sideways a little. Cam F and roller G are carried on plunger H, which has steam pressing underneath it, and so moves the crank.
Image
I wonder whether this could have a use in a boat? Could the valve be left open or would this stop the engine from rotating?
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barts
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Re: Riggs Patent Reversing Gear

Post by barts » Sun Oct 07, 2012 9:15 pm

For small engines, I just give it a spin w/ my hand :). If I had a boat where the
engine was too big to jog or where I needed to be at the wheel rather than
next to the engine, I'd fit a permanent magnet motor so it would function as
either a generator or a "starter" motor.

- Bart
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Bart Smaalders http://smaalders.net/barts Lopez Island, WA
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