The Steamboating Forum

I have to agree with Fred "We all like to see things go up and down" If this was a superior design [a better mousetrap] then the world would have beat a path to this fella's door! Den

I think Ron has a good point. You've removed the wear from the large crosshead guide and stuck it all on a much smaller crosshead.

Maltelec wrote:I think Ron has a good point. You've removed the wear from the large crosshead guide and stuck it all on a much smaller crosshead.

I think beyond even that there is a serious operational safety issue with an engine design like this. I suspect that an engine like this could easily be nicknamed "The Finger Crusher". Can you imagine if you or a passenger accidentally grabs either one of the supports? YEEEOUCH!

Not that the insides of moving steam engines are ever places you want to stick your fingers, but with a more conventional design you are FAR less likely to lose an appendage with an errant-placed hand than with this design.

Although I'd imagine that it would have a useful life as an automatic walnut-cracker!

don't be mislead into thinking conventional steam engines aren't dangerous .I can't seem to get a season in without crushing the tip of my oil can! And it happens so fast!! But I never thought to use one as a nutcracker!! Den

Wearyman wrote:

Maltelec wrote:I think Ron has a good point. You've removed the wear from the large crosshead guide and stuck it all on a much smaller crosshead.

I think beyond even that there is a serious operational safety issue with an engine design like this. I suspect that an engine like this could easily be nicknamed "The Finger Crusher". Can you imagine if you or a passenger accidentally grabs either one of the supports? YEEEOUCH!

In tooling they are called "pinch points" whereas at least 1" of clearance is maintained on all shearing motion, this design would never make it past safety.

If something fell down and got wedged at high rpm, the inertia/force would probably ruin the engine, bend the frame.

-Ron

I think that was Dave's.....its a relatively big engine....maybe 4x4 or so.

I believe it is cast and was made by Lombard, of the Lombard Logger fame.

Dave

mcandrew1894 wrote:I think that was Dave's.....its a relatively big engine....maybe 4x4 or so.

I believe it is cast and was made by Lombard, of the Lombard Logger fame.

Dave

I believe you're correct. His daughter is selling his stuff. And yes it's made by the same Lombard as the steam log hauler.

Thought it looked familiar....saw it at George's one year many moons ago.....it was facinating to watch.

Dave

I don't know...put some ball bearings around the wrist pin and this design may reduce friction.

Working on an engine design for a 1790 steamboat (John Fitch, Philadelphia PA, USA), I came across a James Watt Patent for his straight line mechanisms. The difficulty of getting a steam engine piston rod to move in a straight line was a serious challenge in the industry at that time.

One of the drawings in the Watt patent shows a "crosshead guide" that is virtually identical to the one on this engine.