Steam Tractor on Dynomometer - Torque and HP Explained

[goglesux]

yes, i know rpm hp and torque are in direct relation.

i just wanted to point out that hp alone is meaningless.

so is tourqe, naturaly.

but anyways, just cuz its only 120 hp, there is nothing wrong with it.

knowing steam engines (piston ones) are not realy a high revving construction one might suspect low rpm, so hp will be low too. but you get a lot of torque, and thats what an external combustion engine is ment to do.

[14omega28ok]

@goglesux this thing is almost direct drive I think, So yes that 3,000 Ft lbs of torque definitely matters.

[goglesux]

@14omega28ok

yupp, bust most peeps do not realy understand how can something with 120 hp be stronger than a 150 hp thingy.

it can, but it will do the job slower.

[14omega28ok]

@goglesux So? I'd rather a slow powerful machine that will get the job done over a fast machine that won't

[goglesux]

@14omega28ok

:) you think just like me.

Thats why i would prefer of reviveing the opposed piston 2 stroke diesel topology, with the ability to disengage the compressor via a clutch, and let a turbo wrk afterwards. Most probably more than 1 turbo to enable low RPM spool up. And a hull hydraulic drive chain.No diff, no clutch,no semi-axle.Variable pump and hydro motor.End of story :) CVT would rock.

[goglesux]

good example why horsepower is irrevelant for many tasks.

there is a relation between rm, hp, and torque.

for a tractor engine, best to have somewhitng that has a huge tourque reserv.

that means tourqe does not drop suddenly with rpm.

this engine does 250 rpm, and the torque is -i would think- quite constant for a huge range -compared tot he 250 rpm redline-.

120 hp does not seem a lot, but it actualy does not make any difference.

love it, love it, love it.

[phtmexplo]

@goglesux U can also say the opposite : why torque is not important if u have alot of HP, if u have an engine that goes up to 1.000.000 rpm (example) torque is nearly irrelevant. Try stopping that thing lol.

HP = torque x 5252

But u are right too btw :)

[Fortsand1]

All I saw was the belt removed and reinstalled three times, what a bummer!!

[crxgen1a]

i like how youtube messed this up. seems old timey with the people moving fast

[IllinoisBoy1967]

Damn, I came to be entertained, not endure another math lesson. Is it me or is the video sped up and the audio is moving at a normal speed. Any who, nice video and a nice tractor. Thanks for posting.

[scamp50]

to read some of the responses here, People dont realize that these helped to open up land for people. These were labor saving devices. And if you think lining up a belt is that easy, I have one thing to say.....TRY IT!!!!!

[kdc43]

That's big as a house and has only 120 HP.

There's watermelon-sized electric motors that puts out 300 HP!

[jeffb8074]

ya but steam engines are torque monsters but i takes a ton of torque just to move the damn thing lol :-)

[marcgallegos]

lets see a watermelon-sized electric motor pull a twelve- bottom plow,

[kdc43]

A watermellon-sized electric motor driving approriate geared wheels can pull a 12 bottom plow. But Polybun makes a good point about CONTINOUS duty. So I think the tiny 300 HP motor's life would be greatly reduced.

[wwilliam7]

@marcgallegos we will never se that ;) nor an diesel engine.

[Polybun]

They won't do it for very long. An electric motor that will pull continous duty at 300hp is about the size of a washing machine and weighs around 2 tons.

[kdc43]

Good point, I forgot about the "continous duty" part.

[EETechs]

@Polybun Not necessarily true. If it is a high frequency design motor like those used in aircraft then it is quite possible to have 300 HP continuous duty and be the size of watermelons. Ever heard of 400 Hertz AC induction motors? The motors you are referring too that weight 2 tons are 60 Hertz AC induction motors.

[scamp50]

120 HP is a true 120 HP not 120 at a certain RPM.

[Polybun]

You can't have horse power without RPM. Please shut up unless you know what the hell you are talking about.

[phoenix15477]

With these engines, HP wasn't the main factor, torque was. 120 HP from steam is considered alot because of the amount of torque that is available. Think of it like the difference between a gasoline engine and a diesel. The diesel runs on a lower RPM than a gasoline engine, but has more torque.

[Xyleksoll]

It makes 120 HP because it runs at 250 rpm. Imagine if this thing, with 3000 lb-ft of torque, were to run at 2500 rpm. Then it would produce more than 1000 HP. When you consider the energy an engine produces (HP or kilowatts), you have to factor in time, and time is directly related to the speed of the engine. If the engine runs slow, then there is not a lot of energy produced however great the force of the engine, or torque is.

[Polybun]

true, but the power plant to drive that eletric motor is far larger than both.

[chestes0]

yeah, but it's putting out 3,000 ft/lbs of torque.

[rivired67]

omg they had to put them dam belt on 4 times..and god that guy was annoying..capable of driving people in sane no doubt.

[2040Rumely]

Which guy are you talking about?

[2040Rumely]

Which guy are you talking about that you find annoying???

[Clockmaker46]

Man, those old Rumelys were some awesome machines. Thanks for sharing this.

[MikeWishesForBagels]

Great video do you have any others like tractors or something at this show?