Horizontal 4-stroke Compressed Air Engine

This engine uses a valve of my own design to emulate a 4 stroke action, much like an internal combustion engine. However, this engine runs on Air. The intake valve is a standard poppet valve like an automobile engine uses. However, instead of a cam actuated exhaust valve, the engine uses a sliding piston in the head. When the intake valve is closed, a spring pushes the piston valve right and allows air out (and in) of the cylinder through the exhaust port. When the intake valve opens, the incoming pressurized air pushes the sliding piston to the left, closing the exhaust port and directing the input air to the cylinder where it pushes the piston down. A cam, which runs at 1/2 the speed of the crankshaft, admits air for a power stroke every other revolution of the crankshaft. The flywheels are about 3" in diameter, the bore is 3/4" and the stroke about an inch.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• model
• steam
• compressed
• air
• engine
• valve
• piston
• crankshaft
• cylinder
• lathe
• machine

[ankit9690]

hey thanks for the video man.. I am studying the four stroke engine and it helps a lot.. just one doubt i have , there would be considerable friction between the cylinder wall and the piston .. i read that using the oil lubricates the piston as well as seals the combustion chamber so that neither the fuel air mixture goes out nor does the oil get in the chamber.. but on what principle does the oil stop from getting in the chamber ?

[cffellows]

@ankit9690 The piston rings stop the oil from getting into the combustion chamber...

[mos213]

beautiful. why havent we seen any mainstream applications from this sort of engine? are there any real drawbacks?

[cffellows]

@mos213 This engine is designed to mimic the look and sound of an internal combustion engine. It's not very powerful nor is it very efficient. A steam engine would be much more efficient.

[Squarerig]

What do you use for lubricant?

[cffellows]

@Squarerig I just squirt some oil on the connecting rod journal and a drop or two into the air supply opening occasionally. I just use whatever oil I have sitting around.

[marcunator]

Hey, can you give me a basic design plan? I would be very gratefull!! Thanks in advance,

Marc

[rainmechanic]

I think it needs a higher tension valve spring to run at higher RPM.. Looked like it was floating pretty badly when the revs increased.... Very high quality appearence on the machinie work that went into this engine... With the way this country is heading we as a people will all be getting better aquainted with steam engines in the near future......

[starr8719]

Hi chuck I just started building this engine from your plans but don't see any drawings of the pushrod and cam . can you help me out?

[Ranran9088]

@cffellows But not completely, becouse the chamber needs to be oiled too, so if engines "burn oil" a bit, its completely ok :)

[slobhinav]

@rainmechanic

Not with smart people like him around (:

That's what makes us different. I don't see any real engineers in China who actually made anything worthwhile.

[JBofBrisbane]

@dauer962roadcar - It can't possibly pump all the air back in that came out in the first place, as it would have expended some energy overcoming friction. Similarly, the pressure on both sides of the cycle would equalise, meaning there would be nothing to drive. Google "Law of Conservation of Energy" for more.

[seelder]

ill give you 50 bucks for it

[fridgeways]

That's pretty damn sexy, nice one!