Homemade Static Steam Engine of Brass Tubes, Balsa wood & Test Tube

This is my first homemade steam engine. It was constructed in my kitchen over the course of about 3 weekends using a badly off-centre old craft drill and not much else! I based the design on a video of the Dampfmaschine Kosmos Technikus steam engine uploaded by @djfkjasdlfj who also kindly sent me some photos and drawings which I used to do a bit of reverse engineering. The piston and combination steam-valve/axle are just two sets of brass tubes that I found at my local model shop which fitted nicely inside one another and the flywheels are tin can lids. It's held together with a very poor attempt at soldering as well as two-part epoxy glue and epoxy putty. I'm not using any lubrication as the water seems to be doing the job by itself. Needless to say, I am very pleased with the result!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Steam
• Engine
• Test
• Tube
• Brass
• Tin
• Can
• Homemade
• Model
• Simple
• Easy

[petkfg]

Nice little engine! Congratulations! I belive it's a single acting right? Could you explain how you do it? I mean how is the configuration on the cilinder and how the valves work? Tkx.

[MarekSHayward]

@petkfg Thanks! The valve is actually in the flywheel axle. The steam inlet and exhaust tubes pass through the axle sleeve into the base of the cylinder. The axle has a channel connecting the tube from the cylinder with the the tube diagonally opposite below. As the axle rotates the connection swaps over, thus alternately letting in the steam in and then letting it out again. It's a little hard to explain in words. I have a drawing which illustrates the mechanism if you're interested.

[petkfg]

@MarekSHayward Hi again! Tkx for your response. I belive I understand the main concept in your explanation. But as you have the drawing, yes, I'm interested. Tkx a lot. You can send the drawing to this e-mail if you like: SteamstirlingPC@gmail.com. Keep making those good works. I didn't say but I also like very much your stirlings, specially the stirling car!

[remarknl]

I would love to see some more of this engine! Maybe an explanation of the valve system? Its so simple! Maybe a howto?

Pro-hobby tip:

,Water is not a lubricator. The only oil that still lubricates while it is hot and is commonly found around the house is motor oil. WD-40 and other silicon oils do not lubricate while being hot.

[PuttPutt4video]

Good one.