McCabe Runner

This first steam engine I've build is a design of Mr. McCabe. The plans and drawings can be downloaded via his site: http://npmccabe.tripod.com. Studying the plans I have made slight modifications to the original design.
My McCabe runner is steam powered. On the top-left of the boiler is the adjustable safety valve. Incase pressure gets higher then 1.5 bar ( 22 psi), the ball inside the valve is lifted from its place and lets steam escape through the small hole on the side of the valve. On top of the valve a screw can be seen to adjust the spring pressure pushing down the ball inside.
In the middle of the boiler a filling hole, closed off with a bolt can be seen.
On top of the cylinder block and the bearing block for the flywheel shaft, holes are allowing lubrication. The strap around one of the flywheels is to control the speed of the engine. Removing the strap will run the engine @ 3000 rpm (quite violently), while with the strap in place the rpm can be adjusted from 180 to 2000.
The push rod for the steam valve is adjustable in length, allowing to make changes in the opening and closing position of the valve.
Rotating one flywheel on the shaft while the other stays in place will adjust the timing of the valve in relation to the position of the piston. I have come to an optimum in these settings for either maximum torch or maximum rpm.
The piston is made from brass, as well as the bearings for the rocker plate. Also the valve end is made from a small brass cylinder which is crimped over the end. The water canals are visible to guide the condensated steam to a receiving bin at the bottom. To allow the condensate to flow the engine is placed on a sloped stand.
The boiler capacity is 160 ml (5.4 fluid ounce). Filling it half way is more then enough to run for 20 minutes. The capacity of the fuel tank mounted underneath the boiler is 25 ml (0.8 fluid ounce). This is enough to turn the cold water into steam and let the engine run for 16 minutes. As a fuel I am using Methylated spirit.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• mccabe
• runner
• steam
• engine
• model
• boiler
• burner
• lathe
• mill

[mghood1954]

Excellent welding and machining. You have an A+ I love it.

[pow0006]

well done