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Author Topic: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch  (Read 25799 times)

xrad

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XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« on: November 26, 2015, 02:01:12 pm »

Hello, Have another project in the works: a forty inch open steam launch. Sourced the hull and engine locally in Ohio. PMResearch #8 engine and Ministeam launch.


Built the engine last night. I bought the machined kit. Very nicely machined and made. Heavy bronze base casting. All parts brass, copper, or bronze except spring washers and shafts which appear to be stainless. I did change the piston nuts from brass to stainless steel.  Took about two hours to assemble. I polished the oscillating mating surfaces to 600grt on a small piece of plate glass.  You will have to make a press guide (see pic, top center pin and base device) to press in the 2 3/16 bronze bearings.


Then you will need a 3/16th undersized reamer to finish out the bearings internally as they compress a bit when pressed into the engine base.  You may also have to ream out the pivot pin bearings with 3/16th undersized reamer.  A bit of filing and cleaning (including the crank shaft machined ends) and she goes together very well.  Adjusting the piston rod length to find the sweet spot was a matter of a few turns of the rod and locking the rod nut.  Split teflon piston rings X2 per side fit on easily. O rings for the glands work well.  Size is about 4x3x4. Hardest part is cutting out the four paper cylinder gaskets. I have a hole punch which definitely saved time and made for nice round holes.Ran great right after assembly at low psi in both directions.


You will not need many tools, but you do need:
good small regular screw driver
600 grt paper
small allen wrench
3/16th undersized reamer
bearing guide for press (shaft should be 6-8 thou under 3/16th diameter to allow for compression of bearing)
#3 wrench
pliers
locktite
sharp knife


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diwGIN3AWtc&feature=youtu.be


In the end, you will be satisfied with this engine. Runs well and builds easily. I chose this engine and hull so that I could focus on the boiler build in this launch. I try to really learn how to build at least one or two main aspects of each of my models. It can become cumbersome at times to make all the parts (engine , hull, boiler, design, etc) for all of my builds. So I try to focus on an aspect of each build more seriously to improve and challenge my skills. 


Plan for boiler: scratch built 3 inch dia vertical gas fired copper
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rhavrane

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #1 on: November 26, 2015, 09:27:02 pm »

Bonjour Xrad,

Very good choice, we know this machine and it is quite powerful : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qsRs65FekEM

Just a remark, as it is a 8 cm3, it needs some steam to run and if you wish autonomy, think about a large boiler. In France, we are lucky because we find easily 100 mm (4") or 120 mm (4,7") x 2 mm thick copper tubes for our boiler. That allows us to use 32 or 40 mm inside tubes to be able to heat it with > 200 g/h gas torchs (with a gas attenuator/regulator to control correctly the strengh of the torch).


To my opinion, to save steam, you can use a large 4 blades propeller (I use a 3,5" on my Liva 1, but a smaller 5 blades can also be uses, I will do this on my next secret project where I have no room for a large diameter) ==> to be taken in account with you install the propeller shaft.


On my current 1,40 m renovating launch poject Liva 2 (5,6 cm") I am installing 100 x 200 mm boiler and a 27541 4 blades Propshop propeller : https://photos.google.com/album/AF1QipO1-pDNgnTUK3fwTBh31aM7R0AWKGht7NANjTkt
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Raphaël
Raphaëlopoulos Steam Lines UnLimited
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kiwimodeller

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #2 on: November 27, 2015, 08:57:03 am »

I fitted one of these engines to a 45" Kingston Moldings 1912 Yacht Tender with a 7" x 4" vertical boiler which was made locally. Initially we fitted a 3" four blade prop but recently swapped to a 3.5" four blade. Last Sunday it ran for 45 minutes and the boiler was still 1/3rd full. The only problem we have is that it wants to get up and plane at way over scale speed even on just a little throttle. It does not like to go slow!
I am sure you will be very happy with the engine as long as you put a big prop on it.
Cheers,
Ian.
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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #3 on: November 28, 2015, 02:15:39 am »

thx for tips fellas.  I have a few feet of 3 in dia boiler tube so I will be using this. Plus I have the formers for 3in diam as well. Also have a bunch of thick walled 3/16th fire tubes from another boiler project, so will use these too.


this engine needs about .6 in3 per rotation.  I would like to have about 20 in3 water available to boil minimum(about 2/3rds of boiler water volume (which is about 7/8ths total boiler volume)).  this is about 32000 in3 of steam.  rotations to be about 240rpm.  ~144 in3 steam per min.  So in a perfect world, I should get almost 3 hours of run time!


Factor in heat loss, condensation, engine friction, leaks...and I subtract 75% of this time.  So i should get about 30-45 min run time....


This means I need about a 500 ml boiler water volume.
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rhavrane

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #4 on: November 28, 2015, 07:39:51 am »

Bonjour xrad,
Personnally, I do not calculate, I manage to integrate what I can buy ==> I will be very interested to have the results of your measures in the real life compared to these assumptions.
For example, to my opinion, 240 rpm is too low for this machine, based on what I have seen on my friend's boat. He tried to build a speed boat with it, but hopefully, it is slower than my one  ok2  : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_G-zjiwAiwE As you can see it, it smokes a lot at only 45 psi...
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Raphaël
Raphaëlopoulos Steam Lines UnLimited
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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #5 on: November 28, 2015, 06:06:28 pm »

3in diameter boiler too tall. Decided to go with 4in dia as there was 8in of cheap 'L' pipe on ebay today. The center of balance was too high with the 3 in dia boiler when at the volume of 500ml water + head space + allowance for fire tubes.


just have to figure out how many fire tubes(more for increased heating surface) v. loss of volume (decreased run time). probably need about 20 or so.
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kiwimodeller

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2015, 08:18:50 am »

Hi Xrad, can you please post the details of the supplier of the hull. Is it Mini Steam? If so is it correct that they also have a large (54") tug hull? Thanks, Ian.
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rhavrane

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #7 on: December 02, 2015, 07:09:23 pm »

Bonjour Xrad,
You wrote "3in diameter boiler too tall. Decided to go with 4in dia ..." but if 3 in is too tall, 4in is even taller ! Could you explain me this assumption ?
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Raphaël
Raphaëlopoulos Steam Lines UnLimited
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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #8 on: December 02, 2015, 10:45:45 pm »

Kiwi: Yes, ministeam. Under steam engines, select show all. towards the end of the list.

https://ministeam.com/acatalog/Boats---Marine-Engines.html

rhavrane: Building a vertical boiler.  I want to keep center of g lower.  So I go with wider boiler diameter.  Same 500+ ml volume to be boiled.
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rhavrane

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #9 on: December 07, 2015, 08:26:43 pm »

Bonjour Xrad,
I had not thought about this alternative  :-))  On my side, impossible to test the center of gravity of my launch, it is too long for my bath tube {:-{

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6mXKSRqPPQ Never mind, I have several issues to solve before being able to navigate and I know it ill not be stable.

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Raphaël
Raphaëlopoulos Steam Lines UnLimited
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derekwarner

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #10 on: December 07, 2015, 09:51:05 pm »

Bonjour Raphael.......if the bath is not big enough >:-o, you must sell the house for one with a bigger bath  O0

Question......in your video...at 1:50 to 1:56, is the motor shaft slipping in the flexible coupling? ..... Derek
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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #11 on: December 07, 2015, 09:52:27 pm »

Bonjour rhavrane!

Here is what you need: 

http://www.orientaltrading.com/web/browse/processProductsCatalog?Nrpp=10000&sku=49%2F403&BP=PS490&source=google&ms=search&cm_mmc=Google-_-%5BOTC%5D+%5BShopping%5D+-+Product+Type-_-New+-+Product+Type-_-_mkwid|s|pcrid|83819744768|pkw||pmt||pdv|c|&cm_mmca1=OTC%2BPLAs&cm_mmca2=GooglePLAs&cm_mmca3=PS490&cm_mmca4=FS39&cm_mmca5=Shopping&cm_mmca6=PLAs&cm_mmca8=&cm_mmca10=Shopping&cm_mmca11=49%2F403&gclid=CNadguHdyskCFQ8uaQod7BMEQQ&categoryId=377320&Nrpp=10000
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rhavrane

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #12 on: December 08, 2015, 09:24:21 am »

Bonjour,
A swimming pool in my flat ?  Excellent  :} :} :}  but imagine my wife coming back from her job and discovering it in the dining room...  She is already upset by the room taken by my babies...
Derek, you are right, I actually have loosen the gimbal screws as it is not so fmexible in fact and I have already ordered a double one, I have just the room for. Advantage, the double acting gimbal is supposed to be more "permisive" for permissive for irreparable misalignment.
http://www.cap-maquettes.com/contents/fr/search.php?searchphrase=cardan (For my 5 mm diameter requirement, I have just been obliged to buy several references to be assembled).
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Raphaël
Raphaëlopoulos Steam Lines UnLimited
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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #13 on: December 30, 2015, 01:30:09 pm »

Received the fiberglass hull. It is not made by ministeam. Compared to other hulls I have, this one was a bit disappointing. Its size and shape  and proportions are perfect. But for some reason, the entire gel coat was sanded with what looks like 300-400 grit.  I suspect that the original gel finish was not up to par and to hide it, the whole hull was sanded.   Not what I expected. But luckily, I had planned to paint the hull...possibly dark green or black. Have not decided.

A great book I just purchased is 'the steam launch.'  If you do not have this and you are a fan of steam boating, you need to find a copy. Hard cover with MANY pics and details of many steam launches, boilers and engines.  I found a hard cover version for less that 30$.

http://www.amazon.com/The-steam-launch-Elliott-classics/dp/0964120402
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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #14 on: February 13, 2016, 10:00:56 pm »

Built the boiler (mostly) today. Took about 6 hours.  Went with 3 inch diameter and ~7.5 inches tall boiler body. Still have to make cone and finish fittings, lagging, and firebopx. Chimney has pressed in brass top.  Sized was mostly dictated by review of many images in the 'Steam Launch' book.


I used 15 3/8 thick walled copper tubes. Got them from Reeves or somewhere a few years ago.  Copper boiler tube is .1 in thick and ends are .7 in or so.  Brazed in bottom end first.  then fit tubes and top end and brazed them.  Don;t forget to drill a small hole for gas to escape from inside boiler. I drilled at location for relief valve bung.


All fire tubes are 6 inches long. Makes it easy as originally bought in 12 in length. One end is swaged (so tube does not fall through when assembling or brazing) just a bit with the swage punch (7$ on ebay).  Cut them all, swage them all, apply flux to all, insert all. Assembly line fast.....


I did have to oversize 3/8th ream the fire tube holes. The bottom after brazing, and the tops before assembly as the fire tubes were a hair over 3/8th diameter.


Had to anneal the ends 6 times. Hammered over an oak former.  Some will say the my holes are too close, but with end cap thickness and the extra support from the fire tubes, I am not worried.


Note: I did add another ring of silver solder to the BOTTOM end cap at side facing down(when brazing the fire tubes). Although there was plenty of solder on the first pass, the bottom tubes final brazing was the third pass, and it only sealed the whole unit better.


I had no issue with the first end cap shifting when brazing the top, and vice versa.  My garage was about 15 degrees, so I had to give the whole boiler general heat with the big propane torch, and then used controlled MAPP/oxy fine tip for pinpoint heat at all joints. The silver flowed very nicely and went where I directed it. I did have to build a brick fire box for the second and third brazing cycles as the propane tank was losing expansion.
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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #15 on: February 13, 2016, 10:08:19 pm »

A tip for forming the silver rings, wrap a spare tube of same diameter however many times as needed. For me, I made 31 wraps, so nice 3/8th spring, which is then cut to create rings. These do not have to fit perfectly. The solder will flow to where you tell it to by your heating. Of course, it is noce to have them fit perfectly....


Also, I used 1/2 inch on center for the fire tube spacing. This allowed me to get 5 tubes across with the centered hole. I just used a two pointed compass to put fine scratches into the copper ends. These were then drilled to 1/4, and then cut out to 3/8th with the step drill.


Have to order a few bungs and the sight glass ends as apparently, I ran out. I could machine the bungs from brass, but I am going to try to find bronze ones....


I built this boiler with the to end cap round edge UP because I was considering using the extra head space for a top steam outlet...still have not entirely decided.  Built this mostly by feel, and not so much by planning.....should hold about 400+ ml's...so I should get some decent run times without refilling...
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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #16 on: February 14, 2016, 05:26:18 pm »

chimney mostly finished...

Made several paper cones. Copper cone cut out with shears, annealed, hand formed, and then hammered over cone shaped oak form. Took a bit to get it right. The cone and ring riveted and all silver soldered together with chimney.  Will polish and pickle when I get some more citric acid from the health food store...

In side the cone is a copper band cut from the original pipe. This is a spacer to maintain proper cone height above the fire tubes. There is a small gap between the cone bottom and the boiler wall for the wood lagging. 
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ooyah/2

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #17 on: February 14, 2016, 10:29:35 pm »

xrad,

Neat boiler, I am assuming that you have a space above the top of the fire tubes after you have fitted the top cone and chimney.

Have you considered using the space to fit either a feed water heater or a steam dryer, here are 2- pics of a recently built test boiler with a steam drier fitted.I am a great believer in using any space to make the best of any heat that has passed thro' the fire tubes. Boiler is 3" dia x 6" between end plates.
Just a thought.

Keep up the build.

George.
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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #18 on: February 15, 2016, 12:35:08 pm »

Thanks Ooyah. Spacer ring allows for one or so loops of 'superheater' coil. It is being considered.
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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #19 on: February 19, 2016, 10:37:31 pm »

I did put a 'super heater' coil or two in place. Bronze post not drilled through. 3 solder joints and tapped 3/16 40 on top. Made some boiler bushes 1/4 x 40 from 655 si bronze. Machines like a champ, does not melt before the silver solder flows.  Inexpensive .5 inch dia rod from online metals.  19$ per foot makes a whole lot of bushes and threaded unions.  One threaded pipe made for the safety valve.  Had a pin hole leak in one bush and one of the bottom tubes so spent a few hours chasing those down. I use  two flame method where general heat to boiler by the big torch and fine point HOT flame to the solder joint allow good control so things don't all fall apart when trying to fix a hole. Cleaning out the 1/4 x 40 threads....


Boiler mostly together..... held cold H2O pressure to 200psi no issue.... 
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essex2visuvesi

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #20 on: February 19, 2016, 10:52:46 pm »

I hope you're not going to clean it up too much. I think the boiler looks good with the "distressed" look

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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #21 on: February 20, 2016, 02:07:59 am »

Thanks Essex!  Sorry, my son and I made a citric acid bath so he could learn about some basic chemical reactions...so it got cleaned!  But I am sure it won't take too long to get back to the dirty look.  I designed the boiler so that it is easy to remove the top, just undo one strap, so that if I wanted to re-clean the funnel, it would be easy and the lagging won't fall off. three strap clamps worked out great. Stained mahogany lagging.

Forgot to mention that I had a tap break off just below flush on the top bung of the water vale earlier today...must have had a crack in it....anyway, had to cut the bung off, punch it through, make another, get the old parts out, and braze new one in....good hour + wasted on that goof.....

Steamed up for first time without any leaks!  :-) :-) :-)   Steamed to 50+psi popping the valve in 10 min flat on a half empty gas can and boiler about 3/5th usable fill.  I am using a ~2.5 bix round burner which works well when not full of water!  Got at least 20 min with the safety valve staying open.

So this should be a nice combo with the oscillating twin and a medium sized refillable gas tank. Leaves room for a water tank..... . Have not decided how to finish the bottom of boiler..maybe a faux coal door..something to cover the holes and mounting screws...
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essex2visuvesi

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #22 on: February 20, 2016, 03:33:22 am »

Ah well
Does look nice tho
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derekwarner

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #23 on: February 20, 2016, 03:38:26 am »

xrad..............looking good.... :-))...just an idea  %)

Selective black high temperature gloss to the boiler top cone cap & a band of polished copper prior to the chimney top

Derek
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xrad

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Re: XRAD'S 40 inch open steam launch
« Reply #24 on: February 20, 2016, 04:37:37 pm »

Thanks guys!  That does look nice Derek.  Maybe a band of color to match the hull which could be gloss black over dark green.... have to see how the hull comes out....
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