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[logoman]

This tiny three cylinder engine is a bit of a mystery to me. First of all there is no exhaust, steam appears to be vented from beneath the cylinders, perhaps the bottom of the piston valves? As such is runs very wet, and condensate is also forced out of the end of the hollow prop shaft. The engine is beautifully machined, and so the lack of a proper exhaust is very strange. there is a large hex nut on a short length of horizontal thread between the end of the engine block and the contra-rotating gearing. The nut can be turned a few times but appears to do nothing.

Any suggestions as to how it works, who made it, etc would be greatly appreciated.









http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jm6myg2zxXI

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[kno3]

The cylinders are single-acting, aren't they?
Sorry but I have no clue about the engine. It is possible that the exhaust happens at the bottom of the stroke in the fashion of 2-stroke petrol engines?

[SteamboatPhil]

It looks very much like it has uniflow exhust, ie it exhust at BDC, but as you say a mystery as to where it comes out. Any chance of a close up shot between the flywheel and first cylinder ?

[logoman]

[benjaml1]

Could it not be "wet" because of poor piston sealing ? Regular slide valve control exhausting through the prop shaft ? I do like that contra rotating mechanism...

[HS93 (RIP)]

how about a model of a commpressed air torpedo engine.

Peter

[benjaml1]

how about a model of a commpressed air torpedo engine.

Peter

Spot on.... radial but the same principal..     I would think this was designed for compressed air as wetting wouldn't be a problem....

"In about 1875 Whitehead completely redesigned his product, producing a 14" diameter weapon, capable of 18 Knots over 600 yards. In this he used a three-cylinder radial engine  designed by Mr. Peter Brotherhood’s Company in Peterborough, England. In this engine, air is admitted to space above the pistons (cylinder head being integral with the cylinder) by cam operated piston valves. This produces the power stroke, forcing the piston down. When the piston approaches bottom centre, the exhaust escapes through ports in the cylinder walls, uncovered towards the end of the power stroke. As the piston returns to top centre, compression prior to the introduction of further compressed air, which would cause power loss, is avoided by having a slot in the piston. This slot is uncovered, during what would be the compression stroke in a petrol or diesel engine, by the relative movement of a semi-hemispherical gudgeon. Exhaust air from both cylinder ports and the gudgeon valve, leave via the crankcase, the big end and then through the hollow propeller shaft".

[Perkasaman2]

This looks like an early (pre-war/post war?)  educational visual aid ................. almost certainly powered by air - a demonstrator for teaching basic mechanical principles. Nicely made. 

[Underpressure]

I saw that little engine for sale, but as it appeared to have soft solder used in it's construction I decided not to go after it.

Compressed air: Now that could be fun to try in a model. No gas, no boiler just an air tank and regulator, nice!

Sorry, not very constructive 

Neil

[Perkasaman2]

A great suggestion ....................... there's no wrong answers.