Air Engine project?

[John Newman, Jr.]

Here is a little project I have been working on. While it is more or less based on turn of the century marine steam design, it is only intended as a demonstration model (toy). By using off the shelf air cylinders - at $15 each through eBay, they were a real bargain and eliminated a whole bunch of work for me and the headaches involved with boilers and live steam. I just hook up an air hose and open the valve. I have a little regulator giving it 20psi and it turns over at about 60rpm.
This whole project started when I found the rods in the maintenance dept. scrap bin where I used to work. They were from a big V-Twin vacuum pump and the bearings had spun out in the little ends. The crankshaft is actually 9 separate pieces. There are ball bearings in the 3 mains and in both rod big ends. It would probably twist itself apart if it was put under any kind of real load, but it clanks along OK on my bench. It also has no crosshead slides, so piston rod / seal wear would also be an issue.
The rotary / oscillating valve was a novel idea I came up with. I haven't figures out a way to reverse it on demand, but it can be done by removing the belcranks from their shafts and turning them over 180 degrees.

John Newman, Jr.
Saint Louis, MO

[MoRo]

Nice job!! Thanks for letting us see this creation.
~M~

[John Newman, Jr.]

.....Gotta start proof reading my posts better - It should say that it turns over about 160rpm, as indicated on a Stewart-Warner hand held mechanical tach.
J.N.Jr.
STL, MO

[Jordan]

Nice Work. Looks Great