Oscillating Cylinder Steam Engine
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An oscillating cylinder steam engine is a simple arrangement which does not require valves to direct steam into and out of the cylinder. Instead of valves, the entire cylinder rocks, or oscillates, such that one or more ports in the cylinder line up with corresponding ports in a fixed port face or in the pivot mounting |
DIY Workshop - Hand built with steam tight sliding tolerance for effective pressure drive, practice drill press, bandsaw, mill, lathe work and welding techniques. There is a cylinder which contains a port at the closed end and a pivot at its midpoint. The piston is a good seal in the bore of the cylinder and connects directly to the crank on the crankshaft. There is a flywheel to store energy for the exhaust stroke of the piston, and a frame to hold it all together. The frame has two ports machined into it. These ports in conjunction with the port in the cylinder form the valve of this engine. When the piston is in its power stroke the cylinder is angled such that the port in the cylinder is aligned with the inlet port on the frame. At the bottom of the power stroke the cylinder pivots and closes the inlet port on the frame. As the flywheel moves the piston through its exhaust stroke the cylinder is angled such that the port in the cylinder is aligned with the exhaust port in the frame.