Re: winter project
Posted by:
Bill Gatlin (IP Logged)
Date: December 20, 2005 02:34AM
<HTML>Jim,
What are you planning to fuel it with?
I would suggest that you use a Lamont boiler. Design for around 1100 deg F and about 1000 psi. Use the Mobil synthetic gear oil in the crankcase and well monitored feed to the rings and valve guides, not mixed with the steam.
Spend extra care with oil/water separation, which is easier with this oil, and use a special filter to remove the last of the oil before it gets to the feed pump.
Use common sizes of piston/cylinder diameters so that rings and wrist pins are available. Use Total Seal piston rings.
chrome the cylinders, nitride the rings (they can come that way. Insulate the piston crowns and head.
Use as long a connecting rod as practical, about twice the stroke. Put pads on the piston skirt to minimise slap. Run a vacuum on the crankcase and keep it at about 250 degrees while running. Also a vacuum on the condenser. A small Roots blower is good for this as might be a small vane pump.
Use popett valves that open up into the steamchest. About 5/8 diameter and 0.10 lift. A cam that has three to five different cutoff values and will slide to make the adjustment. Don't try for too short a cutoff, use a combo of cutoff and throttling for control.
The clearance will need to be varied as the engine is running. The easiest way to do this with valves that open to antechambers and control to respond to engine conditions.
With rear wheel drive keep the engine tight to the firewall. I think the best configuration would be a Vee 4, with a 180 degree crank inate balance would be good. Build the crank, rods and wrist pins, bearings etc like a tank.
That's some of my thoughts. I highly recommend that you study the ongoing work of Ted Prichard and read this and the Steam automobile Phorum from one end to the other.
Join SACA, if you are not already a member of course.
Best of luck and please keep us informed on you and your project. ----------- Bill G.
*ps. others will of course disagree as to the best route to follow that's what keeps it interesting.</HTML>