Re: La Locomotive a vapeur
Posted by:
Jim Crank (IP Logged)
Date: February 20, 2002 01:19PM
<HTML>Gentlemen,
If you are talking about the 150 HP engines in the "COLLENE", Bill's steam yacht and the second airplane engine, then you are right. Both are identical except in size.
That V-4 was a proposal to the Navy and not built. Read what the second stage tubine would have added.
Besler and Stan Whitlock, the designer, always went for the shortest and most direct ports, smooth as possible, and good breathing at top speed.
Look, a steam engine is no different than a racing gas engine. Get the stuff in an out with the least flow losses and the least addition to the clearance volume, in the case of a steam engine.
Yes, Besler's piston valves were probably the largest used in relationship to the cylinder volume. Big valves, very short stroke and straight in and out ports.
Even the Kaiser engine had its one traverse piston valve right on top of the HP cylinders with the shortest ports possible, and I ran that on the dyno several times at 3,600 rpm.
Jim</HTML>