Ramsbottom Intermedial Steam Engine

[sbwhart]

Whilst serfing the net came across a free down load of a book called Steam and the Steam Engine printed in 1873, I like to check these old books for any unusual engines and came across a reference to a Ramsbottom Intermedial Engine this is all the book said about it



The only other reference is a description of the rotary valve, no etching, no mention of one being made nothing.

I've done a few preliminary sketches, and would like to try and find out more about this engine as Ramsbottom is a bit of a hero of mine,

 so:----  IS THERE ANY ONE OUT THERE WITH ANY INFORMATION THEY CAN SHARE WITH ME.

Thanks

Stew

[sbwhart]

Decided to have a go at drawing something up and came up with this



When you break it down its quite a simple engine, the hardest part will be in fabricating the cylinder.

Stew

[vtsteam]

Interesting engine Stew. Is there a slot in the piston skirt to clear the crankshaft? Or are a and a' not sections of a skirt, but two supports of some sort separating two individual pistons P and P?

Rotary valve is also interesting -- I'm working on my own rotary steam valve today.

[sbwhart]

Interesting engine Stew. Is there a slot in the piston skirt to clear the crankshaft? Or are a and a' not sections of a skirt, but two supports of some sort separating two individual pistons P and P?

Rotary valve is also interesting -- I'm working on my own rotary steam valve today.

I've used the scotish yoke for the crank shaft drive and simply connected the two ends of the piston via the slotted plate.

The old drawing showed a butterfly type rotary valve this would be a SOB to make and locate so I've designed a rod typ valve with two flats taking the air in from one the input side the other slot vents the air through to the midle all driven from a slot in the end of the crank shaft.

Attached pdfs should give you the idea

[raynerd]

Stew, just out of interest, is this anything to do with Ramsbottom village where I live, North Manchester ??

[sbwhart]

No Chris, though Ramsbottom was born in Lancashire so there is a posibility that there was a link some ware in the dark past.

stew

[vtsteam]

I see, so there's a thick connecting plate in the center, no skirt, and the plate has a horizontal slot that forms the Scottish yoke. Good idea!

I think the butterfly valve could be made by taking a piece of tubing and sawing a miter in it. Then silver solder it back together with a piece of sheet brass between.

But your valve is also a good one!

[philf]

Stew,

What prevents the piston rotating?

Would a flanged block (one fixed flange and one flange screwed to the block so it can be assembled) with a hole to fit the crank pin help?

As well as stopping the piston turning I think it would last a lot longer than having the pin running directly in the slot in the web.

Cheers.

Phil.

[vtsteam]

In a full size engine under load and continuous use, I imagine lubrication would be a problem.

How could you use splash lubrication or pressure lube for the crank bearings between the pistons? Would oil flinging around in the crank space cause problems?

On the other hand, it would be Interesting to do a rotary version of the engine. The valve could be modified to suit.

[sbwhart]

Her's a animation of a scotish yoke http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotch_yoke it shuld make thing a little clearer.

In a an air running model lubrication is the least of youre worries all I do is introduce some oil in the air line when a start them up thats all thats needed for a day's running.

I keep reading scotish yoke as scotish joke:- so her's a scotish joke as told by Chick Murry, who insidently was a model engineer.

I went to see Dumbarton Rock, I wathced it all day it it never moved:-  boom, boom

:lolb: :lolb: :lolb: :lolb:

Dumbarton Rock, is a large island in the river Clyde.

Stew

[S. Heslop]

Stew, just out of interest, is this anything to do with Ramsbottom village where I live, North Manchester ??

When I was a wee kid I used to know a Richard (Dick) Ramsbottom, back when we lived in Cockermouth.

With such an unfortionate combination he eventually changed his surname.