The engine itself steam: detailed description, drawings

The steam engine began its expansion in the beginning of the 19th century. And already at that time not only large units for industrial purposes were built, but also decorative ones. For the most part, their buyers were wealthy nobles, who wanted to amuse themselves and their children. After the steam units densely entered the life of the society, decorative engines began to be used in universities and schools as educational samples.

Steam engines of our time

At the beginning of the 20th century, the relevance of steam engines began to fall. One of the few companies that continued to produce decorative mini-engines was the British firm Mamod, which allows you to purchase a sample of such equipment even today. But the cost of such steam engines easily transcends for two hundred pounds sterling, which is not so little for trinkets for a couple of evenings. Especially for those who like to collect all kinds of mechanisms on their own, it is much more interesting to create a simple steam engine with their own hands.

The device of the engine is very simple. Fire heats the cauldron with water. Under the influence of temperature, water turns into steam, which pushes the piston. While the tank has water, the flywheel connected to the piston will rotate. This is the standard scheme of the structure of the steam engine. But you can assemble a model and a completely different configuration.

Well, let's move from the theoretical part to more interesting things. If you are interested in doing something with your own hands, and so exotic cars surprise you, then this article is for you, in it we will happily tell you about various ways how to assemble a steam engine by oneself. At the same time the process of creating a mechanism gives joy no less than its launch.

Method 1: mini steam engine with own hands

So, let's begin. We will collect the simplest steam engine with our own hands. Drawings, sophisticated tools and special knowledge are not needed.

First, we take an aluminum can from any drink. Cut off the bottom third. As a result we get sharp edges, then they need to be folded in with pliers. We do it carefully so as not to cut yourself. Since most aluminum cans have a concave bottom, it is necessary to align it. It is enough to press his finger firmly against any hard surface.

At a distance of 1.5 cm from the top edge of the resulting "glass" it is necessary to make two holes opposite each other. It is advisable to use a punch for this, since it is necessary that they are obtained in a diameter of at least 3 mm. At the bottom of the banks we put a decorative candle. Now take the usual table foil, mnem it, and then wrap it around our mini-burner.

Mini nozzles

Next, you need to take a piece of copper tube length of 15-20 cm. It is important that it is hollow inside, as this will be our main mechanism for bringing the structure into motion. The central part of the tube is wrapped around the pencil 2 or 3 times, so that a small spiral is obtained.

Now it is necessary to place this element so that the curved space is placed directly above the candle wick. To do this, attach the tube to the shape of the letter "M". In this case, we deduce the sections that fall down through the holes in the can. Thus, the copper tube is rigidly fixed over the wick, and its edges are peculiar nozzles. In order for the structure to rotate, it is necessary to bend the opposite ends of the "M-element" 90 degrees in different directions. The steam engine is ready.

Engine starting

The can is placed in a container with water. In this case, it is necessary that the edges of the tube are below its surface. If the nozzles are not long enough, you can add a small weight to the bottom of the can. But be careful - do not sink the entire engine.

Now it is necessary to fill the tube with water. To do this, you can drop one edge into the water, and the second to draw in air as through a tube. We lower the can to the water. We ignite the wick of the candle. After a while, the water in the spiral will turn into steam, which under pressure will fly out of the opposite ends of the nozzles. The bank will begin to rotate in the tank quickly enough. That's how we got the engine with our own steam. As you can see, everything is simple.

Model steam engine for adults

Now we will complicate the task. We will gather a more serious engine with our own steam. First you need to take a can of paint. You should make sure that it is absolutely clean. On the wall for 2-3 cm from the bottom, cut out a rectangle with dimensions of 15 x 5 cm. The long side is placed parallel to the bottom of the can. From the metal mesh we cut out a piece of 12 x 24 cm. From both ends of the long side we measure 6 cm. We bend these sections at an angle of 90 degrees. We get a small "platform-table" with an area of 12 x 12 cm with feet of 6 cm. We fix the resulting construction to the bottom of the can.

On the perimeter of the cover, several holes must be made and placed in the form of a semicircle along one half of the lid. It is desirable that the holes have a diameter of about 1 cm. This is necessary in order to ensure proper ventilation of the internal space. The steam engine will not be able to work well if there is not enough air to get to the source of the fire.

The main element

From the copper tube make a spiral. It is necessary to take about 6 meters of a soft copper tube with a diameter of 1/4-inch (0.64 cm). From one end we measure 30 cm. Starting from this point, it is necessary to make five turns of a spiral with a diameter of 12 cm each. The rest of the tube is bent into 15 rings with a diameter of 8 cm. Thus, at the other end there should be 20 cm of free tube.

Both outputs are passed through the vents in the can lid. If it turns out that the length of a straight section is not sufficient for this, then one turn of the spiral can be unrolled. On a platform installed in advance, put coal. In this case, the spiral should be placed just above this platform. Coal is neatly laid out between its coils. Now the bank can be closed. In the end, we got a furnace that would drive the engine. With his hands, the steam engine is almost done. Left a little.

Water tank

Now you need to take another jar from under the paint, but already smaller. In the center of its lid, drill a hole 1 cm in diameter. On the side of the can, two more holes are made - one near the bottom, the second - above, at the lid itself.

Take two crusts, in the center of which a hole is made from the diameters of a copper tube. In one crust, insert 25 cm of plastic pipe, in the other - 10 cm, so that their edge barely looked out of the plugs. In the lower opening of the small can, a crust with a long tube is inserted, in the upper one - a shorter tube. We place a smaller jar on a large paint jar so that the hole at the bottom is on the opposite side of the ventilation ducts of the large jar.

Result

As a result, the following construction should be obtained. In a small jar, water is poured in, which, through a hole in the bottom, flows into the copper tube. Under the spiral, a fire is ignited, which heats up the copper container. Hot steam rises up the tube.

In order for the mechanism to be completed, it is necessary to attach the piston and flywheel to the upper end of the copper tube. As a result, the thermal energy of combustion will be converted into mechanical forces of rotation of the wheel. There are a lot of different schemes for creating such an external combustion engine, but in all of them two elements are always involved - fire and water.

In addition to this design, it is possible to assemble the steam engine of Stirling with one's own hands, but this material is for a completely separate article.