A hybrid model?

I've a well made Stuart Turner steam engine to hand. It just sits about by the computer and I twiddle with it when I'm on the phone.

I was doing this the other day and it came to me that it might make a good basis for a hybrid model. Drill the head for a model aero engine spark plug, arrange for points, a small battery and a supply of gas bleeding into the induction pipe. Sounds easy enough ................

It has the usual slide valve and I wonder how it might fare as an internal combustion valve, bearing in mind the minimal pressures it will experience - not going to race it, after all. ;o))

It is only an idea - what do others think?

regards,

Kim Siddorn.

Reply to
Kim Siddorn
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Unless you were going to run a non-compression cycle (a la Lenoir, Bischopp etc), you'd need to gear the valve train down to half engine speed. I think slide valves rely on the steam pressure on the back face to hold them against the ports, which could be a problem. Or is it one of the little enclosed Sirius/Sun types which ISTR have a piston valve? Irrespective I suspect the valve would utimately object to being asked to handle hot exhaust gasses - might be ok for short demo runs given copious amounts of lubrication though.

Reply to
Nick H

I'm afraid it sounds like a waste of an old engine to me. I don't generally like altering old irreplaceable things irreversibly. Someone may be very glad of the bits some years from now. However, it's your engine.

John

Reply to
John Manders

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