American Walking Beam Engine

[fredrosse]

Here is the walking beam engine for a 20 ft sidewheeler.
It is designed for 1 horsepower at 100 RPM,



Some particulars:
75 PSIG rated operating pressure, exhaust to vacuum
3.25 inch bore, 5.25 inch stroke, double acting
Wet vacuum pump driven from walking beam
Boiler Feed Pump driven from walking beam
Marshall-Bremme Valve Gear


This engine will turn a pair of 44 inch diameter paddlewheels. Floats are 12 inches wide x 8 inches deep, 8 per wheel.

[mcandrew1894]

Thats a great looking engine Fredrosse! Did you build that?


Dave

[fredrosse]

Yes, all built in the home workshop, everything brazed or welded, then machined in the shop.

The exceptions are the working cylinders, I used chrome plated cylinder sleeves, from pneumatic cylinders, for the steam cylinder, vacuum pump cylinder, and feed pump cylinder. I also used the hardened and ground chrome plated cylinder rods, as getting a good microinch finish on these parts, and corrosion protection, is difficult for a home shop machinist.

Frame is 1-1/2 x 1-1/2 x 3/16 square tubing, with a 6 in x 2 in channel base, 30 inches long.

[fredrosse]

Just got the new ASME Code Boiler last week, Vertical Firetube type, 48 tubes, 18 inches long, 1-1/4 inch Outside Diameter, 0.095 inch wall thickness of tubes. Shell is 16 inch diameter x 0.375 in wall, 20 square feet heating surface. The prices I got to weld the boiler together and provide ASME Code stamp ranged from $7400 to $890.

[DetroiTug]

Fred,

Nice looking boiler. Was the "$890" a typo?

The engine is beautiful..

Thanks, Ron

[fredrosse]

No, the $890 US is not a typo, and that was the ASME Boiler shop I selected to do the job. I am very pleased with the job. Passed the 300 PSIG hydro test with no problems. I have owned several welders since the early 1970s, but my welding skills don't come close to those of the ASME certified pressure vessel welders. The welds, to me, look like artwork.

[DetroiTug]

Wow that is a great deal! Yes, looks like they did a nice job on it.

Ron

[fredrosse]

Tube to tubesheet welds, tubesheet to outer shell welds, very good work.

[mcandrew1894]

Yes they Are!

My compliments to the welder!

Dave

[fredrosse]

Somehow the Engine Picture was lost, so here is another post of the engine pictures