The
steam engine can be a remarkably simpy design. This oscilating
engine is very simple. The lack of complexity means that working
engines can be made very small.
This Mamod engine has a piston
diameter of only 7mm.
The engine is powered by the pressure of steam from the boiler.
Steam fills the chamber pushing the piston along. This in turn,
turns the flying wheel. As the cylinder moves the hole in the end
of the cylinder now lines up over the exhaust port. The momentum
of the flywheel pushes the piston back into the cylinder pushing
the exhaust out. Notice that in this simple design power is only
provided in 50% of a complete cycle. More complex designs provide
poser through a greater part of the engine cycle.
The
steam engine can be a remarkably simpy design. This oscilating
engine is very simple. The lack of complexity means that working
engines can be made very small.