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Yorkshire Vertical Mill Engine

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Stewart Hart04/02/2012 22:31:49
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The cold has kept me out of the shop for the last few days or so, to keep my sanity i've drawn up this engine. It a type that found a lot of uses as in the yourkshire woolen mills, but it can trace in origins back to the North East coals feilds where it was one of the earliest types of winding engine. It uses a parallel motion invented by Phineas Crowther in 1800 the Beamish Musium have a running engine, and the Northern Mill Engine Society allso have a Kenyon Engine that uses this type of mostion http://www.nmes.org/

I've drawn it up to use a 4" fly wheel and a 15mm dia cylinder withe 30mm stroke, it can be made as either a single or a twin cylinder.

Don't know when I will get round to making one.

Stew


Stewart Hart05/02/2012 00:12:24
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Bin pondering over changing it to a compound by having a low pressure cylinder of 22mm dia, don't know about the plumbing though, also like the idea of fitting a governor somehow.
 
The Kenyon Engine at Bolton has a Rod and Trip type valve gear, it sent me dizzy trying to figure it out had to take a seat, befor i fell over, still don't know how it works ?.
 
Stew
Martin W05/02/2012 00:36:05
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Stewart
 
Is what you are describing similar to a Corliss valve setup with a trip gear to regulate the steam input. Evidently these were much better at maintaining a fixed speed under varying loads than the conventional slide valve gear engines.
 
Had a look at a video of this engine operating and the valve gear does seem to operate on a trip cycle which may be determined by the governor speed. My guess is that it gives a quick cut off to the live steam to control the speed similar to or the same as the Corliss valve system.
 
Cheers
 
 
Martin
 
PS
 
Been on the site and it describes the valve gear operation as similar in operation to a Corliss.

Edited By Martin W on 05/02/2012 00:45:03

Diane Carney05/02/2012 00:44:34
419 forum posts
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Hi Stew
 
It is a fascinating enigne isn't it? It sort of falls between two stools, so to speak. It's a true vertical cross compound with gear more akin to a beam engine! As if it could have been built with slide bars ... but they considered that, being vertical, it should have parallel motion - because that's what beam engines had. It's origins are unknown as it was thought to be second hand when it arrived at Kenyons and it might have been very old then.
The patent variable cut-off slide valve trip gear designed by James Lumb (as in 'governors') is believed to be unique - or the only surviving example in the world, at least. It was probably part of the redesign and partial rebuild which was carried out by Kenyons, with the assistance of Lumb who was responsible for its care. It served well though as it was working until 1977.
 
You could make the LP 24mm and make your scale 1mm: foot to make a model of the Kenyon engine. Your flywheel would be a bit smaller than proptotype.
I look forward to seeing it Stew! Get busy... !
 
Diane

Stewart Hart05/02/2012 08:10:54
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Thanks for your imput Martin and Diane
 
The valve gear is symilar to a Corliss with it snapping shut in the interest of economy, but I failed to understand how it works, and doubt that I could model it, thats why I've gone for a eccentric slide valve, the Kenyon is a fascinating engine, I may have another trip on the next steaming day, ( I feal another dizzy spell comming on).
 
The other engine that fascinated me at Bolton was the Stinter engine that came to them via Fred Dibner the crank shaft it a work of art.
 
Not quite sure where I'm going to end up with this engine it started out as a drawing exercise with the aim for a simple engine for a beginner but it seems to have grown beyound that.
 
Stew
 
 
Tel05/02/2012 08:50:55
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As you know already Stew, I am waiting with bated breath.
Martin W05/02/2012 12:01:02
940 forum posts
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Stewart
 
I have had another look at the picture of the open valve chest prior to restoration. The assembly is a two tier arrangement with the trip valve controlling the admission of steam to a sliding valve below it. The valve gear is separated into lower and upper cylinder sections unlike the standard slide valves which are all in one piece, as per the version in your design.
 
I have tried stirring up my grey cells but have yet to come up with a sensible porting arrangement but only sort of got close once or twice . I also look forward to seeing your design and build of this engine.
 
Best regards
 
 
Martin
Martin W05/02/2012 12:33:02
940 forum posts
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Sorted with two solutions so far.
 
Cheers
 
Martin
Stewart Hart05/02/2012 20:47:35
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674 forum posts
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Woops I seem to have started this thread twice.
 
Could a kind moderator join the two up if posible.
 
Hi Tel hows tricks !
 
Martin I'm sort of familiar with that Meyer valve gear an engine i did quite a bit of research on had that system they use it to balance the wprk done by each cylinder on a compound engines, I figured it could be modeled by having a dummy eccentric and valve rod. I have trouble visualising trip type valve systems the penny may drop one day. So I've kept with the slide valve eccentric arrangment,
 
I've redrawn things up a bit added a low pressure cylinder at the scale suggested by Diane 1mm to the inch and increased the fly wheel to this scale. Also got rid of those nasty looking dog legged valve rods, As i only run engines on air the low pressure cylinder will have a bore the same size as the high pressure cylinder, I've also sketched out an arrangement for the governor that I think will work, with that and nice wooden cladding on the cylinders, I think it would be a nice engine. The larger flywheel makes it look quite an imposing engine (almost 12" high) but thats the impression you get when Kenyon engine at Bolton.
 
So it looks like I've got my next engine sorted for when I've finished the Simpson and Shipton
 
Stew

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