Technic Pneumatic Beam Engine

[Burf2000]

Well thought I have a go at making a beam engine out of Lego that would run off compressed air (Lego compressor). Took me a few hours to do but this is only version 1 which to be honest is a bit temperamental. Let me know if anyone has any questions,

Edited May 28, 2010 by Burf2000

[DLuders]

Your MOC reminds me of land-based oil wells pumping in Texas or Oklahoma USA. Did you come up with our own design, or did you get any ideas from the Lego Pneumatic Engine (LPE) website http://www.nicjasno.com/ ?

[Burf2000]

Its only the prototype really, but I have some inspiration from from another beam engine on youtube. I want to try and get it running better and with less flex in the beam. Next MOC will be a pneumatic train

[Burf2000]

I can put up version 2 if anyone cares lol

[Milan]

Interest is somehow thin, but please post it, why not?

[Jetro]

DO show - it's always nice to see Pneumatics.

[Brickthus]

Its only the prototype really, but I have some inspiration from from another beam engine on youtube. I want to try and get it running better and with less flex in the beam. Next MOC will be a pneumatic train

Good to have a some static pictures as well as the video. Then we can have a quick look at the key points and come back to the video when we have more time

Do you fancy trying a pneumatic engine like this?

Or maybe a 3-cylinder one?

With the 3-cylinder one I thought of putting the motor in the tender, as this provides good control of speed and direction via the 6 hoses. I should use slightly shorter cranks for the cylinder travel but I wanted to make the most of the available travel. Large cylinders would work better but be too bulky for an engine to run on 9V or PF tracks.

The 2-cylinder one is less easy to control, but works like a real steam engine, the variable advance or retarding of the valve gear controlling the speed of rotation of the wheels. Needs some shrinkage work to fit through tunnels though

One key point with a real steam engine is that the pressure is from a regulated source (a fixed boiler pressure), so it might be that valve position is proportional to mass flow of steam and hence cylinder velocity (not acceleration). With LEGO pneumatics the pressure is unregulated and the 'fluid' is highly compressible, so valve position is proportional to acceleration of the cylinder and hence it is more difficult to control.

Mark

[DLuders]

[bUMP]

(Air) "Blast From the Past" -- Here are two nice Lego Pneumatic Engines (LPEs) by nicjasno (Alex Zorko) -- an inline 4-cylinder and a (Mustang) V8. There are detailed Building Instructions (with Parts Lists) available on the All the Best Bits website.

[Burf2000]

That reminds me, maybe I should post up my there engines :)