Saito Steam Engine

[derekwarner_decoy]

Thanks VNK.........but talk about 

Here is that additional  2.5mm support leg @ 45 degrees to the right angled motion change of direction 

Derek

[derekwarner_decoy]

....a lovely member [Stuart Badger] now looking down from PD heaven many years ago suggested that we treat each individual piece in a build as a model in itself...I think they were very wise words......

So this morning I found three M3x0.5P Grade 304 acorn nuts ........
1. the first went to lock the reversing gear vertical shaft....& that was OK.......
2. the second two were intended to replace the M3x0.5P Grade 304 HH nuts which retain the front end of the engine which I thought was pretty simple 

But ....the new 1:20 scale Irish engine builders wanted safety tags  to ensure H&S was being complied with ...so after a meeting  all safety requirements were met.....

Mr SAITO uses these same M3x0.5P acorn nuts in his vertical builds.......so I just copied.......Derek.....

[derekwarner_decoy]

Evening PD's...after Easter & our ANZAC day.....

One issue that had been concerning me was that of boiler make up water

1. first thought was ....two electric driven pumps 
2. second thought ....after a few months ....one electric as a secondary or standby, with the primary being steam axel driven......

So here we go........amazingly, a year 2013 Microcosm piston pump appears to mount perfectly in to a year 1960 design Saito Y2DR engine base   

In reality.......@ approx. 100 RPM on the shaft & 97 RPM on the auxiliary should just about be OK  .......Derek

[Harold H. Duncan]

Nicely done, Derek.

[kno3]

Hi, looks like you've found a good placement for the engine driven pump.
What bore and stroke does the axle mounted pump have?
And what diameter axle does it fit on?

[derekwarner_decoy]

Hi PD's......kno3.........here is a link to the boiler feed pump

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Microcosm-M5-Live-Steam-boiler-feed-pump-Twin-Cylinder-Steam-Engine-/151198790945?pt=AU_Toys_Hobbies_Powered_Toys&hash=item2334267521

It is 5 mm bore x short stroke of 6mm....the Saito paddle shaft is 4.0 mm OD....the Microcosm pump eccentric hub is also to suit 4.0 mm....

I found it amazing that the only installation requirement was to drill & tap two M2 holes for the pump mounting bracket back to the underside of the Y2DR engine frame

With the electric drive auxiliary I have added an outboard 4.0 mm ZZ ball bearing in a plummer block to assist with alignment/loading

Whilst each pump has in-build check valves, I will need reposition an in-line check valve between the pumps as the axel driven pump must have a bypass valve installed.....

The eccentric strap & the eccentric disk appear to be of the same [brass/bronze] material...however with an adequate level of lubrication all should be OK

I will solder that #22 bullet casing shell onto the eccentric strap as an oil can ....being of similar size to that as fitted to the Y2DR bearing blocks ........Derek

[derekwarner_decoy]

  .... just a few more images from today......

One of the issues I had was the requirement for securing, then a quick release method of removing the gas tank without  ... for the refilling

So after many many sleepless nights I used the two 16mm diameter hand wheels from Winfried Niggle as extension thumb & forefinger bolts....... [re-tapped to M3 from M2.5]

On the discharge side of the tank gas line I also have the knurled nut to facilitate a tool free tank removal for refilling.......  

Derek

[PeteH]

Great solution for tank removal 

[kno3]

Hi Derek, I was wondering if you have progressed with your paddle-wheel steamer any further?

[derekwarner_decoy]

Regret ot a lot of progress kno3........[I think I have the honour of the slowest build in the history of PD's]

1. installed a Microcosm eccentric drive auxiliary boiler water makeup pump 12 volt [70 RPM] ... & it works well against the boiler pressure of 3 Bar 

2. installed a second Microcosm eccentric drive paddle shaft driven pump for the primary boiler water makeup........in doing this I needed to rotated the pump body axis 90 degrees & the design did not like the change on orientation & the internal check valves would not seat  ....so due to physical constraints, disappointingly  I could not install it in the preferred orientation with paddle shaft drive so have converted and reinstalled this as a second 12 volt [70 RPM]  pump

3. installed a Microcosm manual hand pump, in addition to two Winfried Niggle boiler water in line check valves. This pump was intended to enable achieving my boiler tests and not intended for general use

4. have passed my Australian boiler hydrostatic test OK with the manual pump 

I am suitably impressed with the quality of the Microcosm pump units

The additional tube work now looks like squarely placed spaghetti, however  I can cope with this OK

Currently progressing with the gas regulator to modulate gas flow to boiler pressure setting..........

Hope this note finds you well & happy with your buildings ........Derek 

[kno3]

Hello Derek, your steam plant looks most impressive with that extensive array of brass pipework. I hope you can remember what each valve is meant for when running it :-)
By the way, is the oiler on the pump eccentric made from a small calibre cartridge?
Regarding the pump not working in another position due to check valves not seating: you could easily install some small springs inside to help the valves stay in position. Ordinary springs from pens might work, as I think they aren't rusting.

[derekwarner_decoy]

Yes kno3...you picked it in one 

The oiler tube for the Microcosm pump is in fact a spent #22 shell casing...it was of near identical diameter to the original Saito tubes and as such appeared to be more suitable to containing some cotton & a volume of oil over the original Microcosm oil drilling

Both pumps now have a shortened #22 spent shell casing as oiler tubes

To my knowledge, all alternate manufacture of model boiler feed piston pumps have the piston axis in the relative horizontal plane and the pump body with the ball. springs & checks in the true vertical plane....so the decay I encountered was of my doing by orienting the pump by 90 degrees......the decay issue was eliminated immediately on reinstating the pump to the recommended orientation

To the credit of Jin from Microcosm, he sent over a complete set of spare for all pumps when hearing of the issue I was experiencing......[I now have a lifetimes set of spared]...excellent service 

Derek

[derekwarner_decoy]

Grade 460 steam oil may look like pea soup, but in the morning sunlight, in the engine room changes it to translucent gold... .......... Derek

[kno3]

I'm still amazed at your beautiful pipework. Too bad you're not pressing on with the build.

[kno3]

Hey Derek, no news?
By the way, why did you mount a pressure gauge on the lubricator?