GreenSteam engine

[Jonathan]

I'm not sure, but I think that may not be right. For a 1:1 ratio (which made the math simpler), I got a COP of 10/17.

[ken_behrendt]

Jonathan...

Thanks...I think I understand now that the flexible rod is metal and is, at least at one of its ends, in line witht the center of the flywheel.

However, I'm still completely in the dark as to how this gadget converts the reciprocating motion of the steam powered piston into rotational motion of the flywheel. I would have bee nice if they could have had a nice slow motion animation or video on their site that illustrated this.

Well, if the flexible rod is metal and not plastic, then maybe it would be a lot more durable than I thought. But, how would it react if there was a lot of drag on the flywheel?


ken

[Jonathan]

If there were more drag on the flywheel, it would go slower. They do have a slow video, but attached is a drawing. Blue is the crank that connects to the flywheel, which is not shown. Also not shown is the flexible rod. Red is the thing which connects the flywheel crank, flexible rod, and piston rods together. It goes around the green circle, with constant orientation. Connected to its ends are the piston rods (not shown), and it traces out the two black circles. The cylinders are mounted (behind us in this view) with something like a ball-in-socket joint that allows steam through it and into the cylinders. These socket mountings can be pretty much anywhere, because no matter where they are, the piston must move in and out for the end of the piston rod to trace out one of the black circles.