Reversible mill engine model

This is a reversible, double-acting engine built along the lines of a typical mill engine. It was built to serve as a teaching aid for a series of impromptu lectures I gave at local middle schools. It incorporates a transparent window over the valve chamber so the motion of the slide valve can be seen when the engine is running. [This plastic window is replaced with a proper brass cover when the engine is run on steam.]

To reverse the engine, the phasing of the motion of the valve relative to the position of the piston must be changed. This is accomplished via an ingenious rotatable channel for the slider that drives the slide valve. Rotating the channel changes the phase so as to make the engine run in the opposite direction, as shown in the video.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwQIe7Cv61U

Marv are there any details available.

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Originally Posted by jim4472

Marv are there any details available.

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The engine was built to plans by Elmer Verburg, a prolific designer of bar stock engines aimed at moderately skilled amateur machinists. Plans can be found here...

http://www.john-tom.com/ElmersEngines/43_horizontal.pdf

For a complete listing of his engine designs, including downloadable plans, visit...

Elmers Engines Steam Engine Plans

Marv
Thank you. I do not know just who John-Tom is but it started right after Elmer died. I was glad to see it go on, too many would like to build something from basic to advanced and it is in the book. Elmer Verburg was a very special craftsman and enjoyed -what he did. The plans are on the site but they forgot all the special how to's in the rear of the book. I purchased the book and after Elmer's death the book soared on E-Bay commanding a sum of $2500. There is not enough money to buy my book, it filled many hours of just looking for ideas. It is nice Elmer's Engines still lives.

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Originally Posted by ncollar

Marv
Thank you. I do not know just who John-Tom is but it started right after Elmer died. I was glad to see it go on, too many would like to build something from basic to advanced and it is in the book. Elmer Verburg was a very special craftsman and enjoyed -what he did. The plans are on the site but they forgot all the special how to's in the rear of the book. I purchased the book and after Elmer's death the book soared on E-Bay commanding a sum of $2500. There is not enough money to buy my book, it filled many hours of just looking for ideas. It is nice Elmer's Engines still lives.

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Elmer also designed a number of useful tools, many of which I've built...

http://www.homemadetools.net/forum/t...-verburg-27353