Stationary Steam Engine (Mamod SE3)

in storage
Stationary Steam Engine (Mamod SE3)
location:
in storage 1950s

1957: Mamod SE3 advertising in Meccano Magazine [image info]

S.E.3 Operating Instructions [image info]

A Mamod SE3 stationary steam engine.

Mamod SE3 stationary steam engine

1962 description

SUPERHEATED TWIN CYLINDER STEAM ENGINE S.E.3

This superb new addition to the Mamod range is the perfect Power Unit for model propulsion. Twin oscillating cylinders, coupled to a diameter flywheel are powered, via the superheated steam pipe, by a 6 × 2 inch diameter boiler, fired by a highly efficient vapourising spirit lamp. Built-in lubricating wells are incorporated in the engine blocks, and boiler fittings include stop cock, whistle and water level end plug. Exhaust steam is fed up the chimney, which is detachable for storage purposes.

Configuration

The unit has a black and silver-coloured horizontal steam boiler with twin-piston driver, flywheel and pulley-wheel for driving additional hardware, all mounted on a bright red painted metal plinth, with holes spaced at "Meccano" half-inch intervals around the edge, 17 holes by 19 holes.

The unit burns methylated spirits.

Topology and customisation

Since the flywheel has a piston on either side, and the piston travel intersects the drive shaft axis, the driving pulley-wheel is positioned alongside the flywheel, between the pistons. This means that the drive belt cannot simply be slipped on and off at will.

However, if a user found this to be a problem, they could always customise the engine by adding a second shaft, driven from the first, using Meccano ... and fixed to the base using the Meccano-spaced holes.