Variations of Two-cylinder
Pneumatic Engine |
| There are actually several ways
for building the 2-cylinder pneumatic engine. In the original
design, the pneumatic tubings cross from the pneumatic switch on one
side to the opposite cylinder. This is in conformity with the
pneumatic control circuit diagram. But the result is a tangle of
tubings. A neater looking arrangement is to have the tubings from the
pneumatic switch serve the cylinder on the same side. |
|
|
With respect to the pneumatic connections, the
following two engines are what may be termed "topological"
equivalents. |
 |
 |
|
The original design |
A neater variant |
|
|
| To do so, you will need to
modify the linkage from the pulley to the pneumatic switch. Note the
change in the orientation of the pulley in relation to the cams. |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
|
| By such
modifications, you can also change the direction of rotation of the
flywheel. Can you find other "topological" equivalents of
the 2-cylinder engine? For example, two engines turning in the same
direction but the pneumatic tubings and/or linkages are connected
differently. |
| Here's
a Challenge |
| There are altogether
8 different ways that the 2-cylinder engine can be configured. Can you
find them all? |
| Hint: There are 4
different ways of connecting up the cylinders. For each, the flywheel
can rotate clockwise or anti-clockwise. |
|
Two-cylinder
Pneumatic Engine using the Old Pneumatics |
| And, what do you know, you can
also implement my 2-cylinder pneumatic engine using the old pneumatics
- the ones that suck and blow. Here I have used the old style large
cylinders from the Technic 8680 set. Note the special one-way valve
brick. |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Previous
Home |
Next |
|
|