Hi Erin
You'll have to wait for photos, but here's a
more detailed description:-
The engine is built using technics components
entirely sourced from kit
8462.(Pneumatic recovery truck)
A wheel is mounted centrally in a frame( to act
as a flywheel) then outside of
the wheel bearings on each side is a crank to
which is connected a pneumatic
cylinder. A further frame then supports the outside
of each crank, then outside
that on each side is a cam. The cranks are offset
by 90 degrees relative to each
side. The cam on each side trails its crank by
90 degrees. Each cam acts on an
arm both above and below it which is connected
to an air change-over switch. The
upper and lower arms are linked. Thus, as the
cam turns, it moves the arm and
changes the airflow, via the switch, from one
end of the cylinder to the other
at the appropriate time. 2 pressure tanks and
a pressure pump are also mounted
on the frame. After about 30 pumps, the whole
contraption wheezes into life and
continues to turn slowly over as long as the
pump is pumped.
Future improvements are :- a) a more rigid crank
- the effort of turning the
cams tends to make it flex! b) a heavier flywheel
and c) trying to eliminate
friction from the 2 air switches, which are rather
stiff in operation.
Hope this makes sense...cheers...John ...(aged over 18 - lots over 18!!).