Solenoid engine

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

I've seen some Youtube stuff on solenoid engines and had an hour on google but can't seem to find a set of plans for one. Any clues gents??

Bob..

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

theres a company in america who sell them…i will repost when the name comes to me!!

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

Thanks Nigel.

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Bob,

There was a design in the "Elektor" magazine April 2010 for a 1 and 4 cylinder motors using the actuators from hard drives. I did theis Google search "elector 4 cylinder youtube" an found video of the Elektor and other designs. Notice in the search I originaly miss spelt "Elektor" using a "c" instead of a "k" When I realised and spelt it correctly I got less matches.

Les.

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

Back in 1988 , while recovering from a broken hip, I needed some thing to do, so I invented A solinoid engine (well i'd never heard of them), I sent an artical to ME, and it was published in October 1989, sorry no plans. After building 2 motors, I started making hot air engines, and have not stopped. After that time there were a few items, and I found one In ME back in the 1950s. Ian S C

[Gray62Participant @gray62]

There is a uk company http://www.oldmodels.co.uk that sell the type of engine I believe you are referring to. Known as an armature engine.

CB

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

Thanks for the link CB, this is exactly the end result I have in mind. I would like to scratch build though rather than buy a kit. The finish on these looks really good, so perhaps a kit………

Bob..

[Robert DoddsParticipant @robertdodds43397]

Bob,

Not exactly a solenoid engine but this 13amp plug engine is fun to build and is readily built from the bitza box.

Full set of plans are here (and lots of other qwerky bits too)

http://www.john-tom.com/MyPlans/SteamPlans3/13AmpPlugEngine/13AmpPlugEngine.pdf

I was amazed at how many variants there are in the humble 3 pin plug!

Bob D

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi Bob P,

There are some lovely examples of builds of these types of engine over on HMEM. There was recently a series of posts on refurbishing an antique solenoid engine and there was a copy of the original patent with drawings and explamnation og the working. May provide a bassis if you can find it.

Regards

Terry

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi Bob P,

Found it. It is here and the patent is downloadable as a pdf, see another example here showng a guy building a copy of the old 'engine' It may be of use.  I have a copy of the patent which was used as a basis to provide measurements if you send me a pm with your email address I'll send you a copy.

Best regards

Terry

Edited By Terryd on 04/03/2012 15:34:02

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

I made a solenoid beam engine from cardboard. Sent a picture to David Carpenter, but i don't think he thought carboard beam engines were model engineering!

Neil

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

I think there were some wooden ones shown in ME at one stage.

My motors, a beam engine, and a horizontal open crank , the first was single acting, but after my 9yr old nephew had studied it for a while, he sugested that if I put two coils, and suitable switching, it could be made twice as powerful, so thats what I did with the horizontal one. On my motor the coil is hollow and the armature moves in and out in the manner of a piston, I think the stroke on both motors is 5/8". I'v run them on both AC, and DC. Ian S C

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

Thanks for all the info. I have Google info and loads of Photos, some quite detailed which will help no end. From the info from Terryd I discoved that the original was know as a MESCO engine after the Manhattan Electric Supply Company. I found a copy of an advert, with no date showing 3 three sizes, the largest having a 3 1/2" fly wheel a was 7" long. One search took me to a copy of the July 1931 Pratical Mechanics Magazine. I couldn't find any MESCO engine info, but the Americans sure know how to put a magazine together!! See the link below. Thanks again all for the replies.

Regards

Bob..

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=td4DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PP38&lpg=PP38&dq=MESCO+engine+plan&source=bl&ots=WM1S5spatI&sig=6PbIWz5ypDD7-FFQA_ISOGGTPOQ&hl=en#v=onepage&q=MESCO%20engine%20plan&f=false

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Sorry for the late response, Bob. I knew I had some stuff on this but couldn't lay my hands on it quickly. There was a Solenoid Engine design published in ME in 3 parts:

Part-1 Sept 11 1998,
Part 2 Oct 9 1998
Part 3 (can't make out the date but presumably within a few subsequent issues).

It was based on an earlier design published in the Jan 1903 ME

[Bob PerkinsParticipant @bobperkins67044]

Thanks Sid

[Gone AwayParticipant @goneaway]

Bob, You're welcome

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