Science Museum, Willans steam engine
Introduction
The photograph on this page of Science Museum, Willans steam engine by Chris Allen as part of the Geograph project.
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Science Museum, Willans steam engine
Image: © Chris Allen Taken: 2 Dec 1989
This is a nicely preserved example of a Willans steam engine. This was an early design of high speed enclosed steam engine suited for direct coupling to a dynamo or alternator. The cylinders were single acting with central valves working inside the tubular piston rods. Lubrication was by splash. This one was used at High Flaggs Oil Mill owned by Chambers & Fargus Ltd of Hull and is coupled to a Siemens 10 kW dynamo running at 450 rpm. Because of the interesting internal layout of the Willans engine, some were sectioned to show their inner secrets. It is always nice to see an intact example. The Science Museum does have a sectioned one also.
Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0
Image Location
Latitude
51.497793
Longitude
-0.174423