Mayhew Diaphragm Steam Engine, Patent Model
date: label: date made
content: 1879
label: patent date
content: 1879-07-08
name: label: inventor
content: Mayhew, Theophilus
notes: label: Description
content: This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to Theophilus Mayhew, of New York, New York, July 8, 1879, no. 217392.
label: Description
content: The engine consists of a hemispherical cuplike chamber over the concave opening of which is stretched a flexible diaphragm. This chamber connects to a valve chest in which a flat plate valve works over the intake and exhaust ports. A lever extends from the frame of the machine over the diaphragm upon which a projection of the lever rests. Inflation and deflation of the diaphragm by admitting and exhausting steam raise the lever and permit it to fall by its own weight. A system of cranks and spring actuated by the lever operates the valve. The engine was designed as a simple device for operating churns and similar machines.
label: Description
content: Reference:
label: Description
content: This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New York
label: associated place
content: United States: New York, New York City
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
label: See more items in
content: Bulletin 173
label: See more items in
content: Engineering, Building, and Architecture
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content: Work
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content: Industry & Manufacturing
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: Frank A. Taylor. Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States National Museum, Bulletin 173
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MC.308705
label: catalog number
content: 308705
label: accession number
content: 89797
label: patent number
content: 217,392
objectType: label: Object Name
content: engine, steam, and other, model
label: Object Name
content: patent model, motor
label: Object Type
content: Patent Model
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: metal, brass, wood (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 5 1/2 in x 7 in x 5 7/8 in; 13.97 cm x 17.78 cm x 14.9225 cm
label: Measurements
content: on base - from catalog card: 5 1/2 in x 7 in; 13.97 cm x 17.78 cm