Model of an Oscillating Steam Engine – ca 1889
date: label: date made
content: ca 1880
notes: label: Description
content: This is a demonstration model of an oscillating cylinder steam engine. It was designed by William Graham of Carlisle, Pennsylvania about 1889. Graham was awarded United States Patent Number 413,506 on October 22, 1889 for the design of this type engine, and the patent drawings match this model very closely.
label: Description
content: An oscillating steam engine differs from a standard engine in that the steam cylinder is pivoted on the engine frame and oscillates up and down about the pivot as its connecting rod operates the crankshaft of the engine. In a standard engine, the cylinder is fixed in orientation, and the piston rod is connected to a crosshead which moves fore and aft within a set of guides. The crosshead in turn is coupled via a pin to the connecting rod which allows it to pivot independently as the crankshaft revolves.
label: Description
content: One advantage of an oscillating cylinder design is the engine is relatively compact and occupies less space than a standard engine. Graham made such a claim as a benefit of his patent. He also claimed his design used few parts, was simple in construction and low in construction cost. His patent also included new features for reducing and compensating for wear of the engine steam valve as well as a method for assuring steam-tight attachments where the steam enters and exits through the cylinder’s pivot points. Engines based on this design were built in sizes from 5 to 10 horsepower and were popular in central Pennsylvania for small shop power.
label: Description
content: In the image of the model the steam cylinder is seen at the left with its cylinder rod attached directly to the crank arm of the flywheel. The steam valve is the horizontal cylinder on top of and at 90 degrees to the steam cylinder. As the steam cylinder oscillated up and down about its central pivot, the valve was operated by the lever shown extending from its front to a sliding pivot in the slotted vertical frame at the front of the engine. The timing of the valve could be adjusted by the small wheel at the top which moved the pivot point up and down in the slot. The patent drawings show the pivot point was intended to be adjusted by a fly-ball governor.
place: label: place made
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Carlisle
topic: label: Subject
content: Model
label: Subject
content: Steam Engines
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
label: See more items in
content: Engineering, Building, and Architecture
label: Exhibition
content: Power Machinery
label: Exhibition Location
content: National Museum of American History
publisher: label: Related Publication
content: Frank A. Taylor. Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States National Museum, Bulletin 173
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of C. F. Germeyer, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MC.310898
label: catalog number
content: 310898
label: accession number
content: 132,179
label: patent number
content: 413,506
objectType: label: Object Name
content: Engine, Steam
label: Object Name
content: engine, steam, oscillating
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 12 1/2 in x 14 in x 19 in; 31.75 cm x 35.56 cm x 48.26 cm