Loper's Patent Model of a Steam Engine– ca 1845
date: label: date made
content: 1845
label: patent date
content: 1845-11-26
name: label: inventor
content: Loper, R. F.
notes: label: Description
content: This model was filed with the application to the U.S. Patent Office for Patent Number 4,289 issued to R.F. Loper of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 26, 1845. The patent was for a new method for allowing a single steam engine to operate two parallel crankshafts. One shaft would turn clockwise and the other would turn counterclockwise.
label: Description
content: This was an important feature for marine engines powering a ship with twin propellers. Having twin propellers turning in the same direction would increase the tendency for the boat to veer off course due to the torque effect of the propellers. This would require the ship's rudder to compensate, thereby reducing efficiency. With counter revolving propellers, one with right-hand pitch and the other with left-hand pitch, this adverse effect is eliminated.
label: Description
content: The patent model is constructed of brass, steel and wood. All of the key elements of the patent are illustrated by the model, and it was built such that the motion of the engine could be demonstrated. A full description of the operation of the engine along with complete diagrams of the patent can be found in the patent document online at the United States Patent and Trademark Office website, www.uspto.gov.
place: label: place made
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
label: associated place
content: United States: Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
topic: label: Subject
content: Patent Models
label: Subject
content: Steam Engines
label: Subject
content: Steamships
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Mechanical and Civil Engineering
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content: Engineering, Building, and Architecture
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content: Work
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content: Industry & Manufacturing
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content: Patent Models
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
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: MC.251297
label: catalog number
content: 251297
label: patent number
content: 4,289
label: accession number
content: 48865
objectType: label: Object Name
content: engine, steam, model
label: Object Name
content: engine, steam, patent model
label: Object Name
content: patent model, engine, reciprocating steam
physicalDescription: label: Measurements
content: overall: 5 1/2 in x 4 1/2 in x 16 in; 13.97 cm x 11.43 cm x 40.64 cm