Another mysteryengine - info please

mogogear · Another mysteryengine - info please

Ok I can read the plate on the engine... is it complete? I don't understand how it runs???

I see the steam line running to the side of what looks like a piston cylinder. This "cylinder" also protrudes from the other end of the small boiler.

The flywheel then would appear to then pulsate back and forth ?/ The more I think about it the further into the fog I get---Maybe there is a nother photo of one of these that would illustrate it better..?

Or is what I think is a flywheel, a control knob????

Thanks from a- new-B

tmuir

Something doesn't add up in that picture.
Can we get some more photos showing the other side.
A steam line normally comes off the top of the boiler not the side to stop priming and what is the big hole in the side of the small tube?

mogogear

Ok- It is a marine engine BOILER BURNER....... careful attention to reading is a plus !!

Sorry

Side view-

So I guess this little fuel tank and burner sit next to a boiler and engine set up. The tube out the side away from the adjustment knob is open... so a flame shoots out that end??? Maybe?

The hole seen at the end with the knob goes all the way through. So this is the air inlet - This thing must heat up like an old SVEA backpacking stove...

See if you all agree with this scenario...

You let some fuel drip into the bottom tube by opening the knob for a second. Lite the tube and let it "prime" - the flame warms the fuel tank and creates pressure.

Careful!!

Now you open the valve and a pressurized flame develops shooting out the other end under a boiler....

What do you think??? The seller says he has used white gas( Coleman fuel here in the states) and has fired the burner up...

HAs anybody ever seen such a heating apparatus?

Also the label reads: IMP Tornado

tmuir

That makes more sense.
I've seen similar burners working the way you describe but not one that wams up the whole fuel tank before.

Les Marsh

Interesting item, not sure if I would want to use though. My worry is when you warm fuel it expands, warm it too much and.....

DLR

it sounds like it works on the same idea as a parafin blow lamp

Bogstandard

It looks like a self pressurising burner.

If the square support has a bottom to it, what you do to light it is put a small amount of the fuel into the base and light it. If there is no base then it would be lit away from the boiler by placing it over a small cup of burning fuel, then when it was started it would be placed into position by the boiler.
It warms up the fuel in the tank, causing pressurised vapour to be produced. Open the small tap and gas then comes out and is lit at the opposite end to the tap.
The heat of the burner running keeps the system operating after the warm up tray has gone out, or it is moved off the burning cup of fuel.
This was what was used before ceramic gas burners came along, and is usually a very good source of heat.

They were normally used with centre flue type boilers. See sketch.

John

steamyjim

Aye, I agree with John!

Stuart Turner used to make boiler like that

mogogear

Thank you all- Once I did slow down to read the description- and saw it was a burner- I did bite on the fact of the self pressurizing burner aspect.

Well- and interesting little piece- I am intrigued but cautious- they most likely went out of "style" for liability reasons...burned hobbiest are not good publicity

Bogstandard

Mogo,

It wasn't because of the danger side that they went out of fashion. It was the advent of ceramic burners.
In fact, if these are used correctly, they are most probably safer than gas.
If one was to 'go', it would be at such low pressure that all there would be is big flames and fuel being spread about. Whereas with gas, if the tank were to 'go', most probably everything within a few metres radius would be flattened. That is why gas tanks are pressure tested to well over 300psi. in an attempt to contain the gas if it overheats.
In model boats fitted with gas tanks, when filling they should be filled outside of the boat, then reconnected, because if filled in the boat, vented gas settles in the bilges. There have been a few bad accidents where model boaters have been injured when their boats 'blew up' when the burners were lit. I was lucky with mine, the Wilesco tank wasn't removeable in their installation, and I got away with singed eyebrows, and a bit of burning on the boat.

John

Les Marsh

Strange how two similar items turn up.
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-ALCOH...PageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

fcrammond

You could buy a lot of Esbit for that money!

mogogear

rangerssteamtoys

If you can, get a vid of the burner working. I have always wanted on the those types of burners. They look cool and are pressurised. Right up my alley