Thread: Who invented the steam engine?

Hi Guys,
I'm back in town, miss me? lol
I've been reading for about 2 hours and still have a page to go!

Originally Posted by Steamwhisperer

That is with one end of the cylinder open to atmosphere and a jet of water used to condense the steam and create a vacuum on the other side after the steam has expanded and done its work pushing the piston.

As I understand it in the Newcomen engine and at least the early Watt engines the steam didnt lift the piston, the piston was lifted sucking in very low pressure steam, the power stroke as such was the condensing of the steam. So the only way to increase the power of the engine(given that 14.7psi-ish was its working pressure) was to increase the cyclinder size)

I'm pretty much with Gary about a lot of what Watt got up to, although to give you Watts side of the story, he believed that high* pressure steam was to dangerous. Of course some of us may say that he was smart enough to know that once high* pressure steam got going his condenser patents wouldnt be worth nearly as much(if anything).

As for how someone in Watts time got a patent on the crankshaft is anyones guess. Though the sun and planet drive did have the advantage of doubling the rpm of the flywheel. (was he able to patent the sun and planet?)

Stuart

*high pressure at the time being anything over 14.7psig

As always I could have it all backwards

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Hi Guys,
I'm back in town, miss me? lol

Look out fellas, hide your mistakes, Hawkeye's back.
Welcome home Stu.

Originally Posted by Stustoys

I'm back in town, miss me? lol

no...not really

Yep, I kept thinking of Ford, GM, etc jumping on "good ideas" that would make them have to lift their game, all the various carburetter companies stifling good ideas, the oil companies doing the same.
It's simply an example of "my ideas better than yours, despite the evidence"
It's nothing new, never has been never will.
cheers
Bill
ps yay, post number one!!