Steam Engine Build/Pillow Block

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Steam Engine Build Instructions

Description

The crankshaft rests on two pillow block bearings held off of the base plate by a support structure. The support structure has to be sufficiently rigid to avoid vibration.

The support structure shown is slightly taller than it absolutely needs to be. This was done to allow for changes in the engine design to accommodate increasing the piston cycle distance from the current four inches to six inches, which would increase the power of the engine.

Pillow Block Bearings

The Pillow Block support structure is composed of four elements:

• A support element
• Two support rods
• A support base

CAD

Bearings Element

Support Element

Support Rods

Support Base

Pillow Block Assembly

Drawing

Instructions

Make two of the following:

Building the Support Element

1. Cut a billet of steel 1.0" by 2.0" by 5.5"
2. Drill two 0.5" holes centered 0.5" from each end to receive the pillow block bolts.
3. Drill two 1.0" holes centered 1.25" from each end to a depth of 0.5" to receive the support rods.

Building the Support Rods

The support rods can be either 1.0" dia steel rods (same as the crankshaft) or 1.0" O.D. steel pipe, 0.25" thick.

1. Cut to a length of 4."
2. Make two per pillow block support.

Building the Support Base

1. Cut a billet of steal 1.0 by 2.0" by 5.5"
2. Drill two 0.5" holes centered 0.5" from each end to receive the pillow block bolts.
3. Drill two 1.0" holes centered 1.25" from each end to a depth of 0.5" to receive the support rods.

Assembly

1. Insert the two support rods into the bottom of the support element and weld in place.
2. Insert the two support rods into the top of the support base and weld into place.
3. Bolt the pillow block bearing unit to the top of the support element.