Lost technology still alive

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In another thread a member posted pics of Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn Michigan, the museum carry's the history of the late 1800's and early 1900's with items ranging from Edison's work shop to the Wright brothers shop to Henry Ford history and steam powered locomotives.  For those of us who do more than enjoy the past this is a great place to go and get stuffed on what America used to be like.  A bit ago I came across an article on another site that I go to that came complete with pictures of steam powered turbines used in generating electricity.  These turbines are the oldest working turbines in existence and are located in Brooklyn, I'm including a link to the photo article and hope that all of you enjoy it as much as I did.http://steampunkworkshop.com/visit-p...ty-steam-plant
Reply:Enjoyed. Thanks.
Reply:Looks like the power lab at the City University of New York. Here are some other sites about lost technologies.  http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrext...ml#anchor50296http://www.radiolovers.com/http://www.icehouse.net/john1/mucci.html
Reply:I have been thinking about making a steam powered moped.While I'm here what do you guys think about my idea?I had an idea that would make it awesomely simplistic if it worked. I was thinking a small boiler and using an air motor from like a pneumatic drill or grinder or something. A drill would make nice torque but would need gearing to make speed. This would be a slow around town cruiser. The town I live in is way into bicycles. Once a month there is a full moon cruise where dozens or more people ride around town. It's also a bit of a hippy town. I used to build choppers so I wanted to combine the two and make something powered but cool enough and quiet enough I could cruise with the crowd without getting ugly looks. Anyway air tools are noisy but I thought I might be able to muffle it enough to be fairly un noticeable.Any other thoughts for a drive? Something like a drill would be nice because I could just route the steam line to the back tire and have the drill assembly fixed there with some sort of throttle attached to the trigger.How much pressure could I run? I know air tools are rated at like 90 PSI but I know they can take a lot more. How thick for a safe boiler? I was thinking It would be a good idea to build a firewall/shield between me and the boiler as well.Thoughts?Lincoln precision TIG 275Millermatic 140 MIG
Reply:If you're really serious about a steam powered bike, you might look at the old Navy Mk 14 torpedo engine. Basically it was a small miniaturized alcohol steam turbine. The turbine idea might be adaptable to the air tool concept. Interesting idea, if not terribly practical. The other thing is that frequently naval vessels that used turbines used High pressure and low pressure turbines. The steam after leaving the HP turbine was then used again in the LP turbine as it continued to expand.The other idea would be a piston system, either similar to that of a train, or the type used to power reciprocating steam ships. In the reciprocating steam ship they usually had pistons of increasing diameter. After the steam was used in the small piston it was released into a midsized piston and then into a large piston.There was an enormous amount of design work on steam piston/turbine systems that is now being lost due to age. My father studied steam propulsion at MIT while in the navy in the early 60's. When he retired in the mid 80's several companies were interested in hiring him as no one was learning steam propulsion systems any longer and the companies were looking to develop geothermal steam as a renewable energy source. Most nuclear steam systems are very low pressure compared to coal fired plants and the HP steam boilers that were used in ships were the pinnacle in high efficiency steam propulsion..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I love turbines but I can't think of anything small cheap and easily adaptable to this application. The closest thing I know of would be a turbo charger which I have already put a lot of thought into as far as converting it to gas turbine. The problem with that is it's a very high volume turbine and very high RPM, low torque. You would have to run it through a 20x or more reduction to get usable power out of it. I think the reduction would take up a lot of the power it made and for steam I think it would use too much and be too inefficient.I am totally open to other ideas though for power. Originally Posted by DSWIf you're really serious about a steam powered bike, you might look at the old Navy Mk 14 torpedo engine. Basically it was a small miniaturized alcohol steam turbine. The turbine idea might be adaptable to the air tool concept. Interesting idea, if not terribly practical. The other thing is that frequently naval vessels that used turbines used High pressure and low pressure turbines. The steam after leaving the HP turbine was then used again in the LP turbine as it continued to expand.The other idea would be a piston system, either similar to that of a train, or the type used to power reciprocating steam ships. In the reciprocating steam ship they usually had pistons of increasing diameter. After the steam was used in the small piston it was released into a midsized piston and then into a large piston.There was an enormous amount of design work on steam piston/turbine systems that is now being lost due to age. My father studied steam propulsion at MIT while in the navy in the early 60's. When he retired in the mid 80's several companies were interested in hiring him as no one was learning steam propulsion systems any longer and the companies were looking to develop geothermal steam as a renewable energy source. Most nuclear steam systems are very low pressure compared to coal fired plants and the HP steam boilers that were used in ships were the pinnacle in high efficiency steam propulsion.
Reply:More old tech.
Reply:When I was younger many trucks and buses, to the drivers dismay, had air powered starters.  Might be worth a cruise at your local salvage yard.Not sure air motors would take the heat and constant moisture though."Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by farmersammWhen I was younger many trucks and buses, to the drivers dismay, had air powered starters.  Might be worth a cruise at your local salvage yard.Not sure air motors would take the heat and constant moisture though.
Reply:Air starter! I’m in and out of the bus and train shops all the time and have never seen one in years.
Reply:Here ya go for the steam powered scooter, this should give you something to work with.http://www.ctamachinery.com/SteamcycleHome.htmlhttp://www.khulsey.com/motorcycles/e...e-history.html
Reply:Originally Posted by yoshimitsuspeedI have been thinking about making a steam powered moped.While I'm here what do you guys think about my idea? . . .
Reply:Google, steam engine and stand back, tons of info with links to tons more.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_engine
Reply:Originally Posted by transitAir starter! I’m in and out of the bus and train shops all the time and have never seen one in years.
Reply:Originally Posted by Sparky#1I don't know what buses you've been in but our city buses have them.
Reply:check out Lindsay Publications. All kinds of cool old school stuff, including steam engines. I'm fairly certain I saw a book in there about steam powered bikes.