506:
494:
31:
545:) made their portable engines in the same style as traction engines, with the cylinder at the smokebox end. This was probably to reduce manufacturing costs, as there is no other obvious benefit of doing this. (Thomas Aveling realised that, for a traction engine, it would be better to position the flywheel within reach of the driver in case he carelessly allowed the crank to stop on top dead centre (where it could not self-start) and most other traction engine manufacturers followed this same idea.)
699:
55:
411:
475:
A more extreme use occurs where the engine is removed from the boiler and is re-used as a stationary engine. Often, the boiler is also re-used (without its wheels) to provide the steam. As of 2007, there are still examples of such dismantled portable engines working commercially in small rice mills
264:
in London. Although termed 'semi-portable', as they could be transported and installed without being dismantled, these engines were essentially stationary. They were used to drive such barn machinery as pumps and hammer mills, bone-crushers, chaff and turnip cutters, and fixed and mobile threshing
653:
A tall chimney is provided to ensure a good draught for the fire. To permit negotiation of overhead obstacles, the chimney is hinged at its base, and is folded down for transport and storage. A suitably shaped bracket is usually provided towards the firebox end to support the chimney when folded.
371:
Other builders manufactured engines around the world. Small machine shops could assemble units with a small engine and vertical boiler and put it on wheels. In North
America dozens of builders entered the market—Case, Sawyer Massey, and Gaar Scott for example. Native builders erected engines in
367:
fame), it was absurd to use four horses to pull a steam engine from job-to-job, when the engine possessed ten times the strength of the horses. It was therefore inevitable, once self-propelled traction engines had become sufficiently reliable, that they would take over the roles of many portable
276:
started manufacture of an engine built around a locomotive-style boiler with horizontal smoke tubes. A single cylinder and the crankshaft were mounted on top of the boiler, and the whole assembly was mounted on four wheels: the front pair being steerable and fitted with shafts for horse-haulage
623:
The engine may have one or two flywheels mounted on the same crankshaft. Where two are provided, they are mounted either side of the engine and may be of different diameters. A smaller flywheel provides a slower speed for farmyard work (e.g. chopping feedstuffs) than is required for driving a
337:
This last manufacturer is particularly noteworthy here. The first
Clayton & Shuttleworth portable was built in 1845, a two-cylinder engine. In 1852, the company won a gold medal for a portable engine at the Royal Agricultural Society's Gloucester show, and thereafter the business expanded
706:
Many portable engines still survive, as they were built in large quantities and were shipped to many remote corners of the Earth. A substantial number of them have been preserved, with many restored to full working order: their relatively small size and simpler construction, compared to a
368:
engines, and this indeed started to happen from the late 1860s. In the UK this development was perhaps somewhat delayed by various acts of parliament that limited the use of steam powered vehicles on roads. Portable engines, being horse drawn, faced far fewer restrictions.
141:
mounted on boards), although the technologies mentioned above increasingly limit their demand there as well. In industrialised countries they are no longer used for commercial purposes, but preserved examples can often be seen at
711:, makes them a much more viable proposition for restoration by the average enthusiast. (That is, provided the boiler is in reasonable condition: boiler repairs can be very expensive; replacement boilers even more so.)
386:
of
Lincoln were still offering portables for sale into the 1960s. The English builders produced in the order of 100,000 portable steam engines in the hundred year time period both for home use and export abroad.
287:
built an early portable in 1841 and exhibited it at the Royal
Agricultural Society show that year. The next year Ransomes converted the steam engine to self driving, thus making an intermediate step towards the
260:. It was used to drive a corn threshing machine and was much cheaper to run than the horses it replaced. Indeed, it was so successful that it remained in use for nearly 70 years, and has been preserved by the
509:
Preserved Robey 3nhp engine, showing chimney detail. The upper lever controls a damper, while the handle below operates an unusual worm-and-quadrant-gear arrangement for raising and lowering the chimney for
644:
which works by blowing a small portion of the exhaust steam into the water barrel. The barrel also acts as an oil separator. Oil in the exhaust steam rises to the top of the barrel and can be skimmed off.
356:. In most cases this was achieved by fitting a sprocket on the end of the crankshaft, and running a chain from this to a larger sprocket on the rear axle. These experiments met with mixed success.
379:, was markedly cheaper, and secondly, numerous applications benefitted from a simple steam engine that could be moved, but did not require the additional complexity of one that could move itself.
514:
The most common arrangement follows the original
Tuxford design. Although this closely resembles the common layout of a traction engine, the engine of a portable is usually reversed, with the
592:(sugar cane residue) instead. A longer, circular firebox is particularly suitable for burning logs rather than shorter wood billets. Machines designed for wood-burning may be fitted with
299:'s Show at Bristol in 1842, and other manufacturers soon joined in, using the basic design of the Tuxford engine as a pattern for the majority of portable engines produced thereafter.
718:, for example, portable engines may be found in the relevant demonstration areas driving saw benches, threshing machines, rock crushers and other contemporary equipment.
360:
480:(and, no doubt, elsewhere too). Such examples are easy to identify due to the curved saddle, below the cylinder block, that was used to mount the engine to the boiler.
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50:
under the smokebox (on the left) pivots to allow the engine to be steered. Towing eyes are provided on the same axle assembly to allow the engine to be pulled along.
86:
and thus can be easily moved from one work site to another. Mounted on wheels or skids, it is either towed to the work site or moves there via self-propulsion.
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close to the firebox, making it easier for the engineman to maintain the fire and control the engine speed from the one location. An added bonus is that the
349:
used a
Clayton & Shuttleworth portable engine to drive apparatus in the first public demonstrations of the application of cable haulage to cultivation.
383:
390:
From about 1900 onward, the requirement for a small cheap source of power on farms was increasingly taken over by internal combustion engines, such as
342:
in 1857, to target the
European market, and by 1890 the company had manufactured over 26,000 portable engines, many being exported all over the world.
683:, under the smokebox, and large wheels would be liable to hit the boiler when the engine was turned around a corner. An added bonus is that a larger
269:
268:
It was not until about 1839 that the truly portable engine appeared, allowing the application of steam power beyond the confines of the farmyard.
352:
In parallel with the early portable engine development, many engineers attempted to make them self-propelled – the fore-runners of the
1092:
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is clear of the rear road wheels so the latter can be set on a narrower track, making the engine easier to manoeuvre through field gates.
464:
In a number of cases, rather than being towed from site-to-site, the portable engine was semi-permanently installed in a building as a
1044:
The
Portable Steam Engine: Its Construction and Management – A Practical Manual for Owners and Users of Steam Engines Generally
501:
6nhp single-cylinder portable engine, no. 87866, built 1936. This design has a 'colonial' boiler and a long firebox for burning logs.
89:
Portable engines were in common use in industrialised countries from the early 19th through early 20th centuries, during an era when
232:
were too large and expensive for use on the average farm; however, the first positive evidence of steam power being used to drive a
911:
1055:(This is a modern reprint of a book originally published in 1887 or 1911, depending on which online bookseller you refer to!.)
573:. This latter type were also known by British manufacturers as 'colonial' boilers, as they were mainly intended for export to
758:
296:
17:
253:
221:
In common with many other areas of steam technology, the initial design and development of portable engines took place in
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was mounted on the crankshaft, and a stout leather belt was used to transfer the drive to the equipment being driven.
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However, the portable engine was never completely replaced by the traction engine. Firstly, the portable, having no
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The 'front' wheels are normally smaller than those at the back. This is because they are mounted on the swivelling
1125:
1065:
894:
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It is usually possible to see portable engines working at traction engine rallies and steam festivals. At the
312:
284:
225:, with many other countries initially importing British-built equipment rather than developing their own.
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which draws water from a barrel placed alongside the engine. Many engines have a simple, but effective,
90:
75:
468:, although the wheels were not necessarily removed. In this configuration, they are generally called
327:
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In general, the portable engine is hauled to the work area, often a farmyard or field, and a long
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for agricultural use, known as a "barn engine". This was a high-pressure, rotative engine with a
245:
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Numerous agricultural and industrial museums include portable engines within their collections.
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Most designs are fitted with four wheels and no suspension of any kind. The first portables had
395:
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Small numbers of portables continued to be built even after traction engine production ceased.
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is fitted between the engine's flywheel and the driving wheel of the equipment to be powered.
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and, later, stationary and portable industrial versions of car and truck engines, either for
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8:
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Most portable engines are single-cylinder but two-cylinder engines were also built. The
439:
391:
364:
35:
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The drive belt: used to transfer power from the engine's flywheel. Here shown driving a
241:
134:
133:, and machines with their engines built in) displaced most use of portable engines. In
78:, that sits in one place while operating (providing power to machinery), but (unlike a
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Employed some unusual solutions, including design of a new pressure vessel to fit
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has been folded-down, ready for transporting the engine to a new location. The
1033:(Shire Album 163) by Lyndon R. Shearman, published by Shire Publications Ltd,
1006:
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Examples of oil and gas engines as portable engines are seen, for example, in
1109:
702:
A large Foster wood burning portable engine at
Summerlee museum in Coatbridge
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210:
166:
150:
137:
today, portable engines still have some use (typically in the form of modern
106:
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93:
was widespread. Before that, most power generation and transmission were by
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with close-up pictures showing the components of a typical portable engine.
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to keep the engine running at constant speed, even if the load fluctuates.
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Apart from threshing work, portable engines were used to drive corn-mills,
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wheels, but as the engines became more powerful (and heavier), fabricated
154:
54:
1046:
by W. D. Wansbrough, 168 pages, published by TEE Publishing Ltd (1994),
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preserved portable engines in the UK, Europe, Australia and New
Zealand
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198:
126:
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1093:
Restoration of a derelict 1904 Ruston Proctor portable (in Australia)
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577:, and had a high ground clearance for travelling along rough tracks.
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945:(Examples of portable engines converted to stationary use, in Burma)
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many traction engine manufacturers also built portable engines
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819:
Pride of the Road (The Pictorial Story of Traction Engines)
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581:
376:
47:
27:
Early engine which could be easily moved between work sites
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driving appropriate equipment for demonstration purposes.
1079:
List (and details) of surviving Paxman portable engines
158:
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may be fitted, providing a more steady power output.
438:. They were even used to generate electricity for
240:. The next recorded application was in 1812, when
887:Foden Story: From Farm Machinery to Diesel Trucks
1107:
986:"Marshall Britannia portable steam engine, 1914"
321:William Tuxford and Sons of Boston, Lincolnshire
530:end. This layout was designed to position the
295:Several Tuxford engines were displayed at the
34:A portable engine, preserved at the museum in
338:rapidly: they established a second works, in
189:, and ore mills), pumps and fans (such as in
117:) and modern vehicles and equipment (such as
980:
978:
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153:were typically towed to their work sites by
1009:. Turon Technology Museum (Museum of Power)
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724:What is thought to be the oldest surviving
616:is fitted. There is usually a belt-driven
1101:the original, unrepairable, boiler shell.
973:
889:. Patrick Stephens Ltd. pp. 14–15.
875:
697:
504:
492:
409:
302:Early manufacturers in the UK included:
53:
29:
918:. Spartacus Educational. Archived from
884:
732:portable from 1866, may be seen at the
14:
1108:
988:. Powerhouse Museum, Sydney, Australia
812:
810:
808:
806:
584:but the engine may be designed to use
999:
841:
789:"'Gasoline Engine Department' column"
759:List of traction engine manufacturers
446:matches, the first instance being at
173:, or trucks. They were used to drive
958:
916:The Encyclopedia of British Football
860:
835:
816:
821:. New English Library. p. 29.
803:
565:. However, some designs (e.g. the
372:France, Italy, Sweden and Germany.
244:designed the first 'semi-portable'
24:
1024:
909:
846:. Shire Publications. p. 30.
58:A Czechoslovakian portable engine.
25:
1137:
1059:
1007:"Gallery 1 – Steam engines"
740:. This engine is also the oldest
488:
964:
866:
844:Richard Trevithick (Lifelines 6)
571:circular, marine-type, fireboxes
1066:Steam Scenes – extensive
693:
483:
109:; after that, a combination of
1084:Scale model built from Meccano
933:
903:
780:
728:product, works no. 415, a 2.5
631:
608:is usually driven by a single
324:Howden of Boston, Lincolnshire
181:), milling machinery (such as
149:Portable engines during their
13:
1:
773:
569:"Britannia" (pictured)) have
91:mechanical power transmission
676:wheels were fitted instead.
7:
747:
10:
1142:
661:
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328:Clayton & Shuttleworth
297:Royal Agricultural Society
216:
76:internal combustion engine
817:Lane, Michael R. (1976).
657:
599:
548:
434:-cutters, hay-balers and
1116:Stationary steam engines
799:(4): 16–17, August 1904.
636:The crankshaft drives a
405:
744:portable in Australia.
734:Turon Technology Museum
716:Great Dorset Steam Fair
466:stationary steam engine
254:Sir Christopher Hawkins
246:stationary steam engine
213:, and other machines).
1126:Agricultural machinery
1031:Portable Steam Engines
736:(Museum of Power), in
703:
511:
502:
419:
277:between jobs. A large
175:agricultural machinery
59:
51:
885:Kennett, Pat (1978).
842:Hodge, James (1973).
701:
638:boiler feedwater pump
508:
496:
470:Semi-portable engines
413:
359:As noted early on by
236:was in 1799 in north
115:rural electrification
57:
33:
18:Portable steam engine
793:Threshermen's Review
768:Semi-portable engine
392:hit-and-miss engines
365:Aveling & Porter
274:Boston, Lincolnshire
135:developing countries
941:"Portable Paradise"
912:"Floodlit Football"
541:A few makers (e.g.
704:
553:This is usually a
512:
503:
426:, stone-crushers,
420:
398:use or built into
306:Alexander Dean of
242:Richard Trevithick
179:threshing machines
60:
52:
36:Blankenhain Castle
967:Pride of the Road
965:Lane, Michael R.
869:Pride of the Road
867:Lane, Michael R.
626:threshing machine
424:centrifugal pumps
416:threshing machine
400:engine-generators
384:Robey and Company
234:threshing machine
131:engine-generators
80:stationary engine
16:(Redirected from
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580:Fuel is usually
555:fire-tube boiler
258:Probus, Cornwall
163:traction engines
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738:New South Wales
709:traction engine
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628:(for example).
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594:spark arrestors
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354:traction engine
290:traction engine
270:William Tuxford
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197:), and factory
111:electrification
64:portable engine
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614:reversing gear
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575:'the Colonies'
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489:General layout
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361:Thomas Aveling
345:In the 1850s,
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262:Science Museum
250:Cornish boiler
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167:steam tractors
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1039:0-85263-783-7
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969:. p. 58.
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1011:. Retrieved
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990:. Retrieved
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924:. Retrieved
920:the original
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694:Preservation
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522:end and the
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484:Construction
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448:Bramall Lane
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155:draft horses
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72:steam engine
63:
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632:Auxiliaries
606:slide valve
588:, straw or
436:saw benches
347:John Fowler
199:line shafts
144:steam fairs
113:(including
70:, either a
1110:Categories
1068:searchable
1013:2008-01-04
992:2008-01-03
951:2008-01-02
926:2008-01-04
896:085059300X
774:References
742:documented
559:locomotive
524:crankshaft
510:transport.
497:Preserved
459:drive belt
363:(later of
308:Birmingham
183:gristmills
610:eccentric
586:wood fuel
532:regulator
516:cylinders
454:in 1878.
452:Sheffield
238:Yorkshire
195:oil wells
177:(such as
1095:–
1072:–
761:–
748:See also
726:Marshall
688:flywheel
685:diameter
618:governor
567:Marshall
536:flywheel
528:smokebox
499:Marshall
444:football
313:Ransomes
285:Ransomes
279:flywheel
187:sawmills
171:tractors
169:, other
119:tractors
84:portable
649:Chimney
612:and no
590:bagasse
563:firebox
557:with a
526:at the
520:firebox
518:at the
428:dynamos
377:gearing
332:Lincoln
317:Ipswich
265:drums.
223:England
217:History
211:presses
44:chimney
40:Germany
1099:inside
1050:
1037:
947:. 2007
893:
850:
825:
670:wooden
658:Wheels
600:Engine
561:-type
549:Boiler
543:Fowler
340:Vienna
252:, for
228:Early
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