Subject: PSRU
From: rotaryeng
Date: 5/23/2012, 7:42 AM
To: AAAA Put this in the To box


  Any progress on the simple PSRU? I have a neighbor that is a
    retired  millwright, and he has a 12" metal lathe in his basement.
    He has been  building mini steam engines in his basement for a
   while-  a steam powered  mini ferris wheel, locomotive, etc.

     Last I remember you were discussing using the ceramic bearings-
    and were  trying to get them from China. If I can get an idea of
    the internal parts  and where to get them, I can try to make one.

     Have we made any progress lately?

     Kevin Alderman

     It will be awhile. We had a ceramic bearing supplier picked out
    but there was some  evidence he was less than reliable. We are
    attempting to finding another source.

     Paul Lamar

    I assume the heart is a Ford planetary, but where does the splined
   shaft  come from? Do we have to machine the splines on a shaft?

    Kevin Alderman

    It must be welded up from a  manual transmission, one inch
   diameter,  input shaft or  Ford auto tranny splined part. Tracy
  uses  the auto tranny part.

    Paul Lamar

    OK, I guess I need to go get a used E4OD and tear it apart and see
   what's  inside.  Sounds like fun!

    Kevin Alderman

    No need. New parts are cheap.

    http://www.makcotransmissionparts.com/

    I have ordered from them and I think Tracy also buys from them.

    Here is an outfit on the west coast.
    http://www.slauson.com/

    We are in the process of ordering the bearings in china now.

    The smart thing to do is let us build one and see if it works
   first :)

    Paul Lamar
    \--------------------------------------------------

    You can order thin section steel bearings from mcmaster carr
    but steel thin section bearings are limited rpm wise.
    we are using the 4 inch size.

    This is why we are trying to buy ceramic thin section bearings.
    Cost is the reason for buying them in china.

    Paul Lamar

      cheaper

    I just noticed the NOTE:. The max RPM is with grease as a
   lubricant. High  RPM  would heat the grease due to the internal
   friction in the viscous material.  How will lubricating with oil
   affect the RPM rating?

    Dale Davies

    Perhaps a bit higher but no way is steel going to live long enough
   with  grease or oil.

    Here is the specs on Shanghi Lilly thin section ceramic bearings.
    The success of this design depends on the high rpm capability of ceramic
    bearings.

    Paul Lamar

    Paul,  I was looking at the attachments and it appears that the 4"
    standard  all stainless construction thin section bearing is rated
   at 4800 RPM (grease)  and 5700 RPM (oil).  The propshaft would be
   turning 7500 RPM/ 2,85 or 2631 RPM, well in range of a 5700 RPM
   bearing. It would seem that using silicon nitride balls in the
   bearing for an 8000 RPM rating  would be overkill.  I understand
   that the input shaft might be turning 7500 RPM but with a much
   smaller diameter where the speed ratings are much higher. It would
   seem that a standard size bearing with C3 clearance would be
   appropriate on the input shaft.

   george grimes

   The Shanghi Lilly are ceramic balls.

   What manufacture was that? Most all steel thin section bearings
   that size are limited to below 1000 rpm.

   Paul Lamar

   Paul,   I was looking at the attachments on the 8:51 am posting.
   One chart was 4800/5700  and the other chart ranged from 8500 to
   15000 RPM for the same size. It would seem either type could be used.

   george

   Those RPM numbers are for the silicon nitride balls not steel
  balls.  The last attached jpg shows a steel ball bearing that comes close.
   The penalty is a smaller shaft and a much larger housing.
   The shaft strength goes up with cube or the fourth power of the diameter.

   Paul Lamar

   ------------------------------------------------------------------------

   This company in general does not post the RPM.

   Paul Lamar

   ---------------------------------------------------------------------

   This one might be worth a try to validate the concept as Milo has
   suggested.
   The cost makes it unattractive.

   Paul Lamar


  ==========================================================================
   Paul, will this do the job? Milo

        Buy online VD040CP0 Thin Section Bearing 4"x5"x1/2" inch Open
  Slim  Ball Bearings        VXB Home  Thin Section Bearings

        VD040CP0 Thin Section Bearing 4"x5"x1/2" inch Open Slim Ball
  Bearings

          Quantity in Basket: None
        Part Number: Kit13153
        Our Low Price: $179.00
        Shipping Weight: 0.10 pounds
   ========================================================================
   No I don't think so there is no RPM specified.

   It would only last a few hours.

   Paul

   Years ago I was rebuilding Allison powershift transmissions for off
  highway
  equipment. One rebuild I noticed a new bearing to repalce one I had
  used numerous times. The part number on the box was different, but
  the bearing had the same numbers etched on it. I asked the manager
  who was also a mechanic. He did a bunch of checking as the price was
  almost double and found out there is a tolerance on bearings. The
  manufacturer part number is the same as the dimensions are identical,
  but the closer tolerance goes in a different box with a
  corresponding cost change.  Two bearings listed in previous posts;
   1: RBC  KD040 CPO     List $389
   2:      VD040 CPO     List $179  Question is, what would the
  difference be considering the dimensions are the same? Just the
  change in the first letter of the part number K or V. If normal
  economics apply, the more expensive bearing would be of better quality.

  Dale Davies

  Without looking it up again, I believe bearings have what is call an
  ABEC rating. ABEC-7 appears to be the common spec for super
  precision bearings.

  Ed Carver

  Group,

  The ABEC scale is an industry accepted standard for the tolerances
  of a ball bearing. It was developed by the Annular Bearing
  Engineering Committee (ABEC) of the American Bearing Manufacturers
  Association (ABMA). There are five classes from largest to smallest
  tolerances: 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9. The higher ABEC classes provide
  better precision, efficiency,[citation needed] and greater speed
  capabilities, but do not necessarily make the components spin
  faster.[1] The ABEC rating does not specify many other critical
  factors, such as smoothness of the rolling contact surfaces, ball
  precision or quality/type of steel used.

  The bearing material is not specified in the ABEC grades. Bearings
  not conforming to at least ABEC 1 can not be classified as precision
  bearings as their tolerances are too loose.

  The scale is designed to allow a user to make an informed decision
  about the type of bearing they are purchasing. High rated bearings
  are intended for precision applications like aircraft instruments or
  surgical equipment. Lower grades are intended for the vast majority
  of applications such as vehicles, mechanical hobbies, skates,
  skateboards, fishing reels and industrial machinery. High ABEC
  rated bearings allow optimal performance of critical applications
  requiring very high RPM and smooth operation.

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ABEC

  Rotor Head

  Ok, so to help get my grey matter wrapped around this tid bit of
  information;
  the VD040 CPO bearing. Does the 4 in the 040 designate it as an ISO class
  4/ABEC 7 rearing? How does the KD040 CPO bearing differ?

  Dale Davies

  You got me Dale.

  Paul Lamar



  If the same bearing is cheaper in China than the U.S. then by all
  means purchase from China, If the Chinese manufactured bearing is
  cheaper than the U.S. made unit (if there is such a thing) Then not
  only are you risking your ass and those who may fly with you, for a
  couple of hundred $, your also sacrificing U.S. jobs, hurting the U.S.
  economy,  and, gulp, being a cheapskate, that is why  Aussie
  manufacturing has passed the S bend. Blundstone work boots determined
  that prior to moving manufacturing to India. At least they are a
  member of the Commonwealth and friends of ours. (Except on the cricket
  field, then we want to crush them, and vice versa).
   A man approaches a beautiful young woman and asks " Will you sleep
  with me for $1million" the woman briefly pauses and replies "Yes,
  O.K.". The man then asks "Will you sleep with me for $20" The woman
  vigorously replies "What kind of woman do you think I am?" the man
  answers "We have already determined that, now we're just haggling over
  the price ! "
  Food for thought do you not think. I do not intend to offend.
  Graeme Riley

  I had to step in here-

 1. Continental Aircraft Engines (TCM) is now a Chinese company- so by this
 logic I should consider their parts now inferior.
 2. Almost all of our computer parts worldwide are made in China- so why
 have our computers not stopped working?
 3. Cessna makes its new 162 in China, so is it not airworthy?
 4. GM has 15 plants in China and as per a statement from the President of
 Government Motors "70% of our cars are now made in locations other than in
 the US". He made this statement at a Chinese event that marked GMs opening
 of a major R&D unit in China, to -his words- replace the R&D department in
 the US.
 5. Hawker Beechcraft- now under bankruptcy protection- has been actively
 pursuing a manufacturing relationship with the Chinese for years- the fact
 that they hadn't been able to reach an agreement is why they went under
 according to a statement by their CEO. He said that "an agreement with the
 Chinese to begin manufacturing in China was mandatory if Hawker was to
 survive". So, do we not fly in a Hawker anymore?

 The issue of items being made in China are not always one of quality- the
 Ipad is made in Taiwan, China, and about everywhere in the world except
 here. Did that keep millions from buying them? Does that make them not
 work?

 The problem is the high taxes here and the high cost of labor here. Why do
 you think the Chinese are building the bridges in California? Cessna is
 making the planes in China, GM is building cars in China, etc. etc.
 Economics 101.

 I have no issues with a bearing made in China, if it meets quality
 standards. However, my American Made Continental blew up at 1700 hours and
 is now going off to be melted down. But for $54,000 I can buy a
 replacement.  And, do not forget our rotaries are not made here either. I
 have 3 of them now.

 Kevin Alderman



The current leftist regime controlling the U.S. and most of the rest of the
western world can be compared to the 1960s cartoon MR. MAGOO, wherein you
have an extremely nearsighted decrepit old man being lead around by a
Chinese guy named Charlie who is continually saving Magoo's ass.

In the U.S. a mass experiment began when the American Collegiate Ubermensch
took the sands of ontology and rearranged it all within our popular culture
and education sys. The young Magoo's of the 60s had no idea where the newly
rearranged elements of ontology would lead them, nor were they aware of the
change, as a result, China has become the manufacturing source for nearly
everything. And all because of the implicit near sightedness of the driving
philosophies of the day.

Consequently, the road to serfdom has broadened to the extent that now
~50%~ of our population is happily on the government dole, and most of them
have no compunction about using their welfare debit card to buy ice cream
and cake.

So there ya go, China to the rescue. And give em credit, soviet
totalitarianism drove their own economy into the ground, the Chicoms on the
other hand, looked carefully at Hong Kong and cried out in their newly
enlightened state, 'AH SO' O' great ones" then thanked the British for
renting the spot from them, and thereafter duplicated within the mainland
what had made HK so successful.

Whatayado now? In my case, I have relatives in the Filipines, Some of whom
work in HK and are members of the vast OFW (overseas Filipino workers). I
suspect I will be making better acquaintance with the ones in HK as they
can send stuff to the U.S. cheaply.

Don't work too hard right? In my case, I'm like the guy who built the first
Wright Bros. engine. Just get me the raw materials and we'll get the show
on the road with minimal investment.

Sadly:(     I can't make bearings, so anyone who wants to add the bearings
to the pile of materials I have for Paul's new tube shaft prop reduction
unit, and also has time to do the leg work to get the materials machined
for the assembly, I'll gladly put it all in a box and send it to you.

Any takers?

Ed Carver


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