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John Lukey          Guildford, U.K.              lukey1018@ntlworld.com   (updated 8/23/2009)

Radial Air Engine  Compressed Air Engine

Since starting the construction of this engine, I have made some changes to the bore and stroke, which are now 5/8” x 5/8”.

The original concept for this project was taken from a video I saw on YouTube.  I took some stills from the video and copied it as best I could from the photographs.  This turned out to be a bit of a headache as I had no dimensions to work from.  I decided to make it a rotary valve engine and after looking at this site, I realised that I was copying the engine designed by Rudy Kouhoupt. Everything was made except for the rotary valve which I was struggling to design.  Then, I had the offer of a set of plans for the valve from another F.A.M.E. member.   As it happens, it turned out alright with everything missing each other where it should!  The two base plates are a cast iron retort stand base and a piece of scrap from the local scrap yard.  All the rest was sourced from scrap except for some of the screws that I had to buy and the propeller.  It runs very nicely on 20-30 PSI and has a nice multi-cylinder note to it.

Inside the crankcase.

 The finished engine.

John Lukey, Guildford, U.K. 2009.

Original posting 8/28/2008)

Radial air engine with 5/8 bore x 0.8" stroke. I am undecided as to whether to make it ball and pin, or rotary valve.  

Copyright 2008,  Florida Association of Model Engineers and engine builder as noted above, All rights reserved.