Triple Expansion Marine Engine
Built by Adrian Ashford in January 2003
This is a close copy of one of the models featured in part 4 of British Marine History in Meccano, a series of six articles published in the Meccano Magazine from March to August 1934.
Some modifications have been made to suit part availability and to utilise parts that were not available at that time.
The model has been motorised using a cassette recorder motor hidden in the cylinder block; the vertical rod driving the helical gears on the crankshaft is driven via reduction gearing likewise concealed.
No problems were encountered in building the model, but great care was needed to get it working smoothly.
Triple Expansion Engines
This type of engine represents the ultimate development of the reciprocating engine for driving ships, two being installed in larger vessels.
‘Triple Expansion’ means the steam is used three times, passing through each cylinder (high, intermediate and low pressure) before being exhausted into a condenser, thus utilising as much of the steam’s energy as possible to propel the ship.