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Industrial Air Compressor: a Converted Motorcycle Engine, Motor-Driven (Shop Notes, 1919)
A workshop compressor driven by a 1 hp electric motor: an old single-cylinder motorcycle engine rebored and run as a pump, its exhaust port blanked, its own automatic inlet valve taking in air, and a ball check valve in the spark-plug hole sending air to a tank.
Source: Popular Mechanics Shop Notes for 1919, pp. 3166-3167. Unknown: tank, belt and sizes. Picture: the article's drawing.
Intermediate
Unknown
Instructions
1
1
Recondition the cylinder
Recondition the cylinder
Rebore the old engine and fit a new piston for good compression. Remove the exhaust valve and bolt a steel plate, with a gasket under it, over the exhaust port. Leave the automatic inlet valve as it is: it now draws in air.
Materials for this step:
Unknown Material1 old motorcycle engine
Piston and Rod Assembly1 new piston
Mild Steel Plate1 blanking plate
Gasket1 piece
Hex Bolt - Grade 8.81 pieceTools needed:
Boring Bar
Metal Lathe
Hand Drill
Adjustable Spanner2
2
Fit the outlet
Fit the outlet
In place of the priming cock on top of the cylinder (the drawing shows it screwed into the spark-plug hole) fit a ball-valve hose connection, and run its hose to the air tank.
Materials for this step:
Ball Check Valve1 piece
Air Hose1 pieceUnknown Material1 air tankTools needed:
Adjustable Spanner3
3
Fit the drive and mount it
Fit the drive and mount it
Fit a longer main shaft and key an ordinary shaft pulley on its end. Leave the old flywheel in place for momentum. Bolt steel lugs to the floor and fasten the engine base to them. Belt it to a 1 hp, 110 volt motor, and put oil in the crankcase for splash lubrication.
Materials for this step:
Mild Steel Rod1 longer main shaft
Pulley1 pieceMild Steel Plate1 floor lugsHex Bolt - Grade 8.81 piece
Electric Motor1 1 hp, 110 V
Machine Oil1 pieceTools needed:
Metal LatheAdjustable SpannerMaterials
11- 1 air tankPlaceholder
- 1 new pistonPlaceholder
- 1 floor lugsPlaceholder
- 1 piecePlaceholder
- 2 piecesPlaceholder
- 1 piecePlaceholder
- 1 piecePlaceholder
- 1 longer main shaftPlaceholder
- 1 piecePlaceholder
- 1 1 hp, 110 VPlaceholder
- 1 piecePlaceholder
Tools Required
4- Placeholder
- Placeholder
- Placeholder
- Placeholder
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