Corliss engines are a type of steam engine that was a popular power source around the turn of the last century, and the variation that the Mesta Machine company built was used primarily in rolling mills and power plants. Corliss engines use rotary valves and have variable valve timing, and were the most efficient engines around until the Una-flow engines were produced.
Detail of a Corliss-type valve gear and cylinder cross section showing the path of high-pressure steam (in red) and low-pressure steam (in blue). With each stroke, the four valves alternate opening and closing, driving the piston back and forth. Image: Wikipedia
Here is a short video showing a Cooper Corliss engine in operation. I couldn’t find one of a running Mesta Corliss engine, unfortunately.
I did find a video of a Mesta Corliss engine though:
All images are from the 1919 edition of “Plant and product of the Mesta Machine Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania“.
References
Other articles in this series:
Mesta Memories #10 – Gas Blowing Engines
Regarding the Images in “Mesta Memories”
Mesta Memories #11 – Steam Blowing Engines
Mesta Memories #12 – Gas Power Engines
Mesta Memories #13 – Una-Flow Engines
There is one at the Science Museum in London.
It is very impressive in person… Here is a movie I shot a few years back:
[youtube mX0U7UKZ1Co http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mX0U7UKZ1Co youtube]
Just to clarify: this engine is a Corliss but it was not built by Mesta.
Gotcha. I couldn't find a working example either, although there might be in a few years when some restorations are complete.
Cool engine! I love the looks of those things.
[youtube xB_InVoB7zw http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB_InVoB7zw youtube]
Boys and toys…
Very interesting, thanks for posting the video. I'd love to find an old film showing the original process of installing those engines.
Here's part two to the video, showing the final disassembly, loading and hauling off of the engine pieces. The crankshaft is quite impressive.
[youtube pcMwSJQAm0k&feature=watch_response http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pcMwSJQAm0k&feature=watch_response youtube]
For your enjoyment I uploaded a video I took of the Corliss valve gear in action on the generator at the Oklahoma Steam Threshers Association gathering grounds.
Rube Goldberg has nothing on the guys who made that.
The man who designed it was a horse harness maker by trade. Amazing what things people can do when they step outside their norms.