Hero Reaction Turbine Engine
By Dr. Greg Latta

Final Assembly and Operation

Hero Reaction Turbine
Click on the image for a larger view.

Click here for a super detailed view.

 Main Page and Introduction  Head Button Construction
 Head Construction  Jet Construction
 Body Construction  Final Assembly and Operation



Final Assembly:
To finish the assembly of the turbine, the head button is first firmly screwed into the head and the head is then attached to the body with four 4-40 screws. The jets should already be attached to the body. A high quality ball bearing fishing swivel is then attached to the head button with a piece of wire, as shown in the picture at right. The swivel is attached to a support wire that is held in the hand while it is operating. The support wire should be long enough to keep your hand cool while operating the turbine, but short enough to avoid excess wobble.


Hero Reaction Turbine
Click on the image for a larger view.

Click here for a super detailed view.
QuickTime Movie of the Engine in Operation:
Click on the link at right to watch a QuickTime movie of the engine in operation. The engine is first filled about 1/2 to 2/3 full of water. Don't overfill the engine. (If overfilled, you will wind up with boiling hot water spitting spit out all over the place when the engine starts.) The engine is then heated with an alcohol burner, Bunsen burner, propane torch, butane torch, or electric burner. (The heat source in the movie is an alcohol burner purchased from American Science and Surplus, a great source for all kinds of crazy scientific stuff.) It takes a few minutes for the engine to warm up, but once warmed up it really flies. If the engine stops working you have used up all of the water and you should remove it immediately from the heat source. Be sure to wear safety goggles to prevent any steam or hot water from getting in your eyes!

If the movie doesn't play correctly, try right clicking on the link and use the "Save Target As..." option to save the movie to your hard drive. You should then be able to use Windows Media Player to watch the movie.

QuickTime Movie of the
Hero Reaction Turbine Engine


©Copyright Statement:
All images, designs, and materials on these web pages are the property of Gregory P. Latta and are ©2008 by Gregory P. Latta. You may use them for personal purposes and for educational purposes, but any commercial or other use is strictly prohibited unless written permission is obtained from the author.

Disclaimer:
Opinions expressed are those of the author or the quoted source. The author is not an employee of or agent for any of the vendors referenced in the text and does not sell or represent any of the products discussed. Vendors may provide products for review purposes and may provide sponsored support through advertising or links. No information provided herein represents professional advice or best practices. All information is provided to help the reader gain a better understanding of the tools and techniques described. Considerable care has been exercised to provide accurate and timely information. However the author cannot be responsible for information which is incorrect or out of date. Power tools and shop practices can be dangerous if used carelessly or improperly - always take proper safety precautions such as wearing protective eyewear and appropriate clothing. All practices, procedures, modifications and product recommendations described herein are to be used at the discretion and risk of the reader.


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