Project:SteamRollerSkate

A hybrid steam engine/steamroller/rollerskate built around a victorian style boot.

Features

• Mill-style steam engine
  • Boiler and furnace live inside the boot, with a hinged grille on the heel providing access to the furnace.
  • Furnace fuelled by hexamine tablet
  • Furnace and boiler made of two tin cans brazed together.
  • If possible, enclose assembly in a slightly larger can with rockwool nested between the two to protect the boot from the heat. If there's no room for a larger can, just stuff the boot with rockwool.
    • For combined thermal, protective and flame-retardant properties, nomex racing socks might be ideal (and cheap) insulation.

• Combine water inlet with close-fitted weighted cap as safety valve?

• Moving parts live outside the boot.

• Front wheel will be a single roller, connected by forks to the chassis.
  • Ideally would attach the fork to chassis with a skate-style "truck".
  • Failing that, allow the forks to turn freely and feed a central spoke through the upper of the boot to a steering wheel.

• Back wheels would be fixed to a central shaft and driven by the mill.

• Add a whistle (such as http://www.forest-classics.co.uk/std_whistle.htm) which can be activated by pulling on laces?

Progress

I've ordered a pair of suitably victorianesque boots from eBay that I think will have enough room for a boiler/furnace based on two small Carnation condensed milk cans.

I've also picked a likely engine design: http://start-model-engineering.co.uk/category/elmers-32/ (only upside down)

Ordered a pair of (hopefully) suitable boots: