Search found 38 matches

by spinningmagnets
Sun Nov 26, 2017 6:34 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Rider-Ericsson patent transcribed
Replies: 6
Views: 8925

Re: Rider-Ericsson patent transcribed

Page 2 an end elevation of the engine from the cold (or compression) end, showing the air-supply pump in position thereon. (line 3) Fig-3 is an elevation (on a larger scale) of a portion of the compression (or cold) cylinder, and also showing a vertical section of the air-supply pump with the means ...
by spinningmagnets
Sun Nov 26, 2017 6:34 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Rider-Ericsson patent transcribed
Replies: 6
Views: 8925

Re: Rider-Ericsson patent transcribed

Rider Hot-Air Engine Patents The well-developed 1886 model http://www.google.com/patents?id=HI1TAAAAEBAJ The early 1875 simple engine, patent #167,568 http://www.google.co.uk/patents?id=fp4CAAAAEBAJ Selected paragraphs from his 1879 “improved engine” patent # 220,309 http://www.google.co.uk/patents?...
by spinningmagnets
Sun Nov 26, 2017 6:33 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Rider-Ericsson patent transcribed
Replies: 6
Views: 8925

Rider-Ericsson patent transcribed

I'm posting this here so it won't get lost... xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Stirling Engine, Rider Patents The Rider engine uses the Stirling engine principle to run. Air inside the cylinder is heated to expand it, then cooled to contract it. The differential pressure is small, so the power density is low, me...
by spinningmagnets
Wed Nov 22, 2017 4:28 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Double-acting solar Gamma, twin rotary displacers
Replies: 4
Views: 6503

Re: Double-acting solar Gamma, twin rotary displacers

I'm using this discussion thread as a place to park ideas during my research. Since the VAWT "auto start" device should be on the top, then the power diaphragm should be on the bottom, in-between the twin displacement cylinders. The VAWT should be located above one of the displacement cyli...
by spinningmagnets
Wed Nov 22, 2017 10:19 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Double-acting solar Gamma, twin rotary displacers
Replies: 4
Views: 6503

Re: Double-acting solar Gamma, twin rotary displacers

Thanks for the reply. I do agree, that a more traditional Gamma (to be comparable, perhaps a twin Gamma with vertical displacers?) would be more powerful. Plus, I have an emergency back-up solar PV panel stored a just a few feet from me at this very moment. Rotary displacers seem like they would be ...
by spinningmagnets
Tue Nov 21, 2017 6:01 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Double-acting solar Gamma, twin rotary displacers
Replies: 4
Views: 6503

Double-acting solar Gamma, twin rotary displacers

I've been reading about hot air engines for years, they are quite fascinating. So far, I've never taken that final step into building one yet. Although...I am closing in on a design that I feel might be worth actually trying out. I scan google and youtube about once a year to see if anything new has...
by spinningmagnets
Sat Nov 11, 2017 7:34 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Pressurization
Replies: 27
Views: 32502

Re: Pressurization

I studied the Rider-Ericsson engine a while back. It is an alpha with two vertical / parallel cylinders, and the crankshaft is at the top of the engine. The crank side of the pistons are open to the ambient air. It had an integral air-pump which could be adjusted to compress air at any degree of the...
by spinningmagnets
Tue Dec 18, 2012 9:05 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: hybrid steam/stirling engine
Replies: 14
Views: 14451

Re: hybrid steam/stirling engine

Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) is very similar to steam cycle, but it uses a lower-temperature phase-change fluid, like freon, butane, toluene. Another interesting technology that may prove useful in a hybrid system is a "fluidyne", this is where a changing gas pressure (provided by a Gamma?)...
by spinningmagnets
Tue Dec 18, 2012 8:41 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Index of modern Stirling engines
Replies: 6
Views: 9685

Index of modern Stirling engines

Sometimes, when researching what others have made in the past (some of them well-done by engineers), it helps to have a name to start the search with. Google is handy, but here's a list I made to help me find stuff that I know I have looked at before. Feel free to post a significant model you've rec...
by spinningmagnets
Sat Aug 09, 2008 9:25 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: displacer gasket insulating material?
Replies: 6
Views: 9917

I know asbestos is unfashionable, but if you don't breathe in the tiny fibers, it works well. Mica is starting to look good. I'm assuming I'll be making the displacer cylinder out of aluminum, and the displacer itself out of thin stainless steel. I just need something to thermally isolate the hot en...
by spinningmagnets
Thu Aug 07, 2008 2:17 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: displacer gasket insulating material?
Replies: 6
Views: 9917

Thanks, Jan.

I will keep this in mind. I know the space shuttle has insulating tiles that are replaced every trip, so the old ones are sold to tourists very cheap, but they would be awkward to cut and use.

I may just put an engine together, and then add the insulating gasket later.
by spinningmagnets
Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:56 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: displacer gasket insulating material?
Replies: 6
Views: 9917

displacer gasket insulating material?

I read a post that indicated when a running Gamma had its displacer cylinder made thinner by machining, and it reduced the heat flowing over to the cooler side. After this, the hot side was hotter, and the cool side stayed cooler, leading to a more powerful engine. (I also plan on using the flywheel...
by spinningmagnets
Sun Aug 03, 2008 8:30 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Will water or ATF absorb helium?
Replies: 1
Views: 4993

Will water or ATF absorb helium?

I am contemplating the problems with using helium as the medium in a Stirling to see if its worth the trouble. I believe the displacer can be moved with external magnets, so there will be no possible shaft seal leakage from the displacer cylinder. This leaves the power-piston rings and the power pis...
by spinningmagnets
Sun Aug 03, 2008 4:02 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Commercial uses for Stirling Engines(?)
Replies: 10
Views: 52551

possible Stirling uses

I believe it may be possible to design a large Stirling that can use solar power from a large dish or parabolic troughs, and a fan-cooled cold end with a water mister. I think it could power a small generator to charge a battery, pump water, or run a small mechanical air-conditioning unit. Steam req...
by spinningmagnets
Sun Aug 03, 2008 3:39 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Dual Acting Cylinders
Replies: 27
Views: 27417

Double-acting?

SScandizzo, the force of the piston is PSI X square inches of area of the piston face. In a double acting cylinder, the cross-section of the rod takes up a small amount of area. So, when retracting it will have slightly less power than extending. The Stanley steam car had two double acting cylinders...