Search found 2219 matches

by Ian S C
Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:48 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: best combination for piston and cylinder
Replies: 7
Views: 9257

Re: best combination for piston and cylinder

If you want to use aluminium, it should be hard anodised, this system is used on some 2 stroke motors, it was also used by Andy Ross on some of his hot air engines. Lowest friction, metal to metal is cast iron, on cast iron, next is CI on steel. A bronze clinder witha steel, or CI piston would come ...
by Ian S C
Mon Jul 11, 2011 5:36 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: pot pot boat
Replies: 14
Views: 12749

Re: pot pot boat

Hi Jacket, they,r quite interesting little motors. When I was about 10 yrs old I made my first one, it consisted of a length of 1/4" dia copper tube. I made a 3 turn coil on it by wrapping it around a bit of broom stick. I made a little tin boat with 2 holes out the back, and soldered in the co...
by Ian S C
Tue Jul 05, 2011 5:49 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Some queries for my Stirling Engine system
Replies: 5
Views: 7116

Re: Some queries for my Stirling Engine system

blitz000, the reason for using cast iron is the fact that because it has an excess of free graphite, it is self lubricating to a degree. Thats why you get dirty black fingers when you work with it. I usually use a drop of very light oil when using cast iron and steel. To run with oil make the piston...
by Ian S C
Tue Jul 05, 2011 1:00 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Some queries for my Stirling Engine system
Replies: 5
Views: 7116

Re: Some queries for my Stirling Engine system

blitz000, at a brief glance, it should work, you must have minimum friction, ball races for all bearings if possible, and if they are shielded, remove the shields, and wash out the grease. Use very light oil instead. Cut down as much weight as you can, then see if you can get rid of a bit more. The ...
by Ian S C
Mon Jul 04, 2011 5:06 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: best combination for piston and cylinder
Replies: 7
Views: 9257

Re: best combination for piston and cylinder

blitz000, for a metalic piston cylinder combination, cast iron piston , cast iron cylinder, next is C I piston and a steel cylinder (the combo that I usually use,can be mild,med carbon, or stainless).The graphite, and glass is the best, but the CI on CI is quite good. Teflon on steel (mild/ med carb...
by Ian S C
Sun Jun 26, 2011 4:23 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Non-cylindrical hot air chamber?
Replies: 13
Views: 9240

Re: Non-cylindrical hot air chamber?

Just a note, there is a vidio on line some where of a hot air motor (? in Germany), with an oil drum for a displacer. Ian S C
by Ian S C
Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:35 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: few questions
Replies: 4
Views: 4484

Re: few questions

A stirling engine has a fixed amount of air alternately heated(expanded) and cooled (contracted), there is no apprecialflow of air that could be used to drive a turbine (which at low pressure would require a large volume of air). If it did work at all the efficiency would be very low, an unpressuris...
by Ian S C
Fri Jun 24, 2011 6:15 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Non-cylindrical hot air chamber?
Replies: 13
Views: 9240

Re: Non-cylindrical hot air chamber?

The recomended proportions for the displacer; the length should be about 3 x the diameter, and the volume about i.5 times the power cylinder. thats the basic maths required for a high temp hot air engine. And it is best to keep the stroke of the crank fairly short. My best displacer cylinders are ma...
by Ian S C
Thu Jun 23, 2011 5:39 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Non-cylindrical hot air chamber?
Replies: 13
Views: 9240

Re: Non-cylindrical hot air chamber?

Hi TomOliver, engines have been built with square/ rectangular shapes, its just that round seems more conveniant in most cases. I take motors that run on tempereatures from the heat of ones hand, to ones that run on a bowl of boiling water to be low temperature motors. the ones that require a gas(LP...
by Ian S C
Fri Jun 17, 2011 3:14 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Siemins / Rinia Stirlings
Replies: 3
Views: 4044

Re: Siemins / Rinia Stirlings

We do have one siemens type motor built locally, Whispergen. That's just a wee bit beyond me though. Ian S C
by Ian S C
Thu Jun 16, 2011 11:15 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Stirling Textbooks?
Replies: 3
Views: 4481

Re: Stirling Textbooks?

Lucky Joe, My standbys are "Modeling Stirling Engines and Hot Air Engines" and "The Stirling Engine Manual", both by James G. Rizzo."Making Stirling Engines",by Andy Ross. And articles in "Model Engineer". Ian S C
by Ian S C
Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:23 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Siemins / Rinia Stirlings
Replies: 3
Views: 4044

Re: Siemins / Rinia Stirlings

Shanex-2, the reason I don't build Siemens type motors is too much repartion, I would want 4. to 8 cylinders. I suppose its cost of materials that slows most people when it comes to building such motors, I try to build mine as cheaply as possible. Ian S C
by Ian S C
Tue Jun 14, 2011 4:11 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: few questions
Replies: 4
Views: 4484

Re: few questions

Cabanaboy, I imagine that you have read a number of the books available, and built at least a few motors to a conventional design, you should do this before heading off into the unknown, its easy enough to get lost without complicating things. Now, what is your displacer made of? he rods that pass t...
by Ian S C
Mon Jun 06, 2011 3:42 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: my first post
Replies: 8
Views: 5785

Re: my first post

i read of one comercially made stovetop motor on the web last night that had a wooden piston with a leather seal. I also found www.jonbondy.com
Another is YRIZLE.COM Ian S C
by Ian S C
Sat Jun 04, 2011 5:33 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Finally started making a (Gamma) Stirling but will it work?
Replies: 5
Views: 4490

Re: Finally started making a (Gamma) Stirling but will it wo

LTD motors tend to have a ratio of up to 20:1displacer to power cylinder, where as HTD motors are about 1.5:1. You'll proberbly be OK with the 3 mm clearance, I'v had ones like that. I'v carved a displacer cylinder out of a bit of 2 1/2" dia X 3" long 316 grade stainless steel, that was 20...