Search found 19 matches

by theropod
Thu Dec 06, 2007 4:41 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: 4 cylinder tin can engine
Replies: 6
Views: 10219

Sorry, and Why "V"??

Why not an "In-Line" four or six or however many? Instead of the "V" make a hot and cold manifold set along a conduit for each side, just like an internal combustion system. The cool end could be a shallow water tank, or half-pipe (cup-up) with a slight tilt to use gravity to hel...
by theropod
Mon Nov 19, 2007 6:10 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: 4 cylinder tin can engine
Replies: 6
Views: 10219

4 "Banger"

Hey,

I would think the smoothest production of power would be with 90° timing.

This could complicate the crank. A 4 throw setup might be easiest, but requires more bearings and stuff.

I wish you well and wanna see 'er when you're done.

Take care.
by theropod
Thu Jun 14, 2007 4:17 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: how tight should the piston be to get a strong vaccum
Replies: 4
Views: 7868

Weight

Hey, I was much too vauge about the weight. I found that to offset the mass of the displacer I had to position this weight opposed to the crank pin. I used a magnet, as I have a steel saw blade as a flywheel , and repositioning was (is) easy. Your engine may be different in its needs, so experiment....
by theropod
Wed Jun 13, 2007 4:56 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: how tight should the piston be to get a strong vaccum
Replies: 4
Views: 7868

???

Hi, I'm not sure I understand what you mean by vacuum. The power piston/cylinder for my "ugly duckling" version of the walking beam stirling is a glass/graphite matched set I bought from Airpot. The smooth operation of this setup is amazing. IF you have smooth operation and the piston make...
by theropod
Thu May 03, 2007 5:58 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: so many falures
Replies: 6
Views: 9660

Displacer

Mr. Black, AH HA! I think you have may have made your psiton the wrong length. The displacer piston in the walking beam, and most other Stirlings, should be 33% the length of the displacer cylinder. Maybe a little less if the displacer cylinder has concave ends. Look closely at the following animati...
by theropod
Wed May 02, 2007 6:59 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Research
Replies: 2
Views: 5845

Power?

Hi Tines, I'm new here too, and welcome aboard! This is a great site/forum for all things Stirling. Now to your question regarding most powerful Stirlings; This is such vast subject getting a fairly intelligent answer to that will be problematic. How do we measure the power? by HP or Kilowatts or......
by theropod
Wed May 02, 2007 6:05 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: so many falures
Replies: 6
Views: 9660

Discouraged

Hi, Sorry to read of your discouragement. I too failed to get the walking beam model to run on my first 4 attempts. First it was the displacer gland not smooth, and then it was the displacer rod lift point binding, then I discovered my flywheel was too small diameter wise and then the power piston w...
by theropod
Tue May 01, 2007 5:23 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Alpha stirling engine project
Replies: 5
Views: 8215

Alpha-Gamma

Hi, Well, I didn't understand your location issue, sorry for the assuption. Do you mind telling us where you are? I feel the need for a lathe to accurately turn parts is needed only for high RPM operation. As has been posted in anther thread here a little bit of air leaking is needed to get an engin...
by theropod
Sun Apr 29, 2007 3:54 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Alpha stirling engine project
Replies: 5
Views: 8215

Parts

Hi, I've had great success using the glass (pyrex-borosilicate) cylinder and graphite sets available from airpot.com. There is a thread here regarding this very issue. My postings about the "Ugly Duckling" document the use thereof. Builder and contributor here, Cartech, provided very helpf...
by theropod
Fri Apr 13, 2007 5:10 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Ugly Duckling Update
Replies: 3
Views: 6956

Ugly Duckling Photos

Hi All, As promised here are links to pictures of a few details on my engine. http://gobblerguns.com/roger/images/displacer_lift.jpg This is the way I devised to lift the displacer rod. Made from 1/8" brazing rod and to be replaced with a smoother setup soon. However this setup allows for opera...
by theropod
Sun Apr 08, 2007 4:53 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Ugly Duckling Update
Replies: 3
Views: 6956

Ugly Duckling Update

Hey All, I finally got my larger power piston/cylinder combo from Airpot, and man what a difference! I've also added a water tank to the top and that really seems to help lengthen run time and responsiveness. The engine now will turn at what I think is around 180 to 200 rpm with a good flame from th...
by theropod
Sun Mar 25, 2007 4:50 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: First Run!
Replies: 5
Views: 8977

Improvements

Hey all, Well, I took my little ugly duckling apart and did some fine tuning. I discovered that my displacer piston had overheated, not to failure but near. I'm sure this was a result of early run attempts with my conduit power cylinder, a failure for sure. I repaired that and made a new gland/bushi...
by theropod
Fri Mar 23, 2007 7:14 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: First Run!
Replies: 5
Views: 8977

Recent Posting

Boyd, I saw the comment about the spammer. Sure glad to see you dumped it. I was trying to help a damned bot! What a steaming pile of organic Stirling fuel. I was at work and didn't have time to give you the go sign ealier today. I'll be more careful from now on. I ordered the piston/cylinder from a...
by theropod
Sun Mar 18, 2007 3:59 pm
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: First Run!
Replies: 5
Views: 8977

First Run!

Hi All, I just had my walking beam type engine run for the first time, and man am I pumped! Thanks to Cartech and Airpot first of all and all the other postings to this board. Airpot sent me a sample snubber, way under sized, but being impatient I forced it into service as a power piston/cylinder co...