Search found 2219 matches

by Ian S C
Sat Feb 26, 2011 4:11 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Tubing for cylinders and pistons
Replies: 10
Views: 7229

Re: Tubing for cylinders and pistons

Aviator 168, Aluminium tube is made so that tubes of the same gage will fit inside the next size up. I started my working life as an aircraft maintainance engineer, specialising in piston engines up to P&W R 1830, and down to Continental, Lycoming and De Haviland Gypsy Major. But I did do a bit ...
by Ian S C
Thu Feb 24, 2011 5:16 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: My alpha Stirling engine.
Replies: 37
Views: 21731

Re: My alpha Stirling engine.

It's an Alpha type, with a Heylandt crown on the hot piston, looks good.
I'v got to upgrade, can't see Utube with the server I'v got. From the diagram I'v got enough to build one myself. Ian S C
by Ian S C
Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:44 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: V-twin compressor pump...
Replies: 64
Views: 41313

Re: V-twin compressor pump...

bowie, theres a fair chance if you are going to use original pistons, you can get rid of a lot of weight from them. With the piston mounted in the chuck, held by the head you'll be able to thin the skirt up to the gudgen bosses. Then try and take some thing off the inside of the head of the piston, ...
by Ian S C
Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:47 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: stirling chenapan
Replies: 18
Views: 11119

Re: stirling chenapan

dicko55, the aluminium piston if made hollow would not be too heavy, but aluminium has high friction, and a cast iron piston made as light as possible(it won't be noticably heaver than the aluminium one), makes an excelent piston, brass or bronze is good, and graphite is concidered the best(I'v neve...
by Ian S C
Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:49 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: lamina flow help required
Replies: 4
Views: 4911

Re: lamina flow help required

water works ok in the Fluidyne engine/ pump, it works as piston and displacer. Ian S C
by Ian S C
Mon Feb 21, 2011 2:45 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: V-twin compressor pump...
Replies: 64
Views: 41313

Re: V-twin compressor pump...

vile fly, I have a small set of kitchen scales, and things like that con rod get weighed, machined, weighed again, just to see how much weight I can get rid of, its amazing how much you can lose, and every gram/ounce, as long as you leave enough strength, helps. Extra weight means more friction. A c...
by Ian S C
Fri Feb 18, 2011 3:31 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: My alpha Stirling engine.
Replies: 37
Views: 21731

Re: My alpha Stirling engine.

There are two gamma/ concentric engines in James G. Rizzo's "The Stirling Engine Manual" that have concentric regenerators, in these motors the displacer has very little clearance in its cylinder, diverting the air flow through the regenerator matrix. Ian S C
by Ian S C
Thu Feb 17, 2011 3:17 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: V-twin compressor pump...
Replies: 64
Views: 41313

Re: V-twin compressor pump...

You could lose some weight on the con rod, by drilling a row of quite large holes in the web, proberbly fit six in the space, and if your having a dry sump, chop off the oil flinger. You could make it a bit narrower too. Its proberbly just me, I'm always looking to see where can remove surplus metal...
by Ian S C
Thu Feb 17, 2011 2:57 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: aquarium air stone for regenerator or displacer piston?
Replies: 12
Views: 10685

Re: aquarium air stone for regenerator or displacer piston?

I forgot about wire gauze, the only hing I use it for at the moment is on the flame guard on my home made LPG burners on my motors.
Bet you look good in your ear rings, or were they for some one else. Ian S C
by Ian S C
Wed Feb 16, 2011 4:42 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: aquarium air stone for regenerator or displacer piston?
Replies: 12
Views: 10685

Re: aquarium air stone for regenerator or displacer piston?

Dr Don Clucas has been building hot air engines for years before going to university, and doing his engineering doctrate on hot air engines, it was this that led to the Whisper Gen. If your going to use SS wire, some thing between 22g - 26g is easier to handle, I'm not sure but I think SS foil may b...
by Ian S C
Tue Feb 15, 2011 3:00 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: aquarium air stone for regenerator or displacer piston?
Replies: 12
Views: 10685

Re: aquarium air stone for regenerator or displacer piston?

Whisper tec, the makers of the Whispergen even tryed autmotive catalytic converters as regenerators. I mentioned using them once when I was at their workshop, and Don Clucas directed me to a shelf full of them, they worked but not ideal. I can't remember what they finaly used, whether it was stainle...
by Ian S C
Mon Feb 14, 2011 5:26 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Has anyone used Kalrez perfloroelastomer before?
Replies: 2
Views: 3384

Re: Has anyone used Kalrez perfloroelastomer before?

No, have'nt heard of it, but will be interested in reading your findings, ie., machineability, expansion rate on heating etc., and how much it costs.
Ian S C
by Ian S C
Mon Feb 14, 2011 5:13 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: aquarium air stone for regenerator or displacer piston?
Replies: 12
Views: 10685

Re: aquarium air stone for regenerator or displacer piston?

I'm not sure if it would hold together, but I have thought of using pumice, its a light weight porous volcanic rock, its easy to carve it to shape, and it withstands heat. You'll find it in the bathroom, if you have'nt already. If you live near a volcano you'll have unlimited supply, its good for la...
by Ian S C
Thu Feb 10, 2011 5:54 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: my first ltd stirling engine help required
Replies: 7
Views: 6757

Re: my first ltd stirling engine help required

You need a rigid, light weight foam, ie polyurithane for the displacer, rather than the foam rubber from a matrass. The plates top and bottom are usually made of aluminium rather than steel. With the displacer disconnected from its crank, does it fall freely if you lift it and let it go? Ian S C
by Ian S C
Thu Feb 10, 2011 5:44 am
Forum: Stirling and "Hot Air" Engine Forum
Topic: Crank case
Replies: 5
Views: 5513

Re: Crank case

Wai, the short answer is, yes. Ian S C