Rhombic Stirling Engine

I'v been searching through my ME magazines, back to 1990, but I can't see what I'm looking for, had a look on the on line index too.

The article is about a rhombic drive Stirling Engine driving a Sanyo bike dynamo. I'v got a couple of pairs of gears that should be suitable for a small motor, maybe 30 - 35 mm bore.

Just wondering if some one out there may have a hint as to where it might be.

Ian S C

Can remember it as started to build one - thought it was 1981/2 - about the same time as the 2 1/2 inch gauge Flying Scotsman was serialised (I did build the Loco but not finish the Sterling engine )

Thanks for that, I thought it was in the 90's, maybe it's in my collection of old magazines, from before I took out a subscription in 1987.

I won't be building to any plans, I was just wanting to have a look at any useful ideas. The Sanyo dynamo is going to stay on my bike, but I have no shortage of other things to make a generator. Ian S C

Ian,

Search for rhombic here **LINK** lots of references to rhombic drive.

Graham

Graham, thanks for that, the series of 5 by Les Kerr is what I was looking for. I might need to get a few more little ball races for the link arms. Just have to sort out a hot cap now, that will govern the size, think I may have one about 35 mm dia. Ian S C

Been looking thro. scrap box - found bit of thin wall coper tube with heavier copper end that could have been the cap from the one i was building - Internal dia is 1 1/2 inch and about 2 inch long with a flange on the open end.

Might be something from another project - can’t remember - Might need some brain lubrication to remember

Hi Ian

I can't help with the mag search but you also were looking for ideas, have you seen the article by Andy Ross on making Stirling engines?

**LINK**

Cheers Michael

The main one I found was in ME no3542 3543 and 3598

A RHOMBIC DRIVE STIRLING ENGINE
by Andrew Ross of Ohio, U.S.A.

No mention of a sanyo dynamo anywhere at all for me

There's a different one in 3573

For his eiforts in achieving the second highest
power output with his entry in the last Hot Air
Engine Competition, Dr. J. R. Senft received the
runner-up prize. This is a description of his engine.

Edited By Ady1 on 01/05/2014 22:23:07

Ian,

There might be something useful here

... seven page article about Andrew Ross's work.

MichaelG.

MichaelG,Ady1, got all of Andy Ross's stuff printed out, including his book "Making Stirling Engines" (free down load 68 pages).

HomeUse, copper is not much use as a hot cap, it conducts heat too fast length wise, and scales up with oxide inside, and makes a bit of a mess, also the heating softens the metal, and it bulges, and bends. Just back from my tame TIGer, putting an end on a bit of stainless tube to make the hot cap, I'll take it back on Monday, it leaked like a sieve, the metal I tried for the end was too thin, at .015" just too difficult, although in the past he's managed half that thickness. Ian S C

Ian,

Thanks for the mention of Andy Ross's book ... I will download that.

Meanwhile, I just found this page, with links to some NASA documents, etc.

MichaelG.

Yes MichaelG, I'v read the NASA documents, some of that stuff can be down loaded, but I have not done that. I did down load the hand book for the Philips MP 1002 CA, The Bungalow Generator Set. Ian S C