Any plans or info on this type of V2 Alpha?

[Hopper]

Hi,
I want to build a Stirling engine like the one in the video below, but the poster says plans are not available.
Anyone know of any plans or info for something similar, ie a 90 degree V2?
I have looked through all the links to plans on your excellent site here and can find everything but.
Downloaded Andy Ross's book and am starting to get my head around the design principals so can design my own if I have to but would rather not have to reinvent the wheel if I don't have to.

This is the one I want to build:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gB-OwTMzXhc

This is an interesting water cooled version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hTJvUXD8_h8

Couple specific questions;
On the brass tube going from one cylinder to the other in the upper video, it has aluminium fins for presumably a regen effect. Would it have some kind of mesh or foil inside the tube, or would the fins be the sole heat sink element?

In the lower video, on the water cooled model, what are the big-end bearings likely to be on those connection rods? Steel bushings, tiny ball bearings, or something else?

Thanks,
Hopper

[vamoose]

Hey Hopper,

No plans, but here's a couple of videos of an Alpha engine powered tinnie from youtube to help wet your whistle...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWG7TLLjhpU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BT8yDezFp4

Maybe the guy who made it could point you the right way if you drop him a message on youtube.
He's also an aussie, so may help out a fellow vegemite eater!!

vamoose

[Geoff V]

Hopper

Nearly 200 years have passed since Robert Stirling applied for a patent for his regenerator yet the Hot Air engine probably dates back some what earlier to Caley, one would have thought that after all this time everything there is to know would be known about these engines. However there are so many interacting variables that I doubt if anyone can say they fully understand the workings of this cycle, but for me and I suspect many other builders, this is the fascination and the probable reason why there are few, if any, published designs.

You could do a lot worse than start with the book by Andy Ross as he has contrubuted greatly to the knowledge pool, but be warned, solving the design and construction problems of these engines is highly addictive and a lot of fun!

In answer to your specific questions.
The finned pipe between the cylinders is most likely to be just for additional cooling, I would not expect to find a regenerator matrix in a simple hot air engine like this.
The big end bearings are normally deep groove ball races to reduce friction losses, friction is probably the biggest enemy with these low power engines.

GeoffV

[Hopper]

Thanks guys.
Yes a quick read of Andy's book has been very enlightening.
I sent him an email to he if he has any plans available for his V15 engine, seems just like what I want to do.

Found a real interesting site here
http://poisson.me.dal.ca/~dp_08_04/Downloads.html
by a bunch of engineering students who designed and built a neat little parallel stirling engine, with full plans and great explanations in the Final Drawings and Final Report downloads.

[Chriske]

Hi,

Just contact Mr Ross. Very kind man btw. He does not work with that V15 engine anymore. Instead he will send you plans of an even more powerful little engine, his B-20.
Very few parts. The only problem is there are no more castings available anymore. So you will have to make your own crankcase.
Mine looks like this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lqoEAUY7r8
Not all parts of my crankcase are shown in this cutaway view.
Just started building that one myself. Well build this engine will produce 30-40 Watts.

Andy Ross can be found through his youtube account : http://www.youtube.com/user/aross345

Chris

[Hopper]

Hi,

Just contact Mr Ross. Very kind man btw. He does not work with that V15 engine anymore. Instead he will send you plans of an even more powerful little engine, his B-20.
Very few parts. The only problem is there are no more castings available anymore. So you will have to make your own crankcase.
Mine looks like this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lqoEAUY7r8
Not all parts of my crankcase are shown in this cutaway view.
Just started building that one myself. Well build this engine will produce 30-40 Watts.

Andy Ross can be found through his youtube account : http://www.youtube.com/user/aross345

Chris

Thanks Chris. I emailed Andy and he is going to have a dig around and see if he can find some old V15 drawings to send me. I have searched the net over and can't find a set anywhere. Would be a shame for the design to be lost, so I hope he can find some leftovers.
Unless anyone on here would have a set of V15 drawings?

Hopper.

[Chriske]

Hi,

To be clear, that V15 does not produce 100+ Watts as some guys on YouTube try to tell.
Read Andy Ross's comment on his YouTube account about his engines. The man knows what he' s talking about, as a lot of guys on this forum do btw.

Chris

[Hopper]

Hi,

To be clear, that V15 does not produce 100+ Watts as some guys on YouTube try to tell.
Read Andy Ross's comment on his YouTube account about his engines. The man knows what he' s talking about, as a lot of guys on this forum do btw.

Chris

Thanks. Yes I saw some discussion of that. Youtube -- always a source of reliable informaton!
No problem though. I am looking to build a coffee table engine for my own amusement (and to try out my 1939 Drummond lathe on something neat) so as long as it has enough power to turn its own flywheel that is all I need for now.