where to find a primer on hot air engines

[tapkoote]

I'm new to this hot air dialect.
Some where there must be an explanation for the terms and styles of engines/ components.
I'm picking up some of it, the books / education come at a very dear price.
What are the alpha, beta, gamma styles?
I believe I'll start with a pop can engine, then Darryl Boyd's walking beam and
the Moriya fan for some lathe time.
Thats the plan, but you know what they say about plans.......

[fullofhotair]

Wikipedia, will give you a good start. If you build a tin can stirling engine its probably going to be a gamma. keep reading the posts here they are really informative. The search here doesn't work to well but the people are really helpful. You will probably learn more about stirling engines by building one. Pop can, steel wool, a balloon , a coat hanger and some glue. Nothing compares to the feeling you get when a handful junk turns over and starts clanking away from nothing but a candle.

[vamoose]

Hey tapkoote,

Here is a link to Andy Ross's free E-book, I Think It will help wet your appetite (although its a bit above tin can engine level)..
http://stirling.atw.hu/MSE.pdf

The 'Animated Engines' website is helpful and fun to play with..
http://www.animatedengines.com/

Have a look through the links area in this forum. There's plenty of pages with interesting videos, websites and downloadable documents spread throughout it..
http://stirlingengineforum.com/viewtopi ... 1&start=30

DIYStirlingGuy is a member of this forum and has made a nice website that could be helpful 2 u..
http://diystirlingengine.com/

and also like fullofhotair suggested, take the time to read through previous threads,

Have fun..
vamoose

[tapkoote]

Thanks for the heads up guys
I've got plenty of reading/ watching to do
I came across the wood stove fans, thats where
I want to end up. The wood stove runs 9 months a year, it'd be nice to
eliminate the over head ceiling fan.

[Ian S C]

Tapkoote, if you look up Darryl's web site, I think there is a photo gallery of tin can motors, you'll see what they can do. Ian S C