Stirling Fan

[TuxMan]

Doc

Great looking and great running!!! Congratulations.

Eric

 

[kustomkb]

"It works all right" Does it ever! Congratulations, great job!

 

[doc1955]

Thanks Eric and Kevin.
I ran several tanks of fuel though fan one today while I worked on fan #2 it continues to run well.
I'm still a happy camper. I hope number 2 runs as good and I don't drop any more things!
I started modeling up a flame guard mount to mount screen to. Thinking about making a split ring to out of stainless material to mount screen to.
But before actual fabrication need to get number 2 running.

O h by the way I didn't mention this but the first run I had it running backward the fan was sucking air in not blowing . So during the cool down and setting up the tripod I switched the timing to run the correct way.

 

[kcmillin]

Nicely done Doc, I love the functionality of this engine.

How much air does that fan move? It seems like its ticking over quit nicely under load. :bow:

Kel

 

[doc1955]

Thanks Kel
It does kick up a pretty good breeze.
I hope to get some shop time tomorrow after work if I don't get volunteered for anything else :
I'd like to be able to get number 2 up and running by the end of the week.

 

[Deanofid]

Put a smile on my face! ;D Runs really well, Doc, and I can feel the breeze from here. Congrats!
I even like the sound it makes. A nice, quiet mechanical sound. Your salt shaker lamp looks
rather classy to me, too. I have shakers just like that one.

I've forgotten, this is the miniature size fan?

Dean

 

[doc1955]

Thanks Dean
It is setting on a board I use on my lathe to protect the ways during chuck change just in case I do one of my dropsie things : it really echos through it.

 

[arnoldb]

Good going Doc :bow: - a very nice runner!

Kind regards, Arnold

 

[doc1955]

Thanks Arnold.


Dean,
No it is called the Super Stiring Fan
http://www.jerry-howell.com/SuperFan.html
The mini is about half this size.

 

[Deanofid]

Thanks Doc!

 

[doc1955]

Well got number 2 put together but not as lucky at getting this one to run right away.
This is the one that I dropped and had to remake bushing and displacer shaft. And the bushing material on this one is delrin. I ordered some graphite to replace the bushing if I have to. I never did like working with delrin. And for this type of application I prefer graphite. I am letting a electric fan power it to try and run a break in to see if I can get it to free up a little. It's been spinning over for about an hour now I'll let it spin for a couple more hours.Then I'll give it another try after work tomorrow afternoon.

 

[doc1955]

Well did succeed to get number 2 to run but not near as good as 1. I took the delrin bushing out and put a shaft the same size as the displacer shaft drilled a cross hole and put it in a dremel motor and used it to open up the bushing slightly. Well after it did run pretty good for a short time then just barely. I ordered some graphite I'll replace the delrin with graphite. Until then I'm going to move on to the heat shield and flame guard.
I'm thinking of modeling up a Ringbom engine and making that my next model or maybe a 2cylinder IC engine. I have been amazed at some of the ringboms I've seen. I did purchase the book Minature Ringbom Engines by James R. Senft it a very informative book.

 

[doc1955]

Well turned up a punch to punch out the heat shield rings.

Turned up the punch leave a .020 ring to cut od and a ring to cut id chamfered to a sharp edge.

The bumps on the heat shield are caused by using a exacto knife to remove it from punch.

Here is heat shield ready to be put into place on fan. I also used a piece of teflon I had for backing when punching part out.

 

[doc1955]

Here is a video of both fans running.
If I keep the flame low they will run continuously until fuel is gone.
I had them running for 3 hours on one and ran out of fuel the other went about an hour and half longer so I think I have every thing working as it should. Still need to do some cleaning and polish then I'll try and get a better video. Until then

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7lrJFZe51c[/ame]

 

[Deanofid]

Excellent, Doc! They have a quiet ticking sound that works like some kind of mechanical soothing for
me. Great to see them running together. You have your own little wind farm!

 

[b.lindsey]

Beautiful Doc...on both fans!! There are few that can enjoy the breeze and muted ticking of sterling fans in STEREO!!
They both run great and seem steady as a rock from the videos. Its been a nice thread to watch...so what do you have in mind next?

Regards,
Bill

 

[doc1955]

Thanks Bill!
Stereo for only a short while one is going to be boxed up and put under the Christmas tree.
I think I'm going to build a Ringbom stirling next I've been wanting to build that style of stirling for awhile now. I've taken the internal dimensions of a miniature Ringbom and am modeling up around it.
I'd like to build the little mini ic engine that some are build also but I think the Ringbom will be next.



Thanks Dean!
The ticking sound getting softer and softer as I run them. They will both run non stop until out of fuel now that I have the flame a lot smaller.
Thanks again for checking in and the comments.

 

[doc1955]

One more video of both running.
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goDEP3SS_zU[/ame]

 

[ksouers]

Congratulations Doc!!

They look great. It's amazing how long the second one ran on just the residual heat!

th_wav

 

[doc1955]

Thanks Kevin.
Yes one runs much better than the other. The odd thing is the one that runs the slowest is the on that runs the best. I've tried to trace down the reason why but have failed to identify the reason.