Robinson Hot Air Engine.

[Stilldrillin]

Popped into workshop this morn, around 11-00. The top platform casting had been soaking in vinegar overnight.

It was covered with a layer of ice! 

I think it might be a while, before any more worthwhile progress is made....... 

David D

[NickG]

David,

I'm the same - have never driven anything either from any of my engines! I guess there's no point unless the engine is self sufficient i.e. an actual steam engine or a hot air engine, I could never see the point of driving something from an engine that's running on compressed air!

Brr, bit cold out there, that's why I'm continuing on my drawings tonight - if I can get off the internet!

Nick

[madjackghengis]

Hi David, sorry to hear about the ice, I didn't much like my shop in the winter, when I lived in Chicago, but yesterday was just cold enough for me to light a fire in my stove in the shop, and burn off an old cast iron skillet which needed to be cleaned and re-seasoned with fresh lard and burned in.  I am thankful I have both a large wood stove in my shop, and acres of woods which need cleaning out constantly, to supply wood for heat.  I always look forward to winter as the time to break out the casting equipment and melt some metal, while its cold, and the heat is fully appreciated.  I've got some bronze which needs melting and pouring, to make a cylinder for an engine.  I hope you get to get out in your shop again soon, can't let things go too long.  I'm considering making a rather large stirling engine whose hot end can stick down into my stove, which is a three hundred gallon propane tank, modified with a box and door for the wood, and would benefit greatly from a fan on the top run off the heat of the stove to circulate the hot air.  I think about this every fall, I reckon it's time to do something about it.  It's your fault, you said to do something useful with an engine mad jack

[Rob.Wilson]

Great few shots David  

I have one that thinks its fun to sit in the moulding bench and make sand castles with moulding sand 


Rob  

[Stilldrillin]

I'm considering making a rather large stirling engine whose hot end can stick down into my stove, which is a three hundred gallon propane tank, modified with a box and door for the wood, and would benefit greatly from a fan on the top run off the heat of the stove to circulate the hot air.  I think about this every fall, I reckon it's time to do something about it.  It's your fault, you said to do something useful with an engine mad jack

Something like this Jack?

Robinson Hot Air Engine.


It intrigues me on every visit to the Harrogate Mod Eng Show. Difficult to photograph. Never had chance to talk to the owner.

David D

[sbwhart]

I've seen that engine all over the country, I think the guys must spend all summer traveling around from show to show towing it behind his camper.

What a great way to spend summer.

 

Stew

[Stilldrillin]

While I can't get out there, to do something. I guess a bit of forward planning won't go amiss...... 

What's the green coloured additive, the stationary engine lads use in their pumps, at steam fairs etc? 

The bluecol additive rusted overnight! 

Essentially, I need something to add to water, so it won't rust the engine internals. I can only think of soluble oil.

David D

[Bluechip]

What's the green coloured additive, the stationary engine lads use in their pumps, at steam fairs etc? 

 

Chartreuse ??? 

Can't see why Bluecol would have any effect. Anti-freeze is Ethylene Glycol AFAIK.
The rust will be caused by air in the water. Tried boiling it and letting it stand before use?
Vaguely seem to remember some demonstration with iron in distilled water, no rust 'cos no air ...

I think Glycerol itself is water miscible .. ?

Why not slap some paint on the inside? Cylinder block paint will stand a fair bit of heat, as will Bondaprimer, without going wild and using Sperex or the like . Does the rust afflicted part come in contact with the heat source .. ?

Can't imagine what it looks like in detail, so I don't know if paint is a sensible solution.

Dave BC

[Stilldrillin]

Dave.
I intend to paint inside and out with hammerite. But, there's always some water left in nooks & crannies, after running.

The Blucol top up stuff seemed very "wet". Strange stuff...... 

Hmmmm.......

David D

[Dean W]

A good brand of antifreeze should work great.  A kind with a rust inhibitor like Prestone.  A car engine will run for years
with that stuff in the block, and very little rust will form.  You mix it 50/50 with water.

[madjackghengis]

Hi David,  I've been going back over your postings, I seemed to have missed the photo of the "large stirling engine", must have been mesmerized with the cute photo of your newest inspector for the production line.  Looks like she's a "keeper", like John said, the worst is having to polish out the teeth marks.  That is a beautiful, large stirling engine.   Of course if it got in my shop, it would soon get hot, leave the paint behind in stages and flakes, and start looking like my stove, which won't stop rusting for some reason.  Must be the high heat and the cold cycling or something.  This build has been a real pleasure to follow, particularly since it gives me a basic concept type engine to copy, that would work with my stove, just a matter of adapting some aspects.  I'm glad I jumped back a page, and saw that engine I missed before.    great work on getting everything back toward where it should have been in the first place though.  mad jack

[madjackghengis]

Hi again David, I was going to say, running the engine with good quality anti-freeze will boil out the air from the water in time, I don't know how long in the stirling engine, but that's why you never get rust inside your car engine, if you keep fresh antifreeze in it.  It gets past boiling temperature the first time you drive it.  They make paints particularly for the inside of race engines, to make the oil run down the walls faster, and seal the pores of the block, it will stand five hundred degrees for years without any loosening at all, it probably wouldn't stand the direct flame, but would be fine for all the water filled parts.  I understand the fact that there's always another engine waiting, but sooner or later you have to run something with one, and then it becomes a new standard for operation if you're not careful. mad jack

[Stilldrillin]

Thanks for your comments Chaps! 

I've decided to cool the engine using the top up solution.
Also, to dry out by piping air through, from an aquarium pump, for a couple of days afterwards.....


Looks as though the weather has closed me down again.....   

Only got a little bit done. 

The top deck casting was machined barrel shaped, both sides! 

Drawfiled/ emeried .005", from the centre of this side......

Robinson Hot Air Engine.


And .025" or so, from this side......

Robinson Hot Air Engine.


Emeried out the rust, from the casting airway bore.....

Robinson Hot Air Engine.


Fitted the 5/16" tube......

Robinson Hot Air Engine.


Remembered to overlap the joint face area.
So it will butt against the new section of displacer housing, when I mill the new joint face ring.....

Robinson Hot Air Engine.


Also, roughed out a new 3mm thick cover plate.......

Robinson Hot Air Engine.


It's snowing like Billy Ho at the moment. Guess it will be some time before any more work gets done.....

David D

[NickG]

Nice work David, it still feels good to get  abit done though. Strangely the cold hasn't effected me when I've actually been in the garage this winter, just laziness that prevents me!!

Nick

[arnoldb]

That's some nice restoration work David 

Keep 'em coming; I hope the UK weather lets up for you guys...

 , Arnold

[Dean W]

Looking good, David.  Getting those surfaces flat should make quite a difference.  Good job, that.

[Stilldrillin]

Thanks for your comments Chaps! 

Feeling well off it, at the mo.... Me and cold weather really don't mix......

I dress accordingly, during my few (short) workshop  sessions. But still get chilled...... Shivers/ headaches for a couple of days afterwards. 

I guess I'm not as young as I would like to be!


Ah, well..... Cheer up! Just looked at the forecast....... No change, for the next 14 days.

David D

[NickG]

After my last post I have changed my mind .... had numb fingers last night!

[DavidA]

arnoldb,

....I hope the UK weather lets up for you guys..

No chance.  It doesn't really start again until tonight.

Dave.

[Bogstandard]

I keep telling you lads, do what I have done.

A smallish cheapo oil filled rad from Wilko's or somewher similar. Plug it in and leave it on. I put mine on well over a month ago and won't go off until around March.

My shop at this time is at about 60 degs F. Perfect for working in, and the machines don't feel too cold. But it does take a few days to reach a nice working temp.

They cost very little to run, all you have to do is make sure you have no draughts about the place.


John

[Stilldrillin]

I hear you John. But.

For the little shop time I get, even in the summer......

It would take me all summer to insulate, so I could notice any small heater improvement.

Really not worth constant heating, when I can only get up to an hour's playtime, several daytimes a week.

On/ off heating causes condensation.

In winter I catch up on other, indoor things..... Ancestry at the moment.

David D

[andyf]

David, you might consider getting a small version of the infra-red heaters used over outdoor pub tables. My rifle club has two 100' x 25' indoor rifle ranges, only used for 3 hours each evening, and we find infra-reds quite effective at keeping the chill off us on the firing point. They only heat what the radiation hits, so we aren't trying to warm up a vast volume of air in a poorly insulated building, and the effect is instantaneous. 

Andy

[Stilldrillin]

Thanks Andy!
I already have one of those infra red heaters! Bought new, 2 years back, and now forgotten, in the greenhouse.....  

Will give it a whirl, when I feel ready to try again.  

We had them on our ranges too. Very welcome, when it was your turn to be RO.

David D

[andyf]

Thanks Andy!
I already have one of those infra red heaters! Bought new, 2 years back, and now forgotten, in the greenhouse..... 

Will give it a whirl, when I feel ready to try again. 

We had them on our ranges too. Very welcome, when it was your turn to be RO.

David D

You've reminded me - it's my turn as RO on Monday night, buggrit. Met Office predicts -5C. 
Note how those tears seem to freeze as they hit the floor. And I bet not many turn up. Still, at least we have a separate clubroom with fan heaters.

Andy

Andy

[shoey51]

I hear you John. But.

For the little shop time I get, even in the summer......

It would take me all summer to insulate, so I could notice any small heater improvement.

Really not worth constant heating, when I can only get up to an hour's playtime, several daytimes a week.

On/ off heating causes condensation.

In winter I catch up on other, indoor things..... Ancestry at the moment.

David D

is addictive David