Stirling Cycle Engines

By Staff
Published on August 1, 1998
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39 Macquarie Street Moana SA 5169, Australia

As an enthusiast of Stirling Cycle Engines, I am always excited
when I read and learn something new about them, as I’m sure
some of you readers will be.

Stirling Cycle Engines were applied to power many types of early
devices, like water pumps, dental drills, and so on. In fact, there
was a time when hot air could really cool you off. In the gas lamp
era, before electricity became widespread, hot air engines were
applied to fans. Many enthusiasts are familiar with, for example,
Dr. James R. Senfts’ model version MORIYA. However, an array of
companies built hot air engine fans commercially, such as the Lake
Breeze, just to name one. Many of these fans were similar to
present day electric fans, in that they were portable and designed
for individual use. They can occasionally be spotted in older (or
very authentic) motion pictures. Ceiling fans were also built,
often belt-driven from a fairly sizable hot air engine.

As electrification spread across the world, electric motors took
over the task of keeping things cool, and the manufacturing of hot
air engine fans ceased. Or did it?

You see, electricity hasn’t gotten everywhere quite yet, and
as a result, hot air engine fans were still being commercially
manufactured in Pakistan until as recently as five years ago. This
fan is a modern version of the original KYKO brand hot air fan sold
in England and around the British empire for about ninety
years.

From the front, it looks almost like any modern day electric
fan, but from the back the hot air engine shows clearly in the
shape of the housing, not to mention the tall exhaust chimney,
intended to get the heat from the burner up and out of the air
stream.

Here are some specifications:

Weight: 10 kg.
Bore: 2 inches
Stroke: 1.5 inch
Speed: 450 rpm tops
Power Source: Double wick kerosene lamp
Running time: 36 hours 1 litre

40 inch to top of chimney, 34 inch to top of guard, 4 blade fan
in a 24 inch diameter guard, Cast iron engine with ball-bearing
crankshaft, 2 cylinder 1 power piston 1 displacer cylinder

After a great deal of research, I have at last found the address
of the manufacturer in Pakistan. I’ve been in extensive contact
with the engineer, who is very knowledgeable. He informs me that he
is no longer commercially manufacturing these fans, though he is
prepared to set up his tooling to do us a once-only production. I
will be obtaining several units for myself and a number of friends
and enthusiasts that have already keenly expressed interest.

For this to become a reality, all we need now is only a small
number of enthusiasts to express their interest in obtaining one,
so we can make up the numbers to place the minimum order required
by the engineer. I feel these fans are good value and should become
quite collectible.

So, here’s an opportunity if you have ever been interested
in obtaining one of these amazing pieces of machinery of your own,
and don’t want to be left wondering and regretting. Please
express your interest by contacting me as soon as possible at the
address above, or phone/fax 08-83273039.

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