3B Scientific Low Temperature Stirling Engine Kit, Assembly Kit User Manual
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6
The low-temperature Stirling motor demonstrates how a
Stirling motor operates as well as the principles of its
design.
1. Description, technical data
The low-temperature Stirling motor is set in motion even
by the heat of the human hand. It only requires a tem-
perature difference of 5°C between the ground and the
top plate. The main cylinder is made of precision glass.
The displacer cylinder and the flywheel are transparent
acrylic so that the motion of the main piston, the dis-
placer piston and the crank drive can all be seen clearly.
The crankshaft and connecting rods have miniature pre-
cision bearings to minimise friction. Due to the matt black
coating of the top plate, the Stirling motor can also be
operated using solar power.
Speed:
80 rpm approx. at
∆
T 10ºC
Flywheel:
110 mm Ø
Dimensions:
138 mm x 110 mm Ø
2. Assembly instructions
2.1 Finishing
•
All components with burred edges should have their
burrs filed off using a flat or triangular file.
•
File down the surfaces on any workpieces if desired.
2.2. Assembly
2.2.1. Making a permanent assembly
•
We recommend use of “UHU plus endfest 300”, “UHU
plus schnellfest” or similar 2-component epoxy resin
adhesive. In order to prevent damage to the coating
of the top plate, avoid any contact with solvents.
Owing to the differing expansion coefficients of the
materials, do not allow any of the components to
increase temperature during the hardening of the
adhesive. Aluminium will contract much more on
cooling than the glass cylinder, thus creating tension
in the glass leading to a decrease in the internal di-
ameter of the main cylinder or possibly even causing
it to break. Glueing together to make the connections
should generally be performed at a consistent tem-
perature of approximately 20°C.
1. Glue the main cylinder
9
to the bracket
bl
at room
temperature, then glue it to the
1
top plate.
2. Fasten the bearings
bu
inside the bearing socket
br
.
Force the ball race
bu
onto the crankshaft
cl
and
apply a thin adhesive film to three points on its outer
surface. Then push the ball race
bu
into one of the
two recesses of the bearing socket
br
. Any surplus
adhesive should be removed with a cloth soaked in
white spirit. Always wipe towards the outside when
doing this to prevent adhesive penetrating into the
bearings. From the other side push another ball race
bu
onto the crankshaft
cl
and proceed as before. To
achieve best alignment of the two ball races
bu
leave
the crankshaft
cl
in the same position until the
adhesive has hardened.
3. Glue the insert
bp
into its recess in the crank disc
bq
.
Make sure that both surfaces being adhered are flush
together. There is a marking on the outer surface of
the insert
bp
. Align this marking along the transverse
bore of the crank disc
bq
.
4. Next, glue the crank shaft journal
cm
into the bore of
the insert
bp
.
5. Glue cylinder rods
cn
into the bore of the displacer
rod
6
and the main piston
7
. No adhesive residue
whatever may remain on the running surfaces of the
cylinder rods
cn
. Push the cylinder rods into the
relevant bores till about 2 mm protrudes and apply a
small amount of adhesive to the protruding end. Then
push the cylinder rod
cn
into its correct position and
remove any surplus adhesive as above. Make sure
the cylinder rod
cn
of the main piston
7
is glued so
that it is slightly recessed so that it does not damage
the running surface of the main cylinder
9
later on.
6. When glueing the displacer socket
5
into the bore
of the displacer
4
proceed as follows. Push the
displacer rod
6
into the main piston’s socket
8
then push the main piston
7
into the main cylinder
9
. Next, attach the displacer socket
5
to the dis-
placer rod
6
. Glue this into the bore of the displacer
4
and position the complete module on the under-
side of the displacer
4
so that the displacer
4
just
touches the top plate
1
. Leave these components
in this position until the adhesive has fully hardened
to ensure that the displacer
4
and top plate
1
remain parallel.
7. Finally glue the bearing socket
br
into the bore of
the bracket
bl
.
2.2.2. Making a temporary assembly
1. Press the ball race
bu
into the bore of the connecting
rods
bm
and
bn
. All the bearings are supplied with-
out lubricant. To ensure that the bearings
bu
run
smoothly always use the supplied, semi-spherical
washers
cr
in the assembly. The spherical side of the
washers
cr
should face the ball bearing
bu
.
2. Push the first washer
cr
, the long connecting rod
bn
, the second washer
cr
and the face of the crank
bo
onto the crankshaft journal
cm
.The small mark-
ing on the edge of the crank face
bo
should be to the
right of the crankshaft journal
cm
as seen in the
diagram.
3. Push the first wide clamping disc
cs
, the long con-
necting rod
bn
and the second wide clamping disc
cs
onto the cylinder rod
cn
of the main piston
7
,
having lubricated it slightly first. The diameter of the