While I was looking through some old Modelbouwer magazines I found in number 10/2002 an article on a hot air engine (Sterling engine) which was designed and built by Mr H. Leijten from Berkel Enschot. Since there was only one drawing of the design with no dimensioning I thought may be somebody may just like to build this engine but may have been put of doing so by the fact that there are no dimensioned drawings available.

Thinking about this I took the challenge to design the components to make this engine work.

The result can be found on the drawings: HAE-01 to HAE-03 below. My design is twice the size as shown in the Modelbouwer magazine.

I have not put any material specification; I have left it up to the builder to choose the materials of his or her liking. To keep this model light, aluminum would be a good choice.

The drawings should be read in conjunction with the translation of the following short note written by Mr. T. Mellema.

CLICK ON DRAWINGS TO DOWNLOAD.

In the Textile museum is displayed this model of a hot air engine which was make by Mr. H.Leijten from Berkel Enschot (Holland).

What is so interesting about this model that it uses a rhombic, square form drive mechanism. The advantage of this type of mechanism is that it is noiseless and does not vibrate. A coin will not fall of the engine while running.

The idea of this model came from the magazine Das Dampfmodel (a German magazine) from 1997.

The two basic  measurements were centre distance was 39.6MM of the gearwheels and 22mm of a connecting rod from which the model was designed.

This type of hot air engine was developed by Philips Holland, for third world countries, where no electricity was available. It was coupled to a dynamo with a power capacity of 6 volt/3watt.

In 1953 the engine was part of a radio set made and sold by Philips.