The boring thread.....

[Alex]

It might have when it worked...

What is it ?

[Scrumpy]

I watched your 'thingy ' operating right to the end..
I might watch it again later.. Thank you..

[klondike]

What is it ?

It's a version of sterling engine. This type is called a vacuum engine or also flame licker because it does just that. A meths burner is positioned in front of the cylinder, There is a valve on the end of the cylinder. As the flywheel is spun it sucks in the hot gases from the flame and as the rotation continues the valve closes, The cylinder rapidly cools the hot gases and a partial vacuum forms. The air on the other side of the piston pushes it back to the top and the cycle repeats.

I'm fascinated by little engines - probably harking back to a steam engine I had as a child and model aero engines too. Anyway I came across the flame lickers on youtube and looked around for one, Many are stupid money and none work very well as there are design deficiences. I found that one for just over £30 on Amazon and got one knowing that it would need constant fiddling with to keep going. 

It has no use at all - just a toy. Something to pass an hour or so fiddling around with. I put it up on YouTube as I use that for all sorts of short videos I share. The link posted here will just show the video but I added a bit of text in case anybody comes across it on YouTube I'll paste it in here...

This one was the cheapest I could find at £34.54 delivered from China. It took just over a week which was less than the estimate. This style are known not to run long as the cylinder overheats and stops the process. From cold it would probably go slightly over 2 minutes but I had run it for a short time before making this video.

Once it had cooled it wouldn't restart and investigating it I could see there was a little carbon in the cylinder, Not much but enough to stop it starting. I took it to bits carefully noting the timing. Obviously not quite carefully enough as although it ran again it was only at about half speed. I'll need to fiddle with it.

I was using meths. Maybe there are cleaner fuels or a quick way to decoke - I do have a Napier VP90 spray for cleaning shotguns which may do the trick.

[GrannyMac]

I watched it too. I can see why its on this thread 😐.  I might buy a new lipstick today.

[Alex]

.

It has no use at all - just a toy.

Phew ! I nearly missed the answer there 

[klondike]

Please note the thread title 

[Scrumpy]

Cocked up my Tesco order...

[Michael Rolls]

couldn't find my walking stick - then I did

[Scrumpy]

Cocked up my Tesco order...

It all started a few weeks back.. I wrote out an order.. it was delivered..
Two days ago I wrote out an order.. You know the sort of thing.. Pate.. Bread... eggs.. bleach.. shampoo.. Pots.. lettuce.. milk.. tomatoes.. Chicken.. Rice pudding pots.. Chicken.. Toilet rolls.. green beans.. Tonic water.. Quiche... sausages.. broccoli tenderstem.. 
My mind has gone blank.. I will try and think what else I ordered...

[Ruthio]

It all started a few weeks back.. I wrote out an order.. it was delivered..
Two days ago I wrote out an order.. You know the sort of thing.. Pate.. Bread... eggs.. bleach.. shampoo.. Pots.. lettuce.. milk.. tomatoes.. Chicken.. Rice pudding pots.. Chicken.. Toilet rolls.. green beans.. Tonic water.. Quiche... sausages.. broccoli tenderstem.. 
My mind has gone blank.. I will try and think what else I ordered...

This is far too interesting  🤣🤣

[klondike]

Here you go....

This is far too interesting  🤣🤣

Try this...

If insufficiently soporific repeat.

I'm sending it back. Too unreliable.

[Alex]

I cleaned my patio windows today.

[klondike]

I thought about cleaning mine. I often think about cleaning things.

[Alex]

Mine were minging

[Michael Rolls]

looked out the window at the fields