Cigar-shaped Flame Eater Engine made of Steel and Brass

The cigar-shaped cylinder piston of this engine is a reminiscence of the Englishman Henry Wood who patented this system already in 1758. This makes it a precursor of the Stirling engine. However, the Flame Eater is simpler in its principle. This becomes clear from its old-fashioned throbbing sound which you might remember if you ever saw a very very old tractor in action.

The model engine can be adjusted in speed by turning the wick of the spirit flame up or down with the adjusting screw. The engine reaches a top speed of roughly 800 revolutions per minute.

The engine consists of 73 individual parts and weighs almost 2,5 kilogram. The model sits on a base plate made of either light or dark wood.

This engine can be used to drive the passive accessory machines.

The engine is made locally in Germany and consists of 95 percent self-produced parts. The vacuum engine (aka flame eater) is not exactly a Stirling engine which defines as two cylinders and a closed air circuit. Instead, this is motor has a single open-front cylinder in which one piston moves. When the piston slides into the cylinder it sucks the hot spirit flame with it. When the cylinder is filled with hot air a valve closes it from the outside. The cylinder now emits the heat via cooling fins to the surrounding which makes the air inside cool down and contract. This creates a vacuum (or negative pressure) that pulls the piston outwards again. The valve opens and releases the cold air. The flywheel, driven by the piston movement, now uses its momentum to push the piston back into the cylinder, again pulling the hot flame after itself - the cycle starts again, up to 800 times per minute.​

NOTES:

BEWARE: This engine model is being operated with methylated spirit which represents a danger to life in children's hands. The engine is NOT a child's toy and may only be operated by adults or under their supervision.

The engine must only be operated with clear uncolored methylated spirits with an alcohol content of 94 percent.

The model car is not made for perpetual use. After roughly 15 minutes of running time it needs to take a break and cool down.

The golden color parts are raw polished brass. They will darken over time and develop a beautiful authentic patina. This is not a defect and does not affect the functionality. The onset of patina can be removed by polishing if desired.

With long and frequent use of the engine, it will eventually be necessary to clean moving parts such as ball bearings, cylinders, pistons and spindle. Instructions for this are included.