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A Motor Created Over Two Centuries Ago Has Come to Life Again at the Hands of a British Engineer. Using Heat as the Only Power Source, He Built a Functional Bicycle Without Gasoline or Battery and Documented the Entire Process on Video.
A motor created in the 19th century, long before the invention of the car, has come to life again at the hands of a British engineer. Content creator and aerospace engineer Tom Stanton published on the YouTube the complete construction of a bicycle powered by a Stirling engine — a type of thermal engine patented in 1816 that works solely with heat.
The 18-minute video follows all the challenges and tests to turn a century-old idea into something that truly moves.
The final result is a bicycle that moves on its own, without gasoline, without a battery, and with almost no noise.
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The project, although still rudimentary, impresses with its ingenuity and the way it brings back an almost forgotten concept of thermal engineering.
Initial Tests and Bench Model
The video starts with a simple demonstration. Stanton heats a glass syringe, which reacts to the heat by expanding the air inside it.
The movement of the piston demonstrates the basic principle behind the Stirling engine: the transformation of thermal energy into mechanical energy.
Shortly after, he assembles a second syringe with a displacer piston, responsible for pushing air between hot and cold zones. This movement accelerates the thermal cycle and, as a result, a small motor begins to spin on the bench.
Convinced that the idea could work at scale, Stanton starts designing a unit large enough to fit in the frame of a bicycle.
The goal was to achieve between 100 and 150 watts of power — enough to reach speeds of up to 24 km/h on flat terrain.
Construction of the Main Engine
The engine was constructed with a main body made of aluminum and a hot cap made of steel, a material needed to withstand very high temperatures.
Stanton even tested a computer heat sink but abandoned the idea due to the reduced contact area. Instead, he adopted an internal water cooling system.
As the power was limited, any loss due to friction could compromise performance. To address this, he used PTFE rings (a low-friction material) on the power piston, supported by tensioners. Additionally, he installed linear bearings made from 3D printer parts to keep the rod centered.
The motor structure was fixed to the front triangle of the bicycle with a 3D printed support.
The rear received an aluminum support that accommodates two crankshafts. They were initially fabricated in solid aluminum and later in lightweight resin for testing.
A toothed pulley connected by a belt replaced the use of gears. This choice aimed to reduce friction and ensure that pistons and displacer stayed synchronized during operation.
Solutions for Technical Problems
In the initial tests, the engine did not work. With the cap already glowing and the cooling system at 40 °C, Stanton disassembled everything to investigate.
He lubricated the sealing ring and inspected the silicone joints, suspected of causing leaks.
Compression tests showed that the PTFE rings were not sealing correctly. He tried using a rubber ring, but the drag was excessive.
The solution came with a TPU ring, a flexible material that managed to seal better. With that, the piston began to respond to manual rotation, indicating recovered internal pressure.
Another issue identified was the crank course, initially at 30 millimeters. This value pushed the piston beyond the ideal expansion zone of air.
By reducing the stroke to 25 millimeters and increasing the air displacement between the ends, the engine finally began to spin on its own.
Results and Limitations of the Prototype
With the engine running, Stanton made final adjustments. The belts were replaced to reduce losses from flexing, and a flywheel was added to the rear drive.
The goal was to accumulate energy before engaging the transmission. Still, the prototype remained a low-power curiosity.
The heating time is long, the torque is weak, and acceleration is challenging. Even with these limitations, the project is a fascinating proof of concept.
Stanton is already planning to add a thermal regenerator, pressurize the working air, install a cooling system with a radiator, and even create a clutch for more practical use.
An Old Engine with Modern Tools
The idea is not to replace electric bicycles. But the experiment shows what is possible when modern tools like 3D printing, CNC machining, and creativity meet with old engineering ideas.
The video ends with the engine still spinning, sustained only by the difference between hot and cold.
The bicycle moves, albeit slowly, propelled by a patented motor over 200 years old — a reminder that innovation can also come from the past.
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