Item 1975_008_A_001 - Hot Air Engine

Identity area

Reference code

1975_008_A_001

Title

Hot Air Engine

Date(s)

  • 1890 (Creation)

Level of description

Item

Extent and medium

1

Context area

Name of creator

Biographical history

Archival history

1890s: Originally installed in a country house in Swainshill, near Hereford to lift water from a deep borehole.

Immediate source of acquisition or transfer

1975: Donated to the museum.

Content and structure area

Scope and content

Appraisal, destruction and scheduling

Accruals

System of arrangement

Conditions of access and use area

Conditions governing access

Conditions governing reproduction

Language of material

  • English

Script of material

    Language and script notes

    Physical characteristics and technical requirements

    Type: ½ hp Hot Air Engine.
    Lifted water from a borehole 110ft (33m) deep.
    Built to a Rider patent design.
    The engine has a regenerator between the hot and cold cylinders to improve efficiency.

    Finding aids

    Allied materials area

    Existence and location of originals

    Bay S (Southall Gallery)

    Existence and location of copies

    Related units of description

    Related descriptions

    Notes area

    Note

    Hot Air Engines are also known as Stirling engines after their invention in 1816 by the Rev. Robert Stirling, a Scottish clergyman. Hot Air Engines are ideal in a domestic situation due to their simplicity and safety, with no steam boiler to explode. They make little noise, use domestic fuel such as coal or coke. They require little maintenance except for the use of an oil can. However, Hot Air Engines are generally inefficient and deliver little power for their size compared to steam engines.

    Alternative identifier(s)

    Access points

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    Description control area

    Description identifier

    826

    Institution identifier

    TWMH

    Rules and/or conventions used

    Status

    Draft

    Level of detail

    Partial

    Dates of creation revision deletion

    Language(s)

    • English

    Script(s)

      Sources

      Accession area