A steam engine made out of glass
Here is a fun Friday link of a steam engine made out of glass. There is music with the YouTube video, so turn down the speakers if you are at work. Note the video defaults to 480 pixels, but there is a 720 and 1080 resolution on the menu bar.
More steam engine models at this site. Tip o’ the hat to my buddy Rob Bowers for sending this around.
William Ketel commented:
It is indeed a work of art. It is probably not possible to build a sterling engine out of glass because of the required moving seals and captive expanding glass. But you could check with AirPel, they make very low friction glass and graphite cylinders. For the safety valve function to be enabled a calibrated weight would need to sit on that tapered fill plug. The burner appears to be a platinum crucible "boat".
BillG commented:
A Sterling engine would be good too. I would like to see a Sterling engine driven with condenced light.
MT commented:
Not safety valve - it is a water filler port; the stopper would blow out if not secured.
Peter Demchenko commented:
The glass itself is very interesting stuff, for example, this engine need no sealing. And yes, Czech glass is awesome!
Mike T. commented:
And the safety valve is wired down - classic!
AlfSpain commented:
The burner can made with quarz material, better than steel.
