Huge Flamelicker with very special valve

This is an other non runner I bought from ebay.
The beautiful motor was build inspired by the engine "Futura" from Heribert Midderhoff which was published in the german magazine "Maschinen im Modellbau (3/05)".
The main problem was that the fly wheel was to small. (I show the originial fly wheel at the end of the film). So I made a large fly wheel from aluminium and brass.
Another problem was that the spring in the valve was too strong. I replaced it with a shortend spring from a ball pen.
Then the valve was not smooth-running enough. I lubricated it with graphite.
Then I adjusted the valve which was the most challenging part. It has to be tight at the right moment but does not slowdown the engine.

[@thekef3013]

That valve design is the simplest and yet the best I've seen so far

[@Longboy4]

Poppet valve integrated with the piston.....good job Latheman, Can't get get much simpler!

[@harrymu148]

or more inefficient. but less parts breakage too. Im ambivalent.

[@Latheman666]

Thanks. Yes its a vacuum engine. The valve is simply connected to the piston with a rod that can freely move up and down through the piston. When the piston is almost at the top position the valve closes, the air cools and moves the piston downwards and keeps the valve closed until the piston ist almost at his lowest position.

[@BaileyEvans]

this is awesome! could imagine a like 7 cylinder radial like this, it would look so crazy running

[@thepinkone6932]

superfunnyman123 but very hard to run

[@PhillMagGamerDad]

The balance of this engine is exquisite. Beautiful work Latheman!

[@Latheman666]

Thanks. Its so hard to get flamelickers running because they are very unefficient (only about 3%). In my projects building flame lickers took less time then getting them to run.

[@Skoda130]

This is VERY useful to me, since it shows how valve assembly can be very simple. This could fit on a tin can type of engine, and this brought me a step closer to just that. Like using a metal jar lid on the bottom of a tin can.. So sliding construction.

[@rat_king-]

You have never seen the thermodynamics of one.... so much wasted internal energy.

[@nothumanbean1598]

thats a pretty dangerous bong

[@popcorn5968]

this is what it looks like under the hood of a Bugatti Veyron

[@jlw1911]

Great work! I like the weighted flywheel - it adds to the unique look of this engine. Thanks for the MIM reference. I'm going to look it up.

[@AttilaBlade]

Wouw! It is a fantastic engine design and construction! Congratulation for the reconstruction! Kind regards from Hungary! Blade

[@valveman12]

Nice flame eater. If you put a small set of magnets and coils you could build a really cool battery charger for small batteries as i'm sure there is not much torque but may be enough to provide some mA or charging. Very cool

[@rafaellastracom6411]

The ultimate SHTF fan. Awesome! Very Amishy.

[@tonywright8294]

Now add a turbocharger

[@nilamotk]

I like how it's purposely unbalanced, well done

[@chuckels431]

So are you not showing the crank and rod side while it’s running on purpose? Would like to see how the valve mechanism works.

[@kieferonline]

Really nice work. Hats off to you sir!

[@antoineroy5876]

put a fire torch on the valve this thing will go crazy mad hahaha

[@thaGkillah]

I'm legitimately wondering if the RPM of this machine would be higher if you would mix up some weed in the fuel source.

[@Flabulo]

+thaGkillah What a waste. Both of weed, and of your time thinking up this dumb idea.

[@gramursowanfaborden5820]

now you're thinking like a stoner, it just smokes it for you! automatic hot-boxing machine!

[@immrnoidall]

no no no .that's a puffer motor from jamaica man.

[@jW-kr5xn]

Why are people so triggered? He was just joking!

[@syedusamamanzoor1838]

hahahahahahaha

[@bveracka]

That's a *very smart design* and an awesome model! C.A.D. and C.N.C. machines have allowed for so much creative freedom. Awesome project you've got there. 2:44 I wouldn't stand there though!

[@Latheman666]

+Brandon Veracka It was completly made on manual lathes and milling machines. No CNC at all.

[@bveracka]

Latheman666 Sorry, I got this engine confused with the one I watched beforehand. Another guy built an electric rotary motor and I meant for the comment to go on his video. My apologies. That is one very cool and creative model engine you've made there!

[@paradiselost9946]

hmmm... valve and piston driven/driving crank, possibly a bit of play and spring on the valve itself so it seats properly, with a disc sliding on the valve stem acting as a one way valve inside the cylinder. and it needs to hang upside down not only to meet the flame nicely but also keep the valve closed...

[@antoniomiranda5960]

QUE PROJETO LINDO!!! P A R A B E N S ! ! ! nota 10000000000000000000

[@MaxNoble440]

Beautiful work...well done.

[@AlexBalabanov]

Congratulations !!! very interesting project two years ago I've tried something similar to this valve - but couldn't achieve perfect axial alignment for the valve and refused the project.:-( Now I see : this type of valve is possible. Thanks

[@acuhita4447]

just add fan blades to the rods and boom instant fan.

[@screengames5307]

I hope you realise the pointlessness of this.

[@screengames5307]

The fuel would just heat up the room

[@richardgray5207]

Acu hita perfect a fan heater 🐵

[@tonk9246]

Acu hita well it's a hair blower then

[@ronliebermann]

I think there’s a easier way to make a flame-licker engine. Increase the stroke of the piston, and install a ball-bearing check valve. You could also make a upside down funnel which is mounted in front of the air intake. So if you put the machine next to a campfire, more heat would be directed to the engine. And if you’re going to use a campfire, the diameter of the piston could be three inches. That would drive a larger generator. This machine could also be mounted on the side of a cast iron stove. It’s much simpler than a Sterling engine.

[@paradiselost9946]

theyre utterly useless, a gimmick. the only power you have is the pressure of the atmosphere acting on the back of the piston, against whatever pressure the cooling gases of combustion reach... and as atmospheric pressure is only 14.7 psi, and you are very unlikely to get even half an atmosphere in the cylinder... you have barely any force on the piston. the larger the piston the better... the colder you can keep that cylinder, the better. yet at a certain size, the volume of gas being cooled exceeds the ability of the surface area to absorb it. they may be simple but they are obnoxiously finnicky and can barely run. 99.9% of the heat goes "up the chimney". a stirling is far superior... and even they suck. sadly the next progression, adding valves and pumping air through external heat exchangers with far better surface area to volume ratios with subsequent better heat transfer, seems to have been forgotten about. ericsson cycle, amongst others... which led to the development of the turbine engine... same idea but with no valves and the combustion fed into the working "cylinder", said cylinder driving the compressor, consuming a certain amount of power, and whats left over appears as "work". which as a piston based design by cayley, the "furnace gas engine"... was subject to valve failure for obvious reasons... it was 1850 or so, they didnt have stainless steels or inconels or other fancy metals... or machine tools. it had to deal with raw flame and ash of a furnace... they had the theory behind a turbine, they didnt have the materials until the 30s... with a single double-acting piston, and one cam operated valve, its pretty simple. replace "furnace" with "heat exchanger in fireplace". ericsson cycle. then you get into diesel cycles, akroyd hot bulbs... at which point "hot air engines" got left behind in the chase for more power which is dead simple now we focussed entirely on one architecture... burning the fuel with the air inside the working cylinder... steam? too complex, too dangerous, too inefficient. no matter what... 80% of the energy goes to waste, it simply cant be improved... water has a massive amount of energy held in its phase change from liquid to gas... constantly being boiled then condensed is the killer... pump the heat in... then dump it out, taking the cream off the top... you cant recover that heat, that energy. you cant use the heat of condensing water to boil water... as the temperatures get closer, theres less transfer. once the waters condensed, that energy is too "diffuse" to be of any use other than to slightly warm more water... never boil. takes six times more energy to boil water than it does to take it from ambient to boiling... the advantage of the stirling with the regenerator is how that "latent heat" is stored in the regenerator between cycles, and the majority of the "cream" alone is used, that bit of extra heat added and removed in the two stages. air only having a low thermal mass, and no phase change. at that point its limits are volume to surface area, pressures, density, and mechanical efficiency. its worth pointing out that you still lose half the heat out the chimney. you cant heat the hot end higher than the exhaust gas, and when the exhaust is half the combustion temperature, the maximum energy at the highest potential is being transferred. can heat MORE stuff to a lower temperature, can heat LESS stuff to a higher temperature, but halfway is the goldilocks zone... we ALMOST have the same thing in a fridge, its just the reverse cycle... pump the heat in to get power out. the stirling uses heat as it flows THROUGH it, a flame licker holds its hands in front of a bonfire...

[@cgod241]

FANTASTIC, very much like a piece of art,No ?? I Like it, now there is a second piston in is there not???

[@Latheman666]

Only one piston inside. The thing that is moving outside is the valve.

[@cgod241]

Latheman666 Gotcha very efficient design after I build one that will work, I have set my sights on this model just for the unique design, and i have parts very similar at my disposal what appears simple often is not, I was thinking of turning down an engine valve, what do you think.

[@scratchdog2216]

Yeah that's very pretty.

[@crisrose9707]

this would be an awesome science project since it could be done with a Bunsen burner.

[@Lechoslowianin]

- Finally something different than the others. Sam did?

[@ludgerhoffrogge8182]

Supergut gebaut !

[@a41capt]

Just found your video, fantastic bit of model engineering. Congratulations on a unique and great running flame licker! Would you consider publishing plans for your engine?

[@MrKd8azq]

Great video

[@user-ef1by3ko8s]

I turned attention that The concept of "previous" everyone uses 1/4 the power that offers the principle of action ... but will soon get everyone to understand what is missed

[@jasperedwards3341]

i like these toys

[@SWhite-hp5xq]

Hypnotic

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

Just came across your channel and subscribed. I would like to make engines soon on my channel. Great stuff

[@benjaminandersen1097]

its.. beautifull!

[@gavinboot4810]

Great it looks,,but not one connected to a pump or generator because like stirling motors they only produce enough power to keep themselves running ,,no extra,,and that makes them useless,,,

[@nicklee8907]

is that a flywheel or are you just happy to see me

[@TheBikerScout]

But can it run a load? Like a belt or gear mechanism?

[@samuelwinter5256]

Probably, with enough fuel

[@TotoGeenen]

TheBikerScout the engines usually have like 0.001 hp :D probebly not

[@jirapatthaenphromrat2910]

Nope. It barely has enough hp and torque to keep itself running

[@wandersonmoreschi3351]

Que máquina linda.Genial . Parabéns 👏👏👏👍🙏🇧🇷

[@Armando51roosters]

It seems like it comes down to the manipulation of air pressure by temperature gradients.

[@Hulluboju]

Reimu Hakurei you are correct

[@ManualdoMotorStirling]

Very good engine and different. Actually I not known this model, but I could not understand the workings of the engine! He works as an engine vacuum? Greetings from Brazil, Leandro Wagner.

[@embeddedbastler6406]

can it release half Life 3?

[@thepinkone6932]

44 65 72 65 6b No, but uranium can

[@TroyBateman]

rip

[@TJChagas]

I wanna have that fun. I wanna a flame gulping engine for about 3 years now... I don't belive i'm able to do any, and i could not find anyone selling one yet on my country...

[@johnlucas2037]

neat one!

[@Latheman666]

Thanks!

[@jeffcrane4828]

this could drive a propeller and a small boat!!

[@arti252]

Poetry in motion

[@matthewstahl4658]

it seems very simple to buld

[@FarceTheory]

I can hear the knock, Not the tap! And a little more investment on the heat sink. Convection lause air brilliant.

[@quientinwadman6264]

This machine might be more efficient if the heat source were turned off as soon as the valve starts to close, and only opened just before the valve reopens.

[@alexwang2419]

+Quientin Wadman Or another valve starts to open when this valve start to close.

[@3rtsmi]

Hi, I just found your site, it's great! Ever thought of making a 2 or even a 3 phase flame licker motor? The exhaust stack on this video gave me the idea. After all it's really a hot air motor so like a 3 stage steam engine, this should work too. I'll get on it right away as soon as I finish my elbow engine. :)

[@nascarjake787]

Beautiful

[@spidermcgavenport8767]

This could be refitted with a mechanical relay using solar power to run store and place dynamo generator to spin for redundancy feed back. If ONLY. Peltier teg could use heat to light a led up from excess heat absorption. Alternatively a parabolic mirror with a Fresnel lens could sterling drive effect this in another way just potentially not cost effective.

[@SolomonCooper_Misakis_son]

Spider Mcgavenport that's A LOT of big words

[@stevenkarting]

Sublime, belle réalisation, cependant je ne comprends pas vraiment commet cela fonctionne.

[@nazarethgallardo9259]

el aire frio entra sin impulso?????

[@Clement-xy9iv]

I love this!

[@rollstep65]

Can you tell me where I can see kinematic connection between the piston and the valve. For me this project is very curious and would like to know more about it. Thanks in advance!

[@2008ltzable]

good job !!! Merci.

[@dwightjenkins8538]

Can you tell me who made this? Incredible flame eater.

[@c72784]

When does Vtech kick in?

[@CockatooDude]

at 70 rpm.

[@zoltanbodnar9721]

and what if the whole piston part was in an airtight chamber to suck the flames in with greater efficiency

[@martinoffi9249]

This is nice 👌

[@suprantoortega]

Nice

[@Iammastercheif1]

How is power transmitted? I am only seeing the connecting rod to the valve, and am curious how this particular model operates

[@Iammastercheif1]

Oh, I see. The valve is connected directly to the piston via a spring, correct?

[@ozboc]

Hi there , I'm about to make my first flame eater , can you give me an idea of the tolerances required between piston to cylinder .... Thanks

[@Latheman666]

I can't say it in numbers, but the friction should be kept as low as possible, even at the price of tightness.

[@MrDfennema]

Very nice engine! It runs smoothly. Thanks for sharing. However I do not understand the valve system. Can you send me a drawing of the operation? Regards, Douwe

[@Latheman666]

Sorry, I don´t have drawings of this machine.

[@paugasolina5048]

Whats the working principle? Air expanding due to heat and pushing the piston out then cooling down and sucking the piston back in?

[@lonewolf2156]

Pau Gasolina the engine sucks in the flame and then seals off the chamber the air cools sucking the Piston back in then the cycle repeats

[@klompex100]

Sehr cool 👍

[@purendragahlot4581]

Super

[@majonesn]

Nice, what kind of efficiency are we talking about if we try to harvest some energy from the crank ?

[@Latheman666]

majonesn Extremely low (

[@brando555555]

Latheman666 Kinda like an uncle spinny dervish?

[@szekelyferenczzoltan2274]

Does it have vtec?

[@rubenbuzzi9402]

Hola : tenes planos ? gracias Hello, you got plans? thanks

[@JD-yd4wp]

Fun engine! I have searched google for the plans, and your video comes up in a million different URLs - but no plans! Could you private message me the plans? I would like to make it

[@hongannguyen8000]

Am I imagining think or it's getting stronger and stronger?

[@harrier331]

Hong An Nguyen it is slowly speeding up

[@austintaylor7117]

And the purpose of this is?

[@manoelpereiraneves826]

Oi amigo vc poderia me passar o projeto gostei muito

[@osmarhobby179]

Bom dia! Tem como mandar o projeto de construção dele?

[@DeepakRajput-fx5sm]

can i buy this Amazon

[@carlosrodriguezgaroz5555]

por favor puedes decir medidas, gracias

[@johngilbert939]

What are the bore and stroke?

[@zielony1212]

What is the pipe on top of the cylinder for?

[@paradiselost9946]

water cooling... they have to keep the cylinder cold or they dont work... colder the better. and as theyre always sucking a flame IN...

[@SmithJohnZ]

Could this run on sunshine. The side of a shed in direct suns gets incredibly hot.

[@alexwang2419]

+John Smith Not really, you need hot air to rush in the chamber. There are Stirling engines that run on sun shine.

[@danieljagadics3471]

What is this engine? How this engine works?

[@albertogregory9678]

wait... so does it make a vacuum... or what?

[@cybertree]

+Marcel Shaffer Exactly :). The real power comes from the flywheel momentum *pulling the piston and flame in, then the valve seals as the fire extinguishes, and that depletion of oxygen results in a vacuum which pulls the piston back*. It's just like the "upside down cup with a candle in it" trick you may have seen, where it will suck in water as the candle dies and uses oxygen. *Literally "pulling" the piston instead of pushing like a gasoline would, pretty cool shit!*

[@albertogregory9678]

oh, and then momentum overcomes vacuum, and valve opens and repeats?

[@codycrislip6976]

+Marcel Shaffer Exactly!

[@Latheman666]

+Marcel Shaffer It's explained here : en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vacuum_engine

[@amirramirr4231]

ماشا الله به همه شما

[@bveracka]

Quick question: Why does the engine slow down after it begins to heat-up, despite still having the flame going at the same rate?

[@Latheman666]

+Brandon Veracka The efficieny depends on the difference of temperature. And it decreases as the cylinder heats up.

[@bveracka]

Latheman666 I thought about that (as generally any solid or liquid expands when heated; in this case the cylinder). Thank you for a nice, sarcasm-free reply & explanation =)

[@kistuszek]

+Brandon Veracka The problem is not the cylinder expanding, rather the air does not cool down in the closed space that much if the surroundings are warmer. This type of engine depends on air cooling and "sucking in" the piston.

[@HobkinBoi]

+Latheman666 what if you added a small fan to the shaft? Could it then maybe run a little bit faster?

[@bveracka]

{MLP} Rainbow Dash I think it's more a case of the metal heating-up from the inside (and thus swelling) that makes these motors start to slow-down so quickly, but I could be wrong. A fan might help a little, but the problem will still remain.

[@tobiaskaras7229]

is the piston bigger than the valve? i want to build a flamelicker with a valve like this.

[@Latheman666]

No. It is even a little bit smaller because the valve opens and closes the end of the cylinder in which the piston is running,

[@tobiaskaras7229]

what material is the piston? how have xou made it?

[@Latheman666]

Tobias Karas Please read the description of the video and get a copy of the model making magazine that I name there.

[@tobiaskaras7229]

thank you for the information. i haven't seen the description until yet.

[@creativelife4453]

nice engine how many rpm

[@ikonds6826]

cool

[@mitchellhuse993]

How the hell does this thing compress and combust???

[@Hulluboju]

Mitchell Huse it doesn't

[@jeronimomurruni]

It doesn't, it works by vacuum

[@xNinaSDx]

great

[@manfredbeutner2776]

Sehr schön, könnte eine bessere Formgebung ( Aussehen) erhalten

[@ajlodato9195]

What do I search to buy one of these???!

[@Latheman666]

I have never seen another engine of this type anywhere. I´m afraid you can´t buy it.

[@Squeaky_Ben]

have you tried hooking up a DC motor as a generator to it? Judging by its performance, its probably capable of driving 10-30 watts

[@realflow100]

nope it would probably struggle to light up a single 20mw LED

[@Squeaky_Ben]

realflow100 even 20 mW?

[@suicideris]

+BenAranMetroidkiller I don't know this particular design of vacuum engine, but usually if vacuum engine is adjusted corectly, it can run a DC motor and generate some electricity for sure. This one seems to be too slow/weak

[@KRT054]

Nice engine. But it is not very efficient in that it wastes quite a bit energy in the form of escaping heat.

[@Unown_B]

Nice hat. But it is not very efficient in that it wastes quite a bit of heat in the form of not covering your ears.

[@potapich2]

Dwemer magic

[@Wildstar40]

What fuel are you using ?

[@Latheman666]

Ethanol

[@johnkneer1863]

are plans available for this engine

[@Latheman666]

Not exactly for this engine, but for the engine that inspired the builder (please read description to this video)