Stirling Cycle
Circa 1895 Rider-Ericsson Hot-Air Pumping Engine
Stirling Cycle, Water Pumping Engine manufactured by the Rider-Ericsson Engine Co., New York, New York
6″ Bore X 3″ Stroke – Approx. 1/8 to 1/4 H.P. at 100 R.P.M.
Serial # 12704
This rare engine was used strictly to pump water, as its horse power was insufficient to do much of anything else. The engine was built to be placed next to a well or cistern with the pump suction pipe hanging down into the water. The water was then pumped up to a storage tank or possibly a water trough for animals. Before discharging the water from the engine, the water was passed through a water jacket at the upper end of the cylinder to provide the cooling required of the Stirling Cycle process. This 6″ Rider-Ericsson, using 1″ pipe on both the pump suction and discharge, was rated at 300 gallons (1136 l) per hour with a 50′ (15m) rise (75′ (23m) maximum). This engine weighs approximately 625 lbs. (283 kgs.)
