History http://www.sesusa.org/history.1816.htm •The sterling engine was invented by Reverend Dr. Roberts Sterling who filled for the patent on September 27, 1816. •During the early 1800's, steam engines were incredibly dangerous due to the poor quality in the metals used in the construction of boilers during the era. Because of the poor metals, steam engines were known to explode causing serious injury or death. So Roberts Sterling came up with the Sterling Engine as safe, efficient alternative to the steam engine. • Sterling felt that a sterling engine would be the best alternative to the dangerous steam engines of the time because unlike a steam engine, a sterling engine does not require the same high levels of steam pressure and if the pressure in a sterling engine grew too large, the engine would simply stop and no harm would be done and no explosions. • The best implantation of the sterling engine was in the Dundee Foundry Company where Robert Sterling's brother worked to help engineer the engine. However, due to malfunctioning equipment, and the invention of Bessemer Iron which caused boilers to become safe and less expensive, the sterling engine at Dundee Foundry was replaced with a sterling engine. Original Sterling design http://www.stirlingenergy.com/incl_docs/images/old.jpg