Abstract: An improved crank driven reciprocating piston hot gas engine in which virtually the entire working gas mass performs the same Ericsson cycle loop, thereby achieving maximized thermal efficiency. The invention engine embodiments consist of paired hot and cold cylinders, connected together through leak sealed flow paths with included valves and regenerator. Embodiments are presented for both the open cycle and closed cycle operations. The improvements consist of relative piston crank positioning and timed valve operation such that the working gas that started the isothermal expansion in a hot cylinder essentially remains in that hot cylinder for the entire duration of the isothermal expansion step, and the working gas that started the isothermal compression in a cold cylinder essentially remains in that cold cylinder for the entire duration of the isothermal compression step. The second improvement concerns the heat transfer within the cylinders.

Abstract: A heater head for a multi-cylinder double-acting hot gas engine of the type having an annular regenerator surrounding each cylinder is provided with tubes connecting each cylinder with its surrounding regenerator. All tubes have three tube parts of identical shape. A first tube part is of involute shape and a second and a third tube part are of different involute shape. Half of all tubes have their first tube part connected to the cylinders, while the other half of the tubes have their first tube part connected to the regenerator.

Abstract: A Stirling engine design which is solar powered is disclosed. A solar receiver converts solar radiation to thermal energy, which is stored in a storage chamber. The engine includes a displacer chamber with a displacer piston which divides the chamber into hot and cold subchambers, the hot subchamber being heated by the storage chamber. A mechanism is provided for cooling the cold subchamber. The engine also includes an alternator chamber with an alternator piston which divides the chamber into working and bounce subchambers, the working subchamber being in fluid communication with the cold subchamber of the displacer. The working fluid circulates through the cold subchamber and the working subchamber and obtains heat from the storage chamber. The working fluid is displaced by the displacer piston to drive the alternator piston, and work output is obtained from the alternator piston.

Abstract: A Stirling type thermal engine is disclosed in which the engine is sealed within an outer shell enclosure which maintains the engine components in an axially compressed state to thereby simplifying construction of the engine while maintaining a sealed atmosphere of working fluid about the engine thereby minimizing leakage seal problems and also providing a containment enclosure about the engine in the event of explosive failure of the same.

Abstract: A heater head assembly for a Stirling-type engine has a cylinder and a regenerator housing each of which includes a manifold as an integral part thereof, and heater tubes inserted at one end into the cylinder manifold and at the other end into the regenerator housing manifold linking the cylinder and regenerator housing. Each manifold is broadened longitudinally on the heater tube side so that a working gas flow passage defined by the inner wall thereof has a longitudinal width greater than the inner diameter of the corresponding cylinder or regenerator housing. The inner wall of each manifold makes a smooth, gradual and successive transition from the broader portion of the manifold on the heater tube side to the inner wall of the narrower corresponding cylinder or regenerator housing without forming a sudden constriction in the working gas flow passage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a power control system for a hot gas engine in which the power depends on the mean working gas pressure in the engine. Said engine is of the type having an even number of working gas charges separated by pistons each having two axially displaced piston rings. Said piston rings and their piston ring grooves are shaped to act as check valves and so that in each other piston the space between the piston rings will contain gas of maximum working cycle pressure whereas in the remaining pistons it will be minimum working cycle pressure.

Abstract: A mean pressure power control system for a hot gas (Stirling) engine utilizing a plurality of supply tanks for storing a working gas at different pressures. During pump down operations gas is bled from the engine by a compressor having a plurality of independent pumping volumes. In one embodiment of the invention, a bypass control valve system allows one or more of the compressor volumes to be connected to the storage tanks. By selectively sequencing the bypass valves, a capacity range can be developed over the compressor that allows for lower engine idle pressures and more rapid pump down rates.

Abstract: An improved mechanism having a housing defining a gas pressure sustaining chamber for an engine, compressor, or the like, including a double-acting movable partition within the chamber providing alternate expansion and compression of the chamber's sections on opposite sides thereof. The movable partition comprises two rectangular plates in end-abutting relation having their adjacent ends pivotally mounted on a rotatable crank pin on which they undergo limited pivotal motion with respect to each other. The outer ends and sides of the partition plate make a sealing, sliding engagement with adjacent walls of the chamber and the outer ends are constrained to undergo reciprocating motion along substantially parallel lines.

Abstract: A thermal engine with a power source located either externally or internally to its cylinders, such as a compressor or Stirling cycle engine. The engine includes a plurality of chambers in each which a double-effect piston is mounted. Each piston and chamber together form an expansion phase side and a compression phase side. Each expansion side of one piston and chamber assembly communicates via a fluid transfer circuit with a compression side formed by another piston and chamber assembly and directly opposite the expansion side. Each fluid transfer circuit is traversed by a gas conveyed from one chamber to the other by movement of the pistons. Each piston is equipped with an arm cooperating with means for transforming reciprocal circular motion of the pistons into circular motion of an output shaft. The chambers are distributed around the transforming means and the output shaft. Each chamber, piston and each expansion and compression side have a toroidal shape.

Abstract: A crankdrive mechanism for the two piston Stirling engine which greatly reduces engine size and weight without increasing complexity or decreasing mechanical efficiency. A single throw crankshaft is located between the cylinders and within the reciprocation limits of at least one of the pistons. An inverted triangular yoke connects the single crankpin with the two connecting rods, which are in turn connected with the respective pistons. A rocking lever connects the yoke with the engine housing and absorbs any side loads associated with the crankdrive mechanism. Extensive clearance provided between the cylinders and in the pistons permits the engine parts to be arranged in a very compact manner with ample running clearance.

Abstract: An engine-compressor comprising a stirling engine which includes a plurality of working cylinders, a plurality of working pistons respectively disposed in the working cylinders for axial reciprocating movements to thereby divide each of the cylinders into an expansion space and a compression space, the expansion space in one of the cylinders being connected through a heating device and a heat accumulating device with the compression space in another cylinder, a plurality of guide cylinders, a plurality of guide pistons disposed respectively in the guide cylinders for axial reciprocating movements, the guide piston being connected through piston rods with respective ones of the working pistons, and a swash plate or a crank device for converting the axial reciprocating movement of the guide piston into a rotating movement; a compressor including compression chambers defined in respective ones of the guide cylinders by the guide piston, intake valves provided in the compression chambers for admitting air thereto

Abstract: An improved construction for a thermal engine, particularly a Stirling engine, comprising a two-part drive shaft. One part of the drive shaft contains the swashplate mechanism and is journaled on the engine housing so that the component of force acting on the swashplate which induces bending of the drive shaft is reacted on the housing by the journaling of the one part of the shaft. The second shaft part is separate from but operatively coupled with the first-mentioned shaft part and has its own journal mounting on the housing. The operative coupling in the disclosed embodiment is by means of a spline connection between the two shaft parts which are in coaxial alignment. The second shaft part is journaled on a housing part which is separable from other parts of the housing on which the first shaft part is journaled.

Abstract: A Stirling engine has power transmitting connecting rods which slideably extend through diametral apertures in the pistons. A double-acting Stirling engine having center-actuated pistons eliminates the piston rods protruding through the end wall of the cylinders. The reciprocating piston motion is transmitted outside the cylinder by a piston rod extending transversely through the piston and cylinder wall to a connecting means journaled to receive the crank throw of a single crankshaft. The hot ends of the engine cylinders are all arranged about the central heat source, and the cool ends are all mechanically distant and thermally isolated from the heat source and crankcase, thus simplifying the cooling requirements of the engine.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder hot gas engine having an equal angle, V-shaped engine block in which two banks of parallel, equal length, equally sized cylinders are formed together with annular regenerator/cooler units surrounding each cylinder, and wherein the pistons are connected to a single crankshaft. The hot gas engine further includes an annular heater head disposed around a central circular combustor volume having a new balanced-flow hot-working-fluid manifold assembly that provides optimum balanced flow of the working fluid through the heater head working fluid passageways which are connected between each of the cylinders and their respective associated annular regenerator units. This balanced flow provides even heater head temperatures and, therefore, maximum average working fluid temperature for best operating efficiency with the use of a single crankshaft V-shaped engine block.

Abstract: The present invention relates to external combustion engines and more precisely to motors using the Stirling cycle designed to directly convert thermal energy into electrical energy.In accordance with the invention, this transformation is carried out inside a machine which is completely sealed, without a mechanical connection with the outside, in which the power piston drives the moveable part of an electrical generator. In accordance with one preferred embodiment, this electrical generator is a linear alternator. In accordance with a further original feature of the invention, control of the coupling between the displacing piston and the power piston is carried out by using electronic regulation.

Abstract: A heater head of a multi-cylinder hot gas engine having an annular regenerator housing surrounding each cylinder is provided with three manifolds at the top of each cylinder-regenerator housing unit.Each manifold is arcuately shaped and covers 360/2.multidot.n degrees--n being the number of engine cylinders.One manifold has an outer and inner row of arcuately disposed tube connections to the interior of the cylinder, and is disposed between the two other manifolds.One of the remaining manifolds has a single row of tube connections to the regenerator said row being a continuation of said inner row whereas the last manifold has a single row of tube connections being a continuation of the said outer row.

Abstract: In a hot gas engine of the type in which a number of working gas charges are separated from each other by an equal number of pistons each mounted slidably in a cylinder the said pistons are forming pairs each pair being connected to a common crank shaft so as be angular displaced in their movements relative pistons in adjacent cylinders. Each cylinder has a variable volume chamber connected to a variable volume chamber of an adjacent cylinder and all cylinders are interconnected.

Abstract: The invention relates to Stirling engines and provides a modular assembly composed of a cylinder head, a heater, a regenerator, a cooler and a cold duct, and making it possible by mounting a plurality of identical modules on an engine assembly to construct a multi-cylinder double acting Stirling engine of the indirect heating type.

Abstract: This device is an improvement over the conventional type of Stirling cycle engine where the expander piston is connected to a crankshaft and the displacer piston is connected to the same or another crankshaft for operation. The improvement is based on both the expansion and displacer pistons being an integral unit having regenerating means which eliminate the mechanisms that synchronize the regeneration mode.

Abstract: A stirling cycle engine, especially for refrigerating motors, comprising a housing in which are assembled a rotating shaft, at least three working cylinders arranged in parallel round the shaft, a double-acting piston in each of the cylinders, and a mechanical transmission converting the reciprocating movement of the pistons into a rotary movement of the shaft. The housing has a first chamber (1) in which the rotating shaft is assembled, and a second chamber (2) in whch the mechanical transmission is assembled. The latter consists of an orbiting oscillating plate (13, 14) immobile in rotating and having an axis which describes a conical surface about the rotating shaft, and of articulated connections linking each piston (4) to the oscillating plate.

Abstract: A power control arrangement for a Stirling engine includes a sleeve mounted in each cylinder for axial movement and a port in the sleeve leading to a dead space. The port is covered by the piston at a position that is determined by the piston position and the axial adjustment of the sleeve. The compression phase of the Stirling cycle for that piston begins when the port is covered, so the position of the sleeve is used to set the Stirling engine power level.

Abstract: A solar energy conversion plant is composed of a number of conversion units. Each unit is a hot gas engine coupled to a generator. All hot gas engines are connected to common tube mains one of which contains working gas of high pressure while another contains gas of low pressure. A compressor is arranged to maintain the pressures in the mains and is separately governed.

Abstract: A gas compressor for compressing working gas of a hot gas engine is using the oscillating pressure of a working gas charge for acting upon the large diameter piston of a differential piston the small diameter part of which is used as compressor piston. One side of the large diameter piston is directly connected to a variable volume chamber of the hot gas engine while the other side of the same piston is alternatively connectable either to a minimum or a maximum gas pressure source.

Abstract: In a hot gas engine the cold gas connection duct between the low temperature variable volume chamber of one cylinder and an adjacent cooler surrounding another cylinder is divided into several separate, parallel ducts leading to different segments of a chamber below said cooler.

Abstract: An improved transmission from linear power to rotary power in a Stirling heat engine having at least one cylinder with power and displacement pistons linearly operable therein. The power and displacement piston shafts are each interconnected to a common drive shaft through an actuating arm. The power and displacement shaft connections to the actuating arms are through universal joints and their drive shaft connections are rotary connections. The rotary connections of the actuating arms to the drive shaft are eccentrics or cams angularly displaced from the longitudinal center line of the drive shaft and rotatably positioned relative to each other so as to provide the proper operational phase angle of the pistons. A timing shaft running through at least a portion of the drive shaft is translatable a discrete distance to change the relative rotational positions of the eccentrics or cams through 180.degree. of rotation displacement piston eccentric rotates 90.degree. while the power piston eccentric rotates 90.

Abstract: Stirling engines (10; 150) and other Stirling devices especially of the type incorporating double-acting pistons (41; 168, 170) are simplified, more easily sealed, reduced in overall size and weight, and made easier to balance by mounting the crankshaft (45; 100; 110; 176) centrally within the gas enclosure housing (22, 23; 164, 166) such that it perpendicularly intersects the cylinders' sidewalls and skewers the pistons, thus eliminating the conventional outboard crankcase. Each crankpin or equivalent (46-49; 82; 104; 112; 178, 180) on the crankshaft is rotatably contained between the piston's endwalls and interacts essentially directly with that piston, thus eliminating the connecting rod normally located therebetween. A number of alternative lubricating arrangements are disclosed for lubricating crankshaft associated bearings including one wherein liquid lubricant is circulated through the crankshaft, and another wherein liquid lubricant is particulated and forcibly circulated around the crankshaft.

Abstract: A closed cycle in-line double-acting hot gas engine designed such that an ordinary crankshaft can be used without the need of special jigs and tools. The hot gas engine according to the present invention has regenerator/coolers which are each arranged around the respective cylinders concentrically and cylindrically with respect to the cylinders and four pairs of approximately quadrant-shaped manifolds arranged over the engine so as to form a heat exchanger with the respective heaters gathered in cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A five cylinder, double-acting hot gas engine having pistons acting on a common crankshaft has been designed with the central cylinder forming a larger V-angle relative its two neighboring cylinders and a smaller V-angle with the two remote cylinders.

Abstract: In a Stirling cycle engine having a plurality of working gas charges separated by pistons reciprocating in cylinders, the total gas content is minimized and the mean pressure equalization among the serial cylinders is improved by using two piston rings axially spaced at least as much as the piston stroke and by providing a duct in the cylinder wall opening in the space between the two piston rings and leading to a source of minimum or maximum working gas pressure.

Abstract: A method of controlling inlet valves of a compression reactor consists in that in the process of operation of the reactor 1 pressure in its working spaces 4, 5 and supply lines 7, 6 is continuously measured, the sign of a pressure differential (.DELTA.P) between said working spaces 4, 5 and the respective supply lines 7, 6 is determined, at the instant the sign of the pressure differential (.DELTA.P) changes from "minus" to "plus" a command to relieve the inlet valves 8, 9 of all control actions, except the pressure differential, is produced, and at the instant the sign of the pressure differential (.DELTA.P) changes from "plus" to "minus" a command to read a preset time interval (.tau.) is supplied, at the expiration of which interval a command to close the inlet valves 8, 9 of the reactor 1 is produced.

Abstract: A hot gas toroidal, oscillating, close coupled Stirling cycle piston engine, whereby a gas is heated in an external combustion system and expanded in a hot cylinder. Thus, the expanding gas moves the piston to its bottom or extended position in the cylinder, exposing ports which exhaust the gas through a regenerator-cooler and into a cold cylinder. The cooled gas is then compressed in the cold cylinder and forced back through said regenerator-cooler into the hot cylinder to be reheated and expanded.

Abstract: A power control method and apparatus for a Stirling engine including a valved duct connected to the junction of the regenerator and the cooler and running to a bypass chamber connected between the heater and the cylinder. An oscillating zone of demarcation between the hot and cold portions of the working gas is established in the bypass chamber, and the engine pistons and cylinders can run cold.

Abstract: A heater head for a multi-cylinder solar radiation powered hot gas engine comprises tubes connecting cylinder and regenerator tops. Each tube comprises three parts. A first part of each tube extends along an involute curve on a cone. A second part extends radially outwardly on the same cone while a third part extends radially inwardly and downwardly on another cone.

Abstract: A mechanical device for effecting a phase change between the expansion and compression volumes of a double-acting Stirling engine uses helical elements which produce opposite rotation of a pair of crankpins when a control rod is moved, so the phase between two pairs of pistons is changed by +.psi. and the phase between the other two pairs of pistons is changed by -.psi.. The phase can change beyond .psi.=90.degree. at which regenerative braking and then reversal of engine rotation occurs.

Abstract: A motion conversion device for converting between the reciprocating motion of the pistons in a Stirling engine and the rotating motion of its output shaft, and for changing the stroke and phase of the pistons, includes a lever pivoted at one end and having a cam follower at the other end. The piston rod engages the lever intermediate its ends and the cam follower engages a cam keyed to the output shaft. The lever pivot can be moved to change the length of the moment arm defined between the cam follower and the piston rod the change the piston stroke and force exerted on the cam, and the levers can be moved in opposite directions to change the phase between pistons.

Abstract: A multi-cylinder Stirling engine comprises a stationary casing, working fluid, at least one heat source, a first heat exchanger for carrying the working fluid and for transferring heat from the heat source to the working fluid thereby raising the working fluid's temperature, and an output shaft rotatably supported by the stationary casing, which provides reaction surface members in at least one chamber where the working fluid is allowed to expand as the reaction members are allowed to move with respect to the casing. A bi-directional flow regenerator with two chambers, a second heat exchanger for further lowering the temperature of the working fluid to a predetermined temperature, and a compression device for returning the relatively cool and therefore dense working fluid back into the first heat exchanger at a lower expense of work are provided. The casing output shaft with reaction members, expansion chamber and compression device have a rotary engine configuration.

Abstract: A two-stage harmonic reciprocating Stirling engine has a primary heater and a pair of regenerators with an intermediate heat exchanger disposed in the fluid flow between the two regenerators. High temperature heat above 5000.degree. F. is supplied to the heater head of the engine while lower temperature, otherwise wasted, heat between 500.degree. F. and 1500.degree. is supplied to the intermediate heat exchanger. The lower temperature heat can be from exhaust gases of the primary burner, or can be waste heat from another process for use in a cogeneration installation.

Abstract: A phase and stroke control apparatus for the pistons of a Stirling engine includes a ring on the end of each piston rod in which a pair of eccentrics is arranged in series, torque transmitting relationship. The outer eccentric is rotatably mounted in the ring and is rotated by the orbiting ring; the inner eccentric is mounted on an output shaft. The two eccentrics are mounted for rotation together within the ring during normal operation. A device is provided for rotating one eccentric with respect to another to change the effective eccentricity of the pair of eccentrics. A separately controlled phase adjustment is provided to null the phase change introduced by the change in the orientation of the outer eccentric, and also to enable the phase of the pistons to be changed independently of the stroke change.

Abstract: A reciprocating-to-rotating motion conversion and power control device for a Stirling engine includes a hub mounted on an offset portion of the output shaft for rotation relative to the shaft and for sliding motion therealong which causes the hub to tilt relative to the axis of rotation of the shaft. This changes the angle of inclination of the hub relative to the shaft axis and changes the axial stroke of a set of arms connected to the hub and nutating therewith. A hydraulic actuating mechanism is connected to the hub for moving its axial position along the shaft. A balancing wheel is linked to the hub and changes its angle of inclination as the angle of inclination of the hub changes to maintain the mechanism in perfect balance throughout its range of motion.

Abstract: A module for a double-acting four-cylinder Stirling engine includes a heater, two upper cylinder portions, two regenerator/cooler units which each have a flexibly interconnected regenerator and a cooler, two heater tube systems and two cooler tube systems. The upper cylinder portions and the regenerators extend into the heater, and are sealed and affixed thereto. The upper cylinder portions are connectible to two lower cylinder portions affixed to an engine block. The coolers are connectible to two lower cylinder portions affixed to the block. Each of the heater tube systems extends in the heater module from a respective upper cylinder portion to one of the regenerators of the engine; and, each of the cooler tube systems extends from a regenerator, through its respective cooler and through the cooler wall for connection to one of the lower cylinder portions.

Abstract: A heater head for a multi-cylinder solar powered hot gas engine has a number of heater tubes lined on a conical wall exposed to the radiation.The tubes follow involute curves in two parts. The first parts leave very small gaps between them. The second parts arranged at a larger diameter from the center of said wall follow another involute each tube now leaving such gap relative its neighbor that a returned tube part may be arranged between.

Abstract: A number of hot gas engine units each having a plurality of pistons working upon two parallel crank shafts may form an assemblage of relative short axial length by axially connecting one crank shaft of each unit to a crank shaft of another unit and locating the other crank shaft of each unit at alternating sides of the axially connected crank shafts.

Abstract: The temperature of the working gas in the heating chamber of each of a number of cylinders is continuously measured. An electronic selection circuit selects the lowest measured temperature as a control parameter by which the speed of a blower in the common air supply is controlled for providing an air flow proportional to blower speed. A pressure-detecting device measures the air flow through a pressure converter provides an electrical signal that normally controls the valves of the respective fuel supplies for the combustion chambers of the cylinders, but a monitoring device for each cylinder compares the measured working gas temperature with a pre-set maximum value so that when the maximum value is exceeded, the fuel supply valve is changed over to control by the output of the monitoring device, to reduce the fuel supply until the maximum temperature is no longer exceeded in that cylinder.

Abstract: A double-acting Stirling engine has a central axis and four cylinders disposed along a straight line which intersects the central axis. Four regenerator/cooler units are disposed in a circle which is concentric with the axis. A tube system which connects the cylinders to the regenerator/cooler units includes first and second rings, both of which are formed of sets of tubes, and both of which are concentric with the central axis. The tubes in the first ring are connected to upper hot spaces of the cylinders; and, the tubes in the other ring are connected to the regenerators and to one of the tubes in the first ring.

Abstract: Stirling cycle apparatus including a compressor or expander for cyclically compressing or expanding a working gas, a displacer for cyclically displacing the working gas, a rotatable shaft, and a drive mechanism for coupling the compressor or expander and the displacer to the shaft, the drive mechanism being such that the relative timing of their operating cycles can be altered. Additionally a low vibration compressor or expander is provided.

Abstract: Isothermal chamber comprising deformable walls and acting as a heat exchanger.It is constituted by two walls 3,3a of complementary shape defining between them an enclosure 4 containing a gas, the said walls having a deformable zone 5 and a rigid zone 6 providing a variable capacity in heat exchange with an auxiliary fluid, in such a way that the gas contained in the enclosure will undergo substantially isothermal transformations.The invention is employed for the construction of gas compressors and heat engines.

Abstract: A heater head for a multi-cylinder, double-acting hot gas engine in which each cylinder is surrounded by an annular regenerator unit, and in which the tops of each cylinder and its surrounding regenerator unit are interconnected by a number of heater tubes. To provide for a single heater head for a plurality of sets of tubes connecting cylinder tops and surrounding regenerator unit tops, arcuately shaped manifolds are provided on the tops to form two complete concentrically disposed circles.

Abstract: A compact six-cylinder, double-acting hot gas engine having a single central combustion chamber with the cylinders arranged in two groups of three and clustered around the combustion chamber axis at equal angular intervals. The engine has two crank shafts, one per group of three cylinders, rotating in the same direction and synchronized. Each crank shaft has three cranks with adjacent cranks angularly displaced 60 degrees. Each of the cranks of one crank shaft is directed oppositely to a respective one of the cranks of the other crank shaft.

Abstract: A hot gas engine, such as a Stirling engine, which comprises a displacer portion and an expander portion with a heat exchanger connected therebetween. The expander portion has an expander piston which is operatively connected to and rotates an expander crankshaft. In like manner, the displacer portion is provided with a displacer piston which is also operatively connected to and rotates with a separate displacer crankshaft. The two crankshafts are synchronized with respect to each other, preferably by means of an idler gear. Banks of displacer pistons can also be provided for operation on a common displacer crankshaft and banks of cooperating expander pistons also can be provided for operation on a common expander crankshaft.

Abstract: A thermal machine utilizing a positive displacement element which oscillates at a damped resonant frequency is disclosed. The positive displacement element controls the volume of expander and compressor subchambers. A heat exchanger is provided which includes a high temperature heat source, a low temperature heat source, and at least one heat sink. Valves control the flow of fluid into and out of the expander subchamber so that the subchamber acts to expand the fluid. A first working fluid is conducted through the expander subchamber, one of the heat sinks, a compressing device and the high temperature heat source in series. A second working fluid is conducted through the compressor subchamber, one of the heat sinks, an expanding device and the low temperature heat source in series.