Abstract: A Stirling cycle engine utilizing internal heat exchangers and heat regenerators. The engine is comprised of two wedge-shaped spherical sectors connected by a disk-like universal type coupling within a spherical housing to form four separate chambers. One sector is fixed relative to the housing while the other sector is nutated about the center of the assembly to vary the relative displacement of the chambers. The sectors, which are covered with heat conducting fins, serve as heat exchangers to transfer heat to or from a working fluid contained within the chambers. The coupling disk has two wedge-shaped spherical sectors mounted on each side, which are also covered with fins complementary to the heat exchanger sectors, and which contain passageways to connect the chambers on opposite sides to form two interconnected pair. The coupling sectors serve as heat regenerators to transfer heat to and from the working fluid as it is transferred from one interconnected chamber to the other.

Abstract: A rotary Stirling cycle engine wherein the rotors are utilized as internal heat exchangers and the displacers are utilized as heat regenerators. This engine in its simple configuration consists of two wedge-shaped spherical sectors connected by a disk-like universal type coupling within a spherical housing to form four variable displacement chambers. The sectors which contain passageways for conducting fluids through them are mounted as rotors on rotatable hollow shafts and are covered with fins to provide for the rapid transfer of heat between the conducted fluids and a working fluid contained within the chambers. The coupling which is also covered with fins to complement the rotors in the transfer of heat, contains passageways to interconnect the chambers into two pair and is constructed of porous heat absorbing material to transfer heat to and from the working fluid as it displaces the fluid from one interconnected chamber to the other.