Abstract: A method of producing a component is disclosed. The method first comprises the steps of providing a base structure having a surface, providing an exoskeleton, and positioning the exoskeleton about the surface of the base structure.

Abstract: A Stirling engine has a housing containing a displacer and a power piston arranged to reciprocate relatively to one another. A head is adjacent to the displacer to absorb heat, and is surrounded by a block of copper or aluminum. A substantial proportion of the block is clad with a layer of stainless steel or Inconel having a thickness of between 3 mm and 0.15 mm.

Abstract: Approaches for managing machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless devices are disclosed. M2M wireless devices may be configured to utilize service classes in order to implement network access policy control. Packets generated by an application running on the wireless device are inspected, for example using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). Service class may be assigned based on patent contents such as payload, transport-layer criteria, or communication protocol in use. Service class assignment proceeds according to a rule set which may be remotely configurable. Packets may be buffered and their transmission may be deferred pending service class assignment. Spoofing of the intended recipient and/or the application may be performed while the packets are buffered and/or inspected.

Abstract: A Stirling engine has a housing containing a displacer and a power piston arranged to reciprocate relatively to one another. A head is adjacent to the displacer to absorb heat, and is surrounded by a block of copper or aluminium. A substantial proportion of the block is clad with a layer of stainless steel or Inconel having a thickness of between 3 mm and 0.15 mm.

Abstract: Approaches for managing machine-to-machine (M2M) wireless devices are disclosed. M2M wireless devices may be configured to utilize service classes in order to implement network access policy control. Packets generated by an application running on the wireless device are inspected, for example using Deep Packet Inspection (DPI). Service class may be assigned based on patent contents such as payload, transport-layer criteria, or communication protocol in use. Service class assignment proceeds according to a rule set which may be remotely configurable. Packets may be buffered and their transmission may be deferred pending service class assignment. Spoofing of the intended recipient and/or the application may be performed while the packets are buffered and/or inspected.

Abstract: An annular burner assembly having an annular burner mesh. An annular gas/air supply duct supplies a combustible gas/air mixture to the burner mesh in a substantially axial direction. A flow modifier is provided in the vicinity of the burner and has a plurality of fins each extending in a substantially radial plane to define a plurality of passages arranged circumferentially around the supply duct to substantially laminarise the gas/air mixture. The fins provide a thermal link from the burner to a location radially away from the burner. The burner assembly is particularly suited to a Stirling engine.

Abstract: This invention relates to domestic heat and power systems that allow efficient methods of operating a domestic combined heat and power (dchp) unit and to energy-efficient methods of scheduling domestic appliance operation within a household having a dchp unit. Dchp units provide heating and hot water for the home and also generate electricity for use in the home. A domestic heat and power system is provided that comprises a dchp unit, a dchp unit controller, a programmer module and an energy scheduler linked to allow communication therebetween, wherein the programmer module receives data input and generates a heating and/or hot water schedule therefrom, the dchp unit controller determines operating times of the dchp unit in accordance with the schedule and provides the operating times to the energy scheduler that then operates the domestic appliance during operating times.

Abstract: A domestic combined heat and power system comprising a Stirling engine and water heater in the form of a supplementary burner. The exhaust gas from the Stirling engine is used to preheat combustible gas entering the Stirling engine and subsequently used to heat the water. The water heater has a helical water duct towards the periphery of a housing. Separate parts of this duct are heated, in series, by the exhaust gas from the Stirling engine and the supplementary burner firing radially outwardly through the helical duct.

Abstract: A Stirling engine system comprising a Stirling engine, a burner adjacent to the engine, and a supply of combustible fuel to the burner to produce a hot combusted fuel stream to heat the engine. The system further comprises means to provide relative movement between the burner and engine to increase the proportion of combusted fuel which bypasses the engine as the required heat output increases.

Abstract: A wall mounted domestic combined heat and power appliance comprising housing (1) containing a prime mover to generate electrical power and heat output. At least one bracket (2) at each side of the housing mounts the housing to a wall (W). Each bracket comprises a main body which is elongate in a vertical direction and has a L-shape cross section. Each extremity of the L-shape cross section has an enlarged portion (22, 23), a first (23) of which provides a spacer between the main body and the housing, and a second (22) of which provides a spacer between the main body and the wall.

Abstract: A heating system for heating a fluid, the system comprising two separate heat exchangers, each directly heated by a burner to heat the fluid, a common flue into which the two burners are arranged to discharge their exhaust gas, a common fan arranged to supply air to the two burners, and a gas supply to each burner. A splitter valve splits the air flow from the fan to the two burners. A controller controls the speed of the fan, the position of the splitter valve and the gas supplies according to the heat output requirement of the system.

Abstract: A Stirling engine (1) to which an annular burner (2) is attached and is sealed to the engine by a flexible annular sealing member (5). An annular coolant channel (4) in the form of an annular coolant channel member (24) with a U-shaped cross-section attached to a mounting bracket (3) cools the seal (5). The channel member (24) has an upwardly extending annular flange (29) to shield the interface between the burner (2) and mounting bracket (3). An annular lip (33) extends from a lower region of the coolant channel (24) and the top of the sealing member (5) is fitted around this lip. The sealing member (5) is fitted in place after the coolant channel member (24) has been mounted to the bracket (3).

Abstract: A Stirling engine assembly comprising a Stirling engine (1) having a head (2). A burner (7) for providing heat to the engine head surrounds the head. A flexible seal (20) seals the interface between the engine and burner. A first liquid coolant circuit (25) is positioned between the burner and seal to reduce the heat transfer from the burner to the seal.

Abstract: An annular burner assembly having an annular burner mesh. An annular gas/air supply duct supplies a combustible gas/air mixture to the burner mesh in a substantially axial direction. A flow modifier is provided in the vicinity of the burner and has a plurality of fins each extending in a substantially radial plane to define a plurality of passages arranged circumferentially around the supply duct to substantially laminarise the gas/air mixture. The fins provide a thermal link from the burner to a location radially away from the burner. The burner assembly is particularly suited to a Stirling engine.

Abstract: A domestic combined heat and power (dchp) unit includes a Stirling engine 1 to provide heat for a domestic dwelling along with a source of electrical power. Under normal operation, the dchp is supplied with power from the national grid. When there is an interruption in the mains power from the grid, the dchp switches into a grid independent mode wherein power is generated by the dchp and is supplied to a controller 26 and to a water pump so as to maintain integrity of heat supply to the dwelling; the remaining power after that is supplied to selected domestic electrically powered equipment such as lights or television sets. The invention also discloses methods for black start of the dchp during a mains power loss, and also modification of the operating voltage on start up of electrical equipment during a power loss, to prevent the Stirling engine stalling.

Abstract: A splitter valve comprising an outer sleeve and an inner sleeve both having orifices. The relative position of these elements determines the split of the flow. The orifices are configured so that the relative split between the two streams has a linear relationship with the relative position of the inner element and outer sleeve. A perforate plate is provided across at least one outlet to laminarise the flow.

Abstract: A Stirling engine assembly comprising a Stirling engine (1) with a hot head (3) and a cold region (4). An annular burner (9) surrounds the head and is arranged to provide heat to the head. A corrugated seal (2) between the Stirling engine and the burner prevents the flow of combustion gases from the head into the surrounding environment. The Stirling engine is supported by a mounting frame (23) at least in part via the seal.

Abstract: A domestic combined heat and power system comprising a Stirling engine (1) and water heater in the form of a supplementary burner (17). The exhaust gas from the Stirling engine is used to preheat combustible gas entering the Stirling engine and subsequently used to heat the water. The water heater (15) has a helical water duct (41) towards the periphery of a housing (39). Separate parts of this duct are heated, in series, by the exhaust gas from the Stirling engine and the supplementary burner (17) firing radially outwardly through the helical duct.

Abstract: A seal between the head of a Stirling engine (1) and surrounding burner assembly (2). The seal comprises an annular trough (11) attached to one component and filled with a viscous liquid (14), and an annular blade attached to the other component inserted into the viscous liquid. This forms a seal to the gas path between the engine and burner.

Abstract: A Stirling engine assembly for a DCHP system. A Stirling engine (1) is suspended from a mounting frame (5) by a plurality of tension springs (6). An annular absorber mass (2) surrounds the Stirling engine and is suspended from the engine on a plurality of resilient members (3) arranged asymmetrically about the main axis. The asymmetric arrangement is provided by members of different stiffnesses, or irregular spacing of the members. The absorber mass (2) itself may be reduced adjacent to the resilient members.