Abstract: A rotary-to-linear mechanical motion converter has a housing attachable to a drive engine, an input shaft reciprocable to the housing and coupled directly or through a gear arrangement to a reciprocating output shaft of the drive engine, a first drive train coupling the input shaft for turning a rotor in a given sense of rotation for a first direction of movement of the input shaft, and a second drive train coupling the input shaft for turning the rotor in the same given sense of rotation for an opposite direction of movement of the input shaft, the first and second drive trains alternately driving the rotor, as in an electrical generator, for continuous rotation in a given sense relative to the housing. In an alternate converter, both drive trains drive a rotor for only one direction of movement of the input shaft.

Abstract: An external combustion engine is provided with an engine body containing a cylinder, a working fluid within the cylinder, and a displacer piston reciprocable between two ends of the cylinder. A heat exchanger matrix permeable to said working fluid is provided at one end of the cylinder. The movement of the displacer establishes a flow path through a limited portion of the matrix such that the working fluid exchanges heat with different portions of the matrix at different displacer positions as the fluid is displaced between the two ends of the cylinder.

Abstract: In a stirling cycle machine a shell means enclosing the machine body for maintaining a substantially sealed atmosphere about the machine body. A diffuser arranged between the machine body and the outer shell for diffusing a shock wave traveling towards the outer shell as the result of an explosive failure of the machine body.

Abstract: A high temperature resistant liner of refractory material is used to line the displacer chamber so as to permit engine operation at temperature beyond those possible with metallic chamber walls. A compression sleeve or ring of high tensile strength material circumferentially encompasses the liner and preloads the liner against the forces of the highly pressurized working fluid in the displacer chamber.

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.