Abstract: A pressure vessel for containing a mechanical device operable to convert heat to mechanical or electrical power, comprising: a high temperature section, the high temperature section having a first end and an open second end, a sealing flange, the sealing flange having a first end and a second threaded end, the first end bonded to the open second end of the high temperature section, and a low temperature section having an open threaded first end, the open first end in sealing engagement with the second threaded end of the sealing flange. Also provided are a Stirling engine and a method of hermetically sealing a pressure vessel of a Stirling engine.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enhanced system and method for compensating for load imbalances of rotating members. An imbalance compensator may have a balancing ring wirelessly controlled by a ring controller. The balancing ring may have a housing containing a plurality of actuators configured to exert force against a compensation ring within the housing. The actuators may move the compensation ring with respect to the axis of rotation of the shaft in a direction substantially opposite the direction of the imbalance. The actuators may directly contact the compensation ring, or may exert the force through the use of mechanical transfer devices that provide a selected mechanical advantage. Alternatively, a chamber containing a magnetic fluid may be used to provide a counterbalancing mass. Particles within the magnetic fluid maybe concentrated opposite the imbalance direction through the use of electromagnets or permanent magnets mounted on movable carts.

Abstract: The present invention provides an enhanced system and method for compensating for load imbalances of rotating members. An imbalance compensator may have a balancing ring wirelessly controlled by a ring controller. The balancing ring may have a housing containing a plurality of actuators configured to exert force against a compensation ring within the housing. The actuators may move the compensation ring with respect to the axis of rotation of the shaft in a direction substantially opposite the direction of the imbalance. The actuators may directly contact the compensation ring, or may exert the force through the use of mechanical transfer devices that provide a selected mechanical advantage. Alternatively, a chamber containing a magnetic fluid may be used to provide a counterbalancing mass. Particles within the magnetic fluid maybe concentrated opposite the imbalance direction through the use of electromagnets or permanent magnets mounted on movable carts.

Abstract: A burner assembly is taught for a heater head of an external combustion engine. Preferably, the external combustion engine is a Stirling cycle machine. The burner assembly includes a housing having a cavity sized to receive a heater head and a matrix burner element carried by the housing and configured to transfer heat to a received heater head. A fuel inlet also communicates with the housing for delivering fuel to the matrix burner element and an exhaust outlet communicates with the housing for delivering combustion gases from the matrix burner element to an exterior of the housing. According to another version, a burner and engine assembly are taught for generating power from a Stirling cycle machine. The burner/engine assembly includes a Stirling cycle power generator in combination with the above-recited burner assembly.

Abstract: Improved flexures and flexure assemblies are taught for use in thermal regenerative machines. In one aspect, the flexure is a flat spring formed from a flat metal sheet having kerfs forming axially movable arms across them, and at least one aperture communicating with and extending from an end portion of the kerf. One variation includes a flexure bearing assembly having such a flexure. In accordance with another aspect, a thermodynamic machine has a housing carried stator and a piston and linear moving element carried by a flexure bearing assembly. In accordance with yet another aspect, a piston and displacer assembly are configured to be movably supported together within a chamber in a housing of a thermal regenerative machine via a flexure assembly.

Abstract: A heater head for use with a thermal regenerative machine has a heater shell formed from a single piece of material. The shell has a tubular body with a cap-shaped end portion provided at a distal end and an open mouth portion provided at a proximal end. The heater head also has a mounting flange with a receiving portion configured to mate in fixed assembly with the open mouth portion of the heater shell. The mounting flange is constructed and arranged to mount the shell assembly to a housing of the thermal regenerative machine. The shell assembly and housing are hermetically sealed there between. Furthermore, a heater head for use with a thermal regenerative machine typically has a heater shell and a heat exchanger portion. The heat exchanger portion is formed substantially from a corrugated piece of sheet metal. The heat exchanger portion is affixed to an inner portion of the heater shell.

Abstract: A displacer assembly for use with a thermal regenerative machine has a housing configured to receive a displacer therein. The displacer has a drive area formed by a rod portion of the displacer that extends through a hole in the housing to form a clearance seal therebetween. The housing and displacer form a sub-assembly that can be pre-assembled to provide a clearance seal prior to assembly with a linear drive motor. Another feature is provided by a fluid flow path extending centrally of the displacer rod, and in part along an outer peripheral surface of the rod adjacent a heat rejection region of the housing. Heat transference there along provides for a more efficient stirling thermodynamic cycle in response thereto.

Abstract: A displacer assembly for use in a thermal regenerative machine has a housing with a displacer bore configured to carry a displacer in the displacer bore. A flexure bearing assembly is configured to carry the displacer in axial reciprocation within the displacer bore to form a clearance seal there between. A gas spring bore is formed within the displacer assembly and communicates with a gas spring volume defined by a volume forming member. A gas spring piston is carried within the gas spring bore and is configured to form a clearance seal there between. The gas spring piston and the gas spring bore cooperate with the volume forming member to form a gas spring there between. One of the gas spring bore and the gas spring piston is carried in fixed relation with the housing while the other of the gas spring bore and the gas spring piston is carried by the displacer for relative reciprocation there between. A thermal regenerative machine having the above-described displacer assembly is also taught.

Abstract: The use of flexures in the form of flat spiral springs cut from sheet metal materials provides support for coaxial nonrotating linear reciprocating members in power conversion machinery, such as Stirling cycle engines or heat pumps. They permit operation with little or no rubbing contact or other wear mechanisms. The relatively movable members include one member having a hollow interior structure within which the flexures are located. The flexures permit limited axial movement between the interconnected members, but prevent adverse rotational movement and radial displacement from their desired coaxial positions.

Abstract: The seal bellows of a Stirling cycle device is connected between the bottom of a reciprocating piston and a cylinder wall to form a buffer space between the cycle working space and the lubricated crankcase. The piston and cylinder wall form a noncontact clearance seal between the buffer space and the working space in which an expander piston has a vented clearance seal to reduce the thermal loss due to cold gas leaking along the clearance seal.