Abstract: A gas turbine engine comprises turbine and compressor elements on a rotary shaft. The shaft is rotably mounted on preloaded axial thrust bearings. As it rotates in use the turbine and compressor elements create an axial thrust load on the bearings. According to the invention that axial thrust load is opposed by an electromagnetic coil which is energised to exert an axial force on the shaft in opposition to the axial thrust load and preferably completely balancing the axial thrust load. Bearing life is much extended.

Abstract: An apparatus for decreasing nitrogen oxides in a combustion device of Stirling engine which performs continuous combustion includes a combustion chamber, means for supplying the combustion chamber with fuel and air, an exhaust passageway for discharging exhaust gas produced by combustion in the combustion chamber, a catalytic unit arranged in the exhaust passageway for purging toxic components contained in the exhaust gas discharged, and hydrogen supply means for supplying hydrogen gas to the exhaust gas which enters the catalytic unit. The hydrogen gas is supplied to the combustion exhaust gas which has entered the catalytic unit, and the combustion exhaust gas is then catalytically reduced in an environment of a comparatively low temperatures of less than 250.degree. C., whereby the nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas are decreased.

Abstract: An outdoor unit for a heat pump is usable under very cold weather conditions since the outdoor unit includes an auxiliary heating system which heats a heat exchanger in order to prevent the heat exchanger from forming frost and which also compensates for the decline in heating capacity. Further, the outdoor unit has an air flow preventing arrangement which prevents the flow of air through the heat exchanger when the absorption of the heat from the atmosphere is not efficient. The outdoor unit drives compressors by an internal combustion engine in order to reduce the consumption of electric power and the coolant for the engine is also utilized to provide auxiliary heat to the heat exchanger. The outdoor unit also includes a boiler to compensate for the lack of heating capacity in the engine waste heat. The boiler is operated when the atmospheric temperature is less than the predetermined value.

Abstract: A temperature controller for controlling the tube wall temperature of a heater for absorbing heat during Stirling engine operation includes an operator circuit setting a pre-set temperature based on the pressure of the high pressure working medium. Such preset temperature is transmitted to an air-fuel rate controller for controlling the temperature at the heater to keep an optimal working condition of the engine.

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