Abstract: A heating and refrigerating machine, especially a Vuilleumier heat pump or Stirling engine, in which a gas-air mixture is combusted in a combustion chamber and the exhaust gas radiates thermal energy to a heater head, which functions as a housing for the hot piston of the machine, part of the outer surface of the heater head forming a portion of the combustion chamber. By using a porous-medium burner and by virtue of its adaptation to the heater head, the transmission of heat by convection and radiation is improved and a compact machine design is attained which transmits heat in a highly efficient manner with low emissions over a broad output modulation range.

Abstract: A heat engine is constructed from sheet metal and the like. The heat engine has an outer container and inner container which contains a displacer and a power piston. A plurality of positioning members are provided to dimensionally stabilize the inner and outer containers. By providing positioning members that extend between the inner and the outer containers, a sandwiched construction is obtained which allows the inner and outer containers to reinforce each other thus permitting the use of thin walled containers and improving the thermal efficiency of the heat engine and decreasing the weight of the heat engine.

Abstract: A heat engine is constructed from sheet metal and the like. The heat engine has an outer container and inner container which contains a displacer and a power piston. A plurality of positioning members are provided to dimensionally stabilize the inner and outer containers. By providing positioning members that extend between the inner and the outer containers, a sandwiched construction is obtained which allows the inner and outer containers to reinforce each other thus permitting the use of thin walled containers and improving the thermal efficiency of the heat engine and decreasing the weight of the heat engine.

Abstract: A heat engine is constructed from sheet metal and the like. The heat engine has an outer container and inner container which contains a displacer and a power piston. A plurality of positioning members are provided to dimensionally stabilize the inner and outer containers. By providing positioning members that extend between the inner and the outer containers, a sandwiched construction is obtained which allows the inner and outer containers to reinforce each other thus permitting the use of thin walled containers and improving the thermal efficiency of the heat engine and decreasing the weight of the heat engine.

Abstract: A heat engine is constructed from sheet metal and the like. The heat engine has an outer container and inner container which contains a displacer and a power piston. A plurality of positioning members are provided to dimensionally stabilize the inner and outer containers. By providing positioning members that extend between the inner and the outer containers, a sandwiched construction is obtained which allows the inner and outer containers to reinforce each other thus permitting the use of thin walled containers and improving the thermal efficiency of the heat engine and decreasing the weight of the heat engine.

Abstract: A heat engine is constructed from sheet metal and the like. The heat engine has an outer container and inner container which contains a displacer and a power piston. A plurality of positioning members are provided to dimensionally stabilize the inner and outer containers. By providing positioning members that extend between the inner and the outer containers, a sandwiched construction is obtained which allows the inner and outer containers to reinforce each other thus permitting the use of thin walled containers and improving the thermal efficiency of the heat engine and decreasing the weight of the heat engine.

Abstract: A heat engine uses magnetic fields to hold at least one of the displacer and the piston in position and to move the at least one of the displacer and the piston.

Abstract: A heater head assembly for a multi-cylinder heat engine the stirling engine, such as a multi-cylinder Stirling engine, having a plurality of regenerators and cylinders. Each regenerator has a regenerator manifold and each cylinder has a cylinder manifold. First identical cast heater tubes connect the regenerator manifold to first heater tube openings in a heater head manifold. Second identical cast heater tubes connect second heater tube openings in the heater head manifold to the cylinder manifold. The first and second heater tubes are parallel with respect to each other and form a pair of partial concentric staggered arrays. The heater tubes are rotationally asymmetric, having fin sections with less surface area upstream than downstream and thicknesses which decrease radially away from the central passageways of said heater tubes.

Abstract: An apparatus has a heat engine and a power output member drivenly connected to the piston of the heat engine and having an output for supplying work. The displacer is driven by an adjustable drive member. An adjustable signal generator is provided for modulating a signal which is sent to the adjustable drive to adjust the frequency of the displacer.

Abstract: A heat engine is constructed from sheet metal and the like. The heat engine has an outer container and inner container which contains a displacer and a power piston. A plurality of positioning members are provided to dimensionally stabilize the inner and outer containers. By providing positioning members that extend between the inner and the outer containers, a sandwiched construction is obtained which allows the inner and outer containers to reinforce each other thus permitting the use of thin walled containers and improving the thermal efficiency of the heat engine and decreasing the weight of the heat engine.

Abstract: An apparatus has a heat engine and a power output member drivenly connected to the piston of the heat engine and having an output for supplying work. The displacer is driven by an adjustable drive member. An adjustable signal generator is provided for modulating a signal which is sent to the adjustable drive to adjust the cycle profile of the displacer. The phase angle, the dwell time of the displacer at one or both ends of its cycle and/or the velocity of the displacer is thus adjusted.

Abstract: An apparatus has a heat engine and a power output member drivenly connected to the piston of the heat engine and having an output for supplying work. A feedback member responsive to power demand from the apparatus by a load is provided to modulate the amount of heat provided by the heat source to the working fluid.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing cooling has a heat engine in which the cycle profile of at least one of the displacer and the piston is variable for to provide efficient cooling at various temperature differences.

Abstract: A burner for an external combustion engine using liquid or gaseous fuel, the burner being arranged for heat exchange between the inlet air to the burner and the exhaust air from the burner. The burner includes an external housing, a shroud within this housing, which shroud forms part of the centrally positioned combustion chamber. The burner includes air inlet apparatus and guide apparatus for guiding the inlet air to the combustion chamber, an igniter and fuel inlet apparatus and gas exhaust apparatus. The external housing, an element of the inlet apparatus, the guide apparatus, and heat exchange elements are formed as inverted shaped dishes or shells about the combustion chamber.

Abstract: In a Stirling engine with a cylinder head which can be heated, with a plurality of heating pipes bent in approximately U shape and with a cooler the the heat transfer to the heating pipes and the efficiency of the cooler are improved. This For this purpose the outwardly directed pipe sections (4c) of the heating pipes (4) through which the working medium flows are provided at least locally with a ceramic backing (11) for optimization of the flow (10) of the heating gas and the cooler is in the form of a light metal body (20) with radial ribs (23) within a pot-like housing (21), through which cooling water flows. The spacing of the radial ribs (23) from one another is greater than the gap (25) between the pot inner wall and the outer radial ribs bounding wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating installation with a Stirling engine and Stirling-type heat pump integrated within a single pressure vessel. Two hot chambers and two cold chambers, as well as a working chamber in which a piston is mounted such that it oscillates freely, are located inside the pressure vessel. The chambers are in fluid communication with one another. A displacer is able to oscillate freely to and for between each pair of hot and cold chambers. By means of this Stirling engine of the fire piston type and the Stirling heat pump integrated therewith, a low-noise, low-maintenance and highly energy-efficient heating installation is formed which has a high net efficiency (COP value between 1.5 and 2.5). The heat from the cold chamber of the Stirling engine and from the hot chamber of the Stirling heat pump part is passed to a hot water system via a first and second heat exchanger. The heat from the exhaust gases is passed to a third heat exchanger.

Abstract: A container for high pressure gases and fluids is provided with a tubular housing having a lid fastened to one or more axially extending elements within the housing for transferring axial forces from one end of the container to the other without subjecting the housing itself to axial forces.

Abstract: A Stirling machine having two pistons coupled to a harmonic crank drive linkage for providing a specified phase relationship between sinusoidal displacements of each piston with respect to a fixed fiducial point. The harmonic crank drive linkage has a primary crankshaft and an eccentric crankshaft mounted internally to the primary crankshaft and coupled via a gear set to counterrotate with respect to the primary crankshaft. The eccentric crankshaft may be cantilevered with respect to the primary shaft, with the pistons of the engine coupled to the eccentric crankshaft externally to the supporting bearings. A flywheel coupled to the eccentric crankshaft provides for operation of the engine with a zero net angular momentum. An intake manifold provides for mixing air and fuel for combustion heating of the engine.

Abstract: A Stirling cycle engine includes: a housing having at least one cylinder; a motor element disposed in the housing; and a Stirling refrigerator portion driven by the motor element. The cylinder is made to be a cross guide for a piston or a displacer of the Stirling refrigerator portion. Thus, it is possible to provide a desired Stirling cycle engine, for example, a Stirling refrigerator, a Stirling engine generator, etc. with a single configuration.

Abstract: A solar to mechanical or electric power conversion system which has a controller that varies the speed of a cooling fan and cooling fluid pump fan in accordance with the available solar energy intensity, ambient temperature surrounding the system and other operating conditions. The system includes a suitable heat source such as an isotope heat source, fuel combustor, or a solar concentrator that delivers solar energy to a focal point by reflection from mirrors or by Fresnel lens. A suitable solar concentrator may also be based upon on densifying the solar photon count by a Winston concentrator. For solar heated devices based on concentrated solar energy, a receiver is located at the focal point. This receiver is heated by concentrated solar energy. Heat is transferred to a working fluid which powers a heat engine. The heat engine converts the thermal energy into mechanical energy. The mechanical energy is transmitted to a load coupled to the engine.

Abstract: A heater assembly for a heat engine designed to utilize solar energy and heat produced by combustion of a fuel such as natural gas. A receiver housing allows concentrated solar energy to be directed through a receiver aperture into a receiver chamber. Inner and outer arrays of heater tubes within the receiver chamber absorb the solar energy and transfer heat to working fluid in the heater tubes. A burner within the housing produces combustion gases which circulate past the heater tubes and transfer heat to the working fluid. The heater tubes form an opaque surface to solar energy and have uniform gaps which allow heated fluid to be passed between adjacent heater tubes. A precise three-dimensional mathematical description for the centerlines of the heater tubes which maintains uniform gaps between adjacent heater tubes is disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method of speed and power control for an engine in which speed and power of the engine is controlled by modulation of the load torque. The load torque is manipulated in order to cause engine speed, and hence power to be changed. To accomplish such control, the load torque undergoes a temporary excursion in the opposite direction of the desired speed and power change. The engine and the driven equipment will accelerate or decelerate accordingly as the load torque is decreased or increased, relative to the essentially fixed or constant engine torque. As the engine accelerates or decelerates, its power increases or decreases in proportion.

Abstract: An adaptive feedforward vibration control system reduces vibrations at fundamental and harmonic frequencies of matched reciprocating pistons, such as back-to-back compressor pistons in Stirling cycle cryocooler, by driving the pistons with correction signals. The system is also applicable to reducing the vibrations generated by a pair of opposite expander and balancer pistons in a cryocooler. The correction signals are computed iteratively to increase their accuracy, and need only be updated relatively infrequently to adjust the pistons' motions, thereby enabling the use of a relatively slow microprocessor.

Abstract: A hollow ceramic fiber wick is used for combustion of diesel or other liquid fuels in a small combustor. Fuel and air are provided to the hollow ceramic wick by a positive-displacement fuel pump and a positive-displacement air blower driven by a common microprocessor-controlled driveshaft. A first portion of the air is provided directly to the wick while a second portion of the air is communicated by passageways outwardly concentric from the wick holder to a swirler chamber near the tip of the wick within the combustion chamber.

Abstract: Coefficient of performance (COP.sub.L), (COP.sub.H) is lowered when cooling capability or heating capability (Qk) is increased by increasing a revolution speed (N) because an working gas temperature (Tc) of a cold space (9L) drops and an working gas temperature (Tm) of a middle-temperature spaces (10H), (10L) rises. In order to avoid the lowering thereof, a vuilleumier heat pump device is provided with sensors (26), (29) for respectively detecting the respective working gas temperatures (Tc), (Tm), adjusting means (27), (30) for increasing or decreasing heat input of an endothermic heat exchanger (23) of a heat input circuit (22) and heat output of a radiation heat exchanger (25) of a radiation circuit (24) respectively, and control means (28), (31) for controlling the respective adjusting means (27), (30) so as to increase the heat input and the heat output in accordance with rise or drop of the gas temperature (Tc), (Tm).

Abstract: A Stirling engine generating system comprises a Stirling engine driven by solar heat which is used as a heat input source for the engine, a generator driven by the Stirling engine, a temperature sensor detecting the temperature of an operational gas enclosed in an operational space of the engine, an operational gas tank communicated with the operational space via a pair of conduits, one way valves interposed in the corresponding conduits so as to invert the flow direction of the operational gas in each conduit, opening and closing valves each of which is interposed in the respective conduit between the one way valve and the operational gas tank, a field magnet control device for adjusting the rotational speed of the generator and a temperature regulation device for controlling the opening and closing action of the opening and closing valves to vary the operational gas pressure in the operational space in response to a detected signal of the temperature sensor and for controlling the field magnet control devic

Abstract: A control system for Stirling engines includes a feedback control from a sensor for detecting oxygen levels in the exhaust from the combustion system of the Stirling engine. The sensor generates a feedback signal which is converted for inputting into a microprocessor control system. The input signal is compared with a reference signal to readjust the air-fuel mixture set by control apparatus responsive to at least one engine operating condition such as working fluid temperature. The microprocessor control system generates control signals for both an electronic pressure regulator and a combustion blower so that both as pressure and air flow are adjusted according to engine operating requirements. Either a universal or a lean exhaust gas oxygen sensor is preferably employed in the feedback control.

Abstract: A heat pump apparatus comprising: a heat pump circuit composed of an external combustion engine, a radiator through which a first medium heated by a first heat exchanger of said external combustion engine flows and a cooler through which a second medium cooled by a second heat exchanger of said external combustion engine flows; a motor for supplementing a motive power to said external combustion engine; a brake for braking said external combustion engine; a detector for detecting a heating load; and a controller for calculating a motive power necessary for said external combustion engine based on the difference between a value detected by said detector and a preset value previously set, and for controlling said motor to move when the calculated motive power is larger than a self-output of said external combustion engine.

Abstract: A Stirling cycle cooling engine with separate linear motor drives for the compressor and displacer, the drives being powered by a common oscillator via respective look up table/digital to analog converter circuits and respective displacement regulating servo-loop circuits and to regulate the temperature of the element cooled by the engine, a temperature sensor arranged to control the amplitude of the compressor piston displacement.

Abstract: A heater for use with a Stirling engine and a method for heating a working fluid for a Stirling engine is disclosed. The heater has a burner, heater tubes disposed in the burner, a space formed around the heater tubes which is filled with heat-storing material, and a high-temperature heat source. The heat-storing material is sealed by a seal member. Heat produced by the high-temperature heat source is supplied to the heater tubes via the heat-storing material; hence the heat-storing material acts as a secondary heat source. Heat is stored in the heat-storing material in the form of sensible heat or latent heat, or a chemical reaction is employed.

Abstract: A Stirling engine includes a heater device for collecting solar radiation energy, a heater tube disposed in the heater device and connecting the expansion space and the compression space of cylinder containing a piston, and a transparent partition located in the heater device for defining a closed space. A heat storage material is positioned in the closed space and a temperature detecting apparatus is provided for detecting the temperature of the heat storage material. A pressure regulating arrangement regulates the pressure of a working gas in a working space located between the expansion space and the compression space of the cylinder. A control device controls the pressure regulating arrangement in response to a signal from the temperature detecting apparatus.

Abstract: A Stirling cycle engine includes a cylinder and a displacer piston received in the cylinder. The cylinder has a cylinder head for receiving external heat radiation. The cylinder head is made of a transparent top wall for passing the heat radiation. Inside the transparent top wall, there is provided a heat absorbing layer for absorbing the heat of the radiation. The working fluid is passed through the heat absorbing layer in the isovolumetric heating stroke.

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: A heating system for improving the efficiency of a hot gas engine comprises a "heat pipe" type evaporator and condenser configuration forming a closed system for a condensing medium, such as sodium. The sodium is heated in the evaporator and vaporized. It flows through a conduit to the condenser where it condenses onto tubes which carry the hot working as for the engine, thereby heating the working gas. The condensed liquid sodium flows back through the conduit into the evaporator where it is again vaporized. This is a continuous cycle whereby a thermal power flow from the evaporator to the condenser is continuously induced by the heating of the sodium in the evaporator. The condenser comprises an outer cylindrical walled tube surrounding tubes which carry the hot working gas. These latter tubes are S-shaped and arranged in a bundle.

Abstract: An external heating system for a heat engine such as a Stirling cycle engine which permits thermal energy to be provided by solar energy or fuel combustion sources. The system employs a complexly shaped heat pipe evaporator section having an enclosed cavity for receiving solar energy and another section forming hollow fins which is exposed to hot combustion gasses. Accordingly, either heat source may be used to evaporate working fluid within the heat pipe which is transferred to the associated heat engine.

Abstract: A heater head for a multi-cylinder double-acting hot gas engine of the type having an annular regenerator surrounding each cylinder is provided with tubes connecting each cylinder with its surrounding regenerator. All tubes have three tube parts of identical shape. A first tube part is of involute shape and a second and a third tube part are of different involute shape. Half of all tubes have their first tube part connected to the cylinders, while the other half of the tubes have their first tube part connected to the regenerator.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing, in a controlled manner, electrical energy from a solar powered Stirling engine by storing solar energy in a phase change medium and inserting and withdrawing heat exchange means into and out of the medium on demand to supply energy input to the Stirling engine. The Stirling engine drives an electrical generator producing electricity. The electricity, in turn, is used for operating a hydrogen generator which produces hydrogen that is stored in a tank for subsequent use as a source of energy.

Abstract: A closed-cycle hot gas engine heated by solar radiation is provided with a governing system varying the working gas pressure so as to vary the power output at a constant high temperature level of the working gas and--at least partly--at a constant engine speed.

Abstract: A convertor for a hot gas engine whereby such an engine may be more economically operated. The invention comprises an improvement to a standard hot gas engine including at least one combustion chamber and conduits for supplying a mixture of fuel and air to the combustion chamber comprising a heat sink disposed above the piston head, a fuel iris operatively mounted above the heat sink and a fuel flow controller connected to the heat sink and to the fuel iris for regulating the flow of fuel to the engine in response to the temperature of the heat sink. The improvement of this invention permits operation of the invention on residual heat, thereby permitting increased fuel economy. The invention further contemplates using the engine to power an alternator whereby electrical energy may be derived, stored and used for work.

Abstract: A heater head for a multi-cylinder solar powered hot gas engine has a number of heater tubes lined on a conical wall exposed to the radiation.The tubes follow involute curves in two parts. The first parts leave very small gaps between them. The second parts arranged at a larger diameter from the center of said wall follow another involute each tube now leaving such gap relative its neighbor that a returned tube part may be arranged between.

Abstract: The temperature of the working gas in the heating chamber of each of a number of cylinders is continuously measured. An electronic selection circuit selects the lowest measured temperature as a control parameter by which the speed of a blower in the common air supply is controlled for providing an air flow proportional to blower speed. A pressure-detecting device measures the air flow through a pressure converter provides an electrical signal that normally controls the valves of the respective fuel supplies for the combustion chambers of the cylinders, but a monitoring device for each cylinder compares the measured working gas temperature with a pre-set maximum value so that when the maximum value is exceeded, the fuel supply valve is changed over to control by the output of the monitoring device, to reduce the fuel supply until the maximum temperature is no longer exceeded in that cylinder.

Abstract: An improved hot gas engine heater head where a thermocouple is coaxially positioned in an isolation tube having one closed end and the isolation tube is coaxially positioned in one of a plurality of heater tubes forming a part of a working gas path between two variable volume chambers and traversing a combustion gas flow path. The thermo-couple is in heat-transfer contact with the working gas and is physically isolated from the working and combustion gases. The temperature signal from the thermo-couple is conducted by a conduction wire passing through heat insulating material such that neither the thermo-couple nor the conduction wire is exposed directly to the working gas or the combustion gas.

Abstract: A solar energy receiver including a separable endless wall formed of a ceramic material having defined therein a cavity of a substantially cylindrical configuration for entrapping solar flux, and an acceptance aperture adapted to admit to the cavity a concentrated beam of solar energy, said wall being characterized by at least a pair of contiguously related segments separated by lines of cleavage intercepting said aperture, at least one of the segments being supported for pivotal displacement, and a thermal-responsive actuator adapted to respond to excessive temperatures within the cavity for initiating pivotal displacement of said one segment, whereby thermal flux is permitted to escape from the cavity.

Abstract: An air/fuel control system (including apparatus and method for a Stirling engine is disclosed. A signal generated by deviation of the temperature of the heater head gas temperature from a set-point is used to control an air flow throttle valve. Variations in the air flow of the external combustion circuit is sensed by way of a vortex-shedding device which delivers a D.C. electrical signal. The signal is shaped and amplified and used to control operation of one or more fuel injectors which feed into a common outlet manifold leading to the fuel nozzle serving the external combustion circuit. The fuel injectors are solenoid operated, one sized to provide a fuel flow rate of 0.4-2.0 g/sec., and at least two others are sized to provide a combined fuel flow rate of 2-15 g/sec., but 180.degree. out of phase with each other. The series of injectors provide an effective fuel control range of 0.4-15 grams/sec. to achieve an air/fuel ratio range of 37.5 to 1.

Abstract: A hot-gas engine in which the transfer of heat from the heat-source to the meltable material of a heat storage reservoir is effected exclusively indirectly via the working medium in order to prevent overheating, fast corrosion and cracking of the reservoir walls.

Abstract: A heating system for supplying thermal energy to a heater of a machine such as a hot gas engine, this system using a heat-transporting medium which flows within a closed space between a heat-receiving portion to a heat-discharging portion. Thermal energy is supplied from a heat source through a wall in the heat-receiving portion with the transporting medium changing from the liquid phase to the-vapor phase, and the absorbed thermal energy is transferred to the heater in the heat-discharging portion by changing from the vapor phase into the liquid phase. The wall parts of the heat-receiving portion, through which thermal energy can be supplied from the heat source to the transporting medium, comprise on their surface contacting this medium of a layer of a porous material having a capillary structure whereby liquid-phase medium is distributed on said walls.

Abstract: A heat engine having a cold compression space, a hot expansion space, a first passage connecting the two spaces through an externally heated heater and a second passage connecting the two spaces independently of the first passage through an externally cooled cooler. Preferably with the provision of intake and discharge valves, the two passages are arranged such that a working gas confined in the engine is passed from the compression space to the expansion space through the first passage and then returned to the compression space through the second passage. The engine may be combined with a gas reservoir which is equipped with valves and connected to the passages at low temperature sections for controlling the engine power by varying the mass of the working gas confined in the engine.

Abstract: A hot-gas reciprocating engine whose shaft is coupled to the combustion air fan via sucessively a variable transmission, constructed as a slip coupling whose degree of slip is inversely proportional to the temperature of the heater, and a fixed transmission.

Abstract: An integrated system for engine heat extraction and comfort air conditioning in an automotive vehicle powered by a Stirling engine, the system being used (a) as a part of the heat rejecting means for the Stirling engine located in a compartment outside of the passenger compartment, and (b) for conditioning air within the passenger compartment. The heat rejecting means of the Stirling engine is effective to cool a selected zone of an enclosed working fluid circuit of the engine; the heat rejecting means is divided into two portions, one normally being diposed to reject heat to ambient air conditions and another disposed to selectively impart rejected heat either to air flow for conditioning air for said passenger compartment or to air flow to be aborted to ambient air conditions.

Abstract: A heat-transfer interface between and separating a high temperature heat source and a heat sink is formed by the adjacent walls of the heat source and heat sink with a thin gap between these walls and helium gas sealed in the gap, the walls preferably defining concentric hemispheres; this interface being particularly feasible as separable walls of the heater portion of a Stirling engine and a heat source.