Stirling cycle machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12104552-B2
Application number	US-202117393355-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 3, 2021
Priority date	Apr 23, 2007
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

A Stirling cycle machine. The machine includes at least one rocking drive mechanism which includes: a rocking beam having a rocker pivot, at least one cylinder and at least one piston. The piston is housed within a respective cylinder and is capable of substantially linearly reciprocating within the respective cylinder. Also, the drive mechanism includes at least one coupling assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The linear motion of the piston is converted to rotary motion of the rocking beam. Also, a crankcase housing the rocking beam and housing a first portion of the coupling assembly is included. The machine also includes a working space housing the at least one cylinder, the at least one piston and a second portion of the coupling assembly. An airlock is included between the workspace and the crankcase and a seal is included for sealing the workspace from the airlock and crankcase. A burner and burner control system is also included for heating the machine and controlling ignition and combustion in the burner.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for controlling a pressure difference between an airlock having a gas at an airlock pressure and a crankcase having a gas and liquid at a crankcase pressure, the crankcase containing a rotating crankshaft connected to a con-rod that drives a first piston via a piston rod to reciprocate 180 degrees out of phase with a second piston the method comprising:
measuring the pressure difference between the airlock pressure and the crankcase pressure;
preventing rotation of the crankshaft when the airlock pressure is less than a first predetermined value, above the crankcase pressure;
operating a compressor to draw gas across a filter from the crankcase, when the airlock pressure is less than a second predetermined value above the crankcase pressure;
fluidically coupling the airlock to an output of the compressor when the airlock pressure is less than a third predetermined value above the crankcase pressure;
fluidically coupling the airlock to the crankcase when the airlock pressure is more than a fourth predetermined value above the crankcase pressure.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising fluidically coupling the airlock to the crankcase via the filter when the airlock pressure is less than a fifth predetermined value above the crankcase pressure, wherein the fifth predetermined value is less than the first predetermined value.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second predetermined value is greater than the first predetermined value.

4. The method of claim 1 , where the third predetermined value is greater than the second predetermined value.

5. The method of claim 1 , where the fourth predetermined value is greater than the third predetermined value.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the compressor comprises a check valve to prevent flow from the compressor to the crankcase.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein a working space with an oscillating pressure is fluidly connected via a flow resistance to the airlock.

8. The method of claim 7 , wherein the piston rod passes through the airlock and into the working space.

9. A method for controlling a pressure difference between a port of an airlock having a gas at an airlock pressure and a crankcase having a gas and liquid at a crankcase pressure, the crankcase containing a rotating crankshaft connected to a con-rod that drives a first piston via a piston rod to reciprocate 180 degrees out of phase with a second piston, a two way pressure regulator configured to fluidly connect the airlock to an outlet of a compressor, a crankcase workspace or a closed port, the two way pressure regulator comprising a spool valve, where a position of a spool is responsive to the pressure difference between the airlock pressure and the crankcase pressure, the airlock pressure entering the two way pressure regulator via the airlock port the method comprising:
preventing rotation of the crankshaft when the spool location is less than a first predetermined distance to the airlock port;
operating the compressor to draw gas across a filter from the crankcase to the airlock, when the spool location is less than a second predetermined distance to the airlock port;
fluidically coupling the airlock to an output of the compressor with the spool valve, when the spool is above a third predetermined distance to the airlock port;
fluidically coupling the airlock to the crankcase with the spool valve when the spool is greater than a fourth predetermined distance to the airlock port.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising fluidically coupling the airlock to the crankcase via the filter with the spool valve when the spool valve is less than a fifth predetermined position, wherein the fifth predetermined position is less than the second predetermined distance to the airlock port.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the compressor comprises a check valve to prevent flow from the compressor to the crankcase.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein a working space with an oscillating pressure is fluidly connected via a flow resistance to the airlock.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the piston rod passes through the airlock and into the working space.

14. A method for controlling a pressure difference between an airlock having a gas at an airlock pressure and a crankcase having a gas and liquid at a crankcase pressure, the crankcase containing a rotating crankshaft connected to a con-rod that drives a first piston via a piston rod to reciprocate 180 degrees out of phase with a second piston, the method comprising:
measuring the pressure difference between the airlock pressure and the crankcase pressure;
preventing rotation of the crankshaft when the airlock pressure is less than a first predetermined value, above the crankcase pressure;
fluidically coupling the airlock to an output of a compressor when the airlock pressure is less than a second predetermined value above the crankcase pressure;
fluidically coupling the airlock to the crankcase when the airlock pressure is more than a third predetermined value above the crankcase pressure.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising fluidically coupling the airlock to the crankcase via a filter when the airlock pressure is less than a fourth predetermined value above the crankcase pressure, wherein a fifth predetermined value is less than the second predetermined value.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising fluidically coupling the airlock to the crankcase via a filter when the airlock pressure is less than a fourth predetermined value above the crankcase pressure, wherein a fifth predetermined value is less than the second predetermined value.

17. The method of claim 14 , wherein the compressor comprises a check valve to prevent flow from the compressor to the crankcase.

Assignees

• New Power Concepts Llc
• Deka Products Lp

Inventors

• Langenfeld Christopher C
• Slate Michael J
• Bhat Prashant

Classifications

• F16H35/18

  Turning devices for rotatable members, e.g. shafts · CPC title

• F16H21/12

  for conveying rotary motion · CPC title

• F02G2270/005

  Shells, e.g. a sealed or sealing shell for a Stirling engine · CPC title

• F02G1/055

  Heaters or coolers · CPC title

• F02G1/0445

  Engine plants with combined cycles, e.g. Vuilleumier · CPC title