Elder Rotary Stirling Engine

Abstract

A pistonless rotary modified Stirling heat engine, sealed in a pressurized environment, which lacks a crankshaft and comprises a compressor and expansion rotor where each rotor has two hemispherically shaped disks which follow at least one track which is machined into the internal engine casing and which are connected on a single common rotor assembly shaft.

1 . A pistonless rotary modified Stirling heat engine, sealed in a pressurized environment, which lacks a crankshaft and comprises a compressor and expansion rotor where each rotor has two hemispherically shaped disks which follow at least one track which is machined into the internal engine casing and which are connected on a single common rotor assembly shaft. 
     
     
         2 . The engine of  claim 1  where the track system is offset from the vertical axis of the disk to create a toroidal precession for opening and closing two sets of ports to vent the working fluid to and from each rotor. 
     
     
         3 . The engine of  claim 1  where an external igniter source, which could burn any combustible fuel, or be powered by electrical energy from solar power or batteries, is used. 
     
     
         4 . The engine of  claim 1  where the pressure of hot helium gas forces the disks in the expansion rotor to rotate and where rotation of the disks and rotor assemblies creates additional kinetic energy and centrifugal force to increase the power output of the engine. 
     
     
         5 . The engine of  claim 1  where the compression rotor creates a pressure differential which acts in concert with the forces described in  claim 4  above to increase the power output of the engine. 
     
     
         6 . The engine of  claim 1  where a heat exchanger is used to cool the working fluid between the rotors. 
     
     
         7 . The engine of  claim 1  where there is a preset differential phase angle from the disk positions of the compression rotor to the disk positions of the expansion rotor in order to ensure proper timing and compression. 
     
     
         8 . The engine of  claim 1  where a low pressure zone or vacuum is created on one side of the rotors during engine operation. 
     
     
         9 . The engine of  claim 1  where the engine uses a gas or a liquid as a working fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The engine of  claim 1  where the preferred embodiment of the engine uses gaseous helium as a working fluid. 
     
     
         11 . The engine of  claim 1  where the engine uses a torque converter to translate the rotational energy created by the engine into applicable working force. 
     
     
         12 . The engine of  claim 1  where the engine has an inverse turbine mounted aft of the expander rotor to act as a heat recovery device.