Stirling cycle type thermal device

Abstract

A Stirling cycle thermal engine or refrigerating device wherein there is no primary mechanical connection between the displacer pistons and their associated power pistons, including various mechanical and pressure fluid means for varying the power output from or the power input to the device.

I claim: .[.1. A Stirling cycle type device comprising a displacer piston, a displacer cylinder zone, said displacer piston mounted for reciprocation in said displacer cylinder zone, a displacer piston rod connected at one end to said displacer piston and in fluid communication at the other end with a second zone, a power piston, a power cylinder, said power piston mounted for reciprocation in the power cylinder normally mechanically independent of the reciprocation of the displacer piston, a working fluid in said displacer cylinder zone, means creating a pressure differential between the displacer cylinder zone and said second zone adapted to act on the area of the piston rod in said second zone, said last named means including means for adding heat to or removing heat from each end of the displacer cylinder zone, means providing a power coupling between the displacer piston, and the power piston consisting solely of fluid communication conductors between one end of the power cylinder and the displacer cylinder zone..]. .[.2. A Stirling cycle type device comprising a displacer piston, a displacer cylinder zone, said displacer piston mounted for reciprocation in said displacer cylinder zone, a displacer piston rod connected at one end to said displacer piston and in fluid communication at the other end with a second zone, a fluid in said second zone, a power piston, a power cylinder, said power piston mounted for reciprocation in the power cylinder normally mechanically independent of the reciprocation of the displacer piston, a working fluid in said displacer cylinder zone, means creating a pressure differential between the displacer cylinder zone and said second zone adapted to act on the area of the piston rod in said second zone, said last named means including means for adding heat to or removing heat from each end of the displacer cylinder zone, means providing a power coupling between the displacer piston and the power piston consisting solely of fluid communication conductors between one end of the power cylinder and the displacer cylinder zone..]. .[.3. A Stirling cycle type device comprising a displacer piston, a piston rod adapted to reciprocate with the displacer piston, a cylinder for said displacer piston, an independent cylinder zone for the displacer piston rod, a regenerator for the displacer cylinder through which a gaseous operating medium flows during reciprocation of the displacer piston in its displacer cylinder, a power piston operatively associated with the displacer piston and mechanically free to move independently in respect to the displacer piston, a cylinder for the power piston, means for adding heat to or removing heat from each end of the displacer cylinder and means providing a power coupling and cooperative connective movement between the displacer piston and the power piston said last means consisting solely of fluid communication conductors between one end of the power cylinder and one end of the displacer cylinder associated therewith and means for removing power from or adding power to the power 
     
        piston..]. .[.4.  A Stirling cycle type device comprising a pair of opposed displacer pistons, a rigid rod interconnecting the displacer pistons for synchronous motion of said displacer pistons, a cylinder for each of said displacer pistons, a regenerator for each displacer cylinder through which a gaseous operating medium flows during reciprocation of each displacer piston in its displacer cylinder, a power piston operatively associated with each of the displacer pistons and mechanically free to move independently in respect to its associated displacer piston, a cylinder for each of the power pistons, means connecting the pair of power pistons for at least partial synchronous motion of said power pistons, means for adding heat to or removing heat from each end of the displacer cylinders and means providing a power coupling and cooperative connective movement between the displacer pistons and the power pistons associated with said displacer pistons, said last means consisting solely of fluid communication conductors between one end of one power cylinder and one end of the displacer cylinder associated therewith and between one end of the other power cylinder and one end of the displacer cylinder associated with said other power cylinder and means for removing power from or adding power to the power pistons..]. .[.5. The invention defined in claim 4 wherein said last named means comprises a fluid conductor arrangement for directing a hydraulic fluid to and from each power cylinder of each of the power pistons in a zone opposite to the portion of said power cylinders in fluid communication with the respective ends of 
     
     
        their associated displacer cylinders..]. 6. .[.The invention defined in claim 4 including.]. .Iadd.A Stirling cycle type device comprising a pair of opposed displacer pistons, a rigid rod interconnecting the displacer pistons for synchronous motion of said displacer pistons, a cylinder for each of said displacer pistons, a regenerator for each displacer cylinder through which a gaseous operating medium flows during reciprocation of each displacer piston in its displacer cylinder, a power piston operatively associated with each of the displacer pistons and mechanically free to move independently in respect to its associated displacer piston, a cylinder for each of the power pistons, means connecting the pair of power pistons for at least partial synchronous motion of said power pistons, means for adding heat to or removing heat from each end of the displacer cylinders and means providing a power coupling and cooperative connective movement between the displacer pistons and the power pistons associated with said displacer pistons, said last means consisting solely of fluid communication conductors between one end of one power cylinder and one end of the displacer cylinder associated therewith and between one end of the other power cylinder and one end of the displacer cylinder associated with said other power cylinder, means for removing power from or adding power to the power pistons, and .Iaddend.stop means for varying 
     
     
        the length of travel of the displacer pistons in their cylinders. 7. .[.The invention defined in claim 4 including.]. .Iadd.A Stirling cycle type device comprising a pair of opposed displacer pistons, a rigid rod interconnecting the displacer pistons for synchronous motion of said displacer pistons, a cylinder for each of said displacer pistons, a regenerator for each displacer cylinder through which a gaseous operating medium flows during reciprocation of each displacer piston in its displacer cylinder, a power piston operatively associated with each of the displacer pistons and mechanically free to move independently in respect to its associated displacer piston, a cylinder for each of the power pistons, means connecting the pair of power pistons for at least partial synchronous motion of said power pistons, means for adding heat to or removing heat from each end of the displacer cylinders and means providing a power coupling and cooperative connective movement between the displacer pistons and the power pistons associated with said displacer pistons, said last means consisting solely of fluid communication conductors between one end of one power cylinder and one end of the displacer cylinder associated therewith and between one end of the other power cylinder and one end of the displacer cylinder associated with said other power cylinder, means for removing power from or adding power to the power pistons, and .Iaddend.pressure fluid means for varying the travel of said displacer 
     
     
        pistons in their cylinders. 8. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the pressure fluid means for varying the travel of said displacer pistons 
     
     
        comprises the gaseous working fluid. 9. The invention defined in claim 7 wherein the pressure fluid means for varying the travel of the displacer pistons comprises hydraulic fluid associated with the power pistons of the 
     
     
        thermal device. 10. .[.The invention defined in claim 4 including.]. .Iadd.Stirling cycle type device comprising a pair of opposed displacer pistons, a rigid rod interconnecting the displacer pistons for synchronous motion of said displacer pistons, a cylinder for each of said displacer pistons, a regenerator for each displacer cylinder through which a gaseous operating medium flows during reciprocation of each displacer piston in its displacer cylinder, a power piston operatively associated with each of the displacer pistons and mechanically free to move independently in respect to its associated displacer piston, a cylinder for each of the power pistons, means connecting the pair of power pistons for at least partial synchronous motion of said power pistons, means for adding heat to or removing heat from each end of the displacer cylinders and means providing a power coupling and cooperative connective movement between the displacer pistons and the power pistons associated with said displacer pistons, said last means consisting solely of fluid communication conductors between one end of one power cylinder and one end of the displacer cylinder associated therewith and between one end of the other power cylinder and one end of the displacer cylinder associated with said other power cylinder, means for removing power from or adding power to the power pistons, and .Iaddend.adjustable mechanical stop means for limiting 
     
     
        the motion of said piston rod connecting the displacer pistons. .Iadd.11. A Stirling cycle type device comprising a displacer piston, a displacer cylinder zone, said displacer piston mounted for reciprocation in said displacer cylinder zone, a displacer piston rod connected at one end to said displacer piston and in fluid communication at the other end with a second zone, a power piston, a power cylinder, said power piston mounted for reciprocation in the power cylinder normally mechanically independent of the reciprocation of the displacer piston, a working fluid in said displacer cylinder zone, means creating a pressure differential between the displacer cylinder zone and said second zone adapted to act on the area of the piston rod in said second zone, said last named means including means for adding heat to or removing heat from each end of the displacer cylinder zone, means providing a power coupling between the displacer piston and the power piston consisting solely of fluid communication conductors between one end of the power cylinder and the displacer cylinder zone, wherein said second zone is sealed against the pressure in the displacer cylinder zone, and a spring acting on that end of the displacer piston rod which is arranged in the space sealed against the pressure of the displacer cylinder zone. .Iaddend. .Iadd.12. The Stirling cycle type device as defined in claim 11 further including a second spring arranged in the same space and acting on the power piston, the restoring force of the said springs predominating over the compressive force at the end of the expansion of the working fluid.