Stirling mechanical arrangements especially for double-acting pi

Details Stirling mechanical arrangements especially for double-acting pi Stirling mechanical arrangements especially for double-acting pi

1981-11-16

1984-01-31

Ostrager, Allen M.

Power plants

Motor operated by expansion and/or contraction of a unit of...

Unit of mass is a gas which is heated or cooled in one of a...

60517, F02G 104

Patent

active

044281978

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates broadly to those machines or devices that incorporate the kinds of thermodynamic concepts involved in the engines developed last century and this century which are now frequently classified under the heading "Stirling" for Dr. Robert Stirling of Scotland. There unfortunately does exist at least some confusion over the breadth of the terms "Stirling engine" and "Stirling cycle", and therefore, the term "Stirling" however used hereinafter is intended in its broadest sense and thus contemplates all external combustion hot-gas engines (including the Ericsson variations) as well as cryogenic, refrigeration, heat pump, heart pump and any other devices operating on these or similar kinds of cycles.


BACKGROUND ART

Air engines reportedly date back to the late 17th century, but they did not appear in any significant numbers until after Dr. Robert Stirling patented his revolutionary concept in Great Britain in 1817. Thereafter, Stirling engines and variations thereof enjoyed some small degree of success for about a century until early in the 20th century when competition from electric motors and relatively lightweight internal combustion engines relegated the rather unwieldy Stirling engine into relative obscurity and what appeared would become irretrievable obsolescence.
Then, in about 1937, the N. V. Philips organization based in The Netherlands began development work on the Stirling concept, and by about 1958 they had succeeded in building a highly fuel efficient, single cylinder, experimental engine. Thereafter they developed a four cylinder Stirling engine variation utilizing double-acting pistons, and they installed it in a bus to investigate the feasibility of Stirling powered engines for vehicular purposes.
Since then, they and many other investigative teams have engaged in research and development activities to the ultimate end of employing Stirling devices in a variety of applications. Several small commercial devices have resulted, but none for vehicular purposes.
Research does continue, however, because Stirling engines would help solve many of today's environmental and energy concerns. Stirling engines can be made to operate relatively pollution free, they will operate on essentially any heat source or fuel capable of producing a sufficient temperature, they are potentially capable of achieving a higher thermal efficiency than internal combustion engines, and overall they can perform a wider variety of functions than most other prime movers. Today, more than ever before, there is a need for solving the problems that have kept the Stirling engine out of the marketplace.
Achieving a high thermal efficiency, and at the same time a reasonable power output per unit of engine weight, is accomplished by using a "working-gas" inside the cylinders that is highly pressurized. In very high performance devices this working-gas is preferably of high conductivity characteristics, as is helium, but hydrogen is generally preferred in automotive applications because it additionally is characterized by exceptionally low viscosity. And although any desirable fluid is difficult to contain at high pressures, hydrogen is particularly troublesome.
There has been some reasonable degree of success in containing the pressurized gas inside the cylinders or "working-gas enclosures", however the means of achieving this success add considerable bulk and mechanism to what originally was an unusually simple engine configuration. Bulk increases size and cost, while added mechanism increases cost and reduces reliability. And these factors combine to make current designs non-competitive with other and better known engines.
It was precisely this discomforting aspect of Stirling design that precipitated by copending patent application in the United States of America (Ser. No. 080,566 now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,303) entitled ENGINES, AND PARTICULARLY THOSE INCORPORATING THE STIRLING CYCLE filed Oct. 1, 1979. A corresponding application was filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (Serial No.

REFERENCES:
patent: 2588666 (1952-03-01), Slemmons
patent: 3157024 (1964-11-01), McCrory et al.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Stirling mechanical arrangements especially for double-acting pi does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Stirling mechanical arrangements especially for double-acting pi, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Stirling mechanical arrangements especially for double-acting pi will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2340050