# US 10,309,376 B1 · Alpha-stream convertor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,309,376 B1 - Document ID: US10309376B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/858,424 - Filed: 2015-09-18 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2012-06-27 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Applicants: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration - Inventors: Rodger W. Dyson; Geoffrey A. Bruder - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10309376B1 ## CPC - F02G 1/04: of closed-cycle type - F03G 7/002: {using the energy of vibration of fluid columns} - F03G 7/027: {Control or monitoring} - F02G 2243/54: thermo-acoustic - F02G: HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS (steam engine plants, special vapour plants, plants operating on either hot gas or combustion-product gases together with other fluid F01K; gas-turbine plants F02C; jet-propulsion plants F02K); USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - F03G: SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS; MECHANICAL-POWER PRODUCING DEVICES OR MECHANISMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR OR USING ENERGY SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (arrangements in connection with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60K16/00; electric propulsion with power supply in vehicles from force of nature B60L8/00) ## Abstract A thermo-acoustic engine and/or cooler is provided and includes an elongated tubular body, multiple regenerators disposed within the body, multiple heat exchangers disposed within the body, where at least one heat exchanger is disposed adjacent to each of the multiple regenerators, multiple transducers axially disposed at each end of the body, and an acoustic wave source generating acoustic waves. At least one of the acoustic waves is amplified by one of the regenerators and at least another acoustic wave is amplified by a second one of regenerators. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A thermo-acoustic engine comprising: an elongated body having a linear axis; a first regenerator disposed within the body on the linear axis, the first regenerator generating a first acoustic wave; a second regenerator disposed within the body on the linear axis, the second regenerator generating a second acoustic wave, wherein the linear axis does not curve between the first and second regenerators; a first transducer axially disposed at one end of the body; and a second transducer axially disposed at an opposite end of the body, wherein the first acoustic wave and the second acoustic wave are superimposed to form a higher amplitude acoustic wave. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 1 further comprising a first heat exchanger disposed adjacent to a side of the first regenerator. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 2 further comprising a second heat exchanger disposed adjacent to an opposite side of the first regenerator and adjacent to a side of the second regenerator. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 3 further comprising a third heat exchanger disposed adjacent to an opposite side of the second regenerator. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 4 wherein the first heat exchanger heats or cools the side of the first regenerator to a temperature greater than a temperature that the second heat exchanger heats or cools the opposite side of the first regenerator. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 5 wherein said second heat exchanger heats or cools the side of the second regenerator to a temperature greater than a temperature that the third heat exchanger heats or cools the opposite side of the second regenerator. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 4 wherein the first heat exchanger and the third heat exchanger are hot heat exchangers. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 7 wherein the second heat exchanger is a cold heat exchanger. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 1 further comprising at least one signal transducer disposed within the body. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 1 further comprising at least one power transducer disposed within the body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 10 further comprising at least one power transducer axially disposed at each end of the body. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 6, wherein the first regenerator directly contacts the first and second heat exchangers. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 12, wherein the second regenerator directly contacts the second and third heat exchangers such that the first heat exchanger, the first regenerator, the second heat exchanger, the second regenerator, and the third heat exchanger form a continuous body centered about the linear axis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The thermo-acoustic engine of claim 13, wherein the continuous body is centered between the one end and the opposite end.