US 11,022,067 B2 · Closed cycle regenerative heat engines

Abstract

A closed cycle regenerative heat engine has a housing (12) defining a chamber (14). A displacer (18) is housed in the chamber. A shaft (24) is connected with the displacer and extends from the chamber. A power piston (30) is housed in the chamber. The displacer (18) is secured to the housing (12) and is resiliently deformable from a rest condition in response to movement of the shaft (24) to displace the working fluid in the chamber. The displacer may be a multi-start volute spring. The displacer (18) may be provided with a heat storage reservoir to store heat received from a working fluid as the working fluid is displaced from a heating location in the chamber (14) to a cooling location in the chamber and reject heat to the working fluid when the working fluid is displaced from the cooling location to the heating location.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A closed cycle regenerative heat engine comprising:

a housing defining a chamber;
a resiliently deformable displacer housed in said chamber;
a shaft connected with said resiliently deformable displacer;
and
a movable member housed in said chamber,
wherein said resiliently deformable displacer is secured to said housing and is resiliently deformable in response to movement of said shaft to displace a working fluid between respective heating and cooling locations in said chamber at which heat is input to said working fluid and said working fluid is cooled,
said resiliently deformable displacer comprises a multi-start volute spring and
said movable member is in sealing engagement with said housing and movable in response to pressure changes of said working fluid caused by said heating and cooling of said working fluid to provide a mechanical power output.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Closed cycle regenerative heat engines

Life of this patent

Closed cycle regenerative heat engines

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims25