Stirling cycle engine and refrigeration systems

A Stirling cycle system comprising:

• first and second variable volume chambers;
• a working fluid;
• heating means for supplying heat at a temperature T.sub.h to working fluid present in said first chamber;
• cooling means for absorbing heat at a temperature T.sub.c from working fluid present in said second chamber, T.sub.h >>
• T.sub.c ;
• a first displacer mounted for reciprocal motion between said first and second chambers to alternately vary the volumes thereof;
• a first regenerator in communication with said first and second chambers for providing a communication path for working fluid passing between said first and second chambers, the working fluid being at a variable pressure definable as P.sub.1 ;
• a first displacer piston coupled to said first displacer and defining an end surface remote therefrom;
• an auxiliary chamber at a substantially constant pressure definable as P.sub.O said end surface of said first displacer piston being exposed in said auxiliary chamber, P.sub.O being between the maximum and minimum levels of P.sub.1 ;
• a drive piston having a top surface exposed in said first chamber;
• and
• drive means including means for coupling said drive piston to said drive means, for moving said drive piston from a first position in which the total volumes of said first and second chambers is a maximum and the working fluid pressure P.sub.1 is at a minimum level below P.sub.O to a second position in which the total volume of said first and second chambers is a minimum and the pressure P.sub.1 of said working fluid is at a maximum level above P.sub.O, said first displacer moving in a direction to minimize the volume of said second chamber and force the working fluid to pass through said first regenerator to said first chamber when P.sub.1 exceeds P.sub.O, the working fluid in said first chamber being heated by said heating means thereby applying a force to said drive piston in a direction to drive said drive piston from said second position toward said first position thereby increasing the total volume of said first and second chamber with said working fluid expanding in said first chamber and the pressure thereof being reduced from said maximum level as said drive piston moves from said second position to said first position, said drive means including flywheel means for driving said piston to said first position at a rate whereby said working fluid pressure P.sub.1 drops below P.sub.0 when said drive piston moves from said second to said first position, said first displacer moving in a direction to maximize the volume of said second chamber and force working fluid through said first regenerator from said first chamber to said second chamber when P.sub.1 exceeds P.sub.0.