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US 4,231,222 AGranted
Air fuel control system for Stirling engine
AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorJames E. Fenton
Life of this patent
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AssigneeFord Motor Company
InventorJames E. Fenton
Estimating the term…
An air/fuel control system (including apparatus and method for a Stirling engine is disclosed. A signal generated by deviation of the temperature of the heater head gas temperature from a set-point is used to control an air flow throttle valve. Variations in the air flow of the external combustion circuit is sensed by way of a vortex-shedding device which delivers a D.C. electrical signal. The signal is shaped and amplified and used to control operation of one or more fuel injectors which feed into a common outlet manifold leading to the fuel nozzle serving the external combustion circuit. The fuel injectors are solenoid operated, one sized to provide a fuel flow rate of 0.4-2.0 g/sec., and at least two others are sized to provide a combined fuel flow rate of 2-15 g/sec., but 180.degree. out of phase with each other. The series of injectors provide an effective fuel control range of 0.4-15 grams/sec. to achieve an air/fuel ratio range of 37.5 to 1.
In an apparatus for maintaining the temperature of a heater head of a hot gas engine at a substantially constant temperature, the engine having a combustion chamber and the apparatus having a temperature responsive element giving a signal in accordance with the temperature of the heater head, said apparatus further having a servo-system governed by said signal and a regulating means including a combustion air blower driven by the engine governing the rate of delivery of combustion air from the blower operable by said servo-system, the improvement comprising:
A method of controlling the air and fuel supply to the combustor unit of a Stirling engine, comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.