Apparatus and method for the speed or power control of stirling type machines
AssigneeStirling Technology Company
InventorBruce J. Chagnot
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention comprises both apparatus and an accompanying method for the controlling of the speed, stroke and power output of a Stirling engine. The invention positions a valving arrangement to control the working gas flow within a gas flow passage connecting the hot end and cold end of the displacer cylinder; the valving arrangement is controlled by a suitable engine speed, stroke or power detector.
Claims10
Apparatus for controlling power of a Stirling type machine having separate expansion and compression spaces connected by a flow passage through which the working gas passes, wherein the improvement comprises,
- a variable valving arrangement positioned in the working gas flow passage for continuously regulating the flow resistance of the working gas flow passage during machine operation;
- and
- sensing means for controlling the valving arrangement to increase the flow resistance in response to increases of operating speed beyond selected operating limits.
Apparatus for controlling power of a Stirling type machine having separate expansion and compression spaces connected by a flow passage through which the working gas passes, wherein the improvement comprises,
- a variable valving arrangement positioned in the working gas flow passage for continuously regulating the flow resistance of the working gas flow passage during machine operation;
- and
- sensing means for controlling the valving arrangement to increase the flow resistance in response to increases of operating stroke beyond selected operating limits.
A method for controlling the output power from a Stirling engine of the type having an expansion space and a compression space containing a working gas and connected together through a working gas flow passage usually including a regenerator, the method comprising
- reducing the power by continuously increasing the flow resistance through said flow passage.
A method for controlling the power from a Stirling machine of the type having an expansion space and a compression space containing a working gas and connected together through a working gas flow passage usually including a regenerator, the method comprising
- modulating output by increasing the flow resistance through said flow passage to decrease output and decreasing said flow resistance to increase output.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.