Heat engine rod seal system

A rod seal system for a heat engine, such as a Stirling cycle engine, having a low pressure area, a high pressure area containing a working gas, and a moving rod extending between said low pressure area and said high pressure area, said rod seal system comprising:

• a first rod seal, engaging said rod, said first rod seal inhibiting working gas flow into said low pressure area,
• a second rod seal, engaging said rod between said first rod seal and said high pressure area, said second rod seal inhibiting working gas flow out of said high pressure area,
• said first rod seal and said second rod seal defining therebetween a buffer area, said buffer area having a higher pressure than said low pressure area and a lower pressure than said high pressure area,
• a working gas conduit between said buffer area and said high pressure area,
• a solid state pump, located within said working gas conduit, that is passively charged with working gas received from said buffer area at relatively low pressure and releases working gas at relatively high pressure when actuated, thereby forcing working gas received from said buffer area into said high pressure area through said working gas conduit, and wherein;
• and
• wherein said low pressure area contains a lubricant, said lubricant is present on said rod, and said rod seal system further includes lubricant separation means, positioned within said working gas conduit, for inhibiting the passage of lubricant from said buffer area to said high pressure area through said working gas conduit and for isolating said lubricant.

A rod seal system for a heat engine, such as a Stirling cycle engine, having a low pressure area, a high pressure area containing hydrogen gas, and a reciprocating rod extending between said low pressure area and said high pressure area, said rod seal system comprising:

• a first rod seal, engaging said rod, said first rod seal inhibiting hydrogen gas flow into said low pressure area,
• a second rod seal, engaging said rod between said first rod seal and said high pressure area, said second rod seal inhibiting hydrogen gas flow out of said high pressure area,
• said first rod seal and said second rod seal defining therebetween a buffer area, said buffer area having a higher pressure than said low pressure area and a lower pressure than said high pressure area,
• a conduit between said buffer area and said high pressure area, and
• a metal hydride pump, located within said conduit, that receives hydrogen gas from said buffer means and releases hydrogen gas to said high pressure area when actuated;
• and
• a first check valve positioned within said conduit allowing working gas to flow from said buffer area toward said high pressure area and inhibiting working gas from flowing from said high pressure area toward said buffer area.

A rod seal system for a heat engine, such as a Stirling cycle engine, having a low pressure area, a high pressure area containing a working gas, and a reciprocating rod extending between said low pressure area and said high pressure area, said rod seal system comprising:

• first sealing means for inhibiting working gas flow into said low pressure area,
• second sealing means for inhibiting working gas flow out of said high pressure area,
• a buffer chamber between said first sealing means and said second sealing means, said buffer chamber having a higher internal pressure than said low pressure area and a lower internal pressure than said high pressure area,
• a conduit between said buffer chamber and said high pressure area, and
• pumping means for passively concentrating working gas received at relatively low pressure from said buffer chamber and for releasing working gas at relatively high pressure when said pumping means are actuated, thereby forcing working gas received from said buffer chamber into said high pressure area through said conduit;
• and
• a first check valve positioned within said conduit allowing working gas to flow from said buffer chamber toward said high pressure area and inhibiting working gas from flowing from said high pressure area toward said buffer chamber.