Stirling cycle machine
AssigneeSustainable Engine Systems Limited
InventorRichard Furneaux Kinnersly
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Stirling cycle machine has a piston (11) which reciprocates in a cylinder (12) and defines a hot chamber (23) between the piston (11) and end of cylinder (12). Heat exchange for the working fluid in the hot chamber (23) is effected while the working fluid is outside the hot chamber (23) in a flow path (24) communicating with that chamber (23). The piston (11) has a concave crown forming a surface (31) of the hot chamber (23). A seal is provided by a land (33) of larger diameter than the general diameter of the piston (11) formed around the upper periphery of the piston (11) and at least one annular groove (36) formed in the land (33) to disrupt free flow of working fluid along the gap between the land (33) and the cylinder wall.
Claims8
A stirling cycle machine in which a piston (11) reciprocates in a cylinder (12) to define a hot chamber (23) of the machine, and in which heat exchange for working fluid in the hot chamber (23) is effected while the working fluid is outside the hot chamber (23) in flow path (24) communicating with that chamber (23);
- the piston (11) having a concave crown forming a surface (31) of the hot chamber (23);
- characterize in that the concave crown surface (31) of the piston (11) joins a cylindrical external surface to the piston to define an acute outer peripheral edge (32) to the piston.
A stirling cycle machine in which a piston (11) reciprocates in a cylinder (12) to define a hot chamber (23) of the machine, and in which heat exchanger for working fluid in the hot chamber (23) is effected while the working is outside the hot chamber (23) in the flow path (24) communicating with that chamber (23);
- characterised in that the piston (11) incorporates a land (33) of larger diameter than the general diameter of the piston (11) around its upper periphery.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.