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US 7,191,596 B2Granted
Stirling engine and hybrid system that uses the Stirling engine
AssigneeToyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
InventorsHiroshi Yaguchi, Daisaku Sawada
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Stirling engine includes at least a first cylinder and a second cylinder arranged in serial, and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger includes a radiator, a regenerator, and a heater. At least a part of the heat exchanger is formed in a curved shape so as to connect between the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The heater is formed in a curved shape so as to connect between the first cylinder and the second cylinder. The radiator and the regenerator are linearly formed along the direction of extension of the cylinder.
Claims16
A Stirling engine comprising:
- at least two cylinders, a first cylinder including a first piston and a second cylinder including a second piston, arranged in series;
- a drive shaft that connects the first piston and the second piston;
- a first connecting shaft that connects a piston pin, which is arranged on the first piston, and the first piston;
- a second connecting shaft that connects a piston pin, which is arranged on the second piston, and the second piston;
- and
- a heat exchanger that includes a radiator, a regenerator, and a heater, wherein:
- at least a part of the heat exchanger is formed in a curved shape so as to connect the first cylinder and the second cylinder,
- an output of the Stirling engine is taken out through the drive shaft,
- if a first distance is a distance between a top of the first piston and the drive shaft when the first piston is at top dead center, and a second distance is a distance between a top of the second piston and the drive shaft when the second piston is at top dead center, then the first distance is not equal to the second distance,
- a difference between the first distance and the second distance is equal to a difference between lengths of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft, and
- the difference between the first distance and the second distance is by at least a length of the radiator.
8 more elements
A hybrid system comprising:
- a Stirling engine including:
- at least two cylinders, a first cylinder including a first piston and a second cylinder including a second piston, arranged in series;
- a drive shaft that connects the first piston and the second piston;
- a first connecting shaft that connects a piston pin, which is arranged on the first piston, and the first piston;
- a second connecting shaft that connects a piston pin, which is arranged on the second piston, and the second piston;
- and
- a heat exchanger that includes a radiator, a regenerator, and a heater, wherein:
- at least a part of the heat exchanger is formed in a curved shape so as to connect the first cylinder and the second cylinder
- an output of the Stirling engine is taken out through the drive shaft,
- if a first distance is a distance between a top of the first piston and the drive shaft when the first piston is at top dead center, and a second distance is a distance between a top of the second piston and the drive shaft when the second piston is at top dead center, then the first distance is not equal to the second distance,
- a difference between the first distance and the second distance is equal to a difference between lengths of the first connecting shaft and the second connecting shaft, and
- the difference between the first distance and the second distance is by at least a length of the radiator;
- and
- an internal combustion engine that drives a vehicle that includes an exhaust system, wherein:
- the Stirling engine is mounted on the vehicle, and
- the heater of the Stirling engine receives heat from the exhaust system.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.