# US 7,744,133 B2 · Jointed head with temporary clamp for stirling machine > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,133 B2 - Document ID: US7744133B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/711,379 - Filed: 2007-02-27 - Published: 2008-08-28 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2007-02-27 - Assignees: SunPower Corporation - Inventors: James Gary Wood; Joseph P. Carroll - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744133B2 ## CPC - F16J 13/065: {the clamp comprising a ring encircling the flange} - F02G 1/0435: {the engine being of the free piston type} - F02G 1/0535: {Seals or sealing arrangements} - F02G 2257/00: Regenerators - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - F02G: HOT GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINE PLANTS (steam engine plants, special vapour plants, plants operating on either hot gas or combustion-product gases together with other fluid F01K; gas-turbine plants F02C; jet-propulsion plants F02K); USE OF WASTE HEAT OF COMBUSTION ENGINES; NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A clamping apparatus for allowing pre-close-out access to the head of a Stirling machine and facilitating subsequent close-out welding of the head. The head is axially separable into removable and fixed portions that engage each other. Each portion has an annular flange extending radially outwardly at its engaging end, and each flange has an annular groove. O-rings are seated in the grooves. A temporary sealing ring surrounds and engages the O-rings. Clamping rings seat against axially opposite sides of the abutting annular flanges. Fasteners draw the rings together, thereby drawing the fixed and removable portions of the head together and securing them against relative axial movement. For close-out of the machine, the clamping rings, temporary sealing ring, and O-rings are removed and the grooved annular flanges serve as weld reliefs for final hermetic close-out welding. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A clamping apparatus for allowing pre-close-out access to, and facilitating the permanent sealing of, the regenerator packing of a Stirling machine having a head axially separable into a removable portion and a fixed portion, each portion having an end that engages the other, the apparatus comprising: (a) an annular flange extending radially outwardly from substantially each engaging end, each flange having a concentric outwardly opening annular groove; (b) O-rings removably seated in the grooves of the annular flanges; (c) a removable sealing ring surrounding and sealingly engaging the O-rings; (d) two clamping rings, each ring having an annular, axially facing end surface along the circumferential edge of one of its axially opposite sides, each ring surrounding the head, with the annular end surfaces engaging the annular flanges; and (e) fasteners engaging the clamping rings for clamping the annular flanges together between the clamping rings. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the clamping rings additionally have a plurality of holes spaced annularly about each clamping ring, each hole aligned along an axis parallel to the axis of the clamping ring and axially aligned with an opposing hole on the other clamping ring, and a plurality of fasteners extending through each pair of opposing holes for drawing the clamping rings together. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the clamping apparatus additionally comprises a retainer engaging the clamping rings for securing the clamping rings against outward radial movement. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein each clamping ring has an annular shoulder along said inner circumferential edge of one of its axially opposite sides, one surface of the annular shoulder being said annular, axially facing end surface and the other surface of said annular shoulder being a radially inwardly facing surface. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the engaging end of one head portion has an alignment shoulder and the engaging end of the other head portion has an overlapping alignment lip extending into the shoulder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein at least one clamping ring comprises two or more component segments. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein both clamping rings comprise two or more component segments. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein each clamping ring has an annular shoulder along said circumferential edge of one of its axially opposite sides, one surface of the annular shoulder being said annular, axially facing end surface and the other surface of said annular shoulder being a radially inwardly facing surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the clamping apparatus additionally comprises a retainer engaging the clamping rings for removably securing the component segments of the rings against radial movement. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 9, wherein the retainer comprises an annular retaining ring surrounding and engaging the clamping rings. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 10, wherein the clamping rings additionally comprise a plurality of holes spaced annularly about each clamping ring, each hole aligned along an axis parallel to the axis of the clamping ring and axially aligned with an opposing hole on the other clamping ring, and a plurality of fasteners extending through each pair of opposing holes for drawing the clamping rings together. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 11, wherein the clamping rings are removably seated concentrically around the head and have an inner diameter substantially equal to the outer diameter of the head. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) A clamping apparatus in accordance with claim 12, wherein the engaging end of one head portion has an alignment shoulder and the engaging end of the other head portion has an overlapping alignment lip extending into the shoulder.