Stirling engine

• US 5,722,239 A
• Filed: 02/26/1997
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stirling Biopower, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stirling Thermal Motors Incorporated
• Inventors: Houtman, William H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kamen, Noah P.
• Application Number:
  US08/806,611
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 60/517, 60/520, 60/525
• US Class Current: 60/517
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 1/044 having at least two working members, e.g. pistons, delivering power output
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2244/50 Double acting piston machines
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2253/03 Stem seals
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2254/11 Catalytic burners
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2254/30 using solar radiation
• CPC Class Codes: F02G 2254/70 by catalytic conversion, i.e. flameless oxydation

Abstract

A stirling engine having multiple mutually parallel distant cylinders which operates in a double acting cycle configuration. The engine includes a drive case having a rotatable drive shaft which is mounted to a cylinder block. The cylinder block includes mutually parallel cylinder bores and mutually parallel cooler bores. A generally flat retainer plate is mounted to a flat mounting surface of the cylinder bore to affix cylinder extensions and regenerator housings to the block mounting surface in alignment with the cylinder bores and regenerator bores.

Claims

1. A Stirling engine comprising:

a cylinder block defining a plurality of mutually parallel cylinder bores and cooler bores, and said block defining a block mating surface perpendicular to said cooler bores with said cylinder bores and said cooler bores opening on said block mating surface,

a plurality of pistons positioned within said cylinder bores and reciprocatable therein,

a plurality of regenerator housings defining an enclosed end and an opened end,

a plurality of regenerators mounted within said regenerator housings,

a heater assembly having flow passages for a working fluid causing said working fluid to gain heat, said heater assembly connected to said regenerator housing enclosed ends, and

a one-piece retainer plate having a plurality of regenerator housing bores corresponding to and aligned with said cooler bores, said retainer plate mounted to said cylinder block mating surface thereby clamping said regenerator housings to said block mating surface in alignment with said cooler bores.

2. A Stirling engine according to claim 1 further comprising:

said retainer plate regenerator housing bores having a diameter greater than that of said regenerator housing at said regenerator housing opened ends, whereby said retainer plate can be placed over said open ends of said regenerator housings while said heater assembly is connected with a plurality of said regenerator housings, locking ring elements placed between said retainer plate and said regenerator housings enabling said retainer plate to clamp said regenerator housings to said cylinder block mating surface.

3. A Stirling engine according to claim 2 wherein said locking ring elements comprise semicircular elements which cooperate in pairs to engage said regenerator housings.

4. A Stirling engine according to claim 1 further comprising said retainer plate having opposing parallel face surfaces with one of said face surfaces confronting said cylinder block mating surface.

5. A Stirling engine according to claim 1 further comprising a plurality of threaded fasteners engaging said cylinder block and said retainer plate for causing said retainer plate to be clamped against said cylinder block.

6. A Stirling engine according to claim 1 wherein said retainer plate forms a plurality of fastener bores which generally encircle said regenerator housing bores and receive said threaded fasteners.

7. A Stirling engine according to claim 1 further comprising said regenerator housings and said cylinder block mating surface having seal means between said regenerator housings and said cylinder block surrounding said cooler bores for providing sealing while allowing limited disalignment between said regenerator housings and said cooler bores.

8. A Stirling engine according to claim 1 further comprising said cylinder block defining a longitudinal axis and said cylinder block having four of said cylinder bores arranged in a square cluster near said longitudinal axis and said cylinder block having four of said cooler bores arranged in a square cluster lying outside of said cylinder bores.

9. A Stirling engine according to claim 8 further comprising said cylinder bores and said cooler bores aligned such that radials with respect to said longitudinal axis through centers of said cooler bores pass between adjacent of said cylinder bores.

10. A Stirling engine comprising:

a cylinder block defining a plurality of mutually parallel cylinder bores, and said block defining a block mating surface perpendicular to said cylinder bores with said cylinder bores opening on said block mating surface,

a plurality of pistons positioned within said cylinder bores and reciprocatable therein,

tubular cylinder extensions cooperating with said cylinder bores to receive said pistons, said extensions defining an enclosed end and an opened end,

a heater assembly having flow passages for a working fluid causing said working fluid to gain heat, said heater assembly connected to said cylinder extension enclosed ends, and

a one-piece retainer plate having a plurality of cylinder extension bores corresponding to and aligned with said cylinder bores, said retainer plate mounted to said cylinder block mating surface thereby clamping said cylinder extensions to said block mating surface in alignment with said cylinder bores.

11. A Stirling engine according to claim 10 further comprising:

said retainer plate cylinder extension bores having a diameter greater than that of said cylinder extensions at said cylinder extension opened ends, whereby said retainer plate can be placed over said open ends of said cylinder extensions while said heater assembly is connected with a plurality of said cylinder extensions, locking ring elements placed between said retainer plate and said cylinder extensions enabling said retainer plate to clamp said cylinder extensions to said cylinder block mating surface.

12. A Stirling engine according to claim 11 wherein said locking ring elements comprise semicircular elements which cooperate in pairs to engage said cylinder extensions.

13. A Stirling engine according to claim 12 further comprising said retainer plate having opposing parallel face surfaces with one of said face surfaces confronting said cylinder block mating surface.

14. A Stirling engine according to claim 11 further comprising a plurality of threaded fasteners engaging said cylinder block and said retainer plate for causing said retainer plate to be clamped against said cylinder block.

15. A Stirling engine according to claim 11 wherein said retainer plate forms a plurality of fastener bores which generally encircle said retainer plate cylinder extension bores and receive said threaded fasteners.

16. A Stirling engine according to claim 15 further comprising said cylinder extensions and said cylinder block mating surface having piloting means for providing concentric alignment between said cylinder extensions and said cylinder block cylinder bores.

17. A Stirling engine according to claim 11 further comprising said cylinder block defining a plurality of cooler bores and a longitudinal axis and said cylinder block having four of said cylinder bores arranged in a square cluster near said longitudinal axis and said cylinder block having four of said cooler bores arranged in a square cluster lying outside of said cylinder bores.

18. A Stirling engine according to claim 11 further comprising said cylinder bores and said cooler bores aligned such that radials with respect to said longitudinal axis through centers of said cooler bores pass between adjacent of said cylinder bores.