Patent · US Expired

Stirling engine displacer gas bearing

US4387568A · kind A · utility

50Cited by
50References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJul 14, 1980
Grant dateJun 14, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateJul 14, 2000

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02G2258/10
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A gas bearing for the axially reciprocating displacer and power piston members in a free piston Stirling engine includes a bearing sleeve having a pair of interconnected annular pressure plenums formed by ribs on the outer surface of the sleeve which form a seal with the inner walls of a cylinder in which the sleeve is seated. The outer side of the raised ribs provide a second set of interconnecting drain plenums. A source of a high pressure gas, pressurized internally by the engine itself, is connected to the pressure plenum which communicates with the axially reciprocating members through a multitude of narrow orifices. The bearing gas is drained into the second or drained plenum through a large number of larger sized orifices.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.