Patent · US Expired

Leaky gas spring valve for preventing piston overstroke in a free piston stirling engine

US4945726A · kind A · utility

18Cited by
2References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateAug 23, 1989
Grant dateAug 7, 1990
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 23, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02G2275/20
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The invention is for the prevention of power piston overstroke in a Stirling cycle machine, wherein there is a gas valve which vents the gas spring acting upon the displacer. The valve and its accompanying control system switch on a leak in the gas spring to vent the gas spring upon piston stroke beyond a selected magnitude. This reduces the spring constant which reduces the displacer amplitude and phase lead over the power piston and thereby reduces power output.

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