Control valve for a stirling engine
US8534063B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 10, 2010 |
| Grant date | Sep 17, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 20, 2032 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF02G2270/40
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A control valve for a double acting type Stirling engine of the type having two or more piston assemblies reciprocating in bores with each of the piston assemblies separating isolated volumes of a working gas. The control valve provides the functions of a check valve which allows an internally defined volume within the engine to be held at a low pressure near the minimum pressure of the cycle volumes. The valve may further be actuated to unload the engine to provide low starting torque and to unload the engine in case of an engine or load malfunction. The control valve further provides a controlled leakage path for working fluid flowing between the cycle volumes and the minimum pressure volume which acts as part of a pressure balancing system for the Stirling engine which maintains the volume or mass of a working fluid in a balanced condition between the cycle volumes.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.