US4036018A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Self-starting, free piston Stirling engine
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1976-02-27
•
Granted: 1977-07-19
•
Expires: 1996-02-27
Abstract
Abstract A free piston, Stirling engine is provided with seals which permit a limited range of friction-free displacer piston movement for allowing a starting perturbation of displacer piston position. The seal is a sealing ring resiliently mounted to one of two slidably engaged members of the Stirling engine with a limited freedom of movement relative to that member and sealingly slidable along the other member.
Inventors
- 👤 William T. Beale
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 01:22
CPC Classifications
F; F02; F02G; F02G1/00; F02G1/04; F02G1/043; F02G1/0435; F02G2275/00; F02G2275/20; F02G2275/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
A self-starting, free piston Stirling cycle engine having a housing enclosing a work space and a second space which are separated by a power piston reciprocally mounted in a cylinder and further having a displacer piston slidable in a displacer cylinder, the displacer piston having an attached displacer rod means slidably mounted to a bore means communicating between said work space and said second space, wherein the improvement comprises a first seal member sealingly slidable along one of said means and resiliently attached to the other of said means by a resilient support which permits limited, nonfrictional movement of said seal member relative to the means to which it is attached.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
A self-starting, free piston Stirling cycle engine having a housing enclosing a work space and a second space which are separated by a power piston reciprocally mounted in a cylinder and further having a displacer piston slidable in a displacer cylinder, the displacer piston having an attached displacer rod means slidably mounted to a bore means communicating between said work space and said second space, wherein the improvement comprises a first seal member sealingly slidable along one of said means and resiliently attached to the other of said means by a resilient support which permits limited, nonfrictional movement of said seal member relative to the means to which it is attached.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
An engine according to claim 1 wherein said seal member comprises a sealing ring and wherein one of said means is formed with an annular groove in which said resilient support is attached, said groove having opposite side walls spaced further than the width of said ring and against which said ring can move into sealing engagement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
An engine according to claim 2 wherein said resilient support includes a plurality of radial arms engaging the bottom wall of said groove.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
An engine according to claim 2 wherein said resilient support comprises a corrugated annular disk.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
An engine according to claim 2 wherein said resilient support is biased in opposition to the weight of the displacer piston for supporting the displacer piston with the sealing ring spaced from the opposite side walls of said groove.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An engine according to claim 2 wherein said resilient support comprises axially aligned spring members extending between said ring and the walls of said groove.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
An engine according to claim 1 wherein said resilient support is substantially fluid impervious and is sealingly attached to said other of said means and to said seal member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
An engine according to claim 7 wherein said resilient support is a corrugated, annular disk.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
57 words
An engine according to claim 7 wherein said seal member comprises a sealing ring and wherein one of said means is formed with an annular groove in which said resilient support is attached, said groove having opposite side walls spaced further than the width of said ring and against which said ring can move into sealing engagement.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
An engine according to claim 7 wherein said resilient support comprises a cylindrical, annularly ridged bellows.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
An engine according to claim 7 wherein said resilient support comprises of an elastic ring.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
59 words
An engine according to claim 1 wherein the improvement further comprises a second seal member sealingly slidable along one of either of said displacer piston or its cylinder and attached to the other by a resilient support which permits limited, nonfrictional movement of said second seal member relative to the displacer cylinder or piston to which it is attached.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
50 words
An engine according to claim 12 wherein said seal members each comprise a sealing ring and wherein said resilient support is mounted in an annular groove, said groove having opposite side walls spaced further than the width of said ring and against which said ring can move into sealing engagement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An engine according to claim 12 wherein each of said resilient supports is substantially fluid impervious.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3456438A
Cited
US3552120A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1980-07-18 | 1981-01-17 | 1981-07-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-07-18 | 1985-01-17 | 1985-07-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-07-18 | 1989-01-17 | 1989-07-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |