Thermal oscillator

Claim 2

A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising: heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink; a working fluid adapted to flow through the heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink; and at least two positive displacement elements that oscillate out of phase with one another and in resonance in combination with one another interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle.

Claim 3

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising means for extracting work from at least one of the positive displacement elements.

Claim 4

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the positive displacement elements drives a fluid pumping stage for pumping a secondary fluid therethrough.

Claim 5

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 wherein one of the positive displacement elements drives an oscillatory electric generator for generating electric power therefrom.

Claim 6

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 and additinally comprising gas spring means adapted to oppose the inertial force of at least one of the positive displacement elements throughout the entire travel of said element.

Claim 7

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said positive displacement elements provides a net energy exchange between the working fluid and the heat exchange means, and at least one other such element provides volumetric expansion and compression of the working fluid.

Claim 8

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least two positive displacement elements in combination provide a net energy exchange between the working fluid and the heat exchange means and volumetric expansion and compression of the working fluid.

Claim 9

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said heat exchange means includes at least one regenerator.

Claim 10

A thermal machine as recited in claim 10 wherein said positive displacement elements are mechanically coupled.

Claim 11

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said positive displacement elements have variable stroke to provide variable said net energy exchange.

Claim 12

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 wherein said positive displacement elements have variable relative phase to provide variable said net energy exchange.

Claim 13

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising a heat exchanger matrix interposed in the working fluid to cause the compression and expansion of said working fluid to be more nearly isothermal.

Claim 14

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising a ballast fluid of similar composition to said working fluid where said ballast fluid is subjected to a pressure variation that is in phase opposition to said working fluid.

Claim 15

A thermal machine as recited in claim 13 wherein said working fluid mass equals said ballast fluid mass.

Claim 16

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising a bounce chamber adapted to prevent occassional, accidental overstroking of at least one of the positive displacement elements.

Claim 17

A thermal machine as recited in claim 15 wherein said bounce chamber has damping means.

Claim 18

A thermal machine as recited in claim 16 wherein said damping means comprises a tapered female chamber into which a straight-sided male plunger mates.

Claim 19

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 and additionally comprising means for oscillating at least one of the positive displacement elements to provide a net heat energy exchange between the working fluid and the heat exchange means.

Claim 20

A thermal machine as recited in claim 13 wherein said net heat energy exchange comprises heat pumped from the thermal source to the thermal sink, the temperature of said thermal source being less than the temperature of said thermal sink.

Claim 21

A thermal machine as recited in claim 18 wherein said oscillating means comprises oscillating positive displacement elements producing variation in pressure of said working fluid.

Claim 22

A thermal machine as recited in claim 18 wherein said oscillating means comprises an oscillating electric motor.

Claim 23

A thermal machine as recited in claim 18 wherein said oscillating means comprises an oscillating fluid motor.

Claim 24

A thermal machine as recited in claim 18 wherein said oscillating means comprises in combination oscillating positive displacement elements producing a periodic variation in pressure of said working fluid and an oscillating electric motor.

Claim 25

A thermal machine as recited in claim 18 wherein said oscillating means comprises in combination oscillating positive displacement elements producing periodic variation in pressure of said working fluid and an oscillating fluid motor.

Claim 26

A thermal machine as recited in claim 18 wherein one of the positive displacement elements drives an oscillating electric generator for generating electric power therefrom.

Claim 27

A thermal machine as recited in claim 18 wherein one of the positive displacement elements drives a fluid pump stage for pumping a secondary fluid therethrough.

Claim 28

A thermal machine as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of the positive displacement elements comprises a cylinder and a free-floating piston interposed in said cylinder.

Claim 29

A thermal machine as recited in claim 27 wherein a first portion of the cylinder has a diameter different from the diameter of a second portion of the cylinder, and wherein the piston has a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion and conform thereto and a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion and conform thereto.

Claim 30

A thermal machine as recited in claim 27 wherein the cylinder includes a floating cylinder sleeve wherein said piston reciprocates.

Claim 31

A thermal machine as recited in claim 27 wherein the cylinder includes a cylinder sleeve in which said piston reciprocates.

Claim 32

A thermal machine as recited in claim 27 wherein said cylinder includes a cylinder sleeve and wherein said piston is constructed of material similar to said sleeve.

Claim 33

A thermal machine as recited in claim 30 wherein said sleeve is a ceramic material.

Claim 34

A thermal machine as recited in claim 30 wherein said sleeve is a composite material.

Claim 35

A thermal machine as recited in claim 30 wherein said sleeve is a metal material.

Claim 36

A thermal machine as recited in claim 30 wherein said sleeve is pressure balanced.

Claim 37

A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising: heat exchange means including a thermal source and a thermal sink; a compressor stage including a compression chamber and a positive displacement compression element adapted to oscillate in a resonant fashion in the compression chamber to compress the working fluid as the compression element oscillates; an expander stage including an expansion chamber and a positive displacement expansion element adapted to oscillate in resonance with the compression element to expand the working fluid as the expansion element oscillates in the expansion chamber in a resonant fashion in combination with the compression element; a working fluid; and conduit means for conducting the compressed working fluid from the compression stage through the thermal source to the expansion stage for heating and expansion of the working fluid and for conducting the expanded working fluid through the thermal sink to the compression stage for cooling and compressing of the working fluid, whereby the working fluid is subject to a thermodynamic cycle and a heat energy exchange is provided between the working fluid and the heat exchange means and an energy exchange is provided between the working fluid and the positive displacement elements oscillating in resonance with one another.

Claim 38

A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising: heat exchange means including a thermal source and a thermal sink; a compressor stage including a compression chamber and a positive displacement compression element adapted to oscillate in a resonant fashion in the compression chamber to compress the working fluid as the compression element oscillates; an expander stage including an expansion chamber and a positive displacement expansion element adapted to oscillate in resonance with the compression element to expand the working fluid as the expansion element oscillates in the expansion chamber in a resonant fashion in combination with the compression element; a working fluid; and conduit means for conducting the compressed working fluid from the compression stage through the thermal source to the expansion stage for heating and expansion of the working fluid and for conducting the expanded working fluid through the thermal sink to the compression stage for cooling and compressing of the working fluid, whereby the working fluid is subject to a thermodynamic cycle and a heat energy exchange is provided between the working fluid and the heat exchange means and an energy exchange is provided between the working fluid and the positive displacement elements oscillating in resonance with one another.

Claim 39

A thermal machine as recited in claim 36 wherein the conduit means includes separate and distinct conduits for the flow of compressed and expanded working fluid respectively.

Claim 40

A thermal machine as recited in claim 36 wherein the conduit means includes expansion valve means permitting cyclic one-way flow into and out of said expansion chamber and compression valve means permitting cyclic one-way flow into and out of said compression chamber.

Claim 41

A thermal machine as recited in claim 38 wherein said expansion valve means includes cut-off control means to effect the thermodynamic cycle.

Claim 42

A thermal machine as recited in claim 36 wherein the compression stage comprises a compression chamber with a positive displacement compression element adapted to oscillate in the compression chamber and which divides the chamber into two opposed compression chambers; and the expansion stage comprises an expansion chamber with a positive displacement expansion element adapted to oscillate in the expansion chamber and which divides the chamber into two opposed expansion chambers.

Claim 43

A thermal machine as recited in claim 40 wherein the conduit means includes separate heat conduits to the opposed expansion chamber sections and valve means permitting flow through only one of the heat conduits at a given time, and separate cool conduits to the two opposed compression chamber sections, and valve means permitting flow of the working fluid through only one of the cool conduits at a given time.

Claim 44

A thermal machine as recited in claim 40 wherein the heat exchange means includes two heat exchange stages, each stage including a thermal source, a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, and wherein said conduit means comprises one conduit for conducting the working fluid from one of the compression chambers through one of the heat exchange stages to one of the expansion chambers, and a second conduit for conducting the working fluid from the other compression chamber through the other heat exchange stage to the other expansion chamber.

Claim 45

A thermal machine as recited in claim 40 wherein the working fluid mass in one said side of compression chamber and one said side of the expansion chamber together with fluid mass in said respective conduits equals the working fluid mass in said other side of compression chamber and expansion chamber together with fluid mass in said respective fluid conduits.

Claim 46

A thermal machine as recited in claim 40 wherein the heat exchange means includes two heat exchange stages, each stage including a thermal source, a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, and wherein said heating and cooling conduit means jointly comprise one conduit for conducting the working fluid from one of the compression chambers through one of the heat exchange stages to one of the expansion chambers, and a second conduit for conducting the working fluid from the other compression chamber through the other heat exchange stage to the other expansion chamber.

Claim 47

A thermal machine comprising: a heater cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a heater piston adapted to reciprocate in the heater cylinder, said heater piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said heater piston and said first end of said heater cylinder defining a compression chamber, said heater piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in a second portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said heater piston and said second portion of said heater cylinder defining an expansion chamber; heat exchange means including a thermal source, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with said compression chamber; a cooler cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D' and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D'; a cooler piston adapted to reciprocate in the cooler cylinder, said cooler piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said cooler piston and said first portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler compression chamber, said cooler piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said cooler piston and said second portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler expansion chamber; coolant exchange means including a second thermal source and a second thermal sink in series, said second thermal source being at a lower temperature than said second thermal sink, the second thermal source end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler expansion chamber and the second thermal sink end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler compression chamber; a phaser cylinder; a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate within the phaser cylinder and define a phaser chamber, said phaser chamber being in fluid communication with the respective thermal sink ends of the heat exchange means and the coolant exchange means; and a working fluid adapted to occupy the heater and cooler compression chambers, the heater and cooler expansion chambers, the phaser chamber, and the heat and coolant exchange means and flow therebetween.

Claim 48

A thermal machine comprising: a heater cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a heater piston adapted to reciprocate in the heater cylinder, said heater piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said heater piston and said first end of said heater cylinder defining a compression chamber, said heater piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in a second portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said heater piston and said second portion of said heater cylinder defining an expansion chamber; heat exchange means including a thermal source, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with said compression chamber; a cooler cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D' and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D'; a cooler piston adapted to reciprocate in the cooler cylinder, said cooler piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said cooler piston and said first portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler compression chamber, said cooler piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said cooler piston and said second portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler expansion chamber; coolant exchange means including a second thermal source and a second thermal sink in series, said second thermal source being at a lower temperature than said second thermal sink, the second thermal source end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler expansion chamber and the second thermal sink end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler compression chamber; a phaser cylinder; a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate within the phaser cylinder and define a phaser chamber, said phaser chamber being in fluid communication with the respective thermal sink ends of the heat exchange means and the coolant exchange means; and a working fluid adapted to occupy the heater and cooler compression chambers, the heater and cooler expansion chambers, the phaser chamber, and the heat and coolant exchange means and flow therebetween.

Claim 49

A thermal machine as recited in claim 45 wherein said phaser cylinder and said phaser piston include linear electric motor means for driving said system.

Claim 50

A thermal machine as recited in claim 45 and additionally comprising an alternator cylinder and an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the respective thermal sink ends of said heat exchange means and said coolant exchange means.

Claim 51

A thermal machine as recited in claim 45 and additionally comprising a secondary cooler cylinder, and a secondary cooler piston adapted to reciprocate in said cooler cylinder, said secondary cooler piston being mechanically connected to the primary cooler piston for reciprocation thereof to obtain cryogenic cooling temperatures.

Claim 52

A thermal machine as recited in claim 48 and additionally comprising a high thermal capacity regenerator matrix disposed in the secondary cooler piston.

Claim 53

A thermal machine as recited in claim 48 and additionally comprising a cascaded series of said secondary cooler cylinders and secondary cooler pistons.

Claim 54

A thermal machine as recited in claim 49 wherein said matrix is lithium gauze.

Claim 55

A thermal machine as recited in claim 45 wherein said displacer cylinder and said displacer piston intermediate its ends define a volume adapted to provide a gas spring chamber.

Claim 56

A thermal machine as recited in claim 52 wherein an outer phaser chamber defined by phaser pistons and outer phaser cylinder is in fluid communication with said gas spring chamber.

Claim 57

A thermal machine comprising a closed system containing a fixed mass of working fluid and having at least two regions of generally diverse temperatures, and at least two positive displacement elements that cyclically transfer working fluid between said regions where said elements function as damped mechanical oscillators that are self-excited by the periodic variation in pressure of said fluid when subjected to the thermodynamic cycle produced by interaction of said elements and said fluid transfer and oscillate in a phase shifted relationship and in resonance with one another and where said elements effect a net thermal energy conversion.

Claim 58

A thermal machine comprising a closed system containing a fixed mass of working fluid and having at least two regions of generally diverse temperatures, and at least two positive displacement elements that cyclically transfer working fluid between said regions where said elements function as damped mechanical oscillators that are self-excited by the periodic variation in pressure of said fluid when subjected to the thermodynamic cycle produced by interaction of said elements and said fluid transfer and oscillate in a phase shifted relationship and in resonance with one another and where said elements effect a net thermal energy conversion.

Claim 59

A thermal machine comprising: heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink; a working fluid adapted to flow through the heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink; and at least one positive displacement element which has at least two different sealing diameters that is interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle wherein said element is self-excited by the periodic pressure variation of the working fluid to oscillate at a resonant frequency wherein said oscillation periodically transfers said working fluid through said heat exchange means where said fluid is subject to a frictional pressure drop therein and where said pressure drop provides damping action to said displacement element thereby causing said element to oscillate at damped resonant frequency.

Claim 60

A thermal machine comprising: heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink; a working fluid adapted to flow through the heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink; and at least one positive displacement element which has at least two different sealing diameters that is interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle wherein said element is self-excited by the periodic pressure variation of the working fluid to oscillate at a resonant frequency wherein said oscillation periodically transfers said working fluid through said heat exchange means where said fluid is subject to a frictional pressure drop therein and where said pressure drop provides damping action to said displacement element thereby causing said element to oscillate at damped resonant frequency.

Claim 61

A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising: heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink; a working fluid adapted to flow through the heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink; at least two positive displacement elements that oscillate in resonance with one another interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle; and a ballast fluid of similar composition to said working fluid said ballast fluid being subjected to a pressure variation in phase opposition to said working fluid.

Claim 62

A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising: heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink; a working fluid adapted to flow through the heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink; at least two positive displacement elements that oscillate in resonance with one another interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle; and a ballast fluid of similar composition to said working fluid said ballast fluid being subjected to a pressure variation in phase opposition to said working fluid.

Claim 63

A thermal machine as recited in claim 56 wherein at least one of said positive displacement elements provides a net energy exchange between the working fluid and the heat exchange means, and at least one other such element provides volumetric expansion and compression of the working fluid.

Claim 64

A thermal machine as recited in claim 56 wherein said at least two positive displacement elements in combination provide a net energy exchange between the working fluid and the heat exchange means and volumetric expansion and compression of the working fluid.

Claim 65

A thermal machine as recited in claim 56 wherein said heat exchange means includes at least one regenerator.

Claim 66

A thermal machine as recited in claim 56 wherein said working fluid mass equals said ballast fluid mass.

Claim 67

A thermal machine as recited in claim 56 wherein said ballast fluid comprises a working fluid for a mirror image damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator.

Claim 68

A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising: heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink; a working fluid adapted to flow through the heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink; at least two positive displacement elements that oscillate in resonance with one another interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle; and means for oscillating at least one of the positive displacement elements which provides a net heat energy exchange between the working fluid and the heat exchange means.

Claim 69

A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising: heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink; a working fluid adapted to flow through the heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink; at least two positive displacement elements that oscillate in resonance with one another interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle; and means for oscillating at least one of the positive displacement elements which provides a net heat energy exchange between the working fluid and the heat exchange means.

Claim 70

A thermal machine as recited in claim 62 wherein said oscillating means comprises an oscillating electric motor.

Claim 71

A thermal machine as recited in claim 62 wherein said oscillating means comprises an oscillating fluid motor.

Claim 72

A thermal machine as recited in claim 62 wherein said oscillating means comprises in combination oscillating positive displacement elements producing a periodic variation in pressure of said working fluid and an oscillating electric motor.

Claim 73

A thermal machine as recited in claim 62 wherein said oscillating means comprises in combination oscillating positive displacement elements producing periodic variation in pressure of said working fluid and an oscillating fluid motor.

Claim 74

A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising: heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink; a working fluid adapted to flow through one heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink; at least two positive displacement elements that oscillate in resonance with one another interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle; and gas spring means adapted to oppose the inertial force of at least one of the positive displacement elements throughout the entire travel of said element.

Claim 75

A thermal machine which functions as a damped resonant positive displacement mechanical oscillator comprising: heat exchange means including at least one thermal source and at least one thermal sink; a working fluid adapted to flow through one heat exchange means including the thermal source and the thermal sink; at least two positive displacement elements that oscillate in resonance with one another interposed in the working fluid and adapted to subject the working fluid to a thermodynamic cycle; and gas spring means adapted to oppose the inertial force of at least one of the positive displacement elements throughout the entire travel of said element.

Claim 76

A thermal machine comprising: a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber; heat exchange means including a thermal source, a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber; an alternator cylinder; an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber; a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin; and a phaser cylinder and a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in said phaser cylinder and define therewith a phaser chamber in fluid communication with the compression chamber to maintain the relative phase of the displacer and alternator cylinders.

Claim 77

A thermal machine comprising: a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber; heat exchange means including a thermal source, a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber; an alternator cylinder; an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber; a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin; and a phaser cylinder and a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in said phaser cylinder and define therewith a phaser chamber in fluid communication with the compression chamber to maintain the relative phase of the displacer and alternator cylinders.

Claim 78

A thermal machine comprising: a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber heat exchange means including a thermal source and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber; an alternator cylinder; an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber; and a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin.

Claim 79

A thermal machine comprising: a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber heat exchange means including a thermal source and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber; an alternator cylinder; an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber; and a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin.

Claim 80

A thermal machine as recited in claim 69 and additionally comprising a phaser cylinder and a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in said phaser cylinder and define therewith a phaser chamber in fluid communication with the compression chamber to maintain the relative phase of the displacer and alternator cylinders.

Claim 81

A thermal machine as recited in claim 69 wherein the alternator cylinder includes a magnetic element adapted to reciprocate therewith, and an electric coil surrounding the magnetic element so that the reciprocation of the magnetic element induces an electric current in the electric coil.

Claim 82

A thermal machine as recited in claim 69 and additionally comprising a phaser cylinder integral with the displacer cylinder, and a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in the phaser cylinder.

Claim 83

A thermal machine as recited in claim 72 wherein said phaser cylinder and said phaser piston define in combination therewith a phaser chamber integral to the expansion chamber.

Claim 84

A thermal machine as recited in claim 72 wherein said phaser cylinder and said phaser piston define in combination therewith a phaser chamber integral to the compression chamber.

Claim 85

A thermal machine as recited in claim 69 and additionally comprising a heat pump in fluid communication with the thermal sink end of the heat exchange means.

Claim 86

A thermal machine recited in claim 69 and additionally comprising a heat pump in fluid communication with the thermal source end of the heat exchange means.

Claim 87

A thermal machine as recited in claim 76 wherein the displacer piston has a variable cross-section intermediate its ends to control the response of the gas spring chamber.

Claim 88

A thermal machine as recited in claim 69 wherein said displacer cylinder and said displacer piston intermediate its ends define a volume adapted to provide a gas spring chamber.

Claim 89

A thermal machine as recited in claim 78 and additionally comprising a phaser cylinder and a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in said phaser cylinder and define therewith an outer phaser chamber in fluid communication with said compression chamber and an inner phaser chamber in fluid communication with said gas spring chamber.

Claim 90

A thermal machine as recited in claim 69 and additionally comprising a fluid pump stage actuated by the alternator piston.

Claim 91

A thermal machine as recited in claim 80 wherein said fluid pump stage includes a bellows alternately compressed and expanded by said reciprocating alternator piston.

Claim 92

A thermal machine as recited in claim 80 wherein said fluid pump stage includes a rolling diaphragm seal between said alternator piston and said alternator cylinder therewith forming a fluid pump chamber alternately reduced and expanded in volume by said reciprocating alternator piston.

Claim 93

A thermal machine as recited in claim 69 and additionally comprising a heat exchanger matrix interposed in the working fluid to cause the compression and expansion of said working fluid to be more nearly isothermal.

Claim 94

A thermal machine as recited in claim 83 wherein said matrix is interposed within variable cylinder volume formed by displacer element and displacer cylinder.

Claim 95

A thermal machine comprising: a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber, heat exchange means including a thermal source a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber; an alternator cylinder; an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber; a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin; and a phaser cylinder integral with the displacer cylinder, and a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in the phaser

Claim 96

A thermal machine comprising: a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber, heat exchange means including a thermal source a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber; an alternator cylinder; an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber; a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin; and a phaser cylinder integral with the displacer cylinder, and a phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in the phaser

Claim 97

A thermal machine as recited in claim 85 wherein said phaser cylinder and said phaser piston define a phaser chamber integral to the expansion chamber.

Claim 98

A thermal machine as recited in claim 85 wherein said phaser cylinder and said phaser piston define a phaser chamber integral to the compression chamber.

Claim 99

A thermal machine comprising: a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber, heat exchange means including a thermal source a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber; an alternator cylinder; an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber; a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin; and a phaser cylinder integral with the alternator cylinder, and phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in the phaser cylinder.

Claim 100

A thermal machine comprising: a displacer cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a displacer piston adapted to reciprocate in the displacer cylinder, said displacer piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said displacer piston and said first portion of said displacer cylinder defining a compression chamber, said displacer piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the displacer cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said displacer piston and said second portion of said displacer cylinder defining an expansion chamber, heat exchange means including a thermal source a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the compression chamber; an alternator cylinder; an alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define therewith an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the compression chamber; a working fluid adapted to occupy the compression chamber, the expansion chamber, the alternator chamber, and the heat exchange means and flow therewithin; and a phaser cylinder integral with the alternator cylinder, and phaser piston adapted to reciprocate in the phaser cylinder.

Claim 101

A thermal machine comprising: a heater cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a heater piston adapted to reciprocate in the heater cylinder, said heater piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said heater piston and said first end of said heater cylinder defining a compression chamber, said heater piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in a second portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said heater piston and said second portion of said heater cylinder defining an expansion chamber; heat exchange means including a thermal source, a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exhange means in fluid communication with said compression chamber; a cooler cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D' and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D'; a cooler piston adapted to reciprocate in the cooler cylinder, said cooler piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said cooler piston and said first portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler compression chamber, said cooler piston further including a secondary end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said cooler piston and said second portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler expansion chamber; coolant exchange means including a second thermal source, a second thermal regenerator, and a second thermal sink in series, said second thermal source being at a lower temperature than said second thermal sink, the second thermal source end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler expansion chamber and the second thermal sink end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler compression chamber; a phaser cylinder; at least one phaser piston adapted to reciprocate within the phaser cylinder and define a phaser chamber, said phaser chamber being in fluid communication with the respective thermal sink ends of the heat exchange means and the coolant exchange means; a working fluid adapted to occupy the heater and cooler compression chambers, the heater and cooler expansion chambers, the phaser chamber, and the heat and coolant exchange means and flow therebetween; and an alternator cylinder and at least one alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the respective thermal sink ends of said heat exchange means and said coolant exchange means.

Claim 102

A thermal machine comprising: a heater cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D; a heater piston adapted to reciprocate in the heater cylinder, said heater piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said heater piston and said first end of said heater cylinder defining a compression chamber, said heater piston further including a second end adapted to reciprocate in a second portion of the heater cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said heater piston and said second portion of said heater cylinder defining an expansion chamber; heat exchange means including a thermal source, a thermal regenerator, and a thermal sink in series, the thermal source end of said heat exchange means in fluid communication with the expansion chamber and the thermal sink end of said heat exhange means in fluid communication with said compression chamber; a cooler cylinder including a first portion having an inner diameter equal to D' and a second portion having an inner diameter greater than D'; a cooler piston adapted to reciprocate in the cooler cylinder, said cooler piston having a first end adapted to reciprocate in the first portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said first end of said cooler piston and said first portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler compression chamber, said cooler piston further including a secondary end adapted to reciprocate in the second portion of the cooler cylinder and having an outer diameter conformed thereto, said second end of said cooler piston and said second portion of said cooler cylinder defining a cooler expansion chamber; coolant exchange means including a second thermal source, a second thermal regenerator, and a second thermal sink in series, said second thermal source being at a lower temperature than said second thermal sink, the second thermal source end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler expansion chamber and the second thermal sink end of said coolant exchange means in fluid communication with the cooler compression chamber; a phaser cylinder; at least one phaser piston adapted to reciprocate within the phaser cylinder and define a phaser chamber, said phaser chamber being in fluid communication with the respective thermal sink ends of the heat exchange means and the coolant exchange means; a working fluid adapted to occupy the heater and cooler compression chambers, the heater and cooler expansion chambers, the phaser chamber, and the heat and coolant exchange means and flow therebetween; and an alternator cylinder and at least one alternator piston adapted to reciprocate within the alternator cylinder and define an alternator chamber, said alternator chamber being in fluid communication with the respective thermal sink ends of said heat exchange means and said coolant exchange means.

Claim 103

A thermal machine as recited in claim 89 wherein said phaser cylinder and said alternator cylinder are distinct and separate.

Claim 104

A thermal machine as recited in claim 27 wherein said one of the positive displacement elements includes a gas bearing intermediate the cylinder and the free-floating piston.

Claim 105

A thermal machine as recited in claim 91 wherein said gas bearing is self-acting.