Device for decreasing the start-up time for stirling engines

Claim 1

A closed fluid working circuit for a regenerative type Stirling engine having a conventional electrical circuit and system for starting, the closed fluid working circuit having a plurality of chambers subdivided by double-acting pistons operating therein, the subdivided chambers being respectively hot and cold and connected in series whereby a hot chamber is always in communication with a cold chamber of the next most adjacent cylinder, said intercommunication between adjacent cylinders containing a foraminous regenerator matrix and a cooling mechanism, the improvement comprising: a. means defining an electrical heating element invested within said regenerator matrix, said element extending throughout a zone of said regenerator matrix to effect raising the temperature of said regenerator matrix to a temperature level substantially above a predetermined mean operating temperature within a predetermined period of time, measured from when said element is energized, and b. control means effective to energize the electrical element upon closing of the starting circuit of said engine and effective to de-energize said element when a predetermined temperature level is reached in a hot chamber.