Patent ID: 7194858
Filing Date: 2007-03-27
Classification: F02G

Abstract:
1. A working gas pressure equalization system for a multiple-cylinder, double-acting hot gas engine including a Stirling engine of the type having a plurality of pistons reciprocatable within cylinder bores defining a plurality of generally isolated cycle volumes of a working gas separated by the pistons, the motion of the pistons controlled by a drive to cause variations in pressure of the cycle volumes, the equalization system comprising: a connecting rod affixed to each of the pistons and coupled with the drive, a first rod seal and a second rod seal acting on each of the connecting rods defining therebetween an equalization volume of the working gas, pair of piston rings for each of the pistons for sealing the pistons within the cylinder bores, the piston rings being axially separated to form an annular piston seal volume bounded by the pair of rings, the pistons and the cylinder bores, a passageway formed by each of the connecting rods communicating the annular piston seal volumes with the equalization volume, and a valve communicating the cycle volumes with the equalization volume allowing the flow of the working gas from the equalization volume to the cycle volumes.