Patent ID: 8534063
Filing Date: 2013-09-17
Classification: F02G,F16J

Abstract:
1. A control valve for a double acting type Stirling cycle engine of the type having two or more piston assemblies reciprocating within cylinder bores, each of the piston assemblies separating isolated cycle volumes of a working gas contained within the engine, the cycle volumes undergoing cyclical pressure changes from a minimum cycle pressure to a maximum cycle pressure, the engine having a valve port for connection with the control valve which communicates with one of the cycle volumes and with a pressure volume, the control valve comprising: a valve body forming a first passageway for communicating with the cycle volume and a second passageway for communicating with the pressure volume, a plunger moveable between a closed position against a seat which seals against the seat and an open position displaced from the seat, wherein, in the closed position, flow between the first passageway and the second passageway is restricted and in the open position the flow between the passageways is enabled, a spring urging the plunger to the closed position such that the plunger moves to the open position when the pressure in the first passageway is less than the pressure in the second passageway by more than a predetermined pressure difference, and an actuator acting on the plunger to move the plunger to the open position against the urging force of the spring to thereby connect the passageways.