Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US4495771?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-08-23 10:29:58
Document Index: 762869574

Matched Legal Cases: ['arts 11', 'arts 5', 'arts 26', 'art 28', 'art 26', 'art 27', 'art 26', 'art 27']

Patent US4495771 - Stirling-cycle engine - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign in<nobr>Advanced Patent Search</nobr>PatentsA stirling cycle engine, especially for refrigerating motors, comprising a housing in which are assembled a rotating shaft, at least three working cylinders arranged in parallel round the shaft, a double-acting piston in each of the cylinders, and a mechanical transmission converting the reciprocating...http://www.google.com/patents/US4495771?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US4495771 - Stirling-cycle engineAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS4495771 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 06/484,029Publication dateJan 29, 1985Filing dateApr 11, 1983Priority dateJun 4, 1982Fee statusLapsedAlso published asDE3363373D1, EP0097084A1, EP0097084B1Publication number06484029, 484029, US 4495771 A, US 4495771A, US-A-4495771, US4495771 A, US4495771AInventorsClaude ChauvetonOriginal AssigneeCreusot-LoireExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (4), Referenced by (5), Classifications (20), Legal Events (6) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetStirling-cycle engineUS 4495771 AAbstract A stirling cycle engine, especially for refrigerating motors, comprising a housing in which are assembled a rotating shaft, at least three working cylinders arranged in parallel round the shaft, a double-acting piston in each of the cylinders, and a mechanical transmission converting the reciprocating movement of the pistons into a rotary movement of the shaft. The housing has a first chamber (1) in which the rotating shaft is assembled, and a second chamber (2) in whch the mechanical transmission is assembled. The latter consists of an orbiting oscillating plate (13, 14) immobile in rotating and having an axis which describes a conical surface about the rotating shaft, and of articulated connections linking each piston (4) to the oscillating plate. An elastic gasket (18, 19) between the housing (11) and the oscillating plate (13, 14) prevents communication between the first and second chambers (1, 2), and each articulated connection (15, 22) is assembled in a receptacle (3) of a component connected rigidly to the piston (4), the space in the receptacle (3) being isolated from the second chamber (2) by elastic gaskets (23).
What is claimed is: 1. A stirling-cycle engine, comprising a housing in which are assembled a rotating shaft, at least three working cylinders arranged in parallel about said shaft, a double-acting piston in each of said cylinders, and a mechanical transmission converting reciprocating movement of said pistons to rotary movement of said shaft, said housing having a first chamber (1) in which said rotating shaft is assembled, and a second chamber (2) in which said mechanical transmission is assembled, said mechanical transmission consisting of an oscillating plate (13, 14) which is immobile against rotation and has an orbital movement and the axis of which describes a conical surface about said rotating shaft, and of articulated connections (15-22) linking each said piston (4) to said oscillating plate, an elastic gasket (18, 19) being located between said housing (11) and said oscillating plate (13, 14) so as to prevent any communication between said first chamber (1) and said second chamber (2), each of said articulated connections (15, 22) being placed in a receptacle (3) of a component rigidly connected to said piston (4), a third chamber contained in said receptacle (3) being isolated from said second chamber (2) by elastic gaskets (23).
FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to engines which use a working fluid undergoing a thermodynamic change corresponding to the Stirling cycle. These engines are generally used either as driving engines converting heat energy into mechanical energy or as heat pumps or refrigerating machines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention relates, more particularly, to a Stirling-cycle engine comprising essentially a housing in which are assembled a rotating shaft, four working cylinders arranged in parallel round the shaft, a double-acting piston in each of the said cylinders, and a mechanical transmission converting the reciprocating movement of the pistons into a rotary movement of the shaft, the said housing of the engine providing a first chamber, in which the rotating shaft is assembled, and a second chamber, in which the mechanical transmission is assembled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description of the following exemplary embodiment illustrated in the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, we shall describe briefly the operating principle, known per se, of a Stirling-cycle engine to which the present invention can apply.
This Stirling-cycle engine consists essentially of at least three double-acting pistons 4 arranged symmetrically and in parallel round the axis of a central rotating shaft 5. As a general rule, there are four of these pistons 4. In this case, these pistons 4 are driven in a reciprocating movement of the same period and with a successive phase shift of 90�. Consequently, a first and a second chamber 6 and 7, the volume of which varies as a function of the reciprocating movement of the piston, corresponds to each double-acting piston 4. Each of these first six chambers communicates with the chamber 7 of the following cylinder by means of a circuit which passes successively through a heat source 8, a regenerating exchanger 9 and a cold source 10. This Stirling-cycle engine furthermore incorporates a mechanical transmission making it possible to convert the reciprocating movements of the pistons 4 into a rotary movement of the central shaft 5. Referring to the diagrammatic drawing of FIG. 1, the various essential mechanical elements forming an engine according to the invention can be distinguished. Mounted in the housing 11 of this engine are the rotating shaft 5, the working cylinders 12 arranged in parallel round the shaft, the double-acting pistons 4 located in each of the cylinders, and the mechanical transmission connecting the pistons to the rotating shaft. The housing 11 provides a first chamber 1, in which the rotating shaft 5 is assembled, and a second chamber 2, in which the mechanical transmission is assembled. This mechanical transmission consists mainly of a cylindrical hub 13 to which radially extending arms 14 are connected rigidly. The end of each arm 14 is connected to the corresponding piston 4 by means of an articulated connection 15. The hub 13 is mounted rotatably about the central part of the rotating shaft 5, and the axis of rotation of the hub forms a certain angle alpha to the axis of rotation of the shaft 5. The assembly consisting of the hub 13 and the arms 14 consequently forms an oscillating plate which can be driven in an orbital movement, the axis of which describes a conical surface round the axis of the rotating shaft 5. However, this oscillating plate is immobilized in rotation by means of suitable guide elements 16, 17. These elements provide the reaction of the housing on the shaft to generate the drive torque. These elements also ensure the correct positioning of the ends of the arms 14 in relation to the pistons.
As a better illustration of the invention, we have shown in FIG. 5 an especially advantageous constructive arrangement of this invention. The housing of the engine, which is made in two parts 11, 11' to make assembly easier, may be seen in the longitudinal halfsection of FIG. 5. Mounted rotatably in this housing is a rotating shaft made in two rigidly connected parts 5, 5' and supported by two bearings 25 and 26. This engine incorporates four double-acting pistons arranged parallel to the axis of the shaft 5 at an equal distance from this axis and at 90� relative to one another. Each double-acting piston consists of two parts 26, 27 ensuring sealing by means of segments, these parts being arranged on either side of the articulated connection and being connected rigidly by means of a rigid connecting part 28. The part 26 of the piston, which is located on the side of the chamber 6 communicating with the heat source, is extended by a cylindrical component 29 having thin walls and forming the head of the piston. The other part 27 of the piston has a hollow shape and is shut off by a component 30 forming the head of the piston on the same side as the chamber 7. The part 26 of the piston also incorporates a component 31 in the form of a spherical cup concave in the direction of the articulated connection, and the component 30 fastened to the inside of the part 27 of the piston comprises itself a spherical surface concave in the direction of the articulated connection. Two push-rods 15 and 15' bear respectively on the spherical surfaces of the two components 30 and 31. The other ends of these push-rods 15 and 15' each have a concave spherical face in which is accommodated a spherical component 32, 32' made in two parts mounted on the peripheral end of the corresponding radial arm 14. The oscillating plate therefore comprises the four radial arms 14 corresponding to the four double-acting pistons, these radial arms being connected rigidly to the cylindrical hub 13 which surrounds the central part of the rotating shaft 5, with bearings 34, 36 interposed between the hub 13 and the shaft 5. The bellows 18 surrounds the hub 13, has one end connected rigidly to one end of the hub 13 and has its other end connected rigidly to the circular rim of an annular component 20, the peripheral part of which is fastened rigidly to the housing 11. The bellows 19 is assembled in an identical way on the hub 13 and connects the other end of this hub 13 and the edge of a component 21 arranged symmetrically in relation to the component 20.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS3281065 *Sep 9, 1964Oct 25, 1966Hispano Suiza SaGas compressorsUS3306134 *Apr 24, 1964Feb 28, 1967Trw IncWabble gear drive mechanismUS4372116 *Jan 26, 1981Feb 8, 1983Mechanical Technology IncorporatedStirling engine control mechanism and methodUS4381648 *Dec 29, 1980May 3, 1983North American Philips CorporationStirling cycle apparatus with metal bellows seal* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4794752 *May 14, 1987Jan 3, 1989Redderson Roy HVapor stirling heat machineUS5343704 *Feb 12, 1993Sep 6, 1994Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki SeisakushoDouble-headed and swash plate type stirling engineUS7021054May 13, 2003Apr 4, 2006Microgen Energy LimitedStirling engine assemblyDE4305043A1 *Feb 18, 1993Aug 26, 1993Toyoda Automatic Loom WorksStirling engine of double-head piston and swash plate type - has cylinder block with front and rear working gas chambers, surrounded by heat exchangersWO1997041343A1 *Apr 22, 1997Nov 6, 1997Narbutas SimonasOperation method of regenerative piston heat machine and regenerative piston heat machine* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification60/525, 74/18.1, 277/902, 60/517, 277/636International ClassificationF04B35/01, F02G1/053, F16J15/52, F25B9/14, F02G1/044Cooperative ClassificationY10S277/902, F02G1/0535, F02G1/044, F16J15/525, F02G2244/50, F02G2270/20, F02G2253/06European ClassificationF02G1/044, F16J15/52B, F02G1/053SLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionApr 8, 1997FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 19970129Jan 26, 1997LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesSep 3, 1996REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedJun 26, 1992FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Jul 29, 1988FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Apr 11, 1983ASAssignmentOwner name: CREUSPT-LOIRE; 42 RUE D AN JOU, 75008 PARIS, FRANCFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST.;ASSIGNOR:CHAUVETON, CLAUDE;REEL/FRAME:004118/0721Effective date: 19830325RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google