초록 ▼

A metallic bellows consisting of two plates and one or more annular arrays of resiliently overlapping curved flexible radially-oriented strips. Each region of overlap is sealed by means of a silicone elastomer which tolerates high temperature. Overlap resilience of these strips helps accommodate gre

A metallic bellows consisting of two plates and one or more annular arrays of resiliently overlapping curved flexible radially-oriented strips. Each region of overlap is sealed by means of a silicone elastomer which tolerates high temperature. Overlap resilience of these strips helps accommodate greater volume displacement and long life while maintaining adequate pressure sealing. This bellows can replace the common and more expensive piston and cylinder in an engine such as a Stirling engine where it can reduce or eliminate friction and leakage losses.

대표청구항 ▼

In an engine, bellowslike apparatus which couples cyclic thermodynamic changes in a fluid to a reciprocating mechanical motion, comprising: base means; a bowl-shaped array of resiliently overlapping flexed petals; means for attaching one end of each of the petals to a corresponding surface on the pe

In an engine, bellowslike apparatus which couples cyclic thermodynamic changes in a fluid to a reciprocating mechanical motion, comprising: base means; a bowl-shaped array of resiliently overlapping flexed petals; means for attaching one end of each of the petals to a corresponding surface on the perimeter of said base means; movable structure capable of reciprocating translation relative to said base means; means for attaching the other end of each of the petals to said movable structure; and a resilient sealing means which forms a hermetic confinement of the volume bounded by said base means, said movable structure, said petal array and its attaching means and which permits a greater volume change and a larger reciprocating mechanical stroke than would be possible if petal overlap distances were fixed.