초록 ▼

A rod seal system having a pair of rod seals that form a buffer area between a high pressure area containing working gas and a low pressure area of a heat engine, such as a Stirling cycle engine. A pump that becomes passively charged with working gas at relatively low pressure and which releases wor

A rod seal system having a pair of rod seals that form a buffer area between a high pressure area containing working gas and a low pressure area of a heat engine, such as a Stirling cycle engine. A pump that becomes passively charged with working gas at relatively low pressure and which releases working gas at relatively high pressure when actuated is used to force working gas from the buffer area to the high pressure area through a conduit. The working gas may be hydrogen gas and the pump may be a metal hydride pump that is thermally actuated. The low pressure area may contain air and lubricant at atmospheric pressure. A system for separating the lubricant collecting within the buffer area and reintroducing the lubricant into the low pressure area can also be incorporated into the rod seal system.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A rod seal system for a heat engine, such as a Stirling cycle engine, having a low pressure area, a high pressure area containing a working gas, and a moving rod extending between said low pressure area and said high pressure area, said rod seal system comprising:a first rod seal,

[ We claim:] [1.] A rod seal system for a heat engine, such as a Stirling cycle engine, having a low pressure area, a high pressure area containing a working gas, and a moving rod extending between said low pressure area and said high pressure area, said rod seal system comprising:a first rod seal, engaging said rod, said first rod seal inhibiting working gas flow into said low pressure area,a second rod seal, engaging said rod between said first rod seal and said high pressure area, said second rod seal inhibiting working gas flow out of said high pressure area,said first rod seal and said second rod seal defining therebetween a buffer area, said buffer area having a higher pressure than said low pressure area and a lower pressure than said high pressure area,a working gas conduit between said buffer area and said high pressure area,a solid state pump, located within said working gas conduit, that is passively charged with working gas received from said buffer area at relatively low pressure and releases working gas at relatively high pressure when actuated, thereby forcing working gas received from said buffer area into said high pressure area through said working gas conduit, and wherein; anda first check valve positioned within said working gas conduit allowing working gas to flow from said buffer area toward said pressure area and inhibiting working gas from flowing from said high pressure area toward said buffer area.