초록 ▼

An apparatus has a heat engine and a power output member drivenly connected to the piston of the heat engine and having an output for supplying work. The displacer is driven by an adjustable drive member. An adjustable signal generator is provided for modulating a signal which is sent to the adjusta

An apparatus has a heat engine and a power output member drivenly connected to the piston of the heat engine and having an output for supplying work. The displacer is driven by an adjustable drive member. An adjustable signal generator is provided for modulating a signal which is sent to the adjustable drive to adjust the cycle profile of the displacer. The phase angle, the dwell time of the displacer at one or both ends of its cycle and/or the velocity of the displacer is thus adjusted.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.]1. An apparatus comprising:(a) a heat engine comprising:(i) a container defining a sealed region within which a working fluid is circulated when the heat engine is in use, the sealed region having a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, the heating and cooling chambers being in flui

[ I claim:] [1.]1. An apparatus comprising:(a) a heat engine comprising:(i) a container defining a sealed region within which a working fluid is circulated when the heat engine is in use, the sealed region having a heating chamber and a cooling chamber, the heating and cooling chambers being in fluid flow communication via a working fluid passageway;(ii) a variable heat source thermally connected to the heating chamber whereby the variable heat source provides variable heat levels to the working fluid;(iii) a displacer movably mounted in the sealed region between a first position and a second position to define a displacer cycle profile;(iv) a piston movably mounted in the sealed region between a first position and a second position to define a piston cycle profile, one of the displacer and the piston has an adjustable drive member associated therewith for moving the one of the displacer and the piston in response to a signal and the other of the displacer and the piston is movable in the sealed region due to forces applied thereto by the working fluid;(b) a power output member drivenly connected to the piston and having an output for supplying work; and,(c) an adjustable signal generator for modulating the signal provided to the adjustable drive to adjust the cycle profile of the one of the displacer and the piston.