Liquid cooled stirling engine with a segmented rotary displacer
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
F01B-029/10
F02G-001/04
출원번호
US-0884089
(2010-09-16)
등록번호
US-8495873
(2013-07-30)
발명자
/ 주소
Foster, Phillip R.
출원인 / 주소
University of North Texas
대리인 / 주소
Singleton, Chainey P.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
5
초록▼
The present invention provides a Stirling engine employing a segmented, rotary displacer for producing mechanical energy from a heat source. The engine includes a rotor shaft rotatably positioned in the interior toroidal cavity with a segmented displacer mounted to the rotor shaft within the interio
The present invention provides a Stirling engine employing a segmented, rotary displacer for producing mechanical energy from a heat source. The engine includes a rotor shaft rotatably positioned in the interior toroidal cavity with a segmented displacer mounted to the rotor shaft within the interior toroidal cavity.
대표청구항▼
1. An engine employing a segmented, rotary displacer for producing mechanical energy from a heat source comprising: an engine housing comprising a hot displacer side housing that mates to a cold displacer side housing;one or more hot interior channels located within the hot displacer side housing;on
1. An engine employing a segmented, rotary displacer for producing mechanical energy from a heat source comprising: an engine housing comprising a hot displacer side housing that mates to a cold displacer side housing;one or more hot interior channels located within the hot displacer side housing;one or more cold interior channels located within the cold displacer side housing in communication with at least one coolant inlet and one coolant outlet;a polymer insulating housing seal positioned between the hot displacer side housing and the cold displacer side housing to thermally isolate the hot displacer side housing from the cold displacer side housing;an interior toroidal cavity formed between the hot displacer side housing and the cold displacer side housing; anda series of coaxial grooves formed within a circumference of the interior toroidal cavity;a first end plate insulating polymer seal that mates between and thermally isolates a first end of the engine housing from a first end plate cap; a hot passage extending through the first end plate cap and into the hot displacer side housing;a cold passage extending through the first end plate cap and into the cold displacer side housing, wherein the hot passage is positioned transversely to the cold passage;a second end plate insulating polymer seal that mates between and thermally isolates a second end of the engine housing from a second end plate cap;a rotor shaft rotatably positioned in the interior toroidal cavity, wherein the rotor shaft acts as an internal flywheel;a first polymer displacer segment connected to the rotor shaft at the first end of the engine housing adjacent to the first end plate cap, wherein the first polymer displacer segment comprises a generally circular segment with a first displacer segment portion having a first radius that extends about a first half of the generally circular segment,a second displacer segment portion with a second radius that extends about a second half of the generally circular segment such that the second radius is greater than the first radius,a chamber portion formed by the difference between the first radius and the second radius, anda coaxial groove about the second displacer segment portion that mates to one of the grooves of the series of coaxial grooves to increase the surface area and augment heat transfer, wherein the rotation of the rotor shaft rotates the first polymer displacer segment to position the first displacer segment portion to alternately obscure the hot passage and the cold passage;at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments each connected to the rotor shaft and positioned adjacent to the first polymer displacer segment, wherein each of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments comprise a generally circular segment with a first displacer segment portion having a first radius that extends about a first half of the generally circular segment,a second displacer segment portion with a second radius that extends about a second half of the generally circular segment such that the second radius is greater than the first radius,a chamber portion formed by the difference between the first radius and the second radius, anda coaxial groove about the second displacer segment portion that mates to one of the grooves of the series of coaxial grooves to increase the surface area and augment heat transfer,one or more holes positioned in the second displacer segment portion, andone or more plugs positioned in the one or more holes,wherein the chamber portion of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments align with the chamber portion of the first polymer displacer segment to form an aligned chamber portion;wherein the rotation of the rotor shaft rotates the first polymer displacer segment the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments such that the first polymer displacer segment to position the first displacer segment portion to alternately obscure the hot passage and the cold passage and the aligned chamber portion alternately contacts the hot passage and the cold passage. 2. The rotary engine of claim 1, further comprises one or more connections positioned on the outside of the engine housing and in communication with the one or more hot interior channels and the one or more cold interior channels. 3. The rotary engine of claim 1, wherein each of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments are arranged in a laterally spaced step pattern. 4. The rotary engine of claim 1, wherein the one or more plugs are one or more segment fillers. 5. The rotary engine of claim 1, wherein the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments are separated by retainer clips. 6. The rotary engine of claim 1, further comprises a rotor control mechanism for regulating angular orientation of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments. 7. The rotary engine of claim 1, wherein the first polymer displacer segment does not contact the first end plate and regulates the gas flow at the hot passage and the cold passage. 8. The rotary engine of claim 1, wherein each of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments individually comprising a front and a rear planar, parallel side surfaces each perpendicular to the central housing axis and in sealed rotational engagement with the engine housing wherein the front and rear planar, parallel side surfaces terminate in a top surface that is perpendicular to the side surfaces with a chamfer at the points of intersection; perpendicular to the side surfaces with a radius at the points of intersection; or part or all of a single radius tangent or nearly tangent at the points of intersection. 9. A method of making a rotary engine comprising: providing an engine housing comprising a hot displacer side housing that mates to a cold displacer side housing;one or more hot interior channels located within the hot displacer side housing;one or more cold interior channels located within the cold displacer side housing in communication with at least one inlet and one outlet;an interior toroidal cavity formed in the engine housing; anda series of coaxial grooves formed within a circumference of the interior toroidal cavity;positioning a polymer insulating seal positioned between the hot displacer side housing and the cold displacer side housing to isolate the hot displacer side housing from the cold displacer side housing wherein there is no thermal conductivity between the hot displacer side housing and the cold displacer side housing;providing a rotor shaft, wherein the rotor shaft acts as an internal flywheel;connecting a first polymer displacer segments to the rotor shaft at a first end, wherein the first polymer displacer segment comprises a generally circular segment with a first displacer segment portion having a first radius that extends about a first half of the generally circular segment,a second displacer segment portion with a second radius that extends about a second half of the generally circular segment such that the second radius is greater than the first radius,a chamber portion formed by the difference between the first radius and the second radius, anda coaxial groove about the second displacer segment portion that mates to one of the grooves of the series of coaxial grooves to increase the surface area and augment heat transfer, wherein the rotation of the rotor shaft rotates the first polymer displacer segment to position the first displacer segment portion to alternately obscure the hot passage and the cold passage;connecting at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments to the rotor shaft adjacent to the first polymer displacer segments with a retainer ring, wherein each of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments comprise a generally circular segment with a first displacer segment portion having a first radius that extends about a first half of the generally circular segment,a second displacer segment portion with a second radius that extends about a second half of the generally circular segment such that the second radius is greater than the first radius,a chamber portion formed by the difference between the first radius and the second radius, anda coaxial groove about the second displacer segment portion that mates to one of the grooves of the series of coaxial grooves to increase the surface area and augment heat transfer,one or more holes positioned in the second displacer segment portion, andone or more plugs positioned in the one or more holes, wherein the chamber portion of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments align with the chamber portion of the first polymer displacer segment to form an aligned chamber portion;positioning the rotor shaft into the interior toroidal cavity;inserting the coaxial groove about the second displacer segment portion into the series of coaxial grooves in the interior toroidal cavity to increase the surface area and augment heat transfer;positioning a first end plate insulating polymer seal between and isolating a first end of the engine housing from a first end plate cap, wherein the first end plate cap comprises a hot passage extending through the first end plate cap and into the hot displacer side housing and a cold passage extending through the first end plate cap and into the cold displacer side housing, wherein the hot passage is positioned transversely to the cold passage, wherein the first polymer displacer segment is adjacent to the first end plate cap to alternately obscure the hot port and the cold port as the rotor shaft and the first polymer displacer segment rotates and the rotation of the rotor shaft rotates the chamber portion to alternately block the hot port and the cold port;securing the first end plate cap to the first end of the engine housing; andpositioning a second end plate insulating polymer seal between and isolating a second end of the engine housing from a second end plate cap; andsecuring the second end plate cap to the second end of the engine housing. 10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of connecting a cold gas port, and a hot gas port positioned on the outside of the engine housing. 11. The method of claim 9, wherein each of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments are laterally spaced along a length of the rotor shaft. 12. The method of claim 9, wherein the 3 or more displacer segments are separated by retainer clips. 13. The method of claim 9, further comprises regulating angular reciprocation of the displacer segment with a control mechanism. 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first polymer displacer segment does not contact the first end plate and regulates the gas flow at the hot passage and the cold passage. 15. The method of claim 9, wherein the 3 or more displacer segments individually comprising a front and a rear planar, parallel side surfaces each perpendicular to the central housing axis and in sealed rotational engagement with the engine housing wherein the front and rear planar, parallel side surfaces terminate in a top surface that is perpendicular to the side surfaces with a chamfer at the points of intersection; perpendicular to the side surfaces with a radius at the points of intersection; or part or all of a single radius tangent or nearly tangent at the points of intersection. 16. A multi-cylinder rotary engine comprising: an engine comprising 2 or more cylinders, wherein each of the 2 or more cylinders comprise a first engine housing comprising a hot displacer side housing that mates to a cold displacer side housing;one or more hot interior channels located within the hot displacer side housing;one or more cold interior channels located within the cold displacer side housing in communication with at least one coolant inlet and one coolant outlet;a polymer insulating housing seal positioned between the hot displacer side housing and the cold displacer side housing to thermally isolate the hot displacer side housing from the cold displacer side housing;an interior toroidal cavity formed between the hot displacer side housing and the cold displacer side housing; anda series of coaxial grooves formed within a circumference of the interior toroidal cavity;a first end plate insulating polymer seal that mates between and thermally isolates a first end of the engine housing from a first end plate cap; a hot passage extending through the first end plate cap and into the hot displacer side housing;a cold passage extending through the first end plate cap and into the cold displacer side housing, wherein the hot passage is positioned transversely to the cold passage;a second end plate insulating polymer seal that mates between and thermally isolates a second end of the engine housing from a second end plate cap;a rotor shaft rotatably positioned in the interior toroidal cavity, wherein the rotor shaft acts as an internal flywheel;a first polymer displacer segment connected to the rotor shaft at the first end of the engine housing adjacent to the first end plate cap, wherein the first polymer displacer segment comprises a generally circular segment with a first displacer segment portion having a first radius that extends about a first half of the generally circular segment,a second displacer segment portion with a second radius that extends about a second half of the generally circular segment such that the second radius is greater than the first radius,a chamber portion formed by the difference between the first radius and the second radius, anda coaxial groove about the second displacer segment portion that mates to one of the grooves of the series of coaxial grooves to increase the surface area and augment heat transfer, wherein the rotation of the rotor shaft rotates the first polymer displacer segment to position the first displacer segment portion to alternately obscure the hot passage and the cold passage;at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments each connected to the rotor shaft and positioned adjacent to the first polymer displacer segment, wherein each of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments comprise a generally circular segment with a first displacer segment portion having a first radius that extends about a first half of the generally circular segment,a second displacer segment portion with a second radius that extends about a second half of the generally circular segment such that the second radius is greater than the first radius,a chamber portion formed by the difference between the first radius and the second radius, anda coaxial groove about the second displacer segment portion that mates to one of the grooves of the series of coaxial grooves to increase the surface area and augment heat transfer,one or more holes positioned in the second displacer segment portion, andone or more plugs positioned in the one or more holes,wherein the chamber portion of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments align with the chamber portion of the first polymer displacer segment to form an aligned chamber portion;wherein the rotation of the rotor shaft rotates the first polymer displacer segment the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments such that the first polymer displacer segment to position the first displacer segment portion to alternately obscure the hot passage and the cold passage and the aligned chamber portion alternately contacts the hot passage and the cold passage; anda belt to connect the rotor shaft of each of the first engine housing of the 2 or more cylinders. 17. A method of making a multi-cylinder rotary engine comprising: providing a rotary engine comprising 2 or more cylinders, wherein each of the 2 or more cylinders comprise an engine housing comprising providing an engine housing comprising a hot displacer side housing that mates to a cold displacer side housing;an interior toroidal cavity formed in the engine housing; anda series of coaxial grooves formed within a circumference of the interior toroidal cavity;one or more hot interior channels located within the hot displacer side housing;one or more cold interior channels located within the cold displacer side housing in communication with at least one coolant inlet and one coolant outlet;positioning a polymer insulating seal positioned between the hot displacer side housing and the cold displacer side housing to isolate the hot displacer side housing from the cold displacer side housing wherein there is no thermal conductivity between the hot displacer side housing and the cold displacer side housing;providing a rotor shaft, wherein the rotor shaft acts as an internal flywheel;connecting a first polymer displacer segment to the rotor shaft at a first end;positioning at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments on the rotor shaft adjacent to the first polymer displacer segment, wherein each of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments comprise a first displacer segment portion that extends about a half of a circumference of the generally circular segment with a first radius; and a second displacer segment portion that extends about a second half of the circumference of the generally circular segment with a second radius that is greater than the first radius; a coaxial groove about the circumference of the second placement segment portion to increase the surface area and augment heat transfer; one or more balance holes positioned in the second placement segment portion;positioning one or more weighted balance plugs into the one or more balance holes to provide an internal counter balance for each of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments;a chamber portion formed by the difference between the first radius and the second radius;connecting each of the at least 3 generally circular polymer displacer segments to the rotor shaft by a retainer ring;positioning the rotor shaft into the interior toroidal cavity;positioning the coaxial groove about the circumference of the second placement segment portion into the series of coaxial grooves;positioning a second end plate insulating polymer seal between and isolating a second end of the engine housing from a second end plate cap;securing the second end plate cap to the second end of the engine housing;positioning a first end plate insulating polymer seal between and isolating a first end of the engine housing from a first end plate cap, wherein the first end plate cap comprises a hot port extending through the first end plate cap and into the hot displacer side housing and a cold port extending through the first end plate cap and into the cold displacer side housing, wherein the hot port is positioned transversely to the cold port;securing the first end plate cap to the first end of the engine housing; andwherein the first polymer displacer segment is adjacent to the first end plate cap to alternately block the hot port and the cold port as the rotor shaft and the first polymer displacer segment rotates and the rotation of the rotor shaft rotates the chamber portion to alternately block and unblock the hot port and the cold port; andconnecting a belt to each of the rotor shafts.
Walsh Michael M. (Schenectady NY), Resonant free-piston Stirling engine having virtual rod displacer and linear electrodynamic machine control of displacer.
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