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A rod seal assembly for a Stirling Engine of the type having two or more piston assemblies reciprocating within cylinder bores. The rod seal assembly seals against a connecting rod extending between a piston and a kinematic drive system. The rod seal assembly includes a separated cap seal assembly a

A rod seal assembly for a Stirling Engine of the type having two or more piston assemblies reciprocating within cylinder bores. The rod seal assembly seals against a connecting rod extending between a piston and a kinematic drive system. The rod seal assembly includes a separated cap seal assembly and a base seal assembly with a hollow cavity formed therebetween. The cap seal assembly and base seal assembly include sealing element features which provide high performance gas sealing and excellent durability characteristics. The hollow interior cavity of the rod seal assembly may be used as part of an internal volume within the engine used as part of a pressure balancing system for the isolated cycle volumes within the engine.

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1. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine of the type having two or more piston assemblies reciprocating within cylinder bores, each of the piston assemblies separating isolated cycle volumes of a working gas contained within the engine, each of the piston assemblies affixed to a connecting

1. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine of the type having two or more piston assemblies reciprocating within cylinder bores, each of the piston assemblies separating isolated cycle volumes of a working gas contained within the engine, each of the piston assemblies affixed to a connecting rod which stroke in a linear reciprocating manner during operation of the engine, the rod seal assembly sealing with the connecting rod to control leakage of the working gas from the cycle volumes, the rod assembly comprising: a rigid housing,a cap seal assembly retained by the housing adjacent the piston assembly and having a cap seal engaging the connecting rod, the cap seal having a radial split,a base seal assembly retained by the housing spaced from the piston assembly, having a rod seal engaging the connecting rod, andthe housing forming an internal cavity between the cap seal assembly and the base seal assembly. 2. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 1 further comprising the base seal assembly having means for permitting shifting of the rod seal relative to the housing during operation of the engine. 3. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 1 further comprising the cap seal formed of PTFE material. 4. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 1 further comprising the rod seal formed of PTFE material. 5. A rod seal assembly in accordance with claim 1 wherein the working gas is hydrogen or helium. 6. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine of the type having two or more piston assemblies reciprocating within cylinder bores, each of the piston assemblies separating isolated cycle volumes of a working gas contained within the engine, each of the piston assemblies affixed to a connecting rod which stroke in a linear reciprocating manner during operation of the engine, the rod seal assembly sealing with the connecting rod to control leakage of the working gas from the cycle volumes, the rod seal assembly comprising: a rigid housing,a cap seal assembly retained by the housing adjacent the piston assembly and having a cap seal engaging the connecting rod, the cap seal assembly having a cap seal spacer, and a first spring for placing an axial load on the cap seal spacer and the cap seal,a base seal assembly retained by the housing spaced from the piston assembly, having a rod seal engaging the connecting rod, andthe housing forming an internal cavity between the cap seal assembly and the base seal assembly. 7. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 6 further comprising the cap seal assembly having a second spring for placing a radial load on the cap seal. 8. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine of the type having two or more piston assemblies reciprocating within cylinder bores, each of the piston assemblies separating isolated cycle volumes of a working gas contained within the engine, each of the piston assemblies affixed to a connecting rod which stroke in a linear reciprocating manner during operation of the engine, the rod seal assembly sealing with the connecting rod to control leakage of the working gas from the cycle volumes, the rod seal assembly comprising a rigid housing,a cap seal assembly retained by the housing adjacent the piston assembly and having a cap seal engaging the connecting rod,a base seal assembly retained by the housing spaced from the piston assembly, having a rod seal engaging the connecting rod, the base seal assembly having a seal plug positioned at an end of the housing opposite the cap seal assembly, a seal seat forming a concave semi-spherical surface, the rod seal having an internal bore for the connecting rod and forming a convex semi-spherical surface bearing against the seal seat concave semi-spherical surface, a first and a second spring seat having a spring between them and positioned in the housing to place a compressive force against the rod seal,the housing forming an internal cavity between the cap seal assembly and the base seal assembly. 9. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 8 further comprising the seal plug forming a planar end surface, a washer disposed between the seal seat and the seal plug and contacting the planar end surface, the washer enabling relative radial motion between the seal plug and the seal seat. 10. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 8 further comprising the rod seal having an O-ring groove formed in the convex semi-spherical surface, and an O-ring disposed in the O-ring groove and contacting the concave semi-spherical surface. 11. A rod assembly for a Stirling cycle engine of the type having two or more piston assemblies reciprocating within cylinder bores, each of the piston assemblies separating isolated cycle volumes of a working gas contained within the engine, each of the piston assemblies affixed to a connecting rod which stroke in a linear reciprocating manner during operation of the engine, the rod seal assembly sealing with the connecting rod to control leakage of the working gas from the cycle volumes, the rod assembly comprising: a rigid housing,a cap seal assembly retained by the housing adjacent the piston assembly and having a cap seal engaging the connecting rod,a base seal assembly retained by the housing spaced from the piston assembly, having a rod seal engaging the connecting rod, andthe housing forming an internal cavity between the cap seal assembly and the base seal assembly,wherein the connecting rod has a central passageway communicating the interior of the piston assembly with the housing internal cavity. 12. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 11 further comprising the cap seal having a radial split. 13. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 11 wherein the interior of the piston assembly and the housing internal cavity are maintained at near a minimum pressure of the cycle volumes during operation of the engine. 14. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 13 wherein the engine has a plurality of the rod seal assemblies and each of the housing internal cavities are connected together to have an equal pressure of the working gas. 15. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine of the type having two or more piston assemblies reciprocating within cylinder bores, each of the piston assemblies separating isolated cycle volumes of a working gas contained within the engine, each of the piston assemblies affixed to a connecting rod which stroke in a linear reciprocating manner during operation of the engine, the rod seal assembly sealing with the connecting rod to control leakage of the working gas from the cycle volumes, the rod assembly comprising: a rigid housing,a cap seal assembly retained by the housing adjacent the piston assembly, having a cap seal sealing with the connecting rod,a base seal assembly retained by the housing spaced from the piston assembly, the base seal assembly having a seal plug positioned at an end of the housing opposite the cap seal assembly, a seal seat forming a concave semi-spherical surface, a rod seal having an internal bore for the connecting rod and a convex semi-spherical surface bearing against the seal seat concave semi-spherical surface, a first spring positioned in the housing to place a compressive force against the rod seal, andthe housing forming an internal cavity between the cap seal assembly and the base seal assembly. 16. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 15 further comprising the base seal assembly having means for permitting shifting of the rod seal relative to the housing during operation of the engine. 17. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 15 further comprising the cap seal having a radial split and a cap seal spacer, and a, second spring for placing an axial load on the cap seal spacer and the cap seal. 18. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 16 further comprising the cap seal assembly having a, third spring for placing a radial load on the cap seal. 19. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 15 further comprising the cap seal formed of PTFE material. 20. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 15 further comprising the rod seal formed of PTFE material. 21. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 15 further comprising, the base seal assembly having a first and a second spring seat having the first spring between them and positioned in the housing to place a compressive force against the rod seal urging the convex semi-spherical surface against the concave semi-spherical surface. 22. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 15 further comprising the seal plug forming a planar end surface, a washer disposed between the seal seat and the seal plug and contacting the planar end surface, the washer enabling relative radial motion between the seal plug and the seal seat. 23. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 15 further comprising the rod seal having an O-ring groove formed in the convex semi-spherical surface, and an O-ring disposed in the O-ring groove and contacting the concave semi-spherical surface. 24. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 15 wherein the connecting rod has a central passageway communicating the interior of the piston assembly with the internal cavity. 25. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 24 wherein the interior of the piston assembly and the housing internal cavity are maintained at near a minimum pressure of the cycle volumes during operation of the engine. 26. A rod seal assembly for a Stirling cycle engine according to claim 24 wherein the engine has a plurality of the rod seal assemblies and each of the housing internal cavities are connected together to have an equal pressure of the working gas. 27. A rod seal assembly in accordance with claim 15 wherein the working gas is hydrogen or helium.