Stirling Cycle Machine

摘要

A Stirling cycle machine. The machine includes at least one rocking drive mechanism which includes: a rocking beam having a rocker pivot, at least one cylinder and at least one piston. The piston is housed within a respective cylinder and is capable of substantially linearly reciprocating within the respective cylinder. Also, the drive mechanism includes at least one coupling assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The linear motion of the piston is converted to rotary motion of the rocking beam. Also, a crankcase housing the rocking beam and housing a first portion of the coupling assembly is included. The machine also includes a working space housing the at least one cylinder, the at least one piston and a second portion of the coupling assembly. An airlock is included between the workspace and the crankcase and a seal is included for sealing the workspace from the airlock and crankcase. A burner and burner control system is also included for heating the machine and controlling ignition and combustion in the burner.

主权项

1. A drive mechanism for a machine comprising:
a rocking beam having a first end and a second end, wherein a rocker pivot substantially centered on the rocking beam between the first end and the second end; at least one cylinder; at least one piston, the piston housed within a respective cylinder whereby the piston is capable of substantially linearly reciprocating within the respective cylinder; at least one coupling assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, the proximal end being connected to the piston and the distal end being connected to the second end of the rocking beam by an end pivot; and a connecting rod having a connecting rod first end and a connecting rod second end, the connecting rod connected at the connecting rod first end to the second end of the rocking beam and the connecting rod second end connecting to a crankshaft to convert rotary motion of the rocking beam to rotary motion of the crankshaft.