A PISTON AND CYLINDER SYSTEM

摘要

The invention provides a piston and cylinder system 10 which includes at least one piston and cylinder assembly, generally indicated by reference numeral 12. The piston and cylinder assembly defines a piston 14 positioned within a cylinder 16 for displacement internally along the cylinder 16. A chamber 18 is defined on one side of the piston 14 within the cylinder 16 and another chamber 20 is defined on an opposed side of the piston 14 within the cylinder 16. The piston and cylinder system 10 further includes a heat transfer arrangement, generally indicated by reference numeral 30. The heat transfer arrangement 30 defines two heat transfer chambers 32, 34 and heat transfer means, generally indicated by reference numeral 36, arranged selectively to transfer heat between the heat transfer chambers 32, 34. Typically, the heat transfer means 36 is in the form of a Peltier heat transfer device, or element.