PISTON MOTION CONTROL IN FREE PISTON DRIVER

摘要

A free piston mechanism comprising a compression tube (1) having a driving end and a compression end, a free piston (11) drivable within the compression tube (1) towards the compression end and adapted to compress a driver gas at the compression end of the tube (10), a driver associated with the driving end of the tube (1) and a brake (13) for restraining the piston (11) from rebounding from the compression end of the tube (10). The brake (13) is preferably in the form of a plurality of tapered shoe segments (13) acting between the piston (11) and the tube (1). Also disclosed is a buffer operatively interposed between the piston (11) and the compression end of the tube (10).