Stirling Technology, Inc.

Sunpower Corporation

Bruce J Chagnot

James Gary Wood

A heat recouperator having a rotary wheel heat and moisture exchanger uses a random matrix media comprising a plurality of small diameter heat-retentive fibrous material which provides high thermal efficiency in exchanging heat and moisture between inlet and exhaust air streams.

Air to air recouperator

A heat recouperator having a single rotary heat and moisture wheel exchanger uses a random matrix media comprising a plurality of small diameter heat-retentive fibrous material, which provides high thermal efficiency in exchanging heat and moisture between inlet and exhaust air streams.

The invention comprises both apparatus and an accompanying method for the controlling of the speed, stroke and power output of a Stirling engine. The invention positions a valving arrangement to control the working gas flow within a gas flow passage connecting the hot end and cold end of the displacer cylinder; the valving arrangement is controlled by a suitable engine speed, stroke or power detector.

Apparatus and method for the speed or power control of stirling type

An improved crank-type Stirling engine. A spring, preferably a gas spring, is linked between the displacer and the housing or alternatively the power piston. The spring is relaxed at substantially a mean position of the displacer to apply a centering force upon the displacer. The spring reduces the loading on the displacer drive linkage by itself exerting a centering force upon the displacer. If desired, displacer linkage forces may be reduced nearly to zero by designing the spring so that the spring constant and the masses upon which it operates are in resonance. The gas spring mechanism may include pump elements so that it will operate as a pump to charge the engine to operating pressure with atmospheric air during initial start up operation.

Self pressurizing, crank-type Stirling engine having reduced loading of

A torsionally flexible seal formed with alternating layers of elastic and reinforcing material provides a gas-tight barrier between a drive shaft and a portion of the Stirling engine housing surrounding a passageway through which the drive shaft extends. The shaft is connected to a series of mechanical linkage devices located within the housing which transmits power between the linearly reciprocative power piston and rotationally reciprocative drive shaft and which eliminates substantially the side forces exerted on the piston.

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Athens, OH, United States of America

Bruce J Chagnot