The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 17, 1999
Filed:
Jul. 16, 1997
Nicholas R Marchionna, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Matthew J Brusstar, Farmington Hills, MI (US);
STM Corporation, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Abstract
A rod seal system having a pair of rod seals that form a buffer area between a high pressure area containing working gas and a low pressure area of a heat engine, such as a Stirling cycle engine. A pump that becomes passively charged with working gas at relatively low pressure and which releases working gas at relatively high pressure when actuated is used to force working gas from the buffer area to the high pressure area through a conduit. The working gas may be hydrogen gas and the pump may be a metal hydride pump that is thermally actuated. The low pressure area may contain air and lubricant at atmospheric pressure. A system for separating the lubricant collecting within the buffer area and reintroducing the lubricant into the low pressure area can also be incorporated into the rod seal system.