skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Stirling cycle heat pump for heating and/or cooling systems

Patent ·
OSTI ID:5484221

This patent describes a duplex Stirling cycle machine acting as a heat pump. It comprises: a Stirling engine having pistons axially displaceable within parallel cylinders, the engine further having a swashplate rotatable about an axis of, rotation parallel to the cylinders and defining a plane inclined from the axis of rotation. The pistons connected to the swashplate via crossheads whereby axial displacement of the pistons is converted to rotation of the swashplate, and a Stirling cycle heat pump having a compression heat exchanger, an expansion heat exchanger and a regenerator with pistons equal in number to the engine pistons and axially displaceable within cylinders which are oriented co-axially with the engine cylinders. The crossheads further connected to the heat pump pistons whereby the heat pump pistons move simultaneously with the engine pistons over an equal stroke distance.

Assignee:
Stirling Thermal Motors, Inc., Ann Arbor, MI (USA)
Patent Number(s):
US 4996841; A
Application Number:
PPN: US 7-388689
OSTI ID:
5484221
Resource Relation:
Patent File Date: 2 Aug 1989
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English