Abstract:
A four-process cycle is disclosed for a Vuilleumier heat pump that has mechatronically-controlled displacers. Vuilleumier heat pumps that use a crank to drive the displacers have been previously developed. However, mechatronic controls provides a greater degree of freedom to control the displacers. The four-process cycle provides a higher coefficient of performance than prior cycles in the crank-driven Vuilleumier heat pump and those previously disclosed for a mechatronically-driven Vuilleumier heat pump. The four-process cycle can be drawn out to provide a low demand condition by causing both displacers to remain stationary for a period of time. The four processes in which one of the displacers is commanded to move are separated by periods of inactivity in which both displacers remain stationary.
Abstract:
A Stirling cycle machine. The machine includes at least one rocking drive mechanism which includes: a rocking beam having a rocker pivot, at least one cylinder and at least one piston. The piston is housed within a respective cylinder and is capable of substantially linearly reciprocating within the respective cylinder. Also, the drive mechanism includes at least one coupling assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The linear motion of the piston is converted to rotary motion of the rocking beam. Also, a crankcase housing the rocking beam and housing a first portion of the coupling assembly is included. The machine also includes a working space housing the at least one cylinder, the at least one piston and a second portion of the coupling assembly. An airlock is included between the workspace and the crankcase and a seal is included for sealing the workspace from the airlock and crankcase. A burner and burner control system is also included for heating the machine and controlling ignition and combustion in the burner.
Abstract:
A Stirling cycle machine. The machine includes at least one rocking drive mechanism which includes: a rocking beam having a rocker pivot, at least one cylinder and at least one piston. The piston is housed within a respective cylinder and is capable of substantially linearly reciprocating within the respective cylinder. Also, the drive mechanism includes at least one coupling assembly having a proximal end and a distal end. The linear motion of the piston is converted to rotary motion of the rocking beam. Also, a crankcase housing the rocking beam and housing a first portion of the coupling assembly is included. The machine also includes a working space housing the at least one cylinder, the at least one piston and a second portion of the coupling assembly. An airlock is included between the workspace and the crankcase and a seal is included for sealing the workspace from the airlock and crankcase. A burner and burner control system is also included for heating the machine and controlling ignition and combustion in the burner.
Abstract:
A heat engine is constructed from sheet metal and the like. The heat engine has an outer container and inner container which contains a displacer and a power piston. A plurality of positioning members are provided to dimensionally stabilize the inner and outer containers. By providing positioning members that extend between the inner and the outer containers, a sandwiched construction is obtained which allows the inner and outer containers to reinforce each other thus permitting the use of thin walled containers and improving the thermal efficiency of the heat engine and decreasing the weight of the heat engine.
Abstract:
A triaxial sensor substrate is adapted for use in measuring the acceleration and angular rate of a moving body along three orthogonal axes. The triaxial sensor substrate includes three individual sensors that are arranged in the plane of the substrate at an angle of 120 degrees with respect to one another. Each sensor is formed from two accelerometers having their sensing axes canted at an angle with respect to the plane of the substrate and further being directed in opposite directions. The rate sensing axes thus lie along three orthogonal axes. In order to reduce or eliminate angular acceleration sensitivity, a two substrate configuration may be used. Each substrate includes three accelerometers that are arranged in the plane of the substrate at an angle of 120 degrees with respect to one another. The sensing axes of the accelerometers of the first substrate are canted at an angle with respect to the plane of the first substrate toward the central portion thereof so that they lie along three skewed axes. Similarly, the sensing axes of the accelerometers of the second substrate are canted at an angle with respect to the plane of the second substrate away from the central portion thereof so that they lie along same three but oppositely directed axes. The sensing axes of the first and second substrates are aligned to prevent angular acceleration sensitivity.
Abstract:
The invention concerns a method and a device for operating a heating and cooling machine that functions on the basis of a regenerative gas cyclic process, in particular a Vuilleumier heat pump, having a burner (34) as the source of the thermal driving, in which, to increase its efficiency or to maximize the output number of the heating and cooling machine, the combustion air conveyed to the burner (34) is preheated in the heat exchange with the exhaust gases. It is proposed that, for increasing the output performance of the heating and cooling machine, the preheating of the combustion air is forestalled at least partially, whereas in response to a simultaneous increase of the burner output, the hot exhaust-gas mass-flow is conveyed to an exhaust-gas-water heat-exchanger (50). In this manner, the output of the heating and cooling machine system is increased in an advantageous manner, without having to change the design data or the size of the heating and cooling machine.
Abstract:
An apparatus for providing cooling has a heat engine in which the cycle profile of at least one of the displacer and the piston is variable for to provide efficient cooling at various temperature differences.
Abstract:
A symmetrical link device for linking first and second coplanar devices each movably mounted in a frame such that when one of the first and second coplanar devices is moved, a substantially equal and opposite motion is imparted to the other of the first and second coplanar devices.
Abstract:
A magnetic substance represented by the following general formula (I):AMz (I)where A is at least one rare earth element selected from the group consisting of Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, and Yb, M is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, and Cu, and z is 0.001 to 9.0. This magnetic substance has its maximal of specific heat, due to magnetocaloric effect, at extremely low temperatures, the maximal value of specific heat being great. It also has a great lattice specific heat. A regenerator filled with the magnetic substance exhibits an excellent heat regeneration efficiency at extremely low temperature.
Abstract:
The invention relates to method and an arrangement for utilizing the heat comprised i the exhaust gas of the combustion chamber of a heating and refrigerating engine working on the basis of a regenerative cyclic gas process by preheating the combustion air supplied to the combustion chamber, with the process gas, which is displaced from the hot working volume or supplied to this working volume, flowing through a regenerator arranged inside of a pressure-proof housing in the region of the hot piston. In order to achieve an effective utilization of the exhaust gas heat without additional apparatus complexity and without insulation of the engine in the region of the warm regenerator while maintaining the temperature profile necessary for the operation of the regenerator, the combustion air to the cooling of the pressure vessel wall surrounding the lower section of the regenerator is used, which cooling corresponds to the lower section of the temperature profile of the regenerator. For maintaining the upper section of the temperature profile necessary for the operation of the regenerator, the exhaust gas flows around the upper section of the pressure vessel wall surrounding the regenerator while, at the same time, heat is extracted from the exhaust gas in this region by means of the combustion air conducted on the outer side of the exhaust gas flow in the reverse direction.