HK1237014B - Stirling cycle and linear-to-rotary mechanism systems, devices, and methods - Google Patents

Description

Stirling cycle and linear-rotary mechanism system, device and method

Background Art

The present application relates generally to Stirling cycle and/or linear-rotary methods, systems, and apparatus.

Stirling cycle devices typically use a piston that reciprocates in a cylinder to change the working volume of gas trapped in the cylinder and to move the gas through a heat exchanger that can add or remove heat. Although different Stirling cycle designs are known, new devices and technologies related to Stirling cycle designs are still needed. In addition, devices and technologies for converting the linear motion of, for example, one or more pistons from a Stirling cycle device into rotational motion are needed.

Summary of the Invention

Methods, systems, and/or apparatus are provided that may include Stirling cycle configurations and/or linear-rotary mechanisms according to various embodiments.

For example, some embodiments include a Stirling cycle system. The system may include: a first high-temperature piston housed in a first high-temperature cylinder; a first low-temperature piston housed in a first low-temperature cylinder; and/or a first single actuator configured to couple the first high-temperature piston to the first low-temperature piston such that the first high-temperature piston and the first low-temperature piston are in different thermodynamic circuits.

Different thermodynamic circuits may include adjacent thermodynamic circuits. In some embodiments, the first high temperature piston and the first low temperature piston are spatially aligned with each other. In some embodiments, the first high temperature piston and the first low temperature piston are spatially offset from each other.

In some embodiments, the system may include: a second high-temperature piston housed in a second high-temperature cylinder; a second low-temperature piston housed in a second low-temperature cylinder; and/or a second single actuator configured to couple the second high-temperature piston to the second low-temperature piston such that the second high-temperature piston and the second low-temperature piston are located in different thermodynamic circuits. The different thermodynamic circuits may include adjacent thermodynamic circuits.

In some embodiments, the first low-temperature piston and the second high-temperature piston are located in the same thermodynamic circuit. In some embodiments, the first low-temperature piston and the second high-temperature piston are spatially aligned with each other. In some embodiments, the first low-temperature piston and the second high-temperature piston are spatially offset from each other. In some embodiments, the first low-temperature piston and the second high-temperature piston are part of a single-acting Alpha Stirling cycle configuration.

Some embodiments include a linear-rotary mechanism coupled to at least a first single actuator or a second single actuator. In some embodiments, the linear-rotary mechanism includes: a plurality of linkages; a cam plate coupled to the plurality of linkages using a cam and a plurality of cam followers. In some embodiments, the cam and the plurality of cam followers are configured as tapered surfaces. In some embodiments, the plurality of linkages are Watt linkages. In some embodiments, each corresponding tapered surface has a corresponding vertex, and the cam and the plurality of cam followers are configured such that each of the plurality of vertices coincides with each other. In some embodiments, the axis of the cam and the corresponding axis of each cam follower in the plurality of cam followers are inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the main shaft. In some embodiments, the plurality of vertices of the tapered surface are located on the axis of rotation of the main shaft. In some embodiments, at least two of the plurality of linkages are mechanically coupled to each other.

In some embodiments, the linear-rotary mechanism includes a barrel cam and carriage mechanism. In some embodiments, the plurality of linkages are configured to couple the first single actuator and the second single actuator to each other to at least drive the first single actuator and the second single actuator or be driven by the first single actuator and the second single actuator while maintaining a phase relationship between the first single actuator and the second single actuator.

Some embodiments include methods, systems and/or apparatus as described in the specification and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

The foregoing has very broadly outlined the features and technical advantages of examples according to the present disclosure so that the following detailed description may be better understood. Additional features and advantages will be described hereinafter. The disclosed concepts and specific examples may be readily used as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present disclosure. Such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. The features that are considered to be characteristic of the concepts disclosed herein—both as to the construction of the features and the method of operation—and the associated advantages will be better understood when the following description is considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Each figure is provided for illustration and description purposes only and not as a definition of limitations on the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the various embodiments may be achieved by referring to the following drawings. In the drawings, similar components or similar features may be given the same reference numerals. In addition, various components of the same type may be distinguished by a reference numeral followed by a dash and a second reference numeral to distinguish among similar components. If only the first reference numeral is used in the specification, the description applies to any similar component having the same first reference numeral, regardless of the second reference numeral.

FIG. 1A illustrates a Stirling cycle device according to various embodiments.

FIG. 1B illustrates a Stirling cycle device according to various embodiments.

FIG. 1C illustrates a Stirling cycle device according to various embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates a linear-rotary mechanism according to various embodiments.

FIG. 3A illustrates a Stirling cycle system according to various embodiments.

FIG. 3B illustrates a Stirling cycle system according to various embodiments.

FIG. 4A illustrates a Stirling cycle system according to various embodiments.

FIG4B illustrates a Stirling cycle system according to various embodiments.

FIG4C illustrates a Stirling cycle system according to various embodiments.

FIG5A illustrates aspects of a Stirling cycle system, according to various embodiments.

FIG5B illustrates aspects of a Stirling cycle system, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 5C illustrates a linear-rotary mechanism according to various embodiments.

FIG5D illustrates aspects of a Stirling cycle system, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 5E illustrates aspects of a linear-rotary mechanism according to various embodiments.

FIG6A illustrates a Stirling cycle system according to various embodiments.

FIG6B illustrates a Stirling cycle system according to various embodiments.

FIG7 is a flow chart of a method according to various embodiments.

FIG8 is a flow chart of a method according to various embodiments.

FIG9 is a flow chart of a method according to various embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description provides exemplary embodiments only and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the present disclosure. On the contrary, the following description of the exemplary embodiments will provide those skilled in the art with a feasible description for implementing one or more exemplary embodiments, and it should be understood that various changes can be made to the function and arrangement of the elements without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. Several embodiments are described herein, and although various features are attributed to different embodiments, it should be understood that the features described in relation to one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments. However, for the same reason, no single feature or feature of any described embodiment should be considered to be necessary for every embodiment, because other embodiments may omit such features.

Specific details are provided in the following description to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. For example, systems, networks, processes, and other elements of the embodiments may be shown as components in block diagram form to avoid obscuring the embodiments with unnecessary detail. In other cases, well-known processes, well-known structures, and well-known techniques may be shown without unnecessary detail to obscure the embodiments.

Furthermore, it should be noted that individual embodiments may be described as processes described as flow charts, flow diagrams, structure diagrams, or block diagrams. Although a flow chart may describe operations as a sequential process, many operations can be performed in parallel or simultaneously. Furthermore, the order of operations can be rearranged. A process may terminate when its operations are completed, but a process may also include additional operations not discussed or included in the figures. Furthermore, not all operations in any particularly described process will appear in all embodiments. A process may correspond to a method, function, step, subroutine, subprogram, etc.

Provided are methods, systems, and/or devices that can include Stirling cycle configurations and/or linear-rotary mechanisms according to various embodiments. A Stirling cycle device and/or a Stirling cycle system typically uses a piston that reciprocates in a cylinder to achieve movement, compression, and expansion of a gas, hereinafter referred to as a working fluid, so that the working fluid moves through a heat exchanger that can add heat to or remove heat from the working fluid, and thereby change the pressure of the working fluid. A Stirling cycle device and/or a Stirling cycle system typically includes a volume (hereinafter referred to as a working volume) that can be comprised of the aforementioned piston, cylinder, heat exchanger, a diffuser that can achieve laminar flow between the cylinder and the heat exchanger, and/or any pipe connecting the cylinder, heat exchanger, and/or diffuser, and the volume can capture the working fluid therein. The timing of the piston motion can be such that, when the working volume expands during a high-pressure period and contracts during a low-pressure period, a certain amount of net work can be generated per cycle, making the Stirling cycle device and/or the Stirling cycle system an engine. Alternatively, the timing of the piston motion can be such that: when the working volume contracts during the high pressure period and expands during the low pressure period, a certain amount of net work can be absorbed per cycle, so that the Stirling cycle device and/or the Stirling cycle system, for example, becomes a refrigerator or a heat pump. The combination of a piston, a cylinder, a heat exchanger, a diffuser and/or any pipeline connecting a cylinder, a heat exchanger and/or a diffuser that can include a single working volume may be referred to as a thermodynamic loop hereinafter. The Stirling cycle device and/or the Stirling cycle system may be composed of one or more thermodynamic loops. Two or more thermodynamic loops may be physically arranged to be adjacent to each other.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that a Stirling cycle device and/or a Stirling cycle system can be operated, for example, in the form of a refrigerator or a heat pump, and it will be understood that each reference to an engine herein can be considered as a reference to a refrigerator or a heat pump, and each reference to a refrigerator or a heat pump herein can be considered as a reference to an engine. Thus, in general, the terms Stirling cycle device and/or Stirling cycle system can represent an engine, a refrigerator and/or a heat pump as a whole. Some embodiments include a Stirling cycle device and/or a Stirling cycle system as follows: the Stirling cycle device and/or the Stirling cycle system can include a high-temperature piston housed in a high-temperature cylinder and a low-temperature piston housed in a low-temperature cylinder. It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the function of the high-temperature piston housed in the high-temperature cylinder can be interchanged with the function of the low-temperature piston housed in the low-temperature cylinder, that is, a high-temperature piston designated as housed in a high-temperature cylinder can be operated in the form of a low-temperature piston housed in a low-temperature cylinder, and a low-temperature piston designated as housed in a low-temperature cylinder can be operated in the form of a high-temperature piston housed in a high-temperature cylinder.

For example, some embodiments include a Stirling cycle device and/or a Stirling cycle system as follows: the Stirling cycle device and/or the Stirling cycle system may include a first high-temperature piston accommodated in a first high-temperature cylinder and a first low-temperature piston accommodated in a first low-temperature cylinder. The first low-temperature piston and the first high-temperature piston are mechanically coupled to each other by mechanically coupling the first low-temperature piston and the first high-temperature piston to a first single actuator, and the first high-temperature piston and the first low-temperature piston are configured to be located in different thermodynamic circuits. Different thermodynamic circuits may include adjacent thermodynamic circuits.

In some embodiments, the first high temperature piston and the first low temperature piston are configured to be spatially aligned with each other. In some embodiments, the first high temperature piston and the first low temperature piston are configured to be spatially offset from each other.

In some embodiments, at least a second high temperature piston housed in a second high temperature cylinder and a second low temperature piston housed in a second low temperature cylinder are provided. The second high temperature piston and the second low temperature piston are mechanically coupled to each other by mechanically coupling each of the second high temperature piston and the second low temperature piston to a second single actuator, and the second high temperature piston and the second low temperature piston can be configured to be located in different thermodynamic circuits, wherein the different thermodynamic circuits can also be adjacent thermodynamic circuits. In some cases, the first low temperature piston and the second high temperature piston can be configured to be located in the same thermodynamic circuit. In some cases, the first low temperature piston and the second high temperature piston can be configured to be spatially aligned with each other. In some cases, the first low temperature piston and the second high temperature piston can be configured to be spatially offset from each other. The first low temperature piston and the second high temperature piston can be configured as part of a single-acting Alpha Stirling cycle device configuration.

Some embodiments include a Stirling cycle system. The system can include a plurality of paired pistons housed within a plurality of cylinders. Each of the paired pistons can include a high-temperature piston mechanically coupled to a low-temperature piston, wherein the high-temperature piston and the low-temperature piston are mechanically coupled by mechanically coupling each to a single actuator, and the high-temperature piston and the low-temperature piston are configured to be located in different thermodynamic circuits. The different thermodynamic circuits can also be adjacent thermodynamic circuits.

Some embodiments include a linear-rotary mechanism coupled to a plurality of individual actuators. The linear-rotary mechanism can be configured to couple the individual actuators to each other so as to at least drive the individual actuators or be driven by the actuators while maintaining a phase relationship between the individual actuators. In some embodiments of the system, the plurality of paired pistons are configured in a single-acting Alpha Stirling configuration. In some embodiments, the rotating portion of the linear-rotary mechanism can include a spindle.

In some embodiments, the linear-rotary mechanism may include a barrel cam carriage mechanism. In other embodiments, the linear-rotary mechanism may include multiple linkages for synthesizing linear or nearly linear motion, and the linear-rotary mechanism may include a cam plate coupled to the multiple linkages using a cam and multiple cam followers. In some embodiments, the linkages may include Watt linkages.

In some embodiments, the cam and the plurality of cam followers are configured as conical surfaces, hereinafter referred to as tapered surfaces. The cam and the plurality of cam followers may be configured such that the vertices of all of their tapered surfaces coincide. The axis of the cam and the corresponding axis of each of the plurality of cam followers may be inclined relative to the rotational axis of the main shaft. The vertices of the tapered surfaces may be located on the rotational axis of the main shaft.

1A , a Stirling cycle device 100 is provided according to various embodiments. The device may include a high-temperature piston 110 housed in a high-temperature cylinder 120, wherein the high-temperature piston 110 may be referred to as a first high-temperature piston and the high-temperature cylinder 120 may be referred to as a first high-temperature cylinder. The device 100 may include a low-temperature piston 111 housed in a low-temperature cylinder 121, wherein the low-temperature piston 111 may be referred to as a first low-temperature piston and the low-temperature cylinder 121 may be referred to as a first low-temperature cylinder. A single actuator 115 may mechanically couple the low-temperature piston 111 to the high-temperature piston 110 such that the high-temperature piston 110 and the low-temperature piston 111 may be located in different thermodynamic circuits. The different thermodynamic circuits may include adjacent thermodynamic circuits. By mechanically coupling the high-temperature piston 110 and the low-temperature piston 111 using a single actuator 115, the movement of the high-temperature piston 110 and the low-temperature piston 111 may be consistent. By using a single actuator, the movement may be such that the high-temperature piston 110 and the low-temperature piston 111 may maintain a fixed physical relationship. In some cases, Stirling cycle device 100 may be referred to as a Stirling cycle system.

The device 100 can be constructed using a variety of different thermomechanical configurations. For example, the high-temperature piston 110 and high-temperature cylinder 120 can be spatially aligned with the low-temperature piston 111 and low-temperature cylinder 121. An example of this configuration can be shown in Figure 1B, which is described in more detail below. In this example of Figure 1B, the low-temperature piston 111-a and low-temperature cylinder 121-a can be spatially offset from the high-temperature piston 110-b and high-temperature cylinder 120-b located in the same thermodynamic circuit. Therefore, the gas path 130 used to connect the low-temperature piston 111-a and low-temperature cylinder 121-a to the high-temperature piston 110-b and high-temperature cylinder 120-b located in the same thermodynamic circuit will be curved. Hereinafter, this configuration may be referred to as a thermal offset configuration. In some embodiments, the curved gas path 130 can be at a 90-degree angle, but other angles less than or greater than 90 degrees can also be used. In some cases, gas path 130 may have one or more of pistons 110 not centered at a corresponding heat exchanger. In some cases, gas path 130 may be configured such that one or more of pistons 110 may be centered at a corresponding heat exchanger while one or more other pistons 110 of the same thermodynamic circuit are not centered at a corresponding heat exchanger.

In some embodiments of the device 100, the high-temperature piston 110 and the high-temperature cylinder 120 can be spatially offset from the low-temperature piston 111 and the low-temperature cylinder 121, that is, the high-temperature piston 110 and the low-temperature piston are not aligned with each other. An example of such a configuration can be shown in Figure 1C, which is described in more detail below. This configuration of Figure 1C can include a straight-through gas path 130-a for connecting the low-temperature piston 111-d and the low-temperature cylinder 121-d to the high-temperature piston 110-c and the high-temperature cylinder 120-c located in the same thermodynamic circuit. Hereinafter, this configuration may be referred to as a mechanically offset configuration.

Some embodiments may include a hybrid of mechanical and thermal offset configurations. For example, the high-temperature piston 110 and high-temperature cylinder 120 may be spatially offset from the low-temperature piston 111 and low-temperature cylinder 121 located in a different thermodynamic circuit, i.e., not aligned with each other. Furthermore, the high-temperature piston 110 and high-temperature cylinder 120 may also be spatially offset from some other low-temperature pistons and the low-temperature cylinders containing them located in the same thermodynamic circuit, i.e., not aligned with each other. This configuration may be referred to as a hybrid offset configuration hereinafter.

Referring now to Figures 1B and 1C in more detail, a Stirling cycle device 100-a of Figure 1B and a Stirling cycle device 100-b of Figure 1C are provided according to various embodiments. Device 100-a and/or device 100-b may be examples of device 100 of Figure 1A. Compared to Figure 1A, device 100-a and device 100-b may show more pistons and/or cylinders. For example, device 100-a may include a first high-temperature piston 110-a that can be accommodated in a first high-temperature cylinder 120-a and a first low-temperature piston 111-a that can be accommodated in a first low-temperature cylinder 121-a. Device 100-b may include a first high-temperature piston 110-c that is accommodated in a first high-temperature cylinder 120-c and a first low-temperature piston 111-c that is accommodated in a first low-temperature cylinder 121-c. Additionally, devices 110-a and 110-b can each include at least second high-temperature pistons 110-b and 110-d housed in second high-temperature cylinders 120-b and 120-d, respectively. Devices 110-a and 100-b can each have second low-temperature pistons 111-b and 111-d housed in second low-temperature cylinders 121-b and 121-d, respectively. In some cases, the high-temperature and low-temperature pistons of devices 100-a and/or 100-b can be configured as single-acting Alpha Stirling cycle devices.

In the case of device 100-a, a single actuator 115-a can mechanically couple the first high-temperature piston 110-a and the first low-temperature piston 111-a so that the first high-temperature piston 110-a and the first low-temperature piston 111-a can be located in different thermodynamic circuits, which can be adjacent thermodynamic circuits. Similarly, a single actuator 115-b can mechanically couple the second high-temperature piston 110-b and the second low-temperature piston 111-b so that the first high-temperature piston 110-b and the first low-temperature piston 111-b can be located in different thermodynamic circuits, which can be adjacent thermodynamic circuits. In some cases, the first low-temperature piston 111-a and the second high-temperature piston 110-b can be configured to be located in the same thermodynamic circuit. For example, the first low-temperature piston 111-a and the second high-temperature piston 110-b of device 100-a can be coupled to a gas path 130. In some cases, the gas path 130 can include one or more diffusers and/or one or more heat exchangers. Device 100-a may be configured such that first low-temperature piston 111-a and second high-temperature piston 110-b are spatially offset from one another. In some cases, this configuration may be referred to as a thermally offset configuration. Device 100-a may include additional pistons, additional cylinders, and/or additional gas paths that are not shown or not clearly indicated by reference numerals.

In the case of device 110-b, a single actuator 115-c can mechanically couple the first high-temperature piston 110-c to the first low-temperature piston 111-c such that the first high-temperature piston 110-c and the first low-temperature piston 111-c are located in different thermodynamic circuits, wherein the different thermodynamic circuits may be adjacent circuits. A second single actuator 115-d can mechanically couple the second high-temperature piston 110-d to the second low-temperature piston 111-d such that the second high-temperature piston 110-d and the second low-temperature piston 111-d are configured to be located in different thermodynamic circuits, wherein the different thermodynamic circuits may also be adjacent thermodynamic circuits. In some cases, the second low-temperature piston 111-d and the first high-temperature piston 110-c can be configured to be located in the same thermodynamic circuit. For example, the first high-temperature piston 110-c and the second low-temperature piston 110-d of device 100-b can be coupled to gas path 130-a. In some cases, gas path 130-a may include one or more diffusers and/or one or more heat exchangers. In some cases, the device 100-b may have a configuration in which the second low-temperature piston 111-d and the first high-temperature piston 110-c are spatially aligned with each other. In some cases, this configuration may be referred to as a mechanically offset configuration. The device 100-b may include additional pistons, additional cylinders, and/or additional gas paths, not shown or clearly indicated by reference numerals.

Some embodiments may include a hybrid of mechanical and thermal offset configurations, combining aspects of device 100-a with aspects of device 100-b. For example, a high-temperature piston and a high-temperature cylinder in which it can be accommodated can be spatially offset, i.e., not aligned, from a low-temperature piston and a low-temperature cylinder in which it can be accommodated that is located in a different thermodynamic circuit, and a high-temperature piston and a low-temperature cylinder in which it can be accommodated that is located in the same thermodynamic circuit. In some cases, this configuration can be referred to as a hybrid offset configuration. In some cases, compared to a thermal offset configuration, the hybrid offset configuration can have a lower gas pressure drop and a smaller dead volume within the thermodynamic circuit, thereby resulting in higher indicated efficiency and higher specific output power.

It should be noted that throughout the specification and in all figures, the apparatus 100 may generally include a pair of high-temperature pistons and low-temperature pistons. Some embodiments may interchange the high-temperature pistons and low-temperature pistons for a given pair of pistons, but this is not necessarily shown or described herein, although it still falls within the spirit of different embodiments.

2 , a linear-rotary mechanism device 200 is provided according to various embodiments. The linear-rotary mechanism 200 can provide a mechanism for converting the force generated by a piston into a torque of a shaft for driving, for example, a rotary permanent magnet generator or an induction motor. The device 200 can include a plurality of linkages 210-i, 210-j for synthesizing linear or nearly linear motion. The device 200 can include a cam plate 220 coupled to the plurality of linkages 210-i, 210-j using a cam 230 and a plurality of cam followers 240-i, 240-j. Although the device 200 shows two linkages and two cam followers, other embodiments can include more linkages 210 and more cam followers 240, such as three or four or more. In some embodiments, the linkages 210-i, 210-j can include Watt linkages.

In some embodiments, the cam 230 and/or the plurality of cam followers 240-i, 240-j are configured as tapered surfaces. The cam 230 and the plurality of cam followers 240-i, 240-j can be configured such that the respective vertices of all of their tapered surfaces can coincide. The axis of the cam 230 and the respective axis of each of the plurality of cam followers 240-i, 240-j can be tilted relative to the axis of rotation of the main shaft. The plurality of vertices of the tapered surfaces can be located on the axis of rotation of the main shaft. In some cases, there will be no slippage at the contact interface between the cam 230 and the cam followers 240-i, 240-j because the motion will be one tapered member rolling around the other tapered member. In some embodiments, bevel gears may be added to the cam 230 and each of the plurality of cam followers 240-i, 240-j. The opening angle of the pitch cone of each bevel gear is equal to the opening angle of the conical member defining the conical surface of each bevel gear, and the apexes of all pitch cones coincide with the apexes of all conical surfaces. This reinforcement can help prevent circumferential slippage that may occur at the contact interface between smooth conical surfaces due to angular acceleration and deceleration of the cam followers 240-i, 240-j.

In some cases, a Watt's linkage can synthesize highly accurate, nearly straight linear motion at a location on its central link where an actuator can be attached. In some embodiments, the straightness of motion at this location can be better than one thousandth of the distance traveled (which can be the piston stroke length). This minimizes edge loading between the piston and cylinder, and thus minimizes frictional losses and wear caused by frictional losses, resulting in a highly efficient and reliable mechanism. In some embodiments, each cam follower 240-i, 240-j can be mounted at the input link of the Watt's linkage, wherein when the main shaft rotates the cam plate and cam (the axes of the tapered surfaces of the cam plate and cam are tilted relative to the main shaft axis), the Watt's linkage thus oscillates in an arc about an axis that intersects the main shaft's axis of rotation at a location where the apex of the tapered surface of the cam and the apex of the tapered surface of the cam follower coincide. In some cases, in a Stirling cycle device and/or Stirling cycle system having an even number of thermodynamic loops spaced evenly apart on a circle, the input links of a Watt's linkage located directly opposite each other can move directly opposite each other and thus can be connected as a single component. Connecting the two input links as a single component can eliminate the need to provide two cam followers for each input link, wherein one cam follower rolls with a first conical surface, i.e., a top conical surface, of the cam to push the input link, and the other cam follower rolls with a second conical surface, i.e., a bottom conical surface, of the cam, opposite to the first conical surface, to pull the input link. This is because, while the input link of one Watt's linkage can be pushed by a single cam follower rolling with the first conical surface of the cam in only one direction, the input link can also be pulled in the opposite direction by a single cam follower of the same configuration located at the input link of the opposite Watt's linkage, so as to roll with the same first conical surface of the cam. Cam 230 can thus actuate only half of the multiple cam followers in a barrel cam design, which can include one cam follower for pushing each carriage in one direction and a second cam follower for pulling the carriage in the opposite direction. Typically, with the input links of the paired Watt linkages located directly across from each other, cam 230 can include only one surface that can contact cam followers 240-i, 240-j. Compared to a barrel cam design, a Watt linkage design can include only about half the number of bearing interfaces, which can include interfaces not only between the wheels and their respective axles but also between the wheels and the respective surfaces on which the wheels roll, and the bearing interfaces of a barrel cam design can typically include guides that constrain the movement of the carriages to a straight line. The Watt linkage design can also be lighter. Because the cam plate 220 and cam followers 240-i, 240-j can each have a simple conical profile, the cam plate 220 and cam followers 240-i, 240-j can be easily manufactured with simpler tools and more accurately compared to a barrel cam, where the barrel cam can include two sinusoidal profiles, one sinusoidal profile on each opposite face of the barrel, and each profile is positioned relative to each other with a specific precision.

In some embodiments, the multiple linkages 210-i, 210-j are configured to connect the first single actuator and the second single actuator to each other to at least drive the first single actuator and the second single actuator or be driven by the first single actuator and the second single actuator while maintaining a phase relationship between the first single actuator and the second single actuator.

Figure 3A shows a Stirling cycle system 300 according to various embodiments. The system 300 may include a plurality of paired pistons 110-i, 111-i/110-j, 111-j respectively housed in a plurality of cylinders 120-i, 121-i/120-j, 121-j. Each of the paired pistons may include a high-temperature piston 110-i, 110-j mechanically coupled to a low-temperature piston 111-i, 111-j, wherein the high-temperature piston 110-i, 110-j and the low-temperature piston 111-i, 111-j are each mechanically coupled to a single actuator 115-i, 115-j so that the high-temperature piston and the low-temperature piston are configured to be located in different thermodynamic circuits. Different thermodynamic circuits may also be adjacent thermodynamic circuits. In some embodiments of the system 300, the plurality of paired pistons are configured as a single-acting Alpha Stirling configuration. The plurality of paired pistons, the plurality of cylinders, and the actuators may be referred to as a Stirling cycle device 100-d, which may be, for example, an example of the Stirling cycle device 100 of FIG1A , the Stirling cycle device 100-a of FIG1B , and/or the Stirling cycle device 100-b of FIG1C . Some embodiments of the system 300 may include more pairs of pistons and actuators than those shown in FIG3A ; for example, some embodiments may include three groups of paired pistons and actuators, four groups of paired pistons and actuators, and some embodiments may include even more pairs of pistons and actuators.

The system 300 may also include a linear-rotary mechanism 200-a coupled to the plurality of individual actuators 115-i, 115-j. In some embodiments, the linear-rotary mechanism 200-a includes a barrel cam carriage mechanism. In some embodiments, the linear-rotary mechanism 200-a includes a linkage mechanism for synthesizing linear or nearly linear motion. An example of such a linear-rotary mechanism can be shown in FIG2 . For example, the linear-rotary mechanism 200-a can be an example of the linear-rotary mechanism 200 of FIG2 . The linear-rotary mechanism 200-a can be configured to couple the plurality of individual actuators 115-i, 115-j to each other to at least drive a single actuator or be driven by the actuator while maintaining a phase relationship between the individual actuators. In some embodiments, the linear-rotary mechanism 200-a configured as a linkage mechanism includes a plurality of linkages and a cam plate coupled to the plurality of linkages using a cam and a plurality of cam followers. In some embodiments, the linkages can include Watt linkages.

By way of example only, FIG3B illustrates a Stirling cycle system 300-a according to various embodiments. System 300-a may be a specific example of system 300 of FIG3 . System 300-a may illustrate Stirling cycle device 100-d from FIG3A coupled to linear-rotary mechanism 200 of FIG2 . The plurality of actuators 115-i, 115-j may couple Stirling cycle device 100-d to linear-rotary mechanism 200.

With reference now to Figure 4A, Figure 4B and Figure 4C, provide respectively according to various embodiments Stirling cycle system 400-a, Stirling cycle system 400-b and Stirling cycle system 400-c.These different embodiments can provide various functions.For example, system 400-a, system 400-b and/or system 400-c can provide for the correct phase relationship between the pistons of each system according to various embodiments.In addition, system 400-a, system 400-b and/or system 400-c can provide the torque that will produce the force of piston and convert it into shaft in order to drive rotary permanent magnet motor or induction motor or be driven by rotary permanent magnet motor or induction motor.In some cases, can be with the mode of the cross-sectional view of one or more pistons and one or more cylinders illustrated aspect of system 400-a, system 400-b and system 400-c so that illustrate the described one or more pistons being positioned in described one or more cylinders.

System 400-a, system 400-b and/or system 400-c can provide examples of single-acting Alpha Stirling cycle designs according to various embodiments. These designs can have high performance and/or reliability, which can be used, for example, for applications with low-temperature heat sources. In some cases, rotary machinery can have lower costs with larger sizes due to the more economical shape of the external pressure vessel, and the rotary machinery can have higher thermal efficiency and/or specific power output, because the losses caused by convective heat transfer between the high-temperature area and the low-temperature area (in this design, the high-temperature area and the low-temperature area can be easily isolated from each other) located in the Stirling cycle device and/or the Stirling cycle system are smaller. In some cases, attaching both the high-temperature pistons in groups and the low-temperature pistons in groups to a single linear-rotary mechanism can greatly reduce cost, quality and/or size. In some embodiments, the connection device from the linear-rotary mechanism to each low-temperature piston can be a simple connecting rod, and/or the connection device from the linear-rotary mechanism to each high-temperature piston can be a rigid component, such as a hook.

System 400-a, system 400-b, and system 400-c provide three variations of the barrel cam bracket configuration. Typically, the bracket of a barrel cam bracket mechanism can naturally produce linear motion, which can prevent edge loading on the piston; however, there may be residual slip at the rolling interface between the surface of the barrel cam and the cam follower. These systems according to various embodiments can be modified to use mechanisms other than the barrel cam bracket configuration. For example, other embodiments can use a mechanism that has multiple linkages for synthesizing linear or near-linear motion, and the mechanism is connected to the cam plate using a cam and multiple cam followers. In some embodiments, the linkage may include a Watt linkage. Compared to the bracket of the barrel cam bracket mechanism, the Watt linkage can produce near-linear motion, but can avoid residual slip at the rolling interface between its cam and the cam follower.

Systems 400-a, 400-b, and 400-c can provide three thermo-mechanical variations of a barrel cam bracket configuration with four thermodynamic loops. For example, system 400-a can provide a 90-degree curved gas path 130-m between a high-temperature cylinder 120-n and a low-temperature cylinder 121-m located in the same thermodynamic loop, which can be referred to as a thermal offset. Gas path 130-m can include one or more diffusers and/or heat exchangers. With respect to system 400-a, this example of a thermal offset configuration can include a high temperature piston 110-m with an associated high temperature cylinder 120-m located in one thermodynamic circuit (associated with a gas path 130-n, which may include one or more diffusers and/or heat exchangers) and a low temperature piston 111-m with an associated low temperature cylinder 121-m located in an adjacent thermodynamic circuit (associated with the gas path 130-m), wherein the high temperature piston 110-m and the low temperature piston 111-m are aligned and located at the same single actuator 115-m, while the high temperature piston and the low temperature piston located in the same thermodynamic circuit are not aligned, such as the high temperature piston 110-n and the low temperature piston 111-m with respect to the gas path 130-m. The pistons, cylinders, and/or actuators of system 400-a can be configured as a Stirling cycle device 100-m, which can be an example of the device 100 of Figure 1A, the device 100-a of Figure 1B, and/or the device 100-d of Figures 3A or 3B. The device 100-m can include additional pistons, additional cylinders, additional actuators, and/or additional gas paths (which may be shown but not represented and/or may be obscured from the figure). For example, in some embodiments, the device 100-m can be configured to use four pairs of high-temperature pistons and low-temperature pistons and their associated cylinders, actuators, and/or gas paths.

System 400-b can provide a straight-through gas path 130-o that connects the high-temperature cylinder 120-o with the low-temperature cylinder 121-o located in the same thermodynamic circuit, which can be referred to as a mechanical offset. The gas path 130-o can include one or more diffusers and/or heat exchangers. With respect to system 400-b, a high-temperature piston 110-p with an associated high-temperature cylinder 120-p located in one thermodynamic circuit (associated with gas path 130-p, which can include one or more diffusers and/or heat exchangers) and a low-temperature piston 111-o with an associated low-temperature cylinder 121-o located in an adjacent thermodynamic circuit (associated with gas path 130-o) can be offset at the same single actuator 115-o, and/or the high-temperature piston and the low-temperature piston can be aligned, such as the high-temperature piston 110-o and the low-temperature piston 111-o located in the same thermodynamic circuit (associated with gas path 130-o). Although actuator 115-o is theoretically shown as achieving an offset of high temperature piston 110-p relative to low temperature piston 111-o, it can be assumed that actuator 115-o can be constructed to be sufficiently rigid to prevent edge loads from occurring between high temperature piston 110-p and low temperature piston 111-o and their corresponding cylinders 120-p and 120-o. The pistons, cylinders and/or actuators of system 400-b can be constructed as a Stirling cycle device 100-o, which can be an example of device 100 of Figure 1A, device 100-b of Figure 1C and/or device 100-d of Figure 3A or Figure 3B. Device 100-o can include additional pistons, additional cylinders, additional actuators and/or additional gas paths (which may be shown but are not represented and/or may be obscured from the figure). For example, in some embodiments, device 100-o can be constructed to use four pairs of high temperature pistons and low temperature pistons and their associated cylinders, actuators and/or gas paths.

System 400-c can provide a hybrid of thermally and mechanically offset configurations, which can combine a curved gas path 130-q with a single actuator 115-q. The high-temperature piston 110-r and the low-temperature piston 111-q of system 400-c are spatially offset, i.e., not aligned with each other, which can be referred to as a hybrid offset configuration. Gas path 130-q can include one or more diffusers and/or heat exchangers. A hybrid offset configuration such as system 400-c may include a high temperature piston 110-r housed in a high temperature cylinder 120-r located at one thermodynamic circuit (associated with the gas path 130-r, which may include one or more diffusers and/or heat exchangers) and a low temperature piston 111-q housed in a low temperature cylinder 121-q located at an adjacent thermodynamic circuit (associated with the gas path 130-q), wherein the piston and cylinder located at the same actuator 115-q may be spatially offset and therefore may not be aligned with each other, and the high temperature piston 110-q housed in the high temperature cylinder 120-q and the low temperature piston 111-q housed in the low temperature cylinder 121-q located at the same thermodynamic circuit (associated with the gas path 130-q) but at different actuators may also be spatially offset and therefore may not be aligned with each other. Although actuator 115-q is shown theoretically to achieve the offset of high-temperature piston 110-r relative to low-temperature piston 111-q, it can be assumed that actuator 115-q can be constructed to be sufficiently rigid to prevent edge loads from occurring between high-temperature piston 110-r and low-temperature piston 111-q and their corresponding cylinders 120-r and 121-q. The pistons, cylinders and/or actuators of system 400-c can be constructed as Stirling cycle device 100-q, which can be an example of device 100 of Figure 1A, device 100-d of Figure 3A and/or device 100-e of Figure 3B. Device 100-q can include additional pistons, additional cylinders, additional actuators and/or additional gas paths (which may be shown but are not represented and/or may be obscured from the figure). For example, in some embodiments, device 100-q can be constructed to use four pairs of high-temperature pistons and low-temperature pistons and their associated cylinders, actuators and/or gas paths.

Each of the three variations described above for systems 400-a, 400-b, and 400-c can be implemented using a variety of linear-rotary mechanisms, shown as mechanism 200-m, mechanism 200-o, and mechanism 200-q, respectively. Mechanisms 200-m, 200-o, and 200-q can illustrate variations of a barrel cam carriage. Some embodiments can use linkage mechanisms coupled to a cam plate or a swash plate for synthesizing linear or near-linear motion. In some embodiments, mechanism 200-m, mechanism 200-o, and/or mechanism 200-q can be examples of the linear-rotary mechanism 200 of Figures 2 or 3B and/or mechanism 200-a of Figure 3A.

In Figures 5A and 5B, systems 500-a and 500-b illustrate two different examples of linear-rotary mechanisms 200-r and linear-rotary mechanisms 200-s, respectively, according to various embodiments. Figures 5A and 5B may also illustrate portions of Stirling cycle devices 100-r and 100-s, respectively, which may be examples of device 100 of Figure 1A, device 100-a of Figure 1B, device 100-b of Figure 1C, device 100-d of Figures 3A or 3B, device 100-m of Figure 4A, device 100-o of Figure 4B, and/or device 100-q of Figure 4C.

FIG5A illustrates a linear-rotary mechanism 200-r that may utilize a barrel cam bracket configuration, according to various embodiments. The mechanism 200-r may be an example of the linear-rotary mechanism 200-a of FIG3A , the mechanism 200-m of FIG4A , the mechanism 200-o of FIG4B , and/or the mechanism 200-q of FIG4C . The linear-rotary mechanism 200-r may be coupled to the Stirling cycle device 100-r via one or more individual actuators 115-r-i, 115-j-i of the device 100-r (the other two individual actuators may be obscured from view or not specifically depicted).

FIG5B shows a linear-rotary mechanism 200-s and a cam plate having multiple cam followers, wherein the linear-rotary mechanism 200-s may use multiple linkages (configured as Watt linkages) for synthesizing linear or near-linear motion. The mechanism 200-s may include Watt linkages 210-s-i, 210-s-j, 210-s-k (a fourth Watt linkage may be included, but is obscured from the diagram), which generate near-linear motion at pivot points 250-s-i, 250-s-j, 250-s-k (a fourth pivot point may be included, but is obscured from the diagram), cam followers 240-s-i, 240-s-j, 240-s-k (a fourth cam follower may be included, but is obscured from the diagram), and a cam 230-s, which may be part of a cam plate 220-s. In some embodiments, the cam 230-s and/or the plurality of cam followers 240-s-i, 240-s-j, 240-s-k are configured as tapered surfaces. The cam 230-s and the plurality of cam followers 240-s-i, 240-s-j, 240-s-k can be configured such that the vertices 260 of all of their respective tapered surfaces coincide. The axis 270 of the cam 230-s and the corresponding axis 271 of each of the plurality of cam followers 240-s-i, 240-s-j, 240-s-k can be tilted relative to the rotational axis 272 of the main shaft 280. The plurality of vertices 260 of the tapered surfaces can be located at the rotational axis 272 of the main shaft 280. In some embodiments, bevel gears can be added to the cam 230-s and each of the plurality of cam followers 240-s-i, 240-s-j, and 240-s-k. The opening angle of the pitch cone of each bevel gear is equal to the opening angle of the cone defining the conical surface representing each bevel gear, and the apex of all pitch cones coincides with the apex 260 of all conical surfaces. This reinforcement can help prevent circumferential slippage that can occur at the contact interface between smooth conical surfaces. In some embodiments, the movement of the cam followers 240-s-i, 240-s-j, and 240-s-k can impart rotation to the cam plate 220-s about the axis 272 of the main shaft 280. The conical surfaces of the cam 230-s and the plurality of cam followers 240-s-i, 240-s-j, and 240-s-k can come into contact, facilitating movement of the conical surfaces rolling against each other. This can cause the cam followers 240-s-i, 240-s-j, and 240-s-k to maintain contact with the cam 230-s without slipping or sliding. The mechanism 200-s can be an example of the linear-rotary mechanism 200 of Figure 2 or Figure 3B and/or the mechanism 200-a of Figure 3A. The mechanism 200-s can be coupled to the Stirling cycle device 100-s via the one or more individual actuators 115-s-i, 115-s-j of the device 100-s (the two other individual actuators are obscured or not specifically shown in the figure).

Figure 5C provides additional examples of linear-rotary mechanisms 200-t that can use multiple Watt linkages and cam plate configurations according to various embodiments. The mechanism 200-t of Figure 5C can include multiple Watt linkages, such as Watt linkages 210-t-i and 210-t-j (one or more additional Watt linkages can be included in the mechanism 200-t, but this will be obscured from the figure). The mechanism 200-t can include multiple cam followers, such as cam followers 240-t-i and 240-t-j (one or more additional cam followers can be included in the mechanism 200-t, but this will be obscured from the figure). The cam 230-t of the mechanism 200-t can be part of the cam plate 220-t. The mechanism 200-t can be an example of the linear-rotary mechanism 200 of Figure 2 or Figure 3B, the mechanism 200-a of Figure 3A, and/or the mechanism 200-s of Figure 5B. The Watt linkages 210-t-i and 210-t-j, as well as the cam plate mechanism 220-t, the cam 230-t, and/or the plurality of cam followers 240-t-i and 240-t-j, can be configured as tapered surfaces. The cam 230-t and the plurality of cam followers 240-t-i and 240-t-j can be configured so that the vertices of all of their respective tapered surfaces coincide. The axis of the cam 230-t and the respective axes of each of the plurality of cam followers 240-t-i and 240-t-j can be tilted relative to the rotational axis of the main shaft 280-a. The vertices of the tapered surfaces can be located on the rotational axis of the main shaft 280-a.

FIG5D provides another example of a system 500-d according to various embodiments, wherein the system 500-d can include a linear-rotary mechanism 200-u that can utilize multiple Watts linkages and cam plate configurations. The mechanism 200-u of FIG5D can include Watts linkages 210-u-i and 210-u-j (which can include a third and fourth Watts linkages, but which are obscured from view in the figure), cam followers 240-u-i and 240-u-j (which can include a third and fourth cam followers, but which are obscured from view in the figure), and a cam 230-u (which can be part of a cam plate 220-u). The movement of the cam followers 240-u-i and 240-u-j can impart rotation to the cam plate 220-u about the axis of the main shaft 280-b. In some embodiments, the tapered surfaces of the cam 230-u and the plurality of cam followers 240-u-i and 240-u-j can come into contact to facilitate movement of the tapered surface rolling on another tapered surface. The mechanism 200-u can be an example of the linear-rotary mechanism 200 of FIG. 2 , the mechanism 200-a of FIG. 3A , the mechanism 200-b of FIG. 3B , the mechanism 200-s of FIG. 5B , and/or the mechanism 200-t of FIG. 5C . The system 500-d can illustrate aspects of the Stirling cycle device 100-u, which can be an example of the device 100 of FIG. 1A , the device 100-a of FIG. 1B , the device 100-b of FIG. 1C , the device 100-d of FIG. 3A or FIG. 3B , the device 100-m of FIG. 4A , the device 100-o of FIG. 4B , and/or the device 100-q of FIG. 4C .

FIG5E illustrates aspects of a linear-rotary mechanism 200-v that may utilize a cam disk configuration, according to various embodiments. The mechanism 200-v may include a cam follower 240-v (the mechanism 200-v may include one or more additional cam followers, though not shown). The mechanism 200-v may include a cam 230-v, which may be part of a cam disk 220-v. The mechanism 200-t may be, for example, an example of aspects of the linear-rotary mechanism 200 of FIG2 or FIG3B , the mechanism 200-a of FIG3A , the mechanism 200-s of FIG5B , the mechanism 200-t of FIG5C , and/or the mechanism 200-u of FIG5D .

The cam 230-v and/or the cam follower 240-v can be configured with tapered surfaces, and are shown with respect to the tapered member 250 and the tapered member 251. The cam 230-v and the cam follower 240-v can be configured such that the vertices 260-a of all of their respective tapered surfaces can coincide. The axis 270-a of the cam 230-v and the axis 271-a of the cam follower 240-v can be tilted relative to the main shaft's rotational axis 272-a. The plurality of coincident vertices 260-a of the tapered surfaces can be located at the main shaft's rotational axis 272-a. In some embodiments, the movement of the cam follower 240-v can help impart rotation to the cam plate 220-v about the main shaft's axis 272-a. The tapered surfaces of the cam 230-v and the cam follower 240-v can come into contact to facilitate the movement of the tapered surfaces rolling on the other tapered surface. This can cause the cam follower 240-v to maintain contact with the cam 230-v without slipping or sliding. For clarity, only one cam follower 240-v is shown in this figure, although additional cam followers can be used in some embodiments, for example as shown in other figures.

6A and 6B , an axonometric view of a Stirling cycle system 600 and a related side view of a Stirling cycle system 600-a are provided according to various embodiments. System 600-a can, for example, provide an example of system 600 of FIG. 6A . Stirling cycle system 600 and Stirling cycle system 600-a can be examples of system 300 of FIG. 3A or system 300-a of FIG. 3B . System 600 and system 600-a can include Stirling cycle device 100-w. The Stirling cycle device 100-w may be an example of aspects of the Stirling cycle device 100 of FIG1A , the device 100-a of FIG1B , the device 100-b of FIG1C , the device 100-d of FIG3A or FIG3B , the device 100-m of FIG4A , the device 100-o of FIG4B , the device 100-q of FIG4C , the device 100-r of FIG5A , the device 100-s of FIG5B , and/or the device 100-u of FIG5D . The system 600 and the system 600-a may include a linear-rotary mechanism 200-w, which may be an example of aspects of the linear-rotary mechanism 200 of FIG2 or FIG3B , the mechanism 200-a of FIG3A , the mechanism 200-s of FIG5B , the mechanism 200-t of FIG5C , the mechanism 200-u of FIG5D , and/or the mechanism 200-v of FIG5E .

System 600 and system 600-a can include multiple pairs of pistons housed within multiple cylinders; for example, these embodiments may generally include four pairs of pistons, each with an associated cylinder, although not all of these pistons and cylinders may be clearly represented by the reference numerals. Furthermore, because the pistons may be housed within corresponding cylinders, the pistons may appear obscured in the figure. Each of the paired pistons can include a high-temperature piston mechanically coupled to a low-temperature piston, wherein the high-temperature piston and the low-temperature piston are mechanically coupled by each being mechanically coupled to a single actuator, and the high-temperature piston and the low-temperature piston are configured to be located in different thermodynamic circuits, which may also be adjacent thermodynamic circuits. For example, a high-temperature piston located within a high-temperature cylinder 120-w can be mechanically coupled to a low-temperature piston located within a low-temperature cylinder 121-w using a single actuator 115-w. Similarly, a high-temperature piston located within a high-temperature cylinder 120-x can be mechanically coupled to a low-temperature piston located within a low-temperature cylinder 121-y using a single actuator 115-x. System 600 and system 600-a may include two other single actuators (which may be obscured or not clearly represented in the figure). In addition, in some cases, the low-temperature piston located in the low-temperature cylinder 121-y and the high-temperature piston located in the high-temperature cylinder 120-w can be configured to be located in the same thermodynamic circuit associated with the gas path 130-w. Similarly, in some cases, the low-temperature piston located in the low-temperature cylinder 121-x and the high-temperature piston located in the high-temperature cylinder 120-x can be configured to be located in the same thermodynamic circuit associated with the gas path 130-x. In some cases, this configuration can be referred to as a hybrid offset configuration, wherein the high-temperature piston located in the high-temperature cylinder 120-w and the low-temperature piston located in the low-temperature cylinder 121-w and/or the high-temperature piston located in the high-temperature cylinder 120-w and the low-temperature piston located in the low-temperature cylinder 121-y can be respectively configured to be spatially offset from each other. Similarly, the high-temperature piston located within high-temperature cylinder 120-x and the low-temperature piston located within low-temperature cylinder 121-x can be configured to be spatially offset from each other. In addition, the low-temperature piston located within low-temperature cylinder 121-y and the high-temperature piston located within high-temperature cylinder 120-w can be coupled to gas path 130-w. In some cases, gas path 130-w can include one or more diffusers and/or one or more heat exchangers. Similarly, the low-temperature piston located within low-temperature cylinder 121-x and the high-temperature piston located within high-temperature cylinder 120-x can be coupled to gas path 130-x. In some cases, gas path 130-x can include one or more diffusers and/or one or more heat exchangers. System 600 and system 600-a can generally include two additional gas paths (which may be obscured or not clearly represented in the figure). Additional pistons and additional cylinders can be represented, but some pistons and some cylinders may be obscured or not clearly represented in the figure.

In some embodiments of system 600 and system 600-a, the plurality of paired pistons are configured in a single-acting Alpha Stirling configuration. Typically, each high-temperature piston/low-temperature piston pair can be mechanically coupled to a single actuator located in different thermodynamic circuits, where the different thermodynamic circuits can be adjacent thermodynamic circuits. Alternatively, each high-temperature piston can have an associated low-temperature piston located at the same actuator and not mechanically coupled to each high-temperature piston, but each high-temperature piston is configured such that the associated pistons are located in the same thermodynamic circuit.

System 600 and system 600-a may also include a linear-rotary mechanism 200-w coupled to at least the plurality of individual actuators 115-w, 115-x. In this example, the linear-rotary mechanism 200-w may include a linkage mechanism for synthesizing linear or nearly linear motion. The linkage mechanism may be configured to couple the plurality of individual actuators to each other to at least drive a single actuator or be driven by the actuator while maintaining a phase relationship between the individual actuators. In some embodiments, the linkage mechanism includes a plurality of linkages and a cam disk coupled to the plurality of linkages using a cam and a plurality of cam followers. In some embodiments, the linkage may include a Watt linkage. For example, the Watt linkage 210-w may be coupled to the cam follower 240-w, and the cam follower 240-w may be coupled to the cam 230-w. The cam 230-w may be part of the cam disk 220-w. Similarly, Watts linkage 210-x can be coupled to cam follower 240-x, which can be coupled to cam 230-w. System 600 can include additional Watts linkages and/or cam followers (which may not be clearly shown but may be illustrated in FIG6B ), although some Watts linkages and/or cam followers may be obscured from view in the figure.

The cam 230-w and/or the cam followers 240-w and 240-x can be configured to have tapered surfaces. The cam 230-w and the cam followers 240-w and 240-x can be configured so that the vertices of all of their corresponding tapered surfaces can coincide. The axis of the cam 230-w and the corresponding axis of each cam follower 240-w and 240-x can be tilted relative to the rotation axis of the main shaft 280-c. The multiple coincident vertices of the tapered surfaces can be located on the rotation axis of the main shaft 280-c. In some embodiments, the movement of the cam followers 240-w and 240-x can help impart rotation to the cam plate 220-w about the axis of the main shaft 280-c. The tapered surfaces of the cam 230-w and the cam followers 240-w and 240-x can come into contact to facilitate the movement of the tapered surfaces rolling on the other tapered surface. This may cause the cam followers 240 - w and 240 - x to maintain contact with the cam 230 - w without slipping or sliding.

Referring now to FIG. 7 , a flow chart of a method 700 is provided according to various embodiments. Method 700 may be implemented using aspects of the apparatus 100 of FIG. 1A , aspects of the apparatus 100 - a of FIG. 1B , aspects of the apparatus 100 - b of FIG. 1C , aspects of the apparatus 100 - d of FIG. 3A or 3B , aspects of the apparatus 100 - m of FIG. 4A , aspects of the apparatus 100 - o of FIG. 4B , aspects of the apparatus 100 - q of FIG. 4C , aspects of the apparatus 100 - r of FIG. 5A , aspects of the apparatus 100 - s of FIG. 5B , aspects of the apparatus 100 - u of FIG. 5D , and/or aspects of the apparatus 100 - w of FIG. 6A or 6B . In FIG. 7 , the specific steps selected and the order in which they are presented are intended for illustration purposes only. Depending on various embodiments of the invention, certain steps may be performed in alternative orders, certain steps may be omitted, and certain additional steps may be added. Some, but not all, of these variations are noted in the following description.

At block 705, a first high-temperature piston, which may be housed within a first high-temperature cylinder, and a first low-temperature piston, which may be housed within a first low-temperature cylinder, may generate linear motion. The first low-temperature piston may be mechanically coupled to the first high-temperature piston such that the first low-temperature piston and the first high-temperature piston are distinct thermodynamic circuits. In some cases, a first single actuator may couple the first high-temperature piston to the first low-temperature piston. Different thermodynamic circuits may include adjacent thermodynamic circuits.

In some embodiments of method 700, the first high temperature piston and the first low temperature piston are configured to be spatially aligned with each other. In some embodiments, the first high temperature piston and the first low temperature piston are configured to be spatially offset from each other.

In some embodiments of method 700, at least a second high temperature piston housed in a second high temperature cylinder and a second low temperature piston housed in a second low temperature cylinder are provided, wherein the second high temperature piston and the second low temperature piston can also generate linear motion. A second single actuator can mechanically couple the second high temperature piston to the second low temperature piston so that the second high temperature piston and the second low temperature piston can be configured to be located in different thermodynamic circuits, wherein the different thermodynamic circuits can also be adjacent thermodynamic circuits. In some cases, the first low temperature piston and the second high temperature piston can be configured to be located in the same thermodynamic circuit. In some cases, the first low temperature piston and the second high temperature piston can be configured to be spatially aligned with each other. In some cases, the first low temperature piston and the second high temperature piston can be configured to be spatially offset from each other. The first low temperature piston and the second high temperature piston can be configured as part of a single-acting Alpha Stirling cycle configuration.

FIG8 provides an overview of a flow chart of method 800 according to various embodiments. Method 800 can be implemented using the linear-rotary mechanism 200 of FIG2 or FIG3B, the mechanism 200-a of FIG3, the mechanism 200-s of FIG5B, the mechanism 200-t of FIG5C, the mechanism 200-u of FIG5D, the mechanism 200-v of FIG5E, and/or the mechanism 200-w of FIG6A or FIG6B. In FIG8, the selected specific steps shown and the order in which these steps are shown are intended to be illustrative only. Depending on different embodiments of the present invention, certain steps can be performed in alternative sequences, certain steps can be omitted, and certain additional steps can be added. Some, but not all, of these variations are noted in the following description. Method 800 can be combined with method 700 of FIG7 so that the linear motion generated in method 700 can be converted into the rotational motion of method 800.

At block 805 , a plurality of Watt linkages coupled with a plurality of cam followers and coupled with the cams of the cam plate may convert linear motion into rotational motion.

In some embodiments of method 800, the cam and the plurality of cam followers are configured as tapered surfaces. The cam and the plurality of cam followers may be configured such that the vertices of all of their corresponding tapered surfaces may coincide. The axis of the cam and the corresponding axis of each of the plurality of cam followers may be tilted relative to the axis of rotation of the main shaft. The plurality of vertices of the tapered surfaces may be located on the axis of rotation of the main shaft. In some embodiments, a bevel gear may be added to the cam and each of the plurality of cam followers, the opening angle of the pitch cone of each bevel gear being equal to the opening angle of the cone defining the tapered surface of each bevel gear, and the vertices of all the pitch cones coincide with the vertices of all the tapered surfaces. This reinforcement may help avoid circumferential sliding that may occur at the contact interface between smooth tapered surfaces.

FIG9 provides an overview of a flow chart of a method 900 for using a Stirling cycle system according to various embodiments. Method 900 may be implemented using the apparatus 100 of FIG1A, the apparatus 100-a of FIG1B, the apparatus 100-b of FIG1C, the apparatus 100-d of FIG3A or FIG3B, the apparatus 100-m of FIG4A, the apparatus 100-o of FIG4B, the apparatus 100-q of FIG4C, the apparatus 100-r of FIG5A, the apparatus 100-s of FIG5B, the apparatus 100-u of FIG5D, and/or the apparatus 100-w of FIG6A or FIG6B. Method 900 can be implemented by using the linear-rotational mechanism 200 of Figure 2 or Figure 3B, the mechanism 200-a of Figure 3, the mechanism 200-m of Figure 4A, the mechanism 200-o of Figure 4B, the mechanism 200-q of Figure 4C, the mechanism 200-r of Figure 5A, the mechanism 200-s of Figure 5B, the mechanism 200-t of Figure 5C, the mechanism 200-u of Figure 5D, the mechanism 200-v of Figure 5E and/or the mechanism 200-w of Figure 6A or Figure 6B. In Figure 9, the selected specific steps shown and the order in which these steps are shown are intended to be illustrative only. According to different embodiments of the present invention, specific steps can be performed in an alternative order, specific steps can be omitted, and specific additional steps can be added. Some, but not all, of these variations are pointed out in the following description.

At block 905, the Stirling cycle system can be configured to have multiple paired pistons housed in multiple cylinders. Each paired piston can include a high-temperature piston mechanically coupled to a low-temperature piston by a single actuator, such that the high-temperature piston and the low-temperature piston are configured to be located in different thermodynamic circuits, and the different thermodynamic circuits can also be adjacent thermodynamic circuits. The multiple single actuators can be coupled to a linear-rotary mechanism to convert the linear motion generated by the multiple single actuators into rotational motion. In some embodiments of method 900, the multiple paired pistons are configured as a single-acting Alpha Stirling configuration.

In some embodiments of method 900, the linear-rotary mechanism includes a cylindrical cam carriage mechanism. In some embodiments, the linear-rotary mechanism includes a linkage mechanism for synthesizing linear or nearly linear motion. The linkage mechanism can be configured to couple the multiple individual actuators to each other to at least drive a single actuator or be driven by the actuator while maintaining a phase relationship between the individual actuators. In some embodiments, the linkage mechanism includes a plurality of linkages and a cam disk coupled to the plurality of linkages using a cam and a plurality of cam followers. In some embodiments, the linkages can include Watt linkages.

Although detailed descriptions of one or more embodiments have been provided above, various alternatives, modifications, and equivalents will be apparent to those skilled in the art and will not depart from the spirit of the various embodiments described. Furthermore, except where clearly inappropriate or otherwise noted, it should be assumed that features, devices, and/or components of the various embodiments may be interchanged and/or combined. Therefore, the above description should not be considered to limit the scope of the various embodiments, which may be defined by the appended claims.

Claims (24)

1. A Stirling cycle system, comprising: The first high-temperature piston is housed within the first high-temperature cylinder. A first cryogenic piston, which is housed within a first cryogenic cylinder; A first single actuator is configured to connect the first high-temperature piston to the first low-temperature piston such that the first high-temperature piston and the first low-temperature piston are located in different thermodynamic circuits. The second high-temperature piston is housed within the second high-temperature cylinder. The second cryogenic piston is housed within the second cryogenic cylinder. A second single actuator, configured to connect the second high-temperature piston to the second low-temperature piston such that the second high-temperature piston and the second low-temperature piston are located in different thermodynamic circuits; and A linear-rotary mechanism, said linear-rotary mechanism being coupled at least to the first single actuator or the second single actuator, said linear-rotary mechanism comprising: Multiple linkages, wherein the multiple linkages are used to synthesize linear or near-linear motion; and A cam disk is used to connect the cam disk with the multiple linkages via a cam and multiple cam followers. 2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the different thermodynamic circuits of the first high-temperature piston and the first low-temperature piston comprise adjacent thermodynamic circuits. 3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first high-temperature piston and the first low-temperature piston are spatially aligned with each other. 4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first high-temperature piston and the first low-temperature piston are spatially offset from each other. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the different thermodynamic circuits of the second high-temperature piston and the second low-temperature piston comprise adjacent thermodynamic circuits. 6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the first cryogenic piston and the second high-temperature piston are located in the same thermodynamic circuit. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the first cryogenic piston and the second high-temperature piston are spatially aligned with each other. 8. The system of claim 6, wherein the first cryogenic piston and the second high-temperature piston are spatially offset from each other. 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first cryogenic piston and the second high-temperature piston are part of a single-acting Alpha Stirling cycle configuration. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the cam and the plurality of cam followers are configured with tapered surfaces. 11. The system of claim 10, wherein each corresponding conical surface has a corresponding vertex, and the cam and the plurality of cam followers are configured such that each of the plurality of vertices coincides with each other. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the axis of the cam and the respective axis of each of the plurality of cam followers are inclined relative to the axis of rotation of the main shaft. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the plurality of vertices of the conical surface are located on the axis of rotation of the main shaft. 14. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the plurality of linkages are mechanically connected to each other. 15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the linear-rotation mechanism comprises a cylindrical cam and a bracket mechanism. 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of linkages are configured to: connect the first single actuator and the second single actuator to each other to at least drive or be driven by the first single actuator and the second single actuator, while maintaining a phase relationship between the first single actuator and the second single actuator. 17. A Stirling cycle system, comprising: The first high-temperature piston is housed within the first high-temperature cylinder. A first cryogenic piston, which is housed within a first cryogenic cylinder; A first single actuator is configured to connect the first high-temperature piston to the first low-temperature piston such that the first high-temperature piston and the first low-temperature piston are located in different thermodynamic circuits. The second high-temperature piston is housed within the second high-temperature cylinder. The second cryogenic piston is housed within the second cryogenic cylinder. A second single actuator, configured to connect the second high-temperature piston to the second low-temperature piston such that the second high-temperature piston and the second low-temperature piston are located in different thermodynamic circuits; and A linear-rotary mechanism, said linear-rotary mechanism being coupled at least to the first single actuator or the second single actuator, said linear-rotary mechanism comprising: Multiple linkage components; and A cam disk is connected to a plurality of linkages by means of a cam and a plurality of cam followers, wherein the axis of the cam and the corresponding axis of each of the plurality of cam followers are inclined relative to the rotation axis of the main shaft. 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the axis of the cam and the corresponding axis of each of the plurality of cam followers intersect at a position on the rotation axis of the main shaft. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein the cam and the plurality of cam followers are configured with tapered surfaces. 20. The system of claim 19, wherein each corresponding conical surface has a corresponding vertex, and the cam and the plurality of cam followers are configured such that each of the plurality of vertices coincides with each other, and the plurality of vertices of the conical surfaces are located on the axis of rotation of the main shaft. 21. The system of claim 17, wherein at least two of the plurality of linkages are mechanically connected to each other. 22. A Stirling cycle system, comprising: The first high-temperature piston is housed within the first high-temperature cylinder. A first cryogenic piston, the first cryogenic piston being housed within a first cryogenic cylinder; and A first single actuator is configured to connect the first high-temperature piston to the first low-temperature piston such that the first high-temperature piston and the first low-temperature piston are located in different thermodynamic circuits, wherein the first high-temperature piston and the first low-temperature piston are spatially offset from each other. 23. The system of claim 22 further includes a linear-rotary mechanism coupled to the first single actuator, wherein the linear-rotary mechanism includes at least a plurality of linkages or a cylindrical cam and bracket mechanism for synthesizing linear or near-linear motion. 24. A Stirling cycle system, comprising: The first high-temperature piston is housed within the first high-temperature cylinder. A first cryogenic piston, which is housed within a first cryogenic cylinder; A first single actuator is configured to connect the first high-temperature piston to the first low-temperature piston such that the first high-temperature piston and the first low-temperature piston are located in different thermodynamic circuits. The second high-temperature piston is housed within the second high-temperature cylinder. The second cryogenic piston is housed within the second cryogenic cylinder. A second single actuator, configured to connect the second high-temperature piston to the second low-temperature piston such that the second high-temperature piston and the second low-temperature piston are located in different thermodynamic circuits; and One or more cylindrical cam and bracket mechanisms, said one or more cylindrical cam and bracket mechanisms being coupled at least to the first single actuator or the second single actuator, wherein the first single actuator is configured to coupled the first high-temperature piston to the first low-temperature piston and at least one of the one or more cylindrical cam and bracket mechanisms, and the second single actuator is configured to coupled the second high-temperature piston to the second low-temperature piston and at least one of the one or more cylindrical cam and bracket mechanisms.