US 12,435,681 B2
Stirling engine with at least four piston assemblies
Howard Sargent, Crieff (GB)
Assigned to REGENSYS LTD, Crieff (GB)
Appl. No. 18/561,987
Filed by REGENSYS LTD, Crieff (GB)
PCT Filed May 16, 2022, PCT No. PCT/GB2022/051224
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Nov. 17, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/243660, PCT Pub. Date Nov. 24, 2022.
Claims priority of application No. 2107042 (GB), filed on May 17, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0271588 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. F02G 1/044 (2006.01); F02G 1/043 (2006.01); F02G 1/053 (2006.01)
CPC F02G 1/044 (2013.01) [F02G 1/0435 (2013.01); F02G 1/053 (2013.01); F02G 2244/50 (2013.01); F02G 2244/52 (2013.01); F02G 2244/54 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A Stirling engine comprising:
at least four piston assemblies, wherein each piston assembly comprises:
a first cylinder comprising a piston configured to separate at least two expansion or compression chambers of the first cylinder;
a second cylinder comprising a piston configured to separate at least two expansion or compression chambers of the second cylinder;
wherein the pistons of the first and second cylinders are connected, such that the first and second cylinders form each piston assembly;
wherein a first chamber of the first cylinder of a first piston assembly is fluidly connected to a first chamber of a first cylinder of a second piston assembly, and wherein a second chamber of said first cylinder is fluidly connected to a second chamber of the first cylinder of the second piston assembly; and
wherein a first chamber of the second cylinder of the first piston assembly is fluidly connected to a first chamber of a second cylinder of a third piston assembly, and
wherein a second chamber of the second cylinder of the first piston assembly is fluidly connected to a second chamber of the second cylinder of the third piston assembly; and
wherein a first chamber of the second cylinder of the second piston assembly is fluidly connected to a first chamber of a second cylinder of a fourth piston assembly, and wherein a second chamber of the second cylinder of the second piston assembly is fluidly connected to a second chamber of the second cylinder of the fourth piston assembly;
such that a working fluid to be compressed/expanded can flow between the fluidly connected chambers of the respective piston assemblies; and
wherein each piston assembly is a free piston assembly, wherein at least one free piston assembly is rigidly couplable by a coaxially connecting rod to a linear generator or alternator assembly to generate electricity.