Stirling Cycle Cooler One-Piece Support to Reduce Vibration and Noise
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Stirling cycle cooling devices face challenges with vibration and acoustic noise due to hyperstatic mechanisms, lubricant contamination, and tight manufacturing tolerances, which increase production costs and friction losses.
Innovation Solution
A Stirling cycle cooling device with a one-piece support that integrates the compressor and regenerator cylinders, eliminating intermediate mechanical parts and using a single bearing for the crankshaft, along with an external rotor motor to reduce vibration and noise, and simplify assembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If intermediate mechanical parts and multiple bearings are used to support the crankshaft, then the mechanism can accommodate manufacturing tolerances and ensure proper alignment, but the device complexity and friction losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the support structure for the crankshaft with the existing housing or frame of the cooling device, eliminating the need for separate intermediate mechanical parts and multiple bearings. The crankshaft is directly supported by integrated bearing surfaces formed as part of the main structure, reducing the number of components while maintaining proper alignment through precise monoblock manufacturing.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing or frame structure serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, houses the compression and expansion spaces, and simultaneously supports the crankshaft through integrated bearing surfaces. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for dedicated intermediate support parts, reducing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If lubricant is used in kinematic connections, then friction and wear are reduced, but the refrigerant becomes contaminated and may blockage at cryogenic temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lubrication function from the kinematic connections by eliminating relative motion between the crankshaft and support structure. The crankshaft is designed to rotate within integrated bearing surfaces that accommodate motion without requiring lubricant, thereby removing the source of refrigerant contamination while maintaining reliable operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional lubricated mechanical connection system with a bearing surface system that relies on distributed pressure and material compliance rather than lubricant films. This substitution eliminates the need for lubricant in the kinematic chain, preventing refrigerant contamination while still reducing friction and wear through proper bearing surface design.
3Ease of manufacture
If functional play is provided at the crankpin to limit hyperstatism, then assembly is simplified, but shocks and vibrations are generated due to alternating forces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the crankshaft support function with the main housing structure, eliminating the need for separate crankpin connections that would require functional play. The integrated bearing surfaces provide continuous support without gaps or clearance, preventing shocks and vibrations while simplifying assembly through monoblock construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates bearing surfaces with inherent compliance and distributed pressure capabilities that cushion the alternating forces before they can generate shocks or vibrations. The bearing design anticipates the cyclic loading and provides continuous contact with slight deformation capacity, preventing impact loads and reducing vibration and noise.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution achieves a silent and low-vibration isostatic mechanism, reducing production costs and complexity while maintaining efficient cooling performance.
Implementation Method 1
The cooling is carried out by means of a refrigerant fluid circulating in a circuit
Implementation Method 2
The regenerator includes a regeneration piston also movable in a second cylinder... acting as a heat exchanger
Implementation Method 3
The two pistons are each driven by a connecting rod/crank system, consisting of a crankshaft (which can carry one or more crankpins) and one or more connecting rods. The crankshaft is driven in rotation by a rotary motor.
Implementation Method 4
isothermal compression of a fluid at a hot temperature, obtained by the movement of a compression piston in a compression cylinder
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to a cooling device implementing a reverse Stirling thermodynamic cycle. The device (10) comprises a reciprocating piston compressor (16) driven by a rotary motor (14) about an axis (24) via a crankshaft (46). The device (10) further comprises a one-piece support (32) forming a cylinder (18) in which the piston (16) of the compressor (12) moves. The crankshaft (46) is supported by a single bearing (40). The bearing (40) is arranged without an intermediate part in a housing (38) of the one-piece support (32).