Inventors:
William H. Raser - Los Angeles CA
International Classification:
F02G 104
Abstract:
A resilient diaphragm using a single non-circular rolling convolution to seal pressure around a pistonlike body. The outer wall of the convolution and the perimeter of the diaphragm have the shape of a racetrack, i. e. , of a rectangle with two semicircles added. The rectangle part may be made of sheet metal but at least the curved part of the convolution within the semicircles must be of elastomer material such as a rubber coated fabric. The shape of the inner wall may include some additional curvature so that the two walls can have equal lengths. Production of this diaphragm does not require a full-sized curing mold. When it is used in place of a piston in a Stirling engine, a thermal barrier may be needed to protect the elastomer part from the heat and a configuration is preferred in which the reciprocating diaphragm and an array of slender-column displacing elements form a compact package on opposite sides of a cylindrical wall.