Threaded sealing flange for use in an external combustion engine and method of sealing a pressure vessel

Abstract

A pressure vessel for containing a mechanical device operable to convert heat to mechanical or electrical power, comprising: a high temperature section, the high temperature section having a first end and an open second end, a sealing flange, the sealing flange having a first end and a second threaded end, the first end bonded to the open second end of the high temperature section, and a low temperature section having an open threaded first end, the open first end in sealing engagement with the second threaded end of the sealing flange. Also provided are a Stirling engine and a method of hermetically sealing a pressure vessel of a Stirling engine.

1 . A pressure vessel for containing a mechanical device operable to convert heat to mechanical or electrical power, comprising: 
 a) a high temperature section said high temperature section having a first end and an open second end;    b) a sealing flange, said sealing flange having a first end and a second threaded end, said first end bonded to said open second end of said high temperature section; and    c) a low temperature section having an open threaded first end, said open first end in sealing engagement with said second threaded end of said sealing flange.    
   
   
       2 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said high temperature section is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of thin wall stainless steel and high nickel alloys.  
   
   
       3 . The pressure vessel of  claim 2 , wherein said high temperature section is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of thin wall stainless steel, Inconel 600, Inconel 625, Inconel 718, Inconel 754 and Hastelloy GMR 235.  
   
   
       4 . The pressure vessel of  claim 2 , wherein said sealing flange is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of thin wall stainless steel and high nickel alloys.  
   
   
       5 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing flange is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of thin wall stainless steel, Inconel 600, Inconel 625, Inconel 718, Inconel 754 and Hastelloy GMR 235.  
   
   
       6 . The pressure vessel of  claim 5 , wherein said low temperature section is constructed of aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       7 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said low temperature section is cast aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       8 . The pressure vessel of  claim 7 , wherein an outer surface of said open threaded first end of said low temperature section is clad with a layer of material selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel and electroless nickel.  
   
   
       9 . The pressure vessel of  claim 8 , wherein said outer surface of said open threaded first end of said low temperature section is uniformly coated with solder.  
   
   
       10 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said outer surface of said open threaded first end of said low temperature section is uniformly coated with solder.  
   
   
       11 . The pressure vessel of  claim 9 , wherein an inner surface of said second threaded end of said sealing flange is uniformly coated with solder.  
   
   
       12 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein an inner surface of said second threaded end of said sealing flange is uniformly coating with solder.  
   
   
       13 . The pressure vessel of  claim 11 , wherein said sealing flange is effective to create a hermetic seal between said high temperature section and said low temperature section.  
   
   
       14 . The pressure vessel of  claim 1 , wherein said sealing flange is effective to create a hermetic seal between said high temperature section and said low temperature section.  
   
   
       15 . A Stirling engine, comprising: 
 a) a pressure vessel having a high temperature section, said high temperature section having a first end and an open second end, a sealing flange, said sealing flange having a first end and a second threaded end, said first end bonded to said open second end of said high temperature section; and a low temperature section having an open threaded first end, said open first end in sealing engagement with said second threaded end of said sealing flange;    b) a displacer cylinder formed within said pressure vessel, said displacer cylinder having a high temperature end and a low temperature end; and    c) a displacer for traversing said displacer cylinder from said high temperature end to a low temperature end.    
   
   
       16 . The Stirling engine of  claim 15 , further comprising a combustor recuperator assembly for heating the high temperature end of said displacer cylinder.  
   
   
       17 . The Stirling engine of  claim 15 , wherein said high temperature section is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of thin wall stainless steel and high nickel alloys.  
   
   
       18 . The Stirling engine of  claim 17 , wherein said high temperature section is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of thin wall stainless steel, Inconel 600, Inconel 625, Inconel 718, Inconel 754 and Hastelloy GMR 235.  
   
   
       19 . The Stirling engine of  claim 17 , wherein said sealing flange is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of thin wall stainless steel and high nickel alloys.  
   
   
       20 . The Stirling engine of  claim 15 , wherein said sealing flange is constructed of a material selected from the group consisting of thin wall stainless steel, Inconel 600, Inconel 625, Inconel 718, Inconel 754 and Hastelloy GMR 235.  
   
   
       21 . The Stirling engine of  claim 20 , wherein said low temperature section is constructed of aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       22 . The Stirling engine of  claim 15 , wherein said low temperature section is cast aluminum alloy.  
   
   
       23 . The Stirling engine of  claim 22 , wherein an outer surface of said open threaded first end of said low temperature section is clad with a layer of material selected from the group consisting of copper, nickel and electroless nickel.  
   
   
       24 . The Stirling engine of  claim 23 , wherein said outer surface of said open threaded first end of said low temperature section is uniformly coated with solder.  
   
   
       25 . The Stirling engine of  claim 15 , wherein said outer surface of said open threaded first end of said low temperature section is uniformly coated with solder.  
   
   
       26 . The Stirling engine of  claim 24 , wherein an inner surface of said second threaded end of said sealing flange is uniformly coated with solder.  
   
   
       27 . The Stirling engine of  claim 15 , wherein an inner surface of said second threaded end of said sealing flange is uniformly coated with solder.  
   
   
       28 . The Stirling engine of  claim 26 , wherein said sealing flange is effective to create a hermetic seal between said high temperature section and said low temperature section.  
   
   
       29 . The Stirling engine of  claim 15 , wherein said sealing flange is effective to create a hermetic seal between said high temperature section and said low temperature section.