Ronald S Steele

US Patent:

6701709, Mar 9, 2004

Filed:

Aug 16, 2002

Appl. No.:

10/222610

Inventors:

Donald Isaac, Jr. - Half Moon Bay CA
Alphonse Vassallo - San Francisco CA
Ronald J. Steele - Scappoose OR

Assignee:

Tamin Enterprises - Half Moon Bay CA

International Classification:

F01B 2910

US Classification:

60517, 60525

Abstract:

A Stirling engine includes a grooved cam drive mechanism with followers having a pair of longitudinally displaced bearings. One roller bearing is adapted to ride along an upper surface of the cam groove, while the other roller bearing is adapted to ride along a lower surface of the cam groove. Each follower includes an outer shaft on which a first bearing is mounted, and an inner shaft extending through the outer shaft on which a second bearing is mounted. A preferably annular space is provided between the inner and outer shafts when the follower is in an unloaded state. Then, when the follower is engaged within the grooved cam, the inner shaft is cantilevered relative to outer shaft within the annular space and results in pre-loading the first bearing against one inner surface of the groove cam and the second bearing against an opposite inner surface of the grooved cam.