Thermal engine
AssigneeVereinigte Flugtechnische Werke-Fokker GmbH
InventorEckhard Renner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A machine is constructed from plural elongated elements constructed as tubes or rods with double duct and which are alternatingly cooled and heated past a transition temperature, whereby restauration of the original length occurs during heating under development of force and is effective as work producing stroke, while upon cooling below the transition temperature such element is extended or upset. The elements are resiliently coupled to a crank shaft or to the rotary output of swash plate like machine. Heating and cooling fluid is alternatingly driven through the duct or ducts in the stroke producing elements to obtain periodic extension and contraction which is translated into rotational power.
Claims15
Thermo-engine in which thermal energy is converted into mechanical, rotational energy by an output member, comprising:
- a plurality of elongated elements which change their length extension under development of a relative high force, when changing temperature beyond a transition temperature or temperature range while permitting length changes in the opposite direction under exertion of relatively little force, when at a temperature oppositely beyond said transition temperature or temperature range;
- means including resilient means for coupling said elements to said output member, so that the length changes of the elements are translated into rotational movement imparted upon the output member when at least one element changes length under development of said high force, while causing the opposite length change under exertion of force in one other of the elements as at least the one element changes length under development of force;
- and
- means for cyclically and alternatingly exposing said elements to heating and cooling fluids to obtain temperature changes thereof under rapid traversal of said transition temperature or range in each instance to obtain said length changes in each of said directions.
Thermo-engine in which thermal energy is converted into mechanical energy by causing a rotatably mounted element to rotate, comprising a plurality of elongated elements which expand and contract in dependency upon temperature and each restoring to a particular length upon being heated above a critical transistion temperature range, and each including a longitudinal extending duct with externally accessible inlet and outlet;
- means including transversely effective elastic couplers for connecting the elongated elements to the rotatable element so that length changes in the elements are converted into rotation of the rotatable element;
- and
- means for cyclically alternating passing a heating and a cooling fluid to the inlets of the elements of the plurality with a phase shift to obtain alternatingly contraction and expansion of the elements for causing said rotatable element to rotate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.