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US 4,393,654 AGranted
Shape memory element engine
OwnerL. Ronald Pellyinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An engine for conversion of low grade thermal energy into useful rotational energy incorporates a plurality of hollow deformable shape memory elements coupled in series with the crankpins of a crankshaft and with load limiting members. Hot and cold fluids are alternately directed through the crankshaft to the inner surface of the shape memory elements to provide rotation of the crankshaft.
Claims5
A mechanism for transforming heat energy into mechanical energy comprising:
- a. a plurality of deformable shape memory elements having inner surfaces and responsive to form changes at a predetermined transition temperature;
- b. a hot fluid incorporating a temperature above said transition temperature of said shape memory elements;
- c. a cold fluid incorporating a temperature below said transition temperature of said shape memory elements;
- and
- d. a crankshaft including at least one offset crankpin rotatably connected to one end of said shape memory elements, said crankpin incorporating fluid passageways for transporting, respectively, hot and cold fluids, said fluid passages sequentially and sealably cooperating with said inner surfaces of said shape memory elements whereby said cold fluid may contact said shape memory elements prior to deformation and said hot fluid may contact said shape memory elements prior to recovery.
2 more elements
A mechanism for transforming heat energy into mechanical energy comprising:
- a. one or more tubular deformable shape memory elements responsive to form change at a predetermined transition temperature;
- b. means for sequentially directing heating and cooling fluids to the inner surfaces of the shape memory element;
- c. means for allowing a gaseous fluid to sequentially follow each of the hot and cold fluids through said shape memory elements;
- and
- d. means attached to each element for deforming said element and for receiving and utilizing the energy output of each said element as it transfers through said transition temperature.
2 more elements
A mechanism for transforming heat energy into mechanical energy comprising:
- one or more deformable shape memory elements responsive to form change at a predetermined transition temperature;
- means for sequentially directing hot and cold fluids to the surfaces of said shape memory elements;
- load limiting means which are connected in series to each said shape memory elements, said load limiting means further comprising a piston connected to said shape memory element, a housing for said piston, a gaseous fluid within said housing and said gaseous fluid used for providing a pressure differential across said piston, said piston rest against a wall of said housing during a portion of the thermal cycling of said shape memory elements, and said piston translating within said housing during the heating phase of said shape memory elements whereby overstressing of said shape memory elements may be avoided;
- and
- means attached to said shape memory elements for deforming said shape memory elements and for receiving and utilizating the energy output of said shape memory elements.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.