Vehicle energy harvesting device having a continuous loop of shape memory alloy material

An energy harvesting system comprising:

• a heat engine including:
• a first region at one of a first temperature and a second temperature;
• a second region at the other of the first temperature and a second temperature;
• a conduit disposed in the first region and extending along a central axis;
• at least one piece of shape memory alloy material circumferentially surrounding the conduit about the central axis and configured to be at least partially disposed in one of the first region and the second region;
• wherein the at least one piece of shape memory alloy material is radially spaced from a secondary axis that circumferentially surrounds the central axis;
• wherein at least one localized region of the at least one piece of shape memory alloy material is configured to selectively change crystallographic phase from martensite to austenite and thereby circumferentially contract in response to exposure to the first temperature;
• wherein the at least one localized region of the at least one piece of shape memory alloy material is also configured to selectively change crystallographic phase from austenite to martensite and thereby circumferentially expand in response to exposure to the second temperature;
• wherein the at least one piece of shape memory alloy material is configured to rotate about the secondary axis in response to the contraction and expansion of the at least one localized region of the at least one piece of shape memory alloy material such that the at least one localized region of the at least one piece of shape memory alloy material moves into and out of the first and second regions;
• and
• a component operatively connected to the at least one shape memory alloy material such that rotation of the shape memory alloy material about the secondary axis drives the component.

An energy harvesting system comprising:

• a heat engine including:
• a first region at one of a first temperature and a second temperature;
• a second region at the other of the first temperature and a second temperature;
• a conduit disposed in the first region and extending along a central axis;
• at least one wire forming a continuous loop and circumferentially surrounding the conduit about the central axis;
• wherein the at least one wire is configured to be at least partially disposed in one of the first region and the second region;
• wherein the at least one wire includes a shape memory alloy material;
• wherein the at least one wire is radially spaced from a secondary axis that circumferentially surrounds the central axis;
• wherein at least one localized region of the at least one wire is configured to selectively change crystallographic phase from martensite to austenite and thereby circumferentially contract in response to exposure to the first temperature;
• wherein the at least one localized region of the at least one wire is also configured to selectively change crystallographic phase from austenite to martensite and thereby circumferentially expand in response to exposure to the second temperature;
• wherein the at least one wire is configured to rotate about the secondary axis in response to the contraction and expansion of the at least one localized region of the at least one wire such that the at least one localized region of the at least one wire moves into and out of the first and second regions;
• and
• a component operatively connected to the at least one wire such that rotation of the wire about the secondary axis drives the component.