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Title: Shape memory alloy heat engines and energy harvesting systems

Abstract

A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes a first wire, a second wire, and a matrix joining the first wire and the second wire. The first wire and the second wire are in contact with the pulleys, but the matrix is not in contact with the pulleys. A timing cable is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy.

Inventors:
; ; ; ; ; ; ; ; ;
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1159948
Patent Number(s):
8844281
Application Number:
13/340,964
Assignee:
GM Global Technology Operations LLC (Detroit, MI); Dynalloy, Inc (Tustin, CA); The Regents of the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F03 - MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS F03G - SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS
Y - NEW / CROSS SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES Y10 - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC Y10S - TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
DOE Contract Number:  
AR0000040
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
42 ENGINEERING

Citation Formats

Browne, Alan L, Johnson, Nancy L, Shaw, John Andrew, Churchill, Christopher Burton, Keefe, Andrew C, McKnight, Geoffrey P, Alexander, Paul W, Herrera, Guillermo A, Yates, James Ryan, and Brown, Jeffrey W. Shape memory alloy heat engines and energy harvesting systems. United States: N. p., 2014. Web.
Browne, Alan L, Johnson, Nancy L, Shaw, John Andrew, Churchill, Christopher Burton, Keefe, Andrew C, McKnight, Geoffrey P, Alexander, Paul W, Herrera, Guillermo A, Yates, James Ryan, & Brown, Jeffrey W. Shape memory alloy heat engines and energy harvesting systems. United States.
Browne, Alan L, Johnson, Nancy L, Shaw, John Andrew, Churchill, Christopher Burton, Keefe, Andrew C, McKnight, Geoffrey P, Alexander, Paul W, Herrera, Guillermo A, Yates, James Ryan, and Brown, Jeffrey W. Tue . "Shape memory alloy heat engines and energy harvesting systems". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1159948.
@article{osti_1159948,
title = {Shape memory alloy heat engines and energy harvesting systems},
author = {Browne, Alan L and Johnson, Nancy L and Shaw, John Andrew and Churchill, Christopher Burton and Keefe, Andrew C and McKnight, Geoffrey P and Alexander, Paul W and Herrera, Guillermo A and Yates, James Ryan and Brown, Jeffrey W},
abstractNote = {A heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley and a second rotatable pulley spaced from the first rotatable pulley. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at an SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element includes a first wire, a second wire, and a matrix joining the first wire and the second wire. The first wire and the second wire are in contact with the pulleys, but the matrix is not in contact with the pulleys. A timing cable is disposed about respective portions of the pulleys at a timing pulley ratio, which is different than the SMA pulley ratio. The SMA element converts a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region into mechanical energy.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014},
month = {Tue Sep 30 00:00:00 EDT 2014}
}

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patent-application, July 2006


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patent-application, July 2012