Laterally oscillating nitinol engine

Patent · Tue Sep 08 00:00:00 EDT 1987

OSTI ID:5820227

Banks, R

This patent describes a laterally oscillating nitinol engine comprising: a first L-shaped drive member journalled for pivoting horizontal oscillation about the juncture of the legs of the L-shaped member, a second drive member journalled for pivoting about a point proximate the outboard end of the shorter leg of the L-shaped member at a distance from the pivot journal of the L-shaped member, a bearing block secured to the end of longer leg of the L-shaped and having a guide hole. The second member extending through the guide hole and arranged to reciprocate therein, a shape memory alloy power element disposed in flexure secured at its ends to the bearing block and to the second member intermediate the sliding connection with the bearing block and the pivotal connection of the second member, means for disposing different temperature baths below the element whereby as the drive members oscillate about their journals the element alternately dips into one bath and then the other, and means for absorbing a portion of the energy developed by the engine and moving the power element from the cold bath to the hot bath.

• Assignee: NOV; NOV-87-083409; EDB-88-001592
• Patent Number(s): US 4691517
• OSTI ID: 5820227
• Resource Relation: Patent File Date: Filed date 12 Nov 1986
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
NITINOL HEAT ENGINES
DESIGN
APERTURES
COOLING
ENERGY ABSORPTION
HEATING
NITINOL
OPERATION
SHAPE MEMORY EFFECT
SUPPORTS
THERMODYNAMICS
WORKING FLUIDS
ABSORPTION
ALLOYS
ENGINES
FLUIDS
HEAT ENGINES
MECHANICAL STRUCTURES
NICKEL ALLOYS
OPENINGS
TITANIUM ALLOYS
330000* - Advanced Propulsion Systems