DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Solid state engine using nitinol memory alloy

Abstract

A device for converting heat energy to mechanical energy includes a reservoir of a hot fluid and a rotor assembly mounted thereabove so a portion of it dips into the hot fluid. The rotor assembly may include a shaft having four spokes extending radially outwardly therefrom at right angles to each other, a floating ring and four flexible elements composed of a thermal memory material having a critical temperature between the temperature of the hot fluid and that of the ambient atmosphere extending between the ends of the spokes and the floating ring. Preferably, the flexible elements are attached to the floating ring through curved leaf springs. Energetic shape recovery of the flexible elements in the hot fluid causes the rotor assembly to rotate.

Inventors:
 [1]
  1. Bolingbrook, IL
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
864058
Patent Number(s):
4302939
Assignee:
United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
F - MECHANICAL ENGINEERING F03 - MACHINES OR ENGINES FOR LIQUIDS F03G - SPRING, WEIGHT, INERTIA OR LIKE MOTORS
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
solid; engine; nitinol; memory; alloy; device; converting; heat; energy; mechanical; reservoir; hot; fluid; rotor; assembly; mounted; thereabove; portion; dips; shaft; spokes; extending; radially; outwardly; therefrom; angles; floating; flexible; elements; composed; thermal; material; critical; temperature; ambient; atmosphere; preferably; attached; curved; leaf; springs; energetic; shape; recovery; causes; rotate; leaf spring; outwardly therefrom; memory alloy; extending radially; ambient atmosphere; rotor assembly; heat energy; critical temperature; radially outwardly; radially outward; hot fluid; mechanical energy; assembly mounted; converting heat; memory material; extending radial; fluid causes; /60/

Citation Formats

Golestaneh, Ahmad A. Solid state engine using nitinol memory alloy. United States: N. p., 1981. Web.
Golestaneh, Ahmad A. Solid state engine using nitinol memory alloy. United States.
Golestaneh, Ahmad A. Thu . "Solid state engine using nitinol memory alloy". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/864058.
@article{osti_864058,
title = {Solid state engine using nitinol memory alloy},
author = {Golestaneh, Ahmad A},
abstractNote = {A device for converting heat energy to mechanical energy includes a reservoir of a hot fluid and a rotor assembly mounted thereabove so a portion of it dips into the hot fluid. The rotor assembly may include a shaft having four spokes extending radially outwardly therefrom at right angles to each other, a floating ring and four flexible elements composed of a thermal memory material having a critical temperature between the temperature of the hot fluid and that of the ambient atmosphere extending between the ends of the spokes and the floating ring. Preferably, the flexible elements are attached to the floating ring through curved leaf springs. Energetic shape recovery of the flexible elements in the hot fluid causes the rotor assembly to rotate.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {1981},
month = {1}
}