公开(公告)号：US08607562B2

公开(公告)日：2013-12-17

申请号：US13340955

申请日：2011-12-30

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  James Ryan Yates

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  James Ryan Yates

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/06 ,  F03G7/065

摘要： 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 first spring coil and a first fiber core within the first spring coil. A timing cable is disposed about 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.

摘要翻译： 热引擎包括与第一可旋转滑轮间隔开的第一可旋转滑轮和第二可旋转滑轮。 形状记忆合金（SMA）元件以SMA滑轮比围绕滑轮的各个部分设置。 SMA元件包括第一弹簧线圈和第一弹簧线圈内的第一纤芯。 定时电缆以与SMA滑轮比不同的正时皮带轮比设置在绕滑轮的各个部分周围设置。 SMA元件将热区域和冷区域之间的热能梯度转换为机械能。

公开(公告)号：US20120216526A1

公开(公告)日：2012-08-30

申请号：US13340942

申请日：2011-12-30

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Wayne Brown ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Richard J. Skurkis

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Wayne Brown ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Richard J. Skurkis

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： An energy harvesting system in thermal communication with a hot region and a cold region includes a hot end heat engine in thermal communication with the hot region, a cold end heat engine in thermal communication with the cold region, and an intermediate heat engine disposed between the hot end heat engine and the cold end heat engine. The hot end heat engine includes a hot end shape memory alloy (SMA) element, the cold end heat engine includes a cold end SMA element disposed, and the intermediate heat engine includes an intermediate SMA element. A hot side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a cold side of the hot end SMA element. A cold side of the intermediate SMA element is in thermal communication with a hot side of the cold end SMA element.

摘要翻译： 与热区域和冷区域热连通的能量收集系统包括与热区域热连通的热端热机，与冷区域热连通的冷端热机，以及设置在冷区域之间的中间热机 热端热机和冷端热机。 热端热机包括热端形状记忆合金（SMA）元件，冷端热机包括设置的冷端SMA元件，中间热机包括中间SMA元件。 中间SMA元件的热侧与热端SMA元件的冷侧热连通。 中间SMA元件的冷侧与冷端SMA元件的热侧热连通。

公开(公告)号：US20120216523A1

公开(公告)日：2012-08-30

申请号：US13340892

申请日：2011-12-30

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Jeffrey W. Brown ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Richard J. Skurkis

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Jeffrey W. Brown ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Richard J. Skurkis

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A driven component, such as an electric generator, may be selectively coupled with the heat engine through a coupling device, which may be controlled via a controller.

摘要翻译： 用于将热能转换为机械能的能量收集系统包括使用形状记忆合金活性材料操作的热机。 形状记忆合金构件可以在第一温度的热区域和低于第一温度的第二温度的冷区域热连通。 形状记忆合金材料可以被配置为选择性地改变马氏体与奥氏体之间的结晶相，从而响应于第一和第二温度而收缩和膨胀。 诸如发电机的被驱动部件可以通过耦合装置选择性地与热力发动机耦合，耦合装置可以通过控制器来控制。

公开(公告)号：US20120216524A1

公开(公告)日：2012-08-30

申请号：US13340955

申请日：2011-12-30

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Anderw C. Keefe ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  James RYan Yates

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Anderw C. Keefe ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  James RYan Yates

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/06 ,  F03G7/065

摘要： 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 first spring coil and a first fiber core within the first spring coil. A timing cable is disposed about 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.

摘要翻译： 热引擎包括与第一可旋转滑轮间隔开的第一可旋转滑轮和第二可旋转滑轮。 形状记忆合金（SMA）元件以SMA滑轮比围绕滑轮的各个部分设置。 SMA元件包括第一弹簧线圈和第一弹簧线圈内的第一纤芯。 定时电缆以与SMA滑轮比不同的正时皮带轮比设置在绕滑轮的各个部分周围设置。 SMA元件将热区域和冷区域之间的热能梯度转换为机械能。

公开(公告)号：US08844281B2

公开(公告)日：2014-09-30

申请号：US13340964

申请日：2011-12-30

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  James Ryan Yates ,  Jeffrey W. Brown

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  James Ryan Yates ,  Jeffrey W. Brown

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F02G1/04 ,  C22F1/00 ,  C22C14/00 ,  C22C16/00 ,  C22C27/00 ,  F16G1/00 ,  F16G5/00 ,  F16G9/00 ,  F16G1/18 ,  F16G1/20 ,  F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/06 ,  F03G7/065 ,  Y10S420/902

摘要： 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.

摘要翻译： 热引擎包括与第一可旋转滑轮间隔开的第一可旋转滑轮和第二可旋转滑轮。 形状记忆合金（SMA）元件以SMA滑轮比围绕滑轮的各个部分设置。 SMA元件包括第一线，第二线和连接第一线和第二线的矩阵。 第一线和第二线与滑轮接触，但是矩阵不与滑轮接触。 定时电缆以与SMA滑轮比不同的正时皮带轮比例布置在滑轮的各个部分周围。 SMA元件将热区域和冷区域之间的热能梯度转换为机械能。

公开(公告)号：US20140060036A1

公开(公告)日：2014-03-06

申请号：US13600337

申请日：2012-08-31

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Christopher B. Churchill ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Paul W. Alexander

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Christopher B. Churchill ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Paul W. Alexander

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F01P7/10 ,  F03G7/06 ,  F03G7/065

摘要： Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuating elements are commonly simpler and of lower mass than alternative actuator designs and may find particular application in the transportation industry. Such SMA-powered devices are usually reliable and long-lived but the phase transformations which occur in the SMA alloy and are responsible for its utility are not totally reversible. This irreversibility, a consequence of irrecoverable strain, may progressively degrade the long-term actuator performance as the irrecoverable strain accumulates over many operating cycles. Methods and devices for compensating for these effects and extending the useful cycle life of SMA actuators are described.

摘要翻译： 形状记忆合金（SMA）致动元件通常比替代致动器设计更简单并且质量更低，并且可以在运输行业中找到特定应用。 这种SMA供电的设备通常是可靠的和长寿命的，但SMA合金中发生的并且对其效用负责的相变不是完全可逆的。 这种不可逆转性是不可恢复的应变的结果，随着不可恢复的应变在许多操作循环中积累，可能逐渐降低长期致动器性能。 描述了用于补偿这些影响并延长SMA致动器的有用循环寿命的方法和装置。

公开(公告)号：US09021801B2

公开(公告)日：2015-05-05

申请号：US13600337

申请日：2012-08-31

申请人： Xiujie Gao ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Christopher B Churchill ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Paul W. Alexander

发明人： Xiujie Gao ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Christopher B Churchill ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Paul W. Alexander

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F02G1/04 ,  F01P7/10 ,  F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F01P7/10 ,  F03G7/06 ,  F03G7/065

摘要： Shape memory alloy (SMA) actuating elements are commonly simpler and of lower mass than alternative actuator designs and may find particular application in the transportation industry. Such SMA-powered devices are usually reliable and long-lived but the phase transformations which occur in the SMA alloy and are responsible for its utility are not totally reversible. This irreversibility, a consequence of irrecoverable strain, may progressively degrade the long-term actuator performance as the irrecoverable strain accumulates over many operating cycles. Methods and devices for compensating for these effects and extending the useful cycle life of SMA actuators are described.

摘要翻译： 形状记忆合金（SMA）致动元件通常比替代致动器设计更简单并且质量更低，并且可以在运输行业中找到特定应用。 这种SMA供电的设备通常是可靠的和长寿命的，但SMA合金中发生的并且对其效用负责的相变不是完全可逆的。 这种不可逆转性是不可恢复的应变的结果，随着不可恢复的应变在许多操作循环中积累，可能逐渐降低长期致动器性能。 描述了用于补偿这些影响并延长SMA致动器的有用循环寿命的方法和装置。

公开(公告)号：US20120216527A1

公开(公告)日：2012-08-30

申请号：US13340964

申请日：2011-12-30

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Chirstopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keffe ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Jeffrey W. Brown ,  James Ryan Yates

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Chirstopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keffe ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Jeffrey W. Brown ,  James Ryan Yates

IPC分类号： F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/06 ,  F03G7/065 ,  Y10S420/902

摘要： 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.

摘要翻译： 热引擎包括与第一可旋转滑轮间隔开的第一可旋转滑轮和第二可旋转滑轮。 形状记忆合金（SMA）元件以SMA滑轮比围绕滑轮的各个部分设置。 SMA元件包括第一线，第二线和连接第一线和第二线的矩阵。 第一线和第二线与滑轮接触，但是矩阵不与滑轮接触。 定时电缆以与SMA滑轮比不同的正时皮带轮比例布置在滑轮的各个部分周围。 SMA元件将热区域和冷区域之间的热能梯度转换为机械能。

公开(公告)号：US09003789B2

公开(公告)日：2015-04-14

申请号：US13340886

申请日：2011-12-30

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Wayne Brown

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Richard J. Skurkis ,  Wayne Brown

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F02G1/04 ,  F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： An energy harvesting system for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a heat engine that operates using a shape memory alloy active material. The shape memory alloy member may be in thermal communication with a hot region at a first temperature and a cold region at a second temperature lower than the first temperature. The shape memory alloy material may be configured to selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite to austenite and thereby one of contract and expand in response to the first and second temperatures. A thermal conduction element may be in direct contact with the SMA material, where the thermal conduction element is configured to receive thermal energy from the hot region and to transfer a portion of the received thermal energy to the SMA material through conduction.

摘要翻译： 用于将热能转换为机械能的能量收集系统包括使用形状记忆合金活性材料操作的热机。 形状记忆合金构件可以在第一温度的热区域和低于第一温度的第二温度的冷区域热连通。 形状记忆合金材料可以被配置为选择性地改变马氏体与奥氏体之间的结晶相，从而响应于第一和第二温度而收缩和膨胀。 导热元件可以与SMA材料直接接触，其中导热元件被配置为从热区域接收热能并且通过传导将接收的热能的一部分转移到SMA材料。

公开(公告)号：US08800283B2

公开(公告)日：2014-08-12

申请号：US13340897

申请日：2011-12-30

申请人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Jeffrey W Brown ,  Richard J. Skurkis

发明人： Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  John Andrew Shaw ,  Christopher Burton Churchill ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Guillermo A. Herrera ,  Jeffrey W Brown ,  Richard J. Skurkis

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F02G1/04

CPC分类号： F03G7/065

摘要： A shape memory alloy (SMA) heat engine includes a first rotatable pulley, a second rotatable pulley, and an SMA material disposed about the first and second rotatable pulleys and between a hot region and a cold region. A method of starting and operating the SMA heat engine includes detecting a thermal energy gradient between the hot region and the cold region using a controller, decoupling an electrical generator from one of the first and second rotatable pulleys, monitoring a speed of the SMA material about the first and second rotatable pulleys, and re-engaging the driven component if the monitored speed of the SMA material exceeds a threshold. The SMA material may selectively change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and between the hot region and the cold region to convert the thermal gradient into mechanical energy.

摘要翻译： 形状记忆合金（SMA）热机包括第一可旋转滑轮，第二可旋转滑轮和围绕第一和第二可旋转滑轮设置的热材料区域与冷区域之间的SMA材料。 启动和操作SMA热机的方法包括使用控制器检测热区和冷区之间的热能梯度，将发电机与第一和第二可旋转滑轮中的一个相分离，监测SMA材料的速度约 第一和第二可旋转滑轮，并且如果SMA材料的监测速度超过阈值，则重新接合被驱动部件。 SMA材料可以选择性地改变马氏体和奥氏体之间以及热区域和冷区域之间的结晶相，以将热梯度转化为机械能。