公开(公告)号：US20110124451A1

公开(公告)日：2011-05-26

申请号：US12947866

申请日：2010-11-17

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry

IPC分类号： F16H7/00 ,  F03G7/06

CPC分类号： F02G5/04 ,  Y02T10/166

摘要： An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. The shape memory alloy is driven to rotate around at least a portion of the conduit by the response of the shape memory alloy to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. At least one pulley is driven by the rotation of the shape memory alloy, and the at least one pulley is operatively connected to a component to thereby drive the component.

摘要翻译： 能量收集系统包括具有第一温度和第二区域的第一区域。 管道至少部分地位于第一区域内。 构造成将热能转换为机械能的热引擎包括形成至少一个大体上连续的环的形状记忆合金。 形状记忆合金配置成与第一区域和第二区域热交换接触。 通过形状记忆合金对第一区域和第二区域之间的温度差的响应，形状记忆合金被驱动以围绕导管的至少一部分旋转。 至少一个滑轮由形状记忆合金的旋转驱动，并且至少一个皮带轮可操作地连接到部件，从而驱动部件。

公开(公告)号：US20110120114A1

公开(公告)日：2011-05-26

申请号：US12947872

申请日：2010-11-17

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Geoffrey P. Mc Knight ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry

IPC分类号： F02G1/04

CPC分类号： F02G5/04 ,  Y02T10/166

摘要： An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region having a second temperature. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. A carrier surrounds the conduit such that the carrier is driven to rotate around the conduit by the shape memory alloy in response to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region.

摘要翻译： 能量收集系统包括具有第一温度的第一区域和具有第二温度的第二区域。 管道至少部分地位于第一区域内。 构造成将热能转换为机械能的热引擎包括形成至少一个大体上连续的环的形状记忆合金。 形状记忆合金配置成与第一区域和第二区域热交换接触。 载体围绕导管，使得载体被驱动以响应于第一区域和第二区域之间的温度差由形状记忆合金围绕导管旋转。

公开(公告)号：US09003788B2

公开(公告)日：2015-04-14

申请号：US12947866

申请日：2010-11-17

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F02G1/04 ,  F02G5/04

CPC分类号： F02G5/04 ,  Y02T10/166

摘要： An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. The shape memory alloy is driven to rotate around at least a portion of the conduit by the response of the shape memory alloy to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. At least one pulley is driven by the rotation of the shape memory alloy, and the at least one pulley is operatively connected to a component to thereby drive the component.

摘要翻译： 能量收集系统包括具有第一温度和第二区域的第一区域。 管道至少部分地位于第一区域内。 构造成将热能转换为机械能的热引擎包括形成至少一个大体上连续的环的形状记忆合金。 形状记忆合金配置成与第一区域和第二区域热交换接触。 通过形状记忆合金对第一区域和第二区域之间的温度差的响应，形状记忆合金被驱动以围绕导管的至少一部分旋转。 至少一个滑轮由形状记忆合金的旋转驱动，并且至少一个皮带轮可操作地连接到部件，从而驱动部件。

公开(公告)号：US08590303B2

公开(公告)日：2013-11-26

申请号：US12947872

申请日：2010-11-17

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Patrick B. Usoro ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  F02G1/04 ,  F02G3/00 ,  F01N3/02 ,  F01N5/02

CPC分类号： F02G5/04 ,  Y02T10/166

摘要： An energy harvesting system comprises a first region having a first temperature and a second region having a second temperature. A conduit is located at least partially within the first region. A heat engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy is disposed in heat exchange contact with the first region and the second region. A carrier surrounds the conduit such that the carrier is driven to rotate around the conduit by the shape memory alloy in response to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region.

摘要翻译： 能量收集系统包括具有第一温度的第一区域和具有第二温度的第二区域。 管道至少部分地位于第一区域内。 构造成将热能转换为机械能的热引擎包括形成至少一个大体上连续的环的形状记忆合金。 形状记忆合金配置成与第一区域和第二区域热交换接触。 载体围绕导管，使得载体被驱动以响应于第一区域和第二区域之间的温度差由形状记忆合金围绕导管旋转。

公开(公告)号：US20110165981A1

公开(公告)日：2011-07-07

申请号：US12947860

申请日：2010-11-17

申请人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Patrick B. Usoro

发明人： Paul W. Alexander ,  Alan L. Browne ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Geoffrey P. McKnight ,  Andrew C. Keefe ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Christopher P. Henry ,  Patrick B. Usoro

IPC分类号： F16G1/22

CPC分类号： F03G7/065 ,  F02G5/04 ,  F16G1/26 ,  F16H7/02 ,  Y02T10/166

摘要： An energy harvesting system includes a heat engine and a component. The heat engine includes a belt, a first member, and a second member. The belt includes a strip of material and at least one wire at least partially embedded longitudinally in the strip of material. The wire includes a shape memory alloy material. A localized region of the at least one wire is configured to change crystallographic phase between martensite and austenite and either contract or expand longitudinally in response to exposure to a first temperature or a second temperature such that the strip of material corresponding to the localized region also contracts or expands. The first member is operatively connected to the belt and moves with the belt in response to the expansion or contraction of the belt. The component is operatively connected to the first member such that movement of the first member drives the component.

摘要翻译： 能量收集系统包括热机和部件。 热机包括皮带，第一部件和第二部件。 带包括一条材料条和至少部分地沿纵向地嵌入材料条中的线。 导线包括形状记忆合金材料。 所述至少一根导线的局部区域被配置为改变马氏体和奥氏体之间的结晶相，并且响应于暴露于第一温度或第二温度而纵向收缩或膨胀，使得对应于局部区域的材料条也收缩 或扩展。 第一构件可操作地连接到带并响应于带的膨胀或收缩而与带一起移动。 组件可操作地连接到第一构件，使得第一构件的移动驱动构件。

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：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：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：US20120198835A1

公开(公告)日：2012-08-09

申请号：US13443989

申请日：2012-04-11

申请人： Richard J. Skurkis ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nicholas W. Pinto, IV ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Robin Stevenson ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne

发明人： Richard J. Skurkis ,  Paul W. Alexander ,  Nicholas W. Pinto, IV ,  Xiujie Gao ,  Nilesh D. Mankame ,  Peter Maxwell Sarosi ,  Robin Stevenson ,  Nancy L. Johnson ,  Alan L. Browne

IPC分类号： F01B29/10 ,  B23P11/00

CPC分类号： F16G11/02 ,  F03G7/065 ,  Y10T29/49826 ,  Y10T403/21 ,  Y10T403/217

摘要： An assembly for and method of reinforcing interconnection between an active material wire actuator, such as a shape memory alloy wire, and structure, includes the generation and engagement of an enlarged formation affixed to or integrally formed with the actuator.

摘要翻译： 活性材料丝丝致动器（例如形状记忆合金线）和结构之间的加强组合和加强方法包括固定到致动器上或与致动器一体形成的放大形状的产生和接合。