公开(公告)号：US07235914B2

公开(公告)日：2007-06-26

申请号：US10033353

申请日：2001-10-25

申请人： Robert F. Richards ,  David Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

发明人： Robert F. Richards ,  David Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

IPC分类号： H01L41/08

CPC分类号： H02N2/18 ,  F02B75/34 ,  F28F2013/008 ,  H01L41/1136 ,  H01L41/1138 ,  H02N2/185

摘要： Various micro-transducers incorporating piezoelectric materials for converting energy in one form to useful energy in another form are disclosed. In one embodiment, a piezoelectric micro-transducer can be operated either as a micro-heat engine, converting thermal energy into electrical energy, or as a micro-heat pump, consuming electrical energy to transfer thermal energy from a low-temperature heat source to a high-temperature heat sink. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric micro-transducer is used to convert the kinetic energy of an oscillating or vibrating body on which the micro-transducer is placed into useful electrical energy. A piezoelectric micro-transducer also is used to extract work from a pressurized stream of fluid. Also disclosed are a micro-internal combustion engine and a micro-heat engine based on the Rankine cycle in which a single fluid serves as a working fluid and a fuel.

摘要翻译： 公开了包含用于将一种形式的能量转换为另一形式的有用能量的压电材料的各种微型换能器。 在一个实施例中，压电微型换能器可以作为微热发动机，将热能转换为电能，或作为微热泵，消耗电能以将热能从低温热源传递到 一个高温散热器。 在另一个实施例中，使用压电微型换能器将其上放置有微型换能器的振荡或振动体的动能转换成有用的电能。 压电微型换能器也用于从加压流体流中提取工作。 还公开了一种微内燃机和基于朗肯循环的微型发动机，其中单个流体用作工作流体和燃料。

公开(公告)号：US07411792B2

公开(公告)日：2008-08-12

申请号：US10535315

申请日：2003-11-18

申请人： Robert F. Richards ,  David F. Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

发明人： Robert F. Richards ,  David F. Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

IPC分类号： F28F27/00 ,  F25D29/00

CPC分类号： H01L23/34 ,  B82Y30/00 ,  F25B2400/15 ,  F28F13/00 ,  F28F2013/008 ,  H01L2924/0002 ,  H01L2924/00

摘要： The present disclosure concerns embodiments of a thermal switch used to control the transfer of heat from a heat source to a heat sink. According to one aspect, the thermal switch can be activated, or turned “on”, so as to establish a path of low thermal resistance between the heat source and the heat sink to facilitate the transfer of heat therebetween. The thermal switch can also be de-activated, or turned “off”, so as to establish a path of high thermal resistance between the heat source and the heat sink to minimize or totally prevent the transfer of heat between the heat source and heat sink. In certain embodiments, the thermal switch includes at least drop of a thermally conductive liquid that thermally couples the heat source to the heat sink whenever the switch is activated.

摘要翻译： 本公开涉及用于控制从热源到散热器的热传递的热开关的实施例。 根据一个方面，热开关可以被激活或变为“接通”，以便在热源和散热器之间建立低热阻的路径，以便于它们之间的热传递。 热开关也可以被去激活或关闭，以便在热源和散热器之间建立高热阻的路径，以最小化或完全防止热源和散热器之间的热传递 。 在某些实施例中，热开关包括至少一滴导热液体，每当该开关被激活时，其将热源热耦合到散热器。

公开(公告)号：US07453187B2

公开(公告)日：2008-11-18

申请号：US11147031

申请日：2005-06-07

申请人： Robert F. Richards ,  David F. Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

发明人： Robert F. Richards ,  David F. Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

IPC分类号： H01L41/113

CPC分类号： H02N2/18 ,  F02B75/34 ,  F28F2013/008 ,  H01L41/1136 ,  H01L41/1138 ,  H02N2/185

摘要： Various micro-transducers incorporating piezoelectric materials for converting energy in one form to useful energy in another form are disclosed. In one embodiment, a piezoelectric micro-transducer can be operated either as a micro-heat engine, converting thermal energy into electrical energy, or as a micro-heat pump, consuming electrical energy to transfer thermal energy from a low-temperature heat source to a high-temperature heat sink. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric micro-transducer is used to convert the kinetic energy of an oscillating or vibrating body on which the micro-transducer is placed into useful electrical energy. A piezoelectric micro-transducer also is used to extract work from a pressurized stream of fluid. Also disclosed are a micro-internal combustion engine and a micro-heat engine based on the Rankine cycle in which a single fluid serves as a working fluid and a fuel.

摘要翻译： 公开了包含用于将一种形式的能量转换为另一形式的有用能量的压电材料的各种微型换能器。 在一个实施例中，压电微型换能器可以作为微热发动机，将热能转换为电能，或作为微热泵，消耗电能以将热能从低温热源传递到 一个高温散热器。 在另一个实施例中，使用压电微型换能器将其上放置有微型换能器的振荡或振动体的动能转换成有用的电能。 压电微型换能器也用于从加压流体流中提取工作。 还公开了一种微内燃机和基于朗肯循环的微型发动机，其中单个流体用作工作流体和燃料。

公开(公告)号：US20060066434A1

公开(公告)日：2006-03-30

申请号：US10535315

申请日：2003-11-18

申请人： Robert Richards ,  David Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

发明人： Robert Richards ,  David Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

IPC分类号： H01H61/00

CPC分类号： H01L23/34 ,  B82Y30/00 ,  F25B2400/15 ,  F28F13/00 ,  F28F2013/008 ,  H01L2924/0002 ,  H01L2924/00

摘要： The present disclosure concerns embodiments of a thermal switch used to control the transfer of heat from a heat source to a heat sink. According to one aspect, the thermal switch can be activated, or turned “on”, so as to establish a path of low thermal resistance between the heat source and the heat sink to facilitate the transfer of heat therebetween. The thermal switch can also be de-activated, or turned “off”, so as to establish a path of high thermal resistance between the heat source and the heat sink to minimize or totally prevent the transfer of heat between the heat source and heat sink. In certain embodiments, the thermal switch includes at least drop of a thermally conductive liquid that thermally couples the heat source to the heat sink whenever the switch is activated.

摘要翻译： 本公开涉及用于控制从热源到散热器的热传递的热开关的实施例。 根据一个方面，热开关可以被激活或变为“接通”，以便在热源和散热器之间建立低热阻的路径，以便于它们之间的热传递。 热开关也可以被去激活或关闭，以便在热源和散热器之间建立高热阻的路径，以最小化或完全防止热源和散热器之间的热传递 。 在某些实施例中，热开关包括至少一滴导热液体，每当该开关被激活时，其将热源热耦合到散热器。

公开(公告)号：US20050225213A1

公开(公告)日：2005-10-13

申请号：US11147031

申请日：2005-06-07

申请人： Robert Richards ,  David Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

发明人： Robert Richards ,  David Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

IPC分类号： B81B3/00 ,  F02B75/34 ,  F03B17/00 ,  F04B43/04 ,  H01L41/09 ,  H01L41/113 ,  H02N2/00

CPC分类号： H02N2/18 ,  F02B75/34 ,  F28F2013/008 ,  H01L41/1136 ,  H01L41/1138 ,  H02N2/185

摘要： Various micro-transducers incorporating piezoelectric materials for converting energy in one form to useful energy in another form are disclosed. In one embodiment, a piezoelectric micro-transducer can be operated either as a micro-heat engine, converting thermal energy into electrical energy, or as a micro-heat pump, consuming electrical energy to transfer thermal energy from a low-temperature heat source to a high-temperature heat sink. In another embodiment, a piezoelectric micro-transducer is used to convert the kinetic energy of an oscillating or vibrating body on which the micro-transducer is placed into useful electrical energy. A piezoelectric micro-transducer also is used to extract work from a pressurized stream of fluid. Also disclosed are a micro-internal combustion engine and a micro-heat engine based on the Rankine cycle in which a single fluid serves as a working fluid and a fuel.

摘要翻译： 公开了包含用于将一种形式的能量转换为另一形式的有用能量的压电材料的各种微型换能器。 在一个实施例中，压电微型换能器可以作为微热发动机，将热能转换为电能，或作为微热泵，消耗电能以将热能从低温热源传递到 一个高温散热器。 在另一个实施例中，使用压电微型换能器将其上放置有微型换能器的振荡或振动体的动能转换成有用的电能。 压电微型换能器也用于从加压流体流中提取工作。 还公开了一种微内燃机和基于朗肯循环的微型发动机，其中单个流体用作工作流体和燃料。

公开(公告)号：US20070257766A1

公开(公告)日：2007-11-08

申请号：US10579145

申请日：2004-11-18

申请人： Robert Richards ,  David Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

发明人： Robert Richards ,  David Bahr ,  Cecilia Richards

IPC分类号： H01H37/00

CPC分类号： F28D15/06 ,  B82Y10/00 ,  F25B2400/15 ,  F25D19/006 ,  F28F2013/008

摘要： The present disclosure concerns embodiments of a micro-transducer and a thermal switch used to control the transfer of heat into and away from the micro-transducer. In one embodiment, the thermal switch includes at least one drop of a thermally conductive liquid and is operate a to alternately establish a path of high thermal conductance and low thermal conductance between a micro-transducer and a heat source or heat sink via the drop. In another embodiment, the thermal switch includes at least one nanostructure (e.g., a bundle of carbon nanotubes), and is operable to alternately establish a path of high thermal conductance and low thermal conductance between a micro-transducer and a heat source or heat sink via the nanostructure. Also disclosed are embodiments of a thermal switch that can be selectively activated to alternately establish a path of high thermal conductance and low thermal conductance between a heat sink and a heat source.

摘要翻译： 本公开涉及用于控制热量传递到微型换能器和远离微量换能器的微型换能器和热开关的实施例。 在一个实施例中，热开关包括至少一滴导热液体，并且通过该液滴操作以在微换能器与热源或散热器之间交替地建立高导热性和低导热性的路径。 在另一个实施例中，热开关包括至少一个纳米结构（例如，一束碳纳米管），并且可操作地在微换能器和热源或散热器之间交替地建立高导热和低导热的路径 通过纳米结构。 还公开了可以选择性地激活以交替地建立散热器和热源之间的高导热和低热导率的路径的热开关的实施例。