The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 12, 1985
Filed:
Dec. 30, 1983
Donald R Rutledge, Budd Lake, NJ (US);
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
Apparatus for directly converting thermal energy into rotational movement. A long shaft relative to its cross-section and made of an elastic material with a high thermal coefficient of expansion is equipped with a plurality of journals at prescribed points along its axial length. A corresponding number of fixedly mounted circular bearings receive the journals. The bearings are arranged to constrain the shaft into an elastic arc. Thermal energy is applied to all or a substantial part of the concave surface of the arced shaft. Means may be employed to force cool all or a portion of the convex portion of the arced shaft. As a result of this arrangement, the shaft elastically rotates about its axis within the bearings. Structure is disclosed for coupling the rotational movement of the shaft to a utilization device.