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:
Dec. 17, 2013
Filed:
Dec. 30, 2011
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Andrew C. Keefe, Encino, CA (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Royal Oak, MI (US);
Guillermo A. Herrera, Winnetka, CA (US);
James Ryan Yates, Mission Viejo, CA (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Andrew C. Keefe, Encino, CA (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Peter Maxwell Sarosi, Royal Oak, MI (US);
Guillermo A. Herrera, Winnetka, CA (US);
James Ryan Yates, Mission Viejo, CA (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Dynalloy, Inc., Tustin, CA (US);
Abstract
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.