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:
Jan. 21, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 17, 2010
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Patrick B. Usoro, Troy, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Xiujie Gao, Troy, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Patrick B. Usoro, Troy, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Xiujie Gao, Troy, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
A heat engine system configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between a heat source having a first temperature and a heat sink having a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The heat engine is configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy and includes an element formed from a first shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite at a first transformation temperature in response to the temperature difference between the heat source and the heat sink. The heat engine system also includes a start-up mechanism configured for inducing initial movement of the element in a desired operational direction to thereby start the heat engine.