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:
Apr. 29, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 17, 2010
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Geoffrey P. Mcknight, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Andrew C. Keefe, Encino, CA (US);
Christopher P. Henry, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
Nicholas W Pinto, Iv, Ferndale, MI (US);
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Nancy L. Johnson, Northville, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Geoffrey P. McKnight, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Andrew C. Keefe, Encino, CA (US);
Christopher P. Henry, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
Nicholas W Pinto, IV, Ferndale, MI (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An energy harvesting system comprises a first region and a second region having a temperature difference therebetween. A plurality of heat engines are located proximate to the conduit and configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engines each include a shape memory alloy forming at least one generally continuous loop. The shape memory alloy driven to rotate by heat exchange contact with each of the first region and the second region. At least one pulley for each of the plurality of heat engines is driven by the rotation of the respective shape memory alloy, and each of the at least one pulleys is operatively connected to a component to thereby drive the component.