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:
Jul. 08, 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);
Geoffrey P. MC Knight, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Marten Wittorf, Ingelheim, DE;
John A. Cafeo, Farmington, MI (US);
Christopher P. Henry, Thousand Oaks, CA (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);
Geoffrey P. Mc Knight, Los Angeles, CA (US);
Marten Wittorf, Ingelheim, DE;
John A. Cafeo, Farmington, MI (US);
Christopher P. Henry, Thousand Oaks, CA (US);
GM Global Technology Operations LLC, Detroit, MI (US);
Abstract
An exhaust system configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy includes a source of thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between an exhaust gas having a first temperature and a heat sink having a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature. The exhaust system also includes a conduit configured for conveying the exhaust gas, a heat engine disposed in thermal relationship with the conduit and configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy, and a member disposed in contact with the conduit and configured for conducting thermal energy from the conduit to the heat engine. The heat engine includes a first 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 exhaust gas and the heat sink.