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:
Aug. 12, 2014
Filed:
Nov. 17, 2010
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Patrick B. Usoro, Troy, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Xiujie Gao, Troy, MI (US);
Marten Wittorf, Ingelheim, DE;
Paul W. Alexander, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Alan L. Browne, Grosse Pointe, MI (US);
Patrick B. Usoro, Troy, MI (US);
Nilesh D. Mankame, Ann Arbor, MI (US);
Xiujie Gao, Troy, MI (US);
Marten Wittorf, Ingelheim, DE;
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 heat engine is configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy. The heat engine includes a first discrete element of a shape memory alloy having a crystallographic phase changeable between austenite and martensite in response to the temperature difference between the first region and the second region. The first discrete element of the shape memory alloy expands and contracts in response to the phase change to exert a linear force. A motion conversion mechanism is operatively connected to the first discrete element to be driven by the linear force and a component is driven by the motion conversion mechanism.