Energy conversion system

Claim 1

An apparatus for converting heat energy to rotary mechanical work comprising: a. a rotor adapted to rotate about a fixed axis, said rotor defining, distally of said fixed axis, at least one pivot and being adapted to carry, upon so rotating, said pivot in a circular path about said fixed axis, b. a stationary pivot disposed proximate the principal plane of rotation of said rotor and eccentrically of said fixed axis, c. at least one thermally responsive element composed of a thermal memory material that changes from a deformed configuration to a heat-treated configuration when subjected to a temperature above a predetermined critical temperature after being initially deformed from the heat-treated configuration to the deformed configuration at a temperature below said predetermined critical temperature, said thermally responsive element being prestressed in the flexure mode and being disposed such That the outer end thereof is operatively coupled to said pivot and the inner end thereof is operatively coupled to said stationary pivot whereby alternate heating and cooling of said thermally responsive element to temperatures above and below, respectively, said predetermined critical temperature produces a linear force differential between said pivot and said stationary pivot and a torque about the fixed axis of said rotor, and d. means operatively coupling the outer end and the inner end of said thermally responsive element for synchronous rotation.

Claim 2

An apparatus for converting heat energy to rotary mechanical work comprising: a. a rotor adapted to rotate about a fixed axis, said rotor defining, distally of said fixed axis, at least one pivot and being adapted to carry, upon so rotating, said pivot in a circular path about said fixed axis, b. a stationary pivot disposed proximate the principal plane of rotation of said rotor and eccentrically of said fixed axis, c. at least one thermally responsive element composed of a thermal memory material that changes from a deformed configuration to a heat-treated configuration when subjected to a temperature above a predetermined critical temperature after being initially deformed from the heat-treated configuration to the deformed configuration at a temperature below said predetermined critical temperature, said thermally responsive element being prestressed in the flexure mode and being disposed such That the outer end thereof is operatively coupled to said pivot and the inner end thereof is operatively coupled to said stationary pivot whereby alternate heating and cooling of said thermally responsive element to temperatures above and below, respectively, said predetermined critical temperature produces a linear force differential between said pivot and said stationary pivot and a torque about the fixed axis of said rotor, and d. means operatively coupling the outer end and the inner end of said thermally responsive element for synchronous rotation.

Claim 8

An apparatus for converting heat energy to rotary mechanical work comprising: a. a plurality of substantially coplanar, annular members of graduated diameter, said annular members being eccentrically disposed in a nested attitude, each of said annular members being adapted to rotate about a fixed axis and having spaced about the periphery thereof a plurality of pivots, said pivots being disposed in a substantially radial attitude between the innermost and the outermost annular members, b. means for operatively coupling said annular members for synchronous rotation, and c. a plurality of thermally responsive elements composed of a thermal memory material that changes from a deformed configuration to a heat-treated configuration when subjected to a temperature above a predetermined critical temperature after being initially deformed from the heat-treated configuration to the deformed configuration at a temperature below said predetermined critical temperature, said thermally responsive elements being prestressed in the flexure mode and being disposed such that the ends thereof operatively engage pivots on adjacent annular members whereby alternate heating and cooling of said thermally responsive elements to temperatures above and below, respectively, said predetermined critical temperature produces a linear force differential between said pivots and a torque about the center of rotation of the outer annular member.

Claim 9

An apparatus for converting heat energy to rotary mechanical work comprising: a. a plurality of substantially coplanar, annular members of graduated diameter, said annular members being eccentrically disposed in a nested attitude, each of said annular members being adapted to rotate about a fixed axis and having spaced about the periphery thereof a plurality of pivots, said pivots being disposed in a substantially radial attitude between the innermost and the outermost annular members, b. means for operatively coupling said annular members for synchronous rotation, and c. a plurality of thermally responsive elements composed of a thermal memory material that changes from a deformed configuration to a heat-treated configuration when subjected to a temperature above a predetermined critical temperature after being initially deformed from the heat-treated configuration to the deformed configuration at a temperature below said predetermined critical temperature, said thermally responsive elements being prestressed in the flexure mode and being disposed such that the ends thereof operatively engage pivots on adjacent annular members whereby alternate heating and cooling of said thermally responsive elements to temperatures above and below, respectively, said predetermined critical temperature produces a linear force differential between said pivots and a torque about the center of rotation of the outer annular member.