Patent ID: 8701405
Filing Date: 2014-04-22
Classification: F03G

Abstract:
1. A method of starting a heat engine, the method comprising: exposing an element of the heat engine to 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, wherein the element is configured as a continuous loop and is 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; wherein exposing includes positioning an isolator configured for blocking the element from the heat source from a first position to a second position; wherein the isolator is disposed between the element and the heat source in the first position, and wherein the isolator is not disposed between the element and the heat source in the second position; alternately changing the crystallographic phase of the first shape memory alloy from martensite to austenite to thereby dimensionally contract the first shape memory alloy at a localized region in response to the heat source, and from austenite to martensite to thereby dimensionally expand the first shape memory alloy at the localized region in response to the heat sink so as to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy; and inducing initial movement of the element in a desired operational direction directing fluid flow across the element to change a temperature of the element and thereby start the heat engine.