Patent ID: 8793993

Claim:
A heat engine comprising: a plurality of first members; a plurality of second members disposed in spaced and alternating relationship to the plurality of first members; wherein each of the plurality of first members and the plurality of second members are rotatable; a shape memory alloy material forming a continuous loop; wherein the shape memory alloy material sequentially extends about the alternating plurality of first members and second members such that the shape memory alloy material operatively interconnects the plurality of first members and the plurality of second members; wherein each of the plurality of first members rotates in a first direction as each of the plurality of second members rotates in a second direction, opposite the first direction; wherein the shape memory alloy material is configured to selectively change crystallographic phase from martensite to austenite and thereby contract in response to exposure to a first temperature; and wherein the shape memory alloy material is also configured to selectively change crystallographic phase from austenite to martensite and thereby expand in response to exposure to a second temperature; and a tensioner configured to apply tension to the shape memory alloy material as the shape memory alloy material selectively expands and contracts such that the shape memory alloy material is taut and at a predefined stress level; wherein the tensioner is selectively actuatable such that the tension applied to the shape memory alloy material by the tensioner is selectively controlled.