Patent Document ID: 4490976
Application ID: 06535908
Patent Flag: 1

Claim One:
1. A memory alloy heat engine for converting heat energy into mechanical work comprising the combination of shape memory alloy means having two-way shape memory, said alloy means having opposite ends which cyclically deform when heated above and cooled below the transition temperature of the alloy means, means for constraining the opposite ends of the alloy means so that for each cycle the alloy means is deformed torsionally first in one rotational sense during a first phase of the cycle and then is deformed torsionally in the opposite rotational sense during a second phase of the cycle, and means for heating the alloy means above the transition temperature during the first phase and for cooling the alloy means below the transition temperature during the second phase whereby torsional deformation of the alloy means produces work during both phases of the cycle.