IT1179715B - Thermal to mechanical energy power machine - Google Patents

Abstract

An article made of an alloy of titanium and nickel is given a heat treatment and formed to a required shape. Subsequently it is readily deformable below a transition temp. but returns to the required shape if it is heated to the transition temp., which is in the range between forty and ninety degrees celsius. Wires (21) of the alloy, of flat cross section, are secured by articulated joints between two crankshafts (24). Two chambers (22,27) with heat-exchanging faces (23,26) are placed, one above the other, with the spacing between the faces being less than, or equal to, the dia. of the path of movement of the crankshafts. A heat pump (6) transfers thermal energy from the upper face (26) to atmosphere or to the lower face. Heating the lower face shrinks the wires when they reach the transition temp., so that the cranks at the lowest position are drawn towards each other. These wires rise and cool as the crankshafts move. The other wires are cooled by the upper face and, therefore, expand. The crankshafts turn in opposite directions.