Vehicle energy harvesting device with a continuous loop made of shape memory alloy

摘要

An energy recovery system (42) comprising: a first region (12) having a first temperature; a second region (14) having a second temperature that differs from the first temperature; a conduit (32) through which a fluid flows and which extends into the first region (12); a heat engine (16) configured to convert thermal energy to mechanical energy, comprising a shape memory alloy (18) forming at least one generally continuous loop, the shape memory alloy (18) is disposed in heat exchange contact with each of the first region (12) and the second region (14); wherein the shape memory alloy (18) is driven in response to the temperature difference between the first region (12) and the second region (14) to rotating at least partially about the conduit (32); a support (22) attached to the conduit (32) and disposed concentrically about the conduit (32); and a plurality of inner disks (24) and a plurality of outer disks (26) rotatably mounted on the support (22) in an alternating relationship with one another, the plurality of inner disks (22) each having the same first distance from a center point of the conduit (32) wherein the plurality of outer disks (26) each have the same second distance from the center point of the line (32), the first distance being smaller than the second distance, the shape memory alloy (18) alternating around an inner side of the plurality of inner disks ( 24) and an outer side of the plurality of outer disks (26) is guided to form the at least one continuous loop surrounding the conduit (32), the plurality of inner disks (24) and the plurality of outer disks (26) being caused by the rotation of the Shape memory alloy (18) are driven, and wherein at least one of the inner discs (24) and the outer discs (26) is operatively connected to a component (20), u m thereby driving the component (20).