| 主权项 |
1. A method of rotating a thermal expansion drive device, the method comprising:
providing a thermal expansion drive device comprising:
a driven shaft configured to rotate; and multiple dual heat exchanger units centered around the driven shaft and configured to drive rotation of the driven shaft through the creation of a gravitational imbalance in the thermal expansion drive device as portions of the multiple dual heat exchanger units are heated and cooled, each multiple dual heat exchanger unit comprising a first heat exchanger and a second heat exchanger on opposing ends of the multiple dual heat exchanger unit, each of the multiple dual heat exchanger unit comprising:a first heat exchanger configured to be heated and cooled by fluids, the first heat exchanger comprising two exchanger fluid chambers configured for housing working fluid;a second heat exchanger configured to be heated and cooled by fluids, the second heat exchanger comprising two exchanger fluid chambers configured for housing working fluid; the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger positioned on opposite ends of the dual heat exchanger unit along a linear axis, both the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger distal from the driven shaft;a first hydraulic cylinder having a hydraulic ram, the first hydraulic cylinder positioned along the linear axis between the first heat exchanger and the driven shaft;a second hydraulic cylinder having a hydraulic ram, the second hydraulic cylinder positioned along the linear axis between the second heat exchanger and the driven shaft;a first weight secured to the ram of the first hydraulic cylinder, the first weight being movable between a position closer to the driven shaft when the ram of the first hydraulic cylinder is contracted and a position farther away from the driven shaft when the ram of the first hydraulic cylinder is extended; anda second weight secured to the ram of the second hydraulic cylinder, the second weight being movable between a contracted position closer to the driven shaft when the ram of the second hydraulic cylinder is contracted and an extended position farther away from the driven shaft when the ram of the second hydraulic cylinder is extended; and exposing the first and second heat exchangers of the multiple dual heat exchanger units to a first fluid at a first temperature at a first location and to a second fluid at a second temperature at a second location to create the gravitational imbalance. |
