| 主权项 |
1. An engine configured to extract energy from a heat source, the engine comprising:
a shaft adapted to be rotatably coupled to a support and being rotatable in a first direction; a plurality of vessels coupled to and arranged about the shaft, at least a first vessel of the plurality of vessels comprising a thermally insulative material or a thermally insulative portion and a thermally conductive portion, and each of the plurality of vessels including a separator to separate a volatile material from a mass; a plurality of conduits connecting the plurality of vessels together, each of the plurality of vessels being in communication with at least one other of the plurality of vessels via at least one of the conduits, the plurality of vessels arranged to allow the thermally conductive portion of the first vessel to encounter a heat source, the thermally conductive portion capable of transferring heat to at least partially vaporize volatile material within the first vessel to cause the mass separated from the volatile material to at least partially move towards a connected vessel located above the first vessel to produce a gravitational moment that encourages rotation of the shaft and the plurality of vessels in the first direction, the volatile material in the connected vessel being cooled by a cooling source; a pipe connected to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft, the pipe for containing the heat source; and a valve provided in at least one vessel, the valve configured to allow filling and draining of at least a part of the volatile material in the vessel; wherein the valve is configured to adjust a pressure in the vessel, thereby allowing adjustment of the thermal properties of the volatile material in the vessel in response to at least one of the heat source and ambient conditions. |
