Heat converter engine using a shape memory alloy actuator

摘要

A heat converter engine comprising a crank shaft, an actuator assembly coupled to the crank shaft, and a heating means. The actuator assembly includes a plurality of shape memory elements that are malleable when below a critical temperature and return to their original shape when above the critical temperature. The heating means raises the temperature of a first portion of the shape memory elements above the critical temperature and a cooling means lowers the temperature of a second portion of the shape memory elements below the critical temperature. This action of heating and cooling the shape memory elements causes rotation of the crank shaft.