420 results about "Thermal force" patented technology

A tunable frangible battery pack system for use in an electric vehicle is disclosed. The tunable frangible battery pack system includes a two piece clamshell housing. The system also includes a plurality of battery cells arranged within the housing and a collector plate secured to each piece of the housing. The system also includes a wire conductor arranged between each of the battery cells and collector plates to create a frangible disconnect system when the battery pack system and electric vehicle are exposed to a predetermined mechanical or thermal force or event.

The invention describes devices for performing thermodynamic work on a fluid, such as pumps, compressors and fans. The thermodynamic work may be used to provide a driving force for moving the fluid. Work performed on the fluid may be transmitted to other devices, such as a piston in a hydraulic actuation device. The devices may include one or more electroactive polymer transducers with an electroactive polymer that deflects in response to an application of an electric field. The electroactive polymer may be in contact with a fluid where the deflection of the electroactive polymer may be used to perform thermodynamic work on the fluid. The devices may be designed to efficiently operate at a plurality of operating conditions, such as operating conditions that produce an acoustic signal above or below the human hearing range. The devices may be used in thermal control systems, such as refrigeration system, cooling systems and heating systems.

A memory cell uses a pair of cantilevers to store a bit of information. Changing the relative position of the cantilevers determines whether they are electrically conducting or not. The on and off state of this mechanical latch is switched by using, for example, electrostatic, electromagnetic or thermal forces applied sequentially on the two cantilevers to change their relative position. The amount of power required to change the state of the cell is reduced by supporting at least one of the cantilevers with at least one lateral projection that is placed in torsion during cantilever displacement. After a bit of data is written, the cantilevers are locked by mechanical forces inherent in the cantilevers and will not change state unless a sequential electrical writing signal is applied. The sequential nature of the required writing signal makes inadvertent, radiation or noise related data corruption unlikely.

A phase-change heat exchanger (22) is provided for thermally conditioning a fluid. The phase-change heat exchanger includes, but is not limited to, conduits (60) configured to convey the fluid through the phase-change heat exchanger (22) and a foam structure (66) in thermal contact with at least one of the conduits (60). The foam structure (66) has ligaments (84) interconnected to form a three-dimensional reticulated structure of open cells (86). A phase-change material (88) is contained within the open cells (86) and the phase-change material (88) is configured to receive thermal energy of the fluid from the ligaments (84) of the foam structure (66).

The present invention relates to installations and methods for storing and restoring electrical energy comprising two, a first and a second, lagged chambers (1,2) containing porous refractory materials (11) through and between which a gas is circulated by causing the gas to circulate through two, a first and a second, compression / expansion sets (30, 40) interposed in the circuit of pipework (1c, 1d, 2c, 2d) between the upper ends (11, 21) and, respectively, lower ends (12, 22) of said first and second chambers, each compression / expansion set comprising a piston (30a, 40a) to which there is imparted a translational movement in a cylinder (30b, 40b), each set operating in a different mode, either in compression mode or in expansion mode, one of the two compression / expansion sets receiving a gas at a higher temperature than the other set such that, in compression mode, it is operated by an electric motor (41) which consumes electrical energy that is to be stored E1, and in thermodynamic engine mode it operates an electric generator (52) able to restore electrical energy (ER). The electrical energy is stored in the form of heat in masses of refractory products, and this stored thermal potential energy is restored in the form of electrical energy.