Neil H Tice

8522545, Sep 3, 2013

Jun 22, 2010

12/820374

Neil Tice - Hillsboro OR, US

F02G 1/04

60527, 60528, 60529

A heat-driven engine includes a thermally conductive input path, from a heat source and a working medium of a thermostrictive material positioned adjacent to the thermally conductive path. Also, a heat pump of phase change material is positioned adjacent to the working medium and an actuator is controlled to apply stimulus to the heat pump, causing a phase change and an associated release of thermal energy, to drive the working medium above its low-to-high temperature of transformation and controlled to alternatingly remove the stimulus from the heat pump, causing the phase change to reverse, and an associated intake of thermal energy, to drive the working medium below its high-to-low temperature of transformation. Also, heat flow through the thermally conductive path maintains the working medium at a temperature range permitting the heat pump to drive the working medium temperature, in the manner noted.

20120042646, Feb 23, 2012

Aug 17, 2010

12/857774

Neil Tice - Beaverton OR, US

F01B 29/10

60529

A method of cooling a first region that is above the transition temperature of a phase change material having a cold phase and a warm phase and that is proximal to a second region into which heat may be exhausted. The method utilizes an article of the phase change material, and starting in the cold phase, places the article into thermal contact with the first region, thereby causing the phase change material to undergo a phase transition, changing size. When the phase transition is substantially complete, the article is taken out of thermal contact with the first region and is placed into thermal contact with the second region. At this point, force is applied to the article, causing it to transition to the cold phase, thereby exhausting heat into the second region. The process is begun again, by placing the article, once again, into thermal contact with the first region.

20130118172, May 16, 2013

Jun 21, 2011

13/806487

Neil Tice - Hillsboro OR, US

F01K 25/08
F03G 7/06

60671, 60527

A heat-driven engine includes a thermally conductive path into the engine, from a heat source and a working medium of a thermostrictive material, having a first temperature of transformation, positioned adjacent to the thermally conductive path. Also, a heat pump of phase change material is positioned adjacent to the working medium and an actuator is controlled to apply stimulus to the heat pump, causing a phase change and an associated release of thermal energy, to drive the working medium above its low-to-high temperature of transformation and controlled to alternatingly remove the stimulus from the heat pump, causing the phase change to reverse, and an associated intake of thermal energy, to drive the working medium below its high-to-low temperature of transformation. Also, heat flow through the thermally conductive path maintains the working medium at a temperature range permitting the heat pump to drive the working medium temperature, in the manner noted.

7775042, Aug 17, 2010

Oct 17, 2006

11/582009

Neil Tice - Beaverton OR, US

F01B 29/10
F02G 1/04

60529, 60527, 60516

A method of generating motion from a cool region that is proximal to a warm region, the cool region and the warm region defining a temperature range. The method uses an article of phase change material having a warm-to-cold phase transition and a cold-to-warm phase transition, both within the temperature range. This article is exposed to the cool region, thereby causing the phase change material to change size. When the warm-to-cold phase transition is substantially complete, this is detected. In response to this detection the article is exposed to the warm region, thereby causing the phase change material to change size. When this transition is substantially complete, the cycle is restarted with exposure to the cool region.