リング状バイメタルを用いた熱移動機構

抄録

It has been reported that a ring-shaped bimetal sheet, or bimetal ring, automatically rolls on a heated surface. By utilizing this phenomenon, this paper proposes a thermally-driven locomotion mechanism. As a simple bimetal ring is flexible and hollow, it cannot carry a load. Therefore, this paper proposes three different wheel structures to support a bimetal ring, such that a load can be applied to the axis of a wheel. Using one of the proposed wheel structures, a two-wheeled thermally-driven vehicle was developed. The developed vehicle could run on a heated surface that has 100 degrees temperature difference against the atmosphere, with carrying a load whose weight is equivalent to that of the vehicle. It was also shown that there is a possibility that a vehicle could carry three-times heavier load, if a ring structure is improved.