Tokyo Univ: a two-wheel mechanism that starts running when warmed: Bimetal ring bike
University of Tokyo:
Eita Okuno Graduate Student and Professor Akio Yamamoto:
We have developed a two-wheel mechanism that starts running when heated on a hot plate.
Make a ring with bimetal,
When warmed, the center of gravity moves due to thermal deformation and rolls.
In the experiment, it was possible to carry a load that weighed almost the same as its own weight.
It is expected that it will lead to a mechanism that runs on a road surface warmed by solar heat.
Bimetal hoop ring:
Two metals with different coefficients of thermal expansion are pasted together.
Warm on a hot plate,
If you make a temperature difference of 100 degrees C or more from room temperature,
The bimetal ring begins to roll.
It works on a very simple principle.
Field of use:
Wide range of applications.
By devising the temperature response of the bimetal and the structure of the inner ring, it is possible to move more efficiently.
This leads to efficient use of unused heat sources such as waste heat and solar heat that have been discarded.