Light Activated Rotor
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Authors
Larraza, Andres
Wolfe, David M.
Subjects
Advisors
Date of Issue
2017-11-21
Date
Publisher
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Language
Abstract
Provided is a light activated rotor comprising typically a plurality of vanes affixed to a hub rotatable around the longitudinal axis of an axle. Each vane comprises a planar surface oriented generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axle with each vane separated into a first surface and a second surface. The first and second surface are adjacent and share a common boundary generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the axle. Additionally, the first and second surfaces have differing emissivities. When the light activated rotor is illuminated with a radiant flux, the differing emissivities of the first and second surfaces produce a temperature gradient across the vane and generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, and a thermal creep force across the planar surface of the vane generates a revolution of the vane and the affixed hub around the longitudinal axis of the axle.
Type
Patent
Description
Series/Report No
Department
Organization
Identifiers
US 9,822,786 B1
NPS Report Number
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Citation
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Rights
This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.