There is provided a thermostatic working element comprising: a housing for receiving an expansion medium; an electric heating element arranged in the housing and provided with connecting lines, wherein a base of a bottom side of the housing comprises an opening for passage therethrough of the connecting lines; and a gasket disposed between the electric heating element and the base of the bottom side of the housing, essentially surrounding the opening, wherein the housing further comprises a recess located in proximity to the electric heating element, configured to press the electric heating element and the gasket against the base of the bottom side of the housing and thereby sealing of the housing is facilitated.

A device including a wire element and a winding element to wind the wire element. The winding element is configured to change from a first stable state to a second stable state. A change in the state occurs either naturally or by changing an environment parameter so as to result in the wire element being wound on the winding element. In the naturally occurring state change, the energy of interaction between the wire element and the environment is higher than the energy of interaction between the wire element and the winding element. The environment parameter change results in the wire element being wound on the winding element during the change from the first state to the second state.

A bidirectional thermally actuated component includes a heating element and wax material provided in an enclosed housing wherein the heating element is activated to melt the wax which expands to cause movement of the housing or an element mounted therein. When the heating element is deactivated, the was hardens and constricts to allow for movement in the opposite direction based on application of a force in the opposite direction, which may be provided by a biasing spring or a second actuator. An adjustable medical device may include the thermally actuated component to control adjustment of the device.

Engine systems and methods for performing a new chemical/thermodynamic cycle, termed a Chemo/thermodynamic Closed Combined (CCC) cycle, are proposed herein. The CCC cycle is composed of an Endothermic Chemo/thermodynamic Open cycle (En-C-O) and an Exothermic Chemo/thermodynamic Open cycle (Ex-C-O), which together complete the larger CCC cycle. CCC cycles may operate as a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) cycle. Since the En-C-O and the Ex-C-O cycles are able to operate independently of one another, they can be distanced from one another in time and/or space. To complete the larger CCC cycle, the En-C-O and Ex-C-O chemical working fluids are stored and/or transported between one another. An Exothermic Reactor Exhaust Compressor (EREC), for permitting otherwise-waste CCC heat to convert said chemical working fluids from liquid/frozen pressurized states into pressurized vapors and/or gases, is also proposed herein. Finally, various En-C-O and Ex-C-O cycles are proposed herein.

A thermostat comprises a hollow body containing a thermally responsive material, and a force transmitting member affixed to the body by an over-moulded portion.

An apparatus including polymer configured to have a first state or a second state, wherein the volume of the polymer in the first state is different to a volume of the polymer in the second state; an actuator configured to be controlled by an input signal to cause the polymer to change between the first state and the second state; and a constraint configured to constrain the polymer in at least a first direction when the polymer changes between the first state and the second state.

Engine systems and methods for performing a new chemical/thermodynamic cycle, termed a Chemo/thermodynamic Closed Combined (CCC) cycle, are proposed herein. The CCC cycle is composed of an Endothermic Chemo/thermodynamic Open cycle (En-C-O) and an Exothermic Chemo/thermodynamic Open cycle (Ex-C-O), which together complete the larger CCC cycle. CCC cycles may operate as a Combined Heat and Power (CHP) cycle. Since the En-C-O and the Ex-C-O cycles are able to operate independently of one another, they can be distanced from one another in time and/or space. To complete the larger CCC cycle, the En-C-O and Ex-C-O chemical working fluids are stored and/or transported between one another. An Exothermic Reactor Exhaust Compressor (EREC), for permitting otherwise-waste CCC heat to convert said chemical working fluids from liquid/frozen pressurized states into pressurized vapors and/or gases, is also proposed herein. Finally, various En-C-O and Ex-C-O cycles are proposed herein.

A photon-activated substance is disclosed, which includes a phase change material and a photon activated substance. The photon activated substance can be at least one of (2,6,6-Tetramethylpiperidin-1-yl)oxyl (TEMPO), azobenzene (AZOB), 4-Nitro-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene, Lumogen orange 240, and guaiazulene (GAZ).

Actuators (artificial muscles) comprising twisted polymer fibers generate actuation when powered thermally. In some embodiments, the thermally-powered polymer fiber actuator can be incorporated into an article, such as a textile or garment.

A thermal actuator, has: a housing having a peripheral wall extending from a first end to a second end and defining a fluid port; a first bellows within the housing and deformable along a longitudinal direction; a thermal expansion material within the housing between the first bellows and the second end of the housing and outwardly of the first bellows; a movable member engaged by the first bellows and received in the housing and protruding through an opening, the movable member movable by the first bellows relative to the housing by expansion and by contraction of the thermal expansion material; a second bellows disposed within the housing and engaged by the movable member and fluidly isolating the fluid port from the opening of the housing; and a fluid-receiving volume defined within the housing by the first bellows and the second bellows and in fluid communication with the fluid port.