Heat engine system for vehicles

1. A heat engine system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is operable on a road surface, the heat engine system comprising:

a collector configured for collecting an air layer disposed adjacent the road surface, wherein the collector is disposed on an underside surface of the vehicle and spaced opposite the road surface;

a heat engine configured for converting thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between the air layer and an ambient air surrounding the vehicle to another form of energy, wherein the air layer has a first temperature and the ambient air has a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature;

a guide configured for transferring the air layer from the collector to the heat engine; and

a spoiler configured for transitioning between a retracted position wherein the spoiler is disposed substantially flush with the underside surface, and a deployed position wherein the spoiler extends from the underside surface to thereby deflect debris from the collector.

2. The heat engine system of claim 1 , wherein the heat engine includes an element formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between a martensite phase and an austenite phase at a transformation temperature in response to the temperature difference.

3. The heat engine system of claim 2 , wherein the element is configured as a resilient member arranged in a continuous loop, and has a first localized region and a second localized region spaced apart from the first localized region.

4. The heat engine system of claim 3 , wherein the shape memory alloy transitions from the martensite phase to the austenite phase to thereby dimensionally contract at the first localized region in response to the first temperature.

5. The heat engine system of claim 4 , wherein the shape memory alloy transitions from the austenite phase to the martensite phase to thereby dimensionally expand at the first localized region in response to the second temperature.

6. The heat engine system of claim 3 , wherein the shape memory alloy alternately dimensionally contracts at the first localized region in response to the first temperature and dimensionally expands at the second localized region in response to the second temperature to thereby convert thermal energy to mechanical energy.

7. The heat engine system of claim 6 , further including a plurality of pulleys configured for supporting the element so that the continuous loop translates along the plurality of pulleys in response to the temperature difference.

8. The heat engine system of claim 2 , further including a generator configured for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy, wherein the element has a first localized region and a second localized region spaced apart from the first localized region, and further wherein the shape memory alloy alternately dimensionally contracts at the first localized region in response to the first temperature and dimensionally expands at the second localized region in response to the second temperature to thereby convert thermal energy to mechanical energy and drive the generator.

9. The heat engine system of claim 8 , further including a battery configured for storing and discharging the electrical energy.

10. The heat engine system of claim 2 , wherein the heat engine is a Stirling engine configured for converting thermal energy to mechanical energy.

11. The heat engine system of claim 1 , wherein the heat engine is a thermoelectric generator configured for converting thermal energy directly to electrical energy.

12. The heat engine of claim 1 , wherein the spoiler is disposed in the deployed position, and further wherein the spoiler surrounds the road surface spaced opposite the underside surface of the vehicle to thereby minimize airflow along the road surface.

13. The heat engine of claim 1 , further including a sensor system configured for detecting debris present on the road surface and transitioning the spoiler to the retracted position to thereby minimize contact between the debris and the spoiler.

14. A heat engine system for a vehicle, wherein the vehicle is operable on a road surface, the heat engine system comprising:

a collector configured for collecting an air layer disposed adjacent the road surface;

a heat engine configured for converting thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between the air layer and an ambient air surrounding the vehicle to mechanical energy, wherein the air layer has a first temperature and the ambient air has a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature;

wherein the heat engine includes an element formed from a shape memory alloy that is transitionable between a martensite phase and an austenite phase at a transformation temperature in response to the temperature difference;

wherein the element is configured as a resilient member arranged in a continuous loop and has a first localized region and a second localized region spaced apart from the first localized region;

wherein the shape memory alloy alternately dimensionally contracts at the first localized region in response to the first temperature and dimensionally expands at the second localized region in response to the second temperature to thereby convert thermal energy to mechanical energy;

a guide configured for transferring the air layer from the collector to the heat engine;

a spoiler reversibly deployable from an underside surface of the vehicle and configured for transitioning between a retracted position wherein the spoiler is disposed substantially flush with the underside surface, and a deployed position wherein the spoiler extends from the underside surface; and

a sensor system configured for detecting debris present on the road surface, and transitioning the spoiler to the retracted position to thereby minimize contact between the debris and the spoiler.

15. The heat engine system of claim 14 , further including a generator configured for converting mechanical energy to electrical energy, wherein the shape memory alloy alternately dimensionally contracts and dimensionally expands in response to the temperature difference to thereby convert thermal energy to mechanical energy and drive the generator.

16. A vehicle operable on a road surface, the vehicle comprising:

a body defining an interior compartment and having an underside surface spaced opposite the road surface; and

a heat engine system including:

a collector configured for collecting an air layer disposed adjacent the road surface, wherein the collector is disposed on an underside surface of the vehicle and spaced opposite the road surface;

a heat engine configured for converting thermal energy provided by a temperature difference between the air layer and an ambient air surrounding the vehicle to another form of energy, wherein the air layer has a first temperature and the ambient air has a second temperature that is lower than the first temperature;

a guide configured for transferring the air layer from the collector to the heat engine; and

a spoiler configured for transitioning between a retracted position wherein the spoiler is disposed substantially flush with the underside surface, and a deployed position wherein the spoiler extends from the underside surface to thereby deflect debris from the collector.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the collector is disposed on the underside surface, and further wherein the guide and the heat engine are disposed within the interior compartment.

18. The vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the vehicle is disposed in a parked position on the road surface such that the vehicle is stationary on the road surface.