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A heat-driven engine includes a thermally conductive input path, from a heat source and a working medium of a thermostrictive material positioned adjacent to the thermally conductive path. Also, a heat pump of phase change material is positioned adjacent to the working medium and an actuator is cont

A heat-driven engine includes a thermally conductive input path, from a heat source and a working medium of a thermostrictive material positioned adjacent to the thermally conductive path. Also, a heat pump of phase change material is positioned adjacent to the working medium and an actuator is controlled to apply stimulus to the heat pump, causing a phase change and an associated release of thermal energy, to drive the working medium above its low-to-high temperature of transformation and controlled to alternatingly remove the stimulus from the heat pump, causing the phase change to reverse, and an associated intake of thermal energy, to drive the working medium below its high-to-low temperature of transformation. Also, heat flow through the thermally conductive path maintains the working medium at a temperature range permitting the heat pump to drive the working medium temperature, in the manner noted.

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1. A heat-driven engine comprising (a) a thermally conductive path into said engine, from a heat source;(b) a working medium of a thermostrictive material, having a first temperature of transformation, positioned adjacent to said thermally conductive path;(c) a heat pump of phase change material pos

1. A heat-driven engine comprising (a) a thermally conductive path into said engine, from a heat source;(b) a working medium of a thermostrictive material, having a first temperature of transformation, positioned adjacent to said thermally conductive path;(c) a heat pump of phase change material positioned adjacent to said working medium;(d) an actuator controlled to apply stimulus to said heat pump, causing a phase change and an associated release of thermal energy, to drive said working medium above its low-to-high temperature of transformation and controlled to alternatingly remove said stimulus from said heat pump, causing said phase change to reverse, and an associated intake of thermal energy, to drive said working medium below its high-to-low temperature of transformation; and(e) heat flow through said thermally conductive path maintains said working medium at a temperature range that permits said heat pump to so drive said working medium temperature. 2. The engine of claim 1, wherein said phase change material is a thermostrictive material. 3. The engine of claim 1, wherein said thermostrictive material is nitinol. 4. The engine of claim 1, wherein said working medium and said heat pump are linked by a power transmitting element, so as to create a self-perpetuating cycle, which continues in operation as long as sufficient heat is provided by said heat source. 5. The engine of claim 1, wherein said phase change material is magneto-caloric and is stimulated by the application of a magnetic field. 6. The engine of claim 1, wherein said phase change material is pyroelectric, and is stimulated by the application of an electric field. 7. The engine of claim 1, wherein a heat shutter is used to control the flow of heat from said heat source to said working medium. 8. The engine of claim 1, further including a shape memory alloy starting element, kept in a tension low-enthalpy state, until released to start said engine. 9. The engine of claim 1, further including a heat stabilizer interposed into said thermally conductive path, having an input thermally connected to said heat source and an output thermally connected to said working medium, said heat stabilizer maintaining a more even temperature at its output than it receives at its input. 10. The engine of claim 9, wherein a heat spreader is thermally interposed between said heat stabilizer output and said working medium. 11. The engine of claim 2 wherein said actuator is driven by said working medium and comprises a cam assembly, for translating rotary movement of a first cycle type and producing from it linear movement having a second cycle type, and including: (a) a slider plate, supported by a pair of linear bushings and defining an aperture having a non-round shape;(b) a first shaft being driven rotationally through movement of said first cycle type;(c) a cam-following projection joined to said first shaft by a crank that is fit into said aperture and follows the outline of said aperture as said first shaft moves through said first cycle type, causing said slider plate to move through its second cycle type. 12. The engine of claim 11, further including a fly wheel attached to said cam-following projection. 13. The engine of claim 1, wherein said heat-driven engine recited in paragraphs (a) through (d) comprises a first heat-driven assembly and further including one or more additional heat-driven assemblies, conforming to paragraphs (a) through (d), said heat-driven assemblies coupled together by power transmitting elements and maintained in an out-of-phase relationship, so that operation of each said heat-driven assembly facilitates operation of all other heat-driven assemblies. 14. The engine of claim 13 wherein each said power transmitting element comprises a cam assembly, for translating rotary movement of a first cycle type and producing from it linear movement having a second cycle type, and including: (a) a slider plate, supported by a pair of linear bushings and defining an aperture having a non-round shape;(b) a first shaft being driven rotationally through movement of said first cycle type;(c) a cam-following projection joined to said first shaft by a crank that is fit into said aperture and follows the outline of said aperture as said first shaft moves through said first cycle type, causing said slider plate to move through its second cycle type. 15. A method of operating a heat-driven engine, comprising (a) providing a heat spreader, to permit a heat path into said engine, from a heat source;(b) providing a working medium of thermostrictive material, having a first temperature of transformation, positioned adjacent to said thermally conductive path;(c) providing a heat pump of phase change material positioned adjacent to said working medium; and(d) an actuator controlled to apply a stimulus to said heat pump, causing a phase change and an associated release of thermal energy, to drive said working medium above its heat of transformation and alternately removing said stimulus from said heat pump, causing a reverse phase change and an associated intake of thermal energy to drive said working medium below its heat of transformation; and(e) permitting heat flow through said thermally conductive path to maintain said working medium at a temperature range that permits said heat pump to so drive said working medium temperature above and below its temperature triggers. 16. A heat-driven engine comprising (a) a thermally conductive path into said engine, from a heat source;(b) a working medium of phase change material, having a first temperature of transformation, positioned adjacent to said thermally conductive path;(c) a heat pump of phase change material positioned adjacent to said working medium; and(d) wherein a stimulus is applied to said heat pump, causing a phase change and the associated release of thermal energy, to drive said working medium above its low-to-high temperature of transformation and then said stimulus is removed from said heat pump causing said phase change to reverse, along with an associated intake of thermal energy, further causing heat flow through said thermally conductive path and maintaining said working medium at a temperature range that permits said heat pump to so drive said working medium temperature; and(e) wherein said thermally conductive path includes a heat flow constricting element, to avoid heat flow that does not conform to desired characteristics. 17. The engine of claim 16, wherein said heat flow constricting element includes a heat shutter controlled to prevent a flow of heat from said working medium to said heat source. 18. The engine of claim 16, further including a starting element made of thermostrictive material, kept in a tension low-enthalpy state, until released to start said engine. 19. The engine of claim 16, further including a heat stabilizer interposed into said thermally conductive path, having an input adjacent thermally connected to said heat source and an output thermally connected to said working medium, said heat stabilizer maintaining a more even temperature at its output than it receives at its input.