Heat transfer device

Abstract

A heat transfer device includes a first member and a first and second heat transfer element. In the first heat transfer element, a first contact area that is a contact area between the first heat transfer element and the first member varies. In the second heat transfer element, a second contact area that is a contact area between the second heat transfer element and the first member varies. The first contact area is greater when magnitude of a first external force applied to the first member is smaller than a first threshold than when the magnitude of the first external force is equal to or greater than the first threshold. The second contact area is smaller when the magnitude of the first external force is smaller than the first threshold than when the magnitude of the first external force is equal to or greater than the first threshold.

1 . A heat transfer device comprising:
 a first member including a first solid material that exhibits a thermoelastic effect;   a first heat transfer element having a first contact area that varies and that is a contact area between the first heat transfer element and the first member; and   a second heat transfer element having a second contact area that varies and that is a contact area between the second heat transfer element and the first member, wherein   the first contact area is greater when magnitude of a first external force applied to the first member is smaller than a first threshold being a threshold of an endothermic reaction and an exothermic reaction associated with the thermoelastic effect of the first solid material than when the magnitude of the first external force is equal to or greater than the first threshold, and   the second contact area is smaller when the magnitude of the first external force is smaller than the first threshold than when the magnitude of the first external force is equal to or greater than the first threshold.   
     
     
         2 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first contact area is greater than the second contact area when the magnitude of the first external force is smaller than the first threshold, and   the first contact area is equal to or smaller than the second contact area when the magnitude of the first external force is equal to or greater than the first threshold.   
     
     
         3 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first solid material is in a first phase when the magnitude of the first external force is smaller than the first threshold, and   the first solid material is in a second phase different from the first phase when the first external force is equal to or greater than the first threshold.   
     
     
         4 . The heat transfer device according to claim wherein
 the first member has a first inner perimeter and a first outer perimeter,   one of the first heat transfer element and the second heat transfer element is disposed to face the first inner perimeter, and   the other heat transfer element is disposed to face the first outer perimeter.   
     
     
         5 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 4 , wherein the first member is a first coil spring. 
     
     
         6 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 5 , wherein a cross-section perpendicular to an axis of a linear element forming the first coil spring includes a pair of parallel line segments defining the first inner perimeter and the first outer perimeter. 
     
     
         7 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a first drive mechanism that cyclically increases and decreases the first external force. 
     
     
         8 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second member including a second solid material that exhibits a thermoelastic effect; and   a third heat transfer element having a third contact area that varies and that is a contact area between the third heat transfer element and the second member, wherein   a fourth contact area that is a contact area between the second member and the second heat transfer element varies by a variation in magnitude of a second external force applied to the second member,   the third contact area is smaller when magnitude of the second external force is smaller than a second threshold being a threshold of an endothermic reaction and an exothermic reaction associated with the thermoelastic effect of the second solid material than when the magnitude of the second external force is equal to or greater than the second threshold, and   the fourth contact area is greater when the magnitude of the second external force is smaller than the second threshold than when the magnitude of the second external force is equal to or greater than the second threshold.   
     
     
         9 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the third contact area is equal to or smaller than the fourth contact area when the magnitude of the second external force is smaller than the second threshold, and   the third contact area is greater than the fourth contact area when the magnitude of the second external force is equal to or greater than the second threshold.   
     
     
         10 . The heat transfer device according to to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second member including a second solid material that exhibits a thermoelastic effect; and   a third heat transfer element having a third contact area that varies and that is a contact area between the third heat transfer element and the second member, wherein   a fourth contact area being a contact area between the second member and the second heat transfer element varies by a variation in magnitude of a second external force applied to the second member,   the third contact area is greater when the magnitude of the second external force is smaller than a second threshold being a threshold of an endothermic reaction and an exothermic reaction associated with the thermoelastic effect of the second solid material than when the magnitude of the second external force is equal to or greater than the second threshold, and   the fourth contact area is smaller when the magnitude of the second external force is smaller than the second threshold than when the magnitude of the second external force is equal to or greater than the second threshold.   
     
     
         11 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 10 , wherein
 the third contact area is greater than the fourth contact area when the magnitude of the second external force is smaller than the second threshold, and   the third contact area is equal to or smaller than the fourth contact area when the magnitude of the second external force is equal to or greater than the second threshold.   
     
     
         12 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the second solid material is in a third phase when the magnitude of the second external force is smaller than the second threshold, and   the second solid material is in a fourth phase different from the third phase when the second external force is equal to or greater than the second threshold.   
     
     
         13 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 8 , wherein
 the first member has a second inner perimeter and a second outer perimeter,   one of the second heat transfer element and the third heat transfer element is disposed to face the first inner perimeter, and   the other heat transfer element is disposed to face the second outer perimeter.   
     
     
         14 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 8 , wherein the second member is a second coil spring. 
     
     
         15 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 14 , wherein a cross-section perpendicular to an axis of a linear element forming the second coil spring includes a pair of parallel line segments defining the second inner perimeter and the second outer perimeter. 
     
     
         16 . The heat transfer device according to  claim 8 , further comprising a second drive mechanism that cyclically increases and decreases the second external force.