[1] The Minto wheel operates on a small temperature gradient, and produces a large amount of torque, but at very low rotational speed.

[citation needed] The speed of rotation is directly proportional to the surface area of the containers used, the volume, and the height of the wheel.

Different to the Minto wheel and the Iske brothers' patent, the engine was oscillating, not revolving.

With the working fluids he used, he got the required temperature difference down, enabling the engine - for example - to run on solar power.

[11] A working example of a Minto wheel was first published in a series of articles in The Mother Earth News, Issues #38 March, #39 May and #40 July 1976.

Test units constructed by Mother Earth News (Issue 40, July 1976) and the MythBusters (Episode 24, December 5, 2004 – "Ming Dynasty Astronaut") did convert temperature difference into torque, but not as well as overenthusiastic boosters claimed.