Thermoelectric device-two for producing an electric current

Details Thermoelectric device-two for producing an electric current Thermoelectric device-two for producing an electric current

1999-11-30

2001-05-01

Gorgos, Kathryn (Department: 1741)

Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric

Thermoelectric

Electric power generator

C310S306000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06225549

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a thermoelectric cell for producing an electric current.
2. Description of the Related Art
A single U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/196,597 filed Nov. 20, 1998 (now abandoned) by the present author, is to the knowledge of the present author, the most nearly related device. FIG. 1 of “597” can be construed as a slightly different form of FIG. 2 of “597”.
The present invention differs from “597” in that the present invention employs multiple anode means in electrical parallel in one cell, multiple anode electron emitter means with one electron collector means, multiple within-cell resistor means in one cell and multiple cathode means in electrical parallel in one cell in several different combinations. Additionally, the present invention provides for a cell wherein the anode section of the cell is physically separate from the within-cell resistor and the cathode section of the cell, a characteristic not noted as a possibility by “597” though it may be deemed apparent. Definitely not noted in “597” is the present description of a cell having multiple anode means in electrical parallel and in electrical contact with one anode electron emitter means common to all anode means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Frequently, with cells of the present invention, as well as “597”, an unusual characteristic is that over a range of resistance of a circuit external to a cell, current increases as well as voltage. Such is possibly the result of back voltage on the anode resulting in “compression” of electrons and increased density of electrons on the anode of the cell.
Another unusual characteristic, to the author's knowledge, of the present invention is that in those embodiments having multiple anode means with each anode means having its own anode electron emitter means, wherein the anode means, connecting to common cathode means and an anode lead in common, are in each case electrically in parallel and appear to give at least partly additive outputs.
The “597” application shows a cell anode section of single anode electron emitter means and single anode means.
A number of different thermoelectric cells can be made based on four different embodiments in design.
First design:
A thermoelectric cell is comprised of a single anode means in electrical contact with multiple anode electron emitter means, displaying thermally induced electron emission, and of single within-cell electrical resistor means connected by electrical conductor means to said single anode means. Said cell further comprises a single cathode means connected by electrical conductor means to said single resistor means. The Area of contact between a cathode portion of said cathode means and a cathode electron emitter means, displaying thermally induced electron emission, is smaller than the area of contact between said single anode means and said multiple anode electron emitter means.
Tests of cells as described as “first design” have been conducted, (Jul. 14, 1999) and (Jul. 26, 1999). One such cell tested is described by
FIG. 1
herein. Multiple anode emitters in the design of
FIG. 1
increase output. Some slight overlap of anode emitters in the
FIG. 1
tests may have made the cell somewhat like FIG. 3 of “597” but for a thin-sheet anode there is probably no discernible difference. The cell of
FIG. 1
herein was tested with both powdered graphite emitters and with granular non-iodized salt emitters. Anode means and cathode means and within-cell resistor means for cells of “first design” type if accomplished by printing means may be very economical. Other tests of a more complex single-anode-means, multiple-anode-emitter-means cell with no overlap of anode emitter means have been conducted (Jun. 26, 1999, 7:56 AM and 8:24 AM).
Second design:
A thermoelectric cell is comprised of multiple anode means, connected to one another in electrical parallel, each anode means in electrical contact with a separate anode electron emitter means, displaying thermally induced electron emission, and of single within-cell electrical resistor means connected by electrical conductor means to said multiple anode means and of single cathode means connected by electrical conductor means to said single resistor means wherein the area of contact between a cathode portion of said single cathode means and a cathode electron emitter means, displaying thermally induced electron emission, is less than the area of contact between said multiple anode means and respective anode electron emitter means.
A cell of “second design” type has been tested wherein anode means were aluminum sheet and anode means widths were convoluted and anode emitters were powdered graphite (Jun. 27, 1999, 12:37 AM). Use of multiple anode means in a single cell allows large anode means surface area in a single cell without impractical anode means lengths. Separate entities as electrical resistor means, cathode means and anode means/anode emitter means simplify assembly of cells.
Third design:
A thermoelectric cell is comprised of multiple anode means, connected to one another in electrical parallel, in electrical contact with separate anode electron emitter means, displaying thermally induced electron emission, and of multiple within-cell electrical resistor means as appropriate, appropriate being determined by wattage service rating of said resistor means and total wattage of anode means to which each said resistor means connects to, and of single cathode means connected by electrical conductor to said multiple resistor means wherein the area of contact between a cathode portion of said single cathode means and a cathode electron emitter means, displaying thermally induced electron emission, is smaller than the area of contact between said multiple anode means and said separate anode electron emitter means.
A thermoelectric cell as “third design” above is like “second design” wherein said cell further comprises additional electrical within-cell electrical resistor means yielding multiple resistor means as appropriate, appropriate being as previously described, and wherein said single cathode means connects by electrical conductor to said multiple resistor means.
A cell of “third design” type is shown by
FIG. 3
herein.
Fourth design:
A thermoelectric cell design like “first design,” or like “second design,” or like “third design,” wherein a thermoelectric cell further comprises additional cathode means to yield multiple cathode means, connected to one another in electrical parallel, connected by electrical conductor to each said within-cell resistor means in said cell wherein the total area of contact, in said multiple cathode means, of said cathode portions of said multiple cathode means with respective cathode electron emitter means is smaller than total area of contact of all anode means in said cell with all anode electron emitter means in said cell.
An example of a “fourth design” cell, as evolved from “third design”
FIG. 3
, is shown by FIG.
4
. Cathode means connected in electrical parallel are no different from anode means in electrical parallel, other than size. A more complex and expensive cell as “fourth design,”
FIG. 4
herein component array has been tested (Sep. 18, 1999, 9:27 AM, 11:05 AM and 9:20 PM).
An additional “fourth design” cell, as evolved from “second design FIG.
2
” component array used anode electron emitter means
2
A and
2
B of
FIG. 2
to form a single continuous anode electron emitter means common to all said multiple anode means. Such a cell has been tested (Nov. 15, 1999, 11:15 A.M.). Later testing (Nov. 17, 1999 and Nov. 18, 1999) of such a cell using shorter and more narrow anode means than those of Nov. 15, 1999 indicated greater amperage and voltage output per unit area of anode surface than with the larger anodes of Nov. 15, 1999, probably because the shorter anodes resulted in even more efficient return of electrons to the emitter. Anodes of Nov. 15, 1999, Nov. 17, 1999 and Nov. 18, 1999 tests were flat strips rather than convoluted as shown in
F

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