Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric – Thermoelectric – Processes
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-04
2001-10-02
Gorgos, Kathryn (Department: 1741)
Batteries: thermoelectric and photoelectric
Thermoelectric
Processes
C136S203000, C136S205000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06297440
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field Of The Invention
This invention relates to thermoelectrics devices for electrical and electronic circuits, and more particularly to an improved metallic thermoelectric device having a high capacitance and low physical volume. This invention also relates to the method of making the improved metallic thermoelectric device through a wire drawing process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various types of thermoelectric devices have been known to the prior art. One particular form of thermoelectric device is a metallic thermoelectric device formed by a junction of two dissimilar metallic materials. It is well known in the art that many junctions formed with two dissimilar metallic materials will generate a voltage and a current when the junction is elevated in temperature relative to an ambient temperature. The extent of voltage produced by the junction is determined by the types of metallic materials used for forming the junction and the differential in temperature of the junction relative to an ambient temperature.
Typically, the metallic junction thermoelectric devices were used as temperature sensors. These devices, commonly called thermocouples, were placed in a region for determining the temperature of the region. The voltage output of the thermocouple was measured by a voltmeter having a high impedance input. In these applications, the thermocouple functioned as a voltage generator.
In other applications, junctions of dissimilar metallic materials have been used to generate both a voltage and a current to provide an electrical power generator. Typically, a plurality of metallic junctions were connected in electrical parallel to produce a current of sufficient magnitude to provide the electrical power generation. The plurality of metallic junctions were placed in proximity to heat sources such as a geothermal heat source, a solar heat source or a nuclear heat source for generating electrical power.
Over the years, the size of electronic components has decreased steadily and dramatically in the electrical and electronic art. Along with such dramatic decreases in the size of electrical components, the speed and complexity of electronic components has increased substantially in the electrical and electronic art. The decrease in size of electronic components has been primarily within the areas of semiconductors and resistant elements. However, such dramatic decreases in size have not effected the area of thermoelectric devices.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and method of making a thermoelectric device having an extremely high power output for a physical size which was heretofore unknown by the prior art.
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method of making a thermoelectric device which is extremely reliable and capable of high temperature operation.
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method of making a thermoelectric device which utilizes a plurality of coaxial thermoelectric devices connected in electrical parallel.
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method of making a thermoelectric device by drawing coaxial conductors separated by a dielectric material in a wire drawing process.
Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus and method of making a thermoelectric device by drawing a multiplicity of individual coaxial thermoelectric devices in a wire drawing process.
The foregoing has outlined some of the more pertinent objects of the present invention. These objects should be construed as being merely illustrative of some of the more prominent features and applications of the invention. Many other beneficial results can be obtained by applying the disclosed invention in a different manner or modifying the invention within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, other objects in a full understanding of the invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention, the detailed description describing the preferred embodiment in addition to the scope of the invention defined by the claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is defined by the appended claims with specific embodiments being shown in the attached drawings. For the purpose of summarizing the invention, the invention relates to an improved thermoelectric generator for generating an electrical voltage when elevated in temperature. The improved thermoelectric generator comprises an array of a multiplicity of thermoelectric elements. Each of the multiplicity of the thermoelectric elements comprises a first metal component surrounded by a second metal component with a dielectric material interposed therebetween. A first connector interconnects each of the first metal components of the multiplicity of the thermoelectric elements to form a first thermoelectric terminal. A second connector interconnects each of the second metal components of the multiplicity of the thermoelectric elements to form a second thermoelectric terminal. A junction connector interconnects each of the first metal components to the second metal components of the multiplicity of the thermoelectric elements to form a multiplicity of thermoelectric junctions thereby.
In one embodiment of the invention, each of the first metal components includes a metallic wire having a substantially circular cross-section. The dielectric material may include an oxide on each of the first metal components or may include a coating on each of the first metal components.
Preferably, each of the second metal components includes a metallic tube. Each of the second metal components may include a continuous metallic tube disposed about each of the first metal components and the dielectric materials. In the alternative, each of the second metal components may include a preformed metallic tube disposed about each of the first metal components and the dielectric materials.
In another embodiment of the invention, the first thermoelectric terminal includes each of the first metal components having an exposed portion. The first thermoelectric terminal interconnects each of the exposed portions of each of the multiplicity of the first metal components to form the first thermoelectric terminal. The second thermoelectric terminal includes the multiplicity of the thermoelectric elements being disposed within a metallic conduit and being in electrical contact therewith.
The junction thermoelectric connector includes a third metal component interconnecting each of the first metal components to the second metal components to form the thermoelectric junction thereby. The junction connector interconnects the first metal components to the second metal components to form a multiplicity of thermoelectric junctions interconnected in electrical parallel. Preferably, the third metal component is the same metal as only one of the first and second metal components. A terminal insulator insulates the first thermoelectric terminal from the second thermoelectric terminal.
The invention is also incorporated into the process for making a thermoelectric device comprising the steps of providing a first metal component and covering the first metal component with a dielectric material. The first metal component and the dielectric material are encased with a second metal component. The second metal component with the first metal component and the dielectric material therein is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof and for forming a thermoelectric element. A multiplicity of the thermoelectric elements are inserted within a metal conduit. The metal conduit with the multiplicity of the thermoelectric elements therein is drawn for reducing the outer diameter thereof and for electrically interconnecting the second metal components of the multiplicity of thermoelectric elements to form a second thermoelectric terminal. The first metal components of the multiplicity of thermoelectric elements are interconnected to form a first thermoelectric terminal. The
Liberman Michael
Sobolevsky Alexander
Frijouf Rust & Pyle P.A.
Gorgos Kathryn
Parsons Thomas H
USF Filtration and Separations Group Inc.
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