High temperature thermionic generator

Claim 1

AN IMPROVED HIGH TEMPERATURE-LOW PRESSURE THERMIONIC CONVERTER WHICH COMPRISES, IN COMBINATION, A CATHODE ADAPTED TO EMIT ELECTRONS IN HIGH TEMPERATURE, A CONDUCTIVE ANODE DISPOSED OPPOSITE SAID CATHODE IN CLOSELY SPACED RELATION THERETO AND ADAPTED TO OPERATE AT A TEMPERATURE LOWER THAN THE OPERATING TEMPERATURE OF SAID CATHODE, MEANS ELECTRICALLY INSULATING SAID CATHODE AND ANODE FROM ONE ANOTHER, MEANS FOR ELECTRICALLY COUPLING SAID CATHODE AND ANODE IN SERIES TO AN EXTERNAL LOAD, AND A MEDIUM ADAPTED TO PROVIDE PLASMA AT A PRESSURE OF NOT MORE THAN 2 MM. OF HG IN AN EVACUATED ZONE BETWEEN SAID CATHODE AND ANODE DURING OPERATION OF SAID CONVERTER, SAID MEDIUM COMPRISING A READILY IONIZABLE MATERIAL AND A CARRIER GAS CAPABLE OF REACTING WITH CATHODE MATERIAL DEPOSITED AT SAID ANODE DURING OPERATION OF SAID CONVERTER FOR TRANSFER OF SAID DEPOSITED MATERIAL TO AND REDEPOSITION OF SAID DEPOSITED MATERIAL AT SAID CATHODE, WHEREBY THE EFFICIENCY AND STABILITY OF SAID CONVERTER ARE IMPROVED.