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US3267308A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Thermionic energy converter

Assignee: RCA Corp
•
Filing: 1963-07-09
•
Granted: 1966-08-16
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Expires: 1983-07-09
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Abstract

No abstract record available.

Inventors

  • 👤 Karl G Hernqvist

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 11:51
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J45/00

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 124 words
A THERMIONIC ENERGY CONVERTER COMPRISING AN ENVELOPE CONTAINING AN IONIZABLE ALKALI METAL VAPOR, A THERMIONIC CATHODE, AND AN ANODE CLOSE TO SAID CATHODE; (A) SAID CATHODE BEING ADAPTED TO BE HEATED TO AN OPERATING TEMPERATURE, BETWEEN 1000 AND 2500* K., AT WHICH THE EFFECTIVE WORK FUNCTION OF THE EMISSIVE SURFACE THEREOF IS BELOW THE IONIZATION POTENTIAL OF SAID VAPOR; (B) SAID ANODE BEING ADAPTED TO BE COOLED TO AN OPERATING TEMPERATURE BELOW THAT OF SAID CATHODE AT WHICH ITS EFFECTIVE WORK FUNCTION IS BELOW THAT OF SAID EMISSIVE SURFACE; (C) SAID CATHODE EMISSIVE SURFACE COMPRISING AN ARRAY OF RECESSES OPEN TOWARD SAID ANODE; (D) THE WIDTH AND DEPTH OF SAID RECESSES BEING LARGE COMPARED TO THE MINIMUM SPACING BETWEEN SAID CATHODE AND SAID ANODE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 124 words
A THERMIONIC ENERGY CONVERTER COMPRISING AN ENVELOPE CONTAINING AN IONIZABLE ALKALI METAL VAPOR, A THERMIONIC CATHODE, AND AN ANODE CLOSE TO SAID CATHODE; (A) SAID CATHODE BEING ADAPTED TO BE HEATED TO AN OPERATING TEMPERATURE, BETWEEN 1000 AND 2500* K., AT WHICH THE EFFECTIVE WORK FUNCTION OF THE EMISSIVE SURFACE THEREOF IS BELOW THE IONIZATION POTENTIAL OF SAID VAPOR; (B) SAID ANODE BEING ADAPTED TO BE COOLED TO AN OPERATING TEMPERATURE BELOW THAT OF SAID CATHODE AT WHICH ITS EFFECTIVE WORK FUNCTION IS BELOW THAT OF SAID EMISSIVE SURFACE; (C) SAID CATHODE EMISSIVE SURFACE COMPRISING AN ARRAY OF RECESSES OPEN TOWARD SAID ANODE; (D) THE WIDTH AND DEPTH OF SAID RECESSES BEING LARGE COMPARED TO THE MINIMUM SPACING BETWEEN SAID CATHODE AND SAID ANODE.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1969-08-15 1970-02-14 1970-08-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1973-08-15 1974-02-14 1974-08-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1977-08-15 1978-02-14 1978-08-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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