Method and apparatus for the direct conversion of thermal to electrical energy

Claim 1

AN ENERGY CONVERTING SYSTEM FOR CONVERTING THERMAL ENERGY TO ELECTRICAL ENERGY COMPRISING, A DEVICE HAVING TWO CONDUCTIVE ELECTRODES SUPPORTED IN CLOSELY SPACED AND INSULATED RELATION WITH SURFACES OF SAID ELECTRODES EXPOSED TO THE INTERIOR OF A VACUUM TIGHT ENCLOSURES, A RESERVOIR COMMUNICATING WITH SAID ENCLOSURE, A QUANTITY OF CESIUM IN SAID RESERVOIR, MEANS SUPPLYING HEAT TO ONE OF SAID CONDUCTIVE ELECTRODES TO MAINTAIN THE TEMPERATURE THEREOF ABOVE 1400*K., MEANS FOR MAINTAINING THE OTHER OF SID ELECTRODES AT A TEMPERATURE SEVERAL HUNDRED DEGREES K. LOWER THAN THE TEMPERATURE OF SAID FIRST ELECTRODE AND MEANS MAINTAINING SAID RESERVOIR AT A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE OF EITHER OF SAID ELECTRODES SO THAT THE HOTTER OF SAID ELECTRODES IS PARTIALLY COATED WITH CESIUM AND THE COOLER OF SAID ELECTRODES IS COMPLETELY COATED WITH CESIUM WHEREBY THE ELECTRON EMISSION OF THE HOTTER ELECTRODE IS ENHANCED BY THE PARTIAL COATING OF CESIUM THEREON AND HAS A HIGHER WORK FUNCTION THAN THE COOLER ELECTRODE AND ELECTRONS EMITTED BY SAID HOTTER ELECTRODE ARE COLLECTED BY SAID COOLER ELECTRODE AND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE WORK FUNCTIONS OF SAID ELECTRODE SURFACES PROVIDES A VOLTAGE FOR SUPPLYING CURRENT TO AN EXTERNAL CIRCUIT, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL OF THE DEVICE BEING PROVIDED BY THE WARMER OF SAID ELECTRODES AND SAID CESIUM VAPOR BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODE SURFACES PROVIDING POSITIVE IONS FOR SUBSTANTIALLY NEUTRALIZING SPACE CHARGE WITHIN SAID DEVICE.