US3714539A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Pressure-contact structure for thermoelectric generators
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1971-06-24
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Granted: 1973-01-30
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Expires: 1991-06-24
Abstract
Abstract Pressure-contact thermoelectric converters in which rectangular followers applying longitudinal pressure on thermoelectric legs are also biased laterally against walls defining recesses in which the followers slide. More than one follower may be in each recess to improve the compactness of the converters.
Inventors
- 👤 E Hampl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:12
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10N; H10N10/00; H10N10/80; H10N10/81; H10N10/813; F; F25; F25B; F25B21/00; F25B21/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising 1. a heat-absorbing member and a heat-dissipating member in generally parallel spaced relationship; 2. an array of thermoelectric legs between said two members; and 3. hot- and cold-junction means a. thermally connecting the legs to, while electrically insulating them from, the heat-absorbing and heat-dissipating members, and b. electrically connecting the legs to accumulate the electric potential developed in the legs; the cold-junction means for at least one leg including a. a recess in the heat-dissipating member having a first substantially flat side surface that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg, b. a follower member that (i) is slidably mounted in the recess for movement coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the leg, (ii) is arranged in heat-conducting relation with the leg, (iii) is resiliently biased toward the leg by longitudinal spring means to place the leg under longitudinal compression, and (iv) has a first substantially flat side surface disposed flat against the first side surface of the recess; and c. biasing means pressing the follower member laterally into heat-conductive contact with the heat-dissipating member at said surfaces.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising 1. a heat-absorbing member and a heat-dissipating member in generally parallel spaced relationship; 2. an array of thermoelectric legs between said two members; and 3. hot- and cold-junction means a. thermally connecting the legs to, while electrically insulating them from, the heat-absorbing and heat-dissipating members, and b. electrically connecting the legs to accumulate the electric potential developed in the legs; the cold-junction means for at least one leg including a. a recess in the heat-dissipating member having a first substantially flat side surface that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg, b. a follower member that (i) is slidably mounted in the recess for movement coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the leg, (ii) is arranged in heat-conducting relation with the leg, (iii) is resiliently biased toward the leg by longitudinal spring means to place the leg under longitudinal compression, and (iv) has a first substantially flat side surface disposed flat against the first side surface of the recess; and c. biasing means pressing the follower member laterally into heat-conductive contact with the heat-dissipating member at said surfaces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
4 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
4 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
a heat-absorbing member and a heat-dissipating member in generally parallel spaced relationship;
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
a heat-absorbing member and a heat-dissipating member in generally parallel spaced relationship;
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
12 words
a heat-absorbing member and a heat-dissipating member in generally parallel spaced relationship;
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
12 words
a heat-absorbing member and a heat-dissipating member in generally parallel spaced relationship;
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
an array of thermoelectric legs on the order of 0.1 inch in diameter or less and having L/A ratios on the order of 10 or greater between said two members; and
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
an array of thermoelectric legs on the order of 0.1 inch in diameter or less and having L/A ratios on the order of 10 or greater between said two members; and
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
10 words
an array of thermoelectric legs between said two members; and
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
10 words
an array of thermoelectric legs between said two members; and
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A converter of claim 1 in which the biasing means is a leaf spring placed between a second surface of the follower member and a second surface of the recess.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
65 words
A converter of claim 1 in which at least two follower members are positioned side-by-side in said recess in alignment with different thermoelectric legs, a first of the follower members being as described in claim 1, and a second follower member being pressed into heat-conductive contact with the first follower member by the biasing means, the two follower members being electrically insulated from one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
156 words
hot- and cold-junction means a. thermally connecting the legs to, while electrically insulating them from, the heat-absorbing and heat-dissipating members, and b. electrically connecting the legs to accumulate the electric potential developed in the legs; the cold-junction means for at least one leg including a. a recess in the heat-dissipating member having a first substantially flat side surface that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg, b. a follower member that (i) is slidably mounted in the recess for movement coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the leg, (ii) is arranged in heat-conducting relation with the leg, (iii) is resiliently biased toward the leg by longitudinal spring means to place the leg under longitudinal compression, and (iv) has a first substantially flat side surface disposed flat against the first side surface of the recess; and c. biasing means pressing the follower member laterally into heat-conductive contact with the heat-dissipating member at said surfaces.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
156 words
hot- and cold-junction means a. thermally connecting the legs to, while electrically insulating them from, the heat-absorbing and heat-dissipating members, and b. electrically connecting the legs to accumulate the electric potential developed in the legs; the cold-junction means for at least one leg including a. a recess in the heat-dissipating member having a first substantially flat side surface that is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg, b. a follower member that (i) is slidably mounted in the recess for movement coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the leg, (ii) is arranged in heat-conducting relation with the leg, (iii) is resiliently biased toward the leg by longitudinal spring means to place the leg under longitudinal compression, and (iv) has a first substantially flat side surface disposed flat against the first side surface of the recess; and c. biasing means pressing the follower member laterally into heat-conductive contact with the heat-dissipating member at said surfaces.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
162 words
hot- and cold-junction means a. thermally connecting the legs to, while electrically insulating them from, the heat-absorbing and heat-dissipating members, and b. electrically connecting the legs to accumulate the electric potential developed in the legs; the cold-junction means for at least one leg including a. a recess in the heat-dissipating member that is square in cross-section with substantially flat side surfaces that are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg, b. a follower member that (i) is slidably mounted in the recess for movement coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the leg, (ii) is arranged in heat-conducting relation with the leg, (iii) is resiliently biased toward the leg by longitudinal spring means to place the leg under longitudinal compression, and (iv) is square in cross-section with a first substantially flat side surface disposed flat against a side surface of the recess; and c. biasing means pressing the follower member laterally into heat-conductive contact with the heat-dissipating member at said surfaces.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
162 words
hot- and cold-junction means a. thermally connecting the legs to, while electrically insulating them from, the heat-absorbing and heat-dissipating members, and b. electrically connecting the legs to accumulate the electric potential developed in the legs; the cold-junction means for at least one leg including a. a recess in the heat-dissipating member that is square in cross-section with substantially flat side surfaces that are substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the leg, b. a follower member that (i) is slidably mounted in the recess for movement coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the leg, (ii) is arranged in heat-conducting relation with the leg, (iii) is resiliently biased toward the leg by longitudinal spring means to place the leg under longitudinal compression, and (iv) is square in cross-section with a first substantially flat side surface disposed flat against a side surface of the recess; and c. biasing means pressing the follower member laterally into heat-conductive contact with the heat-dissipating member at said surfaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
A converter of claim 1 in which the follower members are square in cross-section.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
14 words
A converter of claim 4 in which the thermoelectric legs are square in cross-section.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
4 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
4 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-01-30 | 1976-07-31 | 1977-01-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-01-30 | 1980-07-31 | 1981-01-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-01-30 | 1984-07-31 | 1985-01-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |