US3853632A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Thermoelectric composition
Assignee: 3M Co
•
Filing: 1973-01-05
•
Granted: 1974-12-10
•
Expires: 1993-01-05
Abstract
Abstract A P-type, thermoelectrically useful alloy composition consisting of copper, silver, and either tellurium or selenium.
Inventors
- 👤 E Hampl
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 09:17
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10N; H10N10/00; H10N10/80; H10N10/85; H10N10/851; H10N10/854; H10N10/852; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S420/00; Y10S420/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
40 words
IN A THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR, AT LEAST ONE P-TUPE THERMOELECTRIC LEG OR P-TYPE THERMOELECTRIC LEG SEGMENT THAT CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF COPPER, SILVER, AND ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP TELLURIUM AND SELENIUM IN PROPORTIONS DEFINED BY ONE OF THE TWO FOLLOWING TABLES;
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
40 words
IN A THERMOELECTRIC GENERATOR, AT LEAST ONE P-TUPE THERMOELECTRIC LEG OR P-TYPE THERMOELECTRIC LEG SEGMENT THAT CONSISTS ESSENTIALLY OF COPPER, SILVER, AND ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP TELLURIUM AND SELENIUM IN PROPORTIONS DEFINED BY ONE OF THE TWO FOLLOWING TABLES;
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
FOR TELLURIUM COMPOSITIONS, A. 32.5 PERCENT TELLURIUM 33.7 ATOMIC PERCENT B. 27 ATOMIC PERCENT COPPER 66.5 ATOMIC PERCENT C. 1 ATOMIC PERCENT SILVER 40 TOMIC PERCENT;
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
FOR TELLURIUM COMPOSITIONS, A. 32.5 PERCENT TELLURIUM 33.7 ATOMIC PERCENT B. 27 ATOMIC PERCENT COPPER 66.5 ATOMIC PERCENT C. 1 ATOMIC PERCENT SILVER 40 TOMIC PERCENT;
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
FOR SELENIUM COMPOSITIONS, A. 32.5 ATOMIC PERCENT SLELNIUM 33.7 ATOMIC PERCENT B. 60 ATOMIC PERCENT COPPER 66.5 ATOMIC PERCENT C. 1 ATOMIC PERCENT SILVER 7 ATOMIC PERCENT.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
FOR SELENIUM COMPOSITIONS, A. 32.5 ATOMIC PERCENT SLELNIUM 33.7 ATOMIC PERCENT B. 60 ATOMIC PERCENT COPPER 66.5 ATOMIC PERCENT C. 1 ATOMIC PERCENT SILVER 7 ATOMIC PERCENT.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
45 words
for selenium compositions, a. 32.5 atomic percent < or = selenium < or = 33.7 atomic percent b. 60 atomic percent < or = copper < or = 66.5 atomic percent c. 1 atomic percent < or = silver < or = 7 atomic percent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
for selenium compositions, a. 32.5 atomic percent < or = selenium < or = 33.7 atomic percent b. 60 atomic percent < or = copper < or = 66.5 atomic percent c. 1 atomic percent < or = silver < or = 7 atomic percent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment consists essentially of a tellurium composition as defined in claim 1 that includes between about 30 and 40 atomic percent copper.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
for selenium compositions, a. 32.5 atomic percent < or = selenium < or = 33.7 atomic percent b. 60 atomic percent < or = copper < or = 66.5 atomic percent c. 1 atomic percent < or = silver < or = 7 atomic percent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
45 words
for selenium compositions, a. 32.5 atomic percent < or = selenium < or = 33.7 atomic percent b. 60 atomic percent < or = copper < or = 66.5 atomic percent c. 1 atomic percent < or = silver < or = 7 atomic percent.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
for selenium compositions, a. 32.5 atomic percent < or = selenium < or = 33.7 atomic percent b. 60 atomic percent < or = copper < or = 66.5 atomic percent c. 1 atomic percent < or = silver < or = 7 atomic percent.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
45 words
for selenium compositions, a. 32.5 atomic percent < or = selenium < or = 33.7 atomic percent b. 60 atomic percent < or = copper < or = 66.5 atomic percent c. 1 atomic percent < or = silver < or = 7 atomic percent.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
83 words
for selenium compositions, a. 32.5 atomic percent < or = selenium < or = 33.7 atomic percent b. 60 atomic percent < or = copper < or = 67 atomic percent c. 0 atomic percent < or = silver < or = 7 atomic percent; said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment being a cast structure and having an imperfect lattice structure based on the molecular formula (Cu, Ag)2Ch, where Ch is tellurium or selenium, with copper atoms being displaced from the lattice.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
83 words
for selenium compositions, a. 32.5 atomic percent < or = selenium < or = 33.7 atomic percent b. 60 atomic percent < or = copper < or = 67 atomic percent c. 0 atomic percent < or = silver < or = 7 atomic percent; said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment being a cast structure and having an imperfect lattice structure based on the molecular formula (Cu, Ag)2Ch, where Ch is tellurium or selenium, with copper atoms being displaced from the lattice.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment consists essentially of a tellurium composition as defined in claim 1 that includes between about 43 and 50 atomic percent copper.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment consists essentially of a tellurium composition as defined in claim 1 that includes between about 60 and 66.5 atomic percent copper.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment consists essentially of a selenium composition as defined in claim 1.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment consists essentially of a selenium composition as defined in claim 1 in which the amount of the selenium is slightly in excess of the stoichiometric amount of 33.3 atomic percent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
57 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment consists essentially of a selenium composition as defined in claim 1 in which the amount of selenium in the composition is slightly in excess of the stoichiometric amount of 33.3 atomic percent, and the composition includes less than 3 atomic percent silver.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
49 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment consists essentially of a selenium composition as defined in claim 1 in which the selenium comprises about 33.5 atomic percent of the composition and the silver comprises about 1 atomic percent of the composition.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
75 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment consists essentially of a tellurium composition as defined in claim 1 in which the ingredients are included in the following proportions: 33.2 atomic percent < or = tellurium < or = 33.5 atomic percent 31 atomic percent < or = copper < or = 35 atomic percent 32 atomic percent < or = silver < or = 36 atomic percent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment is a cast structure.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment is in high-temperature crystal form.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a thermoelectric generator, at least one P-type thermoelectric leg or P-type thermoelectric leg segment that consists essentially of 60 to 66.5 atomic percent copper, 1 to 7 atomic percent silver, and selenium in an amount slightly in excess of the stoichiometric amount of 33.3 atomic percent up to 33.7 atomic percent, said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment having an imperfect lattice structure based on the formula (Cu, Ag)2Se, with copper atoms being displaced from the lattice.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
78 words
In a thermoelectric generator, at least one P-type thermoelectric leg or P-type thermoelectric leg segment that consists essentially of 60 to 66.5 atomic percent copper, 1 to 7 atomic percent silver, and selenium in an amount slightly in excess of the stoichiometric amount of 33.3 atomic percent up to 33.7 atomic percent, said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment having an imperfect lattice structure based on the formula (Cu, Ag)2Se, with copper atoms being displaced from the lattice.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 12 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg Segment is a cast structure.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a thermoelectric generator, at least one P-type thermoelectric leg or P-type thermoelectric leg segment that consists essentially of ingredients selected from copper, silver, and one member of the group tellurium and selenium in proportions defined by one of the two following tables:
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a thermoelectric generator, at least one P-type thermoelectric leg or P-type thermoelectric leg segment that consists essentially of ingredients selected from copper, silver, and one member of the group tellurium and selenium in proportions defined by one of the two following tables:
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
45 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 14 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment consists essentially of a tellurium or a selenium composition in which the amount of the tellurium or selenium is slightly in excess of the stoichiometric amount of 33.3 atomic percent.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
20 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 14 in which said thermoelectric leg or thermoelectric leg segment is in high-temperature crystal form.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
42 words
For use in a thermoelectric generator, at least one P-type thermoelectric leg or P-type thermoelectric leg segment that consists essentially of copper, silver, and one member of the group tellurium and selenium in proportions defined by one of the two following tables:
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
42 words
For use in a thermoelectric generator, at least one P-type thermoelectric leg or P-type thermoelectric leg segment that consists essentially of copper, silver, and one member of the group tellurium and selenium in proportions defined by one of the two following tables:
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
32 words
An alloy composition having useful P-type thermoelectric properties consisting essentially of copper, silver, and one member of the group tellurium and selenium in proportions defined by one of the two following tables:
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
32 words
An alloy composition having useful P-type thermoelectric properties consisting essentially of copper, silver, and one member of the group tellurium and selenium in proportions defined by one of the two following tables:
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
37 words
A selenium composition of claim 18 in which the amount of selenium in the composition is slightly in excess of the stoichiometric amount of 33.3 atomic percent, and the composition includes less than 3 atomic percent silver.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-12-09 | 1978-06-10 | 1978-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-12-09 | 1982-06-10 | 1982-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-12-09 | 1986-06-10 | 1986-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |