Patent US3899360A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3899360A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Stabilized p-type lead telluride
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1971-03-01
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Granted: 1975-08-12
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Expires: 1991-03-01
Abstract
Abstract It is disclosed that when power generating thermopiles comprised of lead telluride thermoelements are operated at temperatures above about 400*C, the metal electrodes in contact with the ends of the thermoelements tend to diffuse into the lead telluride. The metals used for the electrodes are n-type dopants and degrade the properties of the p-type thermoelements. Manganese telluride has a low solid solubility limit in lead telluride. By saturating the p-type lead telluride with manganese telluride, the diffusion of the electrode material into the lead telluride is substantially eliminated without materially reducing the electrical properties.
Inventors
- 👤 James H Bredt
- 👤 Jr Louis F Kendall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 23:42
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10N; H10N10/00; H10N10/80; H10N10/85; H10N10/851; H10N10/852
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
76 words
A THEMOELECTRIC GENERATOR COMPONENT FOR OPERATION AT A SELECTED TEMPERATURE ABOVE 400*C COMPRISING A SEMICONDUCTING THERMOELEMENT AND A METAL ELECTRODE IN INTIMATE ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH THE THERMOELEMENT, SAID ELECTRODE BEING OF A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF IRON AND IRON-BASE ALLOYS, AND SAID THERMOELEMENT CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A SOLID SOLUTION OF A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF MANGANESE TELLURIDE IN P-TYPE LEAD TELLURIDE WHICH SOLID SOLUTION IS SATURATED AT THE SELECTED OPERATING TEMPERATURE ABOVE 400*C.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
76 words
A THEMOELECTRIC GENERATOR COMPONENT FOR OPERATION AT A SELECTED TEMPERATURE ABOVE 400*C COMPRISING A SEMICONDUCTING THERMOELEMENT AND A METAL ELECTRODE IN INTIMATE ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH THE THERMOELEMENT, SAID ELECTRODE BEING OF A METAL SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF IRON AND IRON-BASE ALLOYS, AND SAID THERMOELEMENT CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A SOLID SOLUTION OF A RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNT OF MANGANESE TELLURIDE IN P-TYPE LEAD TELLURIDE WHICH SOLID SOLUTION IS SATURATED AT THE SELECTED OPERATING TEMPERATURE ABOVE 400*C.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The thermoelectric generator component of claim 1 in which the selected operating temperature is about 600*C and the manganese telluride content of the semiconducting lead telluride thermoelement is about 4 mol per cent and the solid solution of manganese telluride in p-type lead telluRide is saturated at the said selected operating temperature.
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) | 1978-08-11 | 1979-02-10 | 1979-08-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-08-11 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-08-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-08-11 | 1987-02-10 | 1987-08-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |