US4018625A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermo-electric assemblies
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1975-03-25
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Granted: 1977-04-19
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Expires: 1995-03-25
Abstract
Abstract A thermo-electric assembly comprises a plurality of metal layers, of alternately different metals, with dielectric layers between them, the layers being produced by deposition from the vapor-phase in a vacuum. Each dielectric layer separates adjacent metal layers only over part of the facing metal layer surfaces, so that the metal layers contact over the remaining part of their facing surfaces to form a thermo-couple junction. The even-numbered junctions through the stack are physically displaced from the odd-numbered junctions to enable a temperature difference to be applied between the two sets of junctions.
Inventors
- 👤 Pietro Tinti
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:45
CPC Classifications
H; H10; H10N; H10N10/00; H10N10/80; H10N10/81; H10N10/817; H10N10/01
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
322 words
A method of producing a thermo-electric assembly comprising the steps of depositing a first type of metal by vapor-phase deposition onto a rotating surface in a vacuum to form a cylindrical first metal layer, depositing a first dielectric layer by vapor phase deposition in a vacuum onto a part of the surface of said first metal layer, said first dielectric layer extending axially from one end of said first metal layer, thereby to leave exposed a portion of said surface of said first metal surface at the opposite end thereof, depositing a second cylindrical metal layer, of a different type than said first metal layer, by vapor-phase deposition in a vacuum, onto the surface of said first dielectric layer and said exposed portion of said surface of said first metal layer, so as to form with said exposed portion of said first metal layer a first metal-metal junction where said second metal layer contacts said exposed portion of said first metal layer, depositing a second dielectric layer by vapor-phase deposition in a vacuum onto a part of the surface of said second metal layer, said second dielectric layer extending axially from one end of said second metal layer over a portion of said second metal layer leaving the remaining portion of said second metal layer exposed, and depositing a cylindrical third metal layer by vapor-phase deposition in a vacuum onto said second dielectric layer and the exposed surface of said second metal layer to form a metal-metal junction where said third metal layer contacts the exposed portion of said second metal layer, the metal of the third metal layer being of the same type as the metal of the first metal layer, said first and second metal-metal junctions being formed at alternating opposite axial ends of said cylindrical metal layers, whereby a temperature difference can be created between said junctions to generate a thermo-electric e.m.f. between said first and third metal layers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
322 words
A method of producing a thermo-electric assembly comprising the steps of depositing a first type of metal by vapor-phase deposition onto a rotating surface in a vacuum to form a cylindrical first metal layer, depositing a first dielectric layer by vapor phase deposition in a vacuum onto a part of the surface of said first metal layer, said first dielectric layer extending axially from one end of said first metal layer, thereby to leave exposed a portion of said surface of said first metal surface at the opposite end thereof, depositing a second cylindrical metal layer, of a different type than said first metal layer, by vapor-phase deposition in a vacuum, onto the surface of said first dielectric layer and said exposed portion of said surface of said first metal layer, so as to form with said exposed portion of said first metal layer a first metal-metal junction where said second metal layer contacts said exposed portion of said first metal layer, depositing a second dielectric layer by vapor-phase deposition in a vacuum onto a part of the surface of said second metal layer, said second dielectric layer extending axially from one end of said second metal layer over a portion of said second metal layer leaving the remaining portion of said second metal layer exposed, and depositing a cylindrical third metal layer by vapor-phase deposition in a vacuum onto said second dielectric layer and the exposed surface of said second metal layer to form a metal-metal junction where said third metal layer contacts the exposed portion of said second metal layer, the metal of the third metal layer being of the same type as the metal of the first metal layer, said first and second metal-metal junctions being formed at alternating opposite axial ends of said cylindrical metal layers, whereby a temperature difference can be created between said junctions to generate a thermo-electric e.m.f. between said first and third metal layers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
204 words
A cylindrical thermo-electric assembly, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical metal layers each extending along the axial length of said assembly and overlying each other with the metal of one of said metal layers being different than the metal of the one of said metal layers between which it is situated, and a plurality of dielectric layers arranged between and separating the remaining parts of the surfaces of said metal layers, said metal and dielectric layers being cylindrical in configuration, each successive dielectric layer extending axially from alternating ends of said assembly along a respective but alternately different one of said metal layers so as to terminate short of the opposite ends of said metal layers, thereby to leave exposed a portion of the underlying one of said metal layers, whereby said metal-metal junctions are formed between the exposed portion of one of said metal layers and that portion of the overlying one of said metal layers covered by an overlying one of said dielectric layers, said metal-metal junctions thus being formed at alternate axial ends of said cylindrical assembly, whereby a temperature difference may be applied between said axially spaced junctions to generate a thermo-electric e.m.f. between the outermost ones of said metal layers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
204 words
A cylindrical thermo-electric assembly, comprising: a plurality of cylindrical metal layers each extending along the axial length of said assembly and overlying each other with the metal of one of said metal layers being different than the metal of the one of said metal layers between which it is situated, and a plurality of dielectric layers arranged between and separating the remaining parts of the surfaces of said metal layers, said metal and dielectric layers being cylindrical in configuration, each successive dielectric layer extending axially from alternating ends of said assembly along a respective but alternately different one of said metal layers so as to terminate short of the opposite ends of said metal layers, thereby to leave exposed a portion of the underlying one of said metal layers, whereby said metal-metal junctions are formed between the exposed portion of one of said metal layers and that portion of the overlying one of said metal layers covered by an overlying one of said dielectric layers, said metal-metal junctions thus being formed at alternate axial ends of said cylindrical assembly, whereby a temperature difference may be applied between said axially spaced junctions to generate a thermo-electric e.m.f. between the outermost ones of said metal layers.
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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) | 1980-04-18 | 1980-10-18 | 1981-04-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-04-18 | 1984-10-18 | 1985-04-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-04-18 | 1988-10-18 | 1989-04-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |