US4061505A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Rare-earth-metal-based thermoelectric compositions
Assignee: 3M Co
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Filing: 1973-10-15
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Granted: 1977-12-06
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Expires: 1993-10-15
Abstract
Abstract N-type thermoelectric compositions based on rare-earth metal selected from gadolinium and erbium and chalcogen selected from selenium and tellurium.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward F. Hampl, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 14:16
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01G; H01G9/00; H01G9/21
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
In a thermoelectric generator, an N-type thermoelectric leg, at least part of the length of which consists essentially of a defect-doped, mixed-valence, N-type thermoelectric composition that exhibits a negative absolute Seebeck coefficient of at least 175 microvolts/°C. and consists essentially of rare-earth metal selected from gadolinium and erbium and chalcogen selected from selenium and tellurium, with from 0 to about 5 atomic-percent of the metal being replaced with cerium, neodymium, praseodymium, yttrium, or a mixed-valence transition element and with from 0 to about 5 atomic percent of the chalcogen being replaced with sulfur or oxygen, and the ratio of chalcogen elements to metal elements being between 1.47 and slightly less than 1.5 to 1; at least about 99 area-percent of said composition being a single phase.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
126 words
In a thermoelectric generator, an N-type thermoelectric leg, at least part of the length of which consists essentially of a defect-doped, mixed-valence, N-type thermoelectric composition that exhibits a negative absolute Seebeck coefficient of at least 175 microvolts/°C. and consists essentially of rare-earth metal selected from gadolinium and erbium and chalcogen selected from selenium and tellurium, with from 0 to about 5 atomic-percent of the metal being replaced with cerium, neodymium, praseodymium, yttrium, or a mixed-valence transition element and with from 0 to about 5 atomic percent of the chalcogen being replaced with sulfur or oxygen, and the ratio of chalcogen elements to metal elements being between 1.47 and slightly less than 1.5 to 1; at least about 99 area-percent of said composition being a single phase.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which the rare-earth metal consists essentially of gadolinium.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 in which said composition consists essentially of gadolinium and selenium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A thermoelectric generator of claim 1 that includes a P-type thermoelectric leg that consists essentially of at least one metal ingredient selected from copper and a mixture of copper and silver, and at least one non-metal element selected from tellurium and selenium.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a thermoelectric generator, a N-type thermoelectric leg, at least part of the length of which consists essentially of a defect-doped, mixed-valence, N-type thermoelectric composition that exhibits a negative absolute Seebeck coefficient of at least 175 microvolts/°C. at 500° C and consists essentially of gadolinium and selenium, with from 0 to about 5 atomic-percent of the gadolinium being replaced with iron, and the ratio of chalcogen elements to metal elements being between 1.47 and slightly less than 1.5 to 1; at least about 99 area-percent of said composition being a single phase.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
92 words
In a thermoelectric generator, a N-type thermoelectric leg, at least part of the length of which consists essentially of a defect-doped, mixed-valence, N-type thermoelectric composition that exhibits a negative absolute Seebeck coefficient of at least 175 microvolts/°C. at 500° C and consists essentially of gadolinium and selenium, with from 0 to about 5 atomic-percent of the gadolinium being replaced with iron, and the ratio of chalcogen elements to metal elements being between 1.47 and slightly less than 1.5 to 1; at least about 99 area-percent of said composition being a single phase.
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) | 1980-12-05 | 1981-06-06 | 1981-12-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-12-05 | 1985-06-06 | 1985-12-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-12-05 | 1989-06-06 | 1989-12-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |