Thermionic-thermoelectric generator system and apparatus

Claim 1

Thermionic-thermoelectric generator system comprising: a pair of thermionic-thermoelectric generator apparatus, each including a pair of axially aligned and concentric metal electrode cylinders closed at both ends to form an enclosed and evacuated space therein, at least the inner surface of the outer cylinder being coated with a thermionic electron emissive material to form a cathode and at least the facing surface of the inner cylinder being coated with graphite to form an anode, and including a thermopile series nested within the inner cylinder, the positive end of the series being electrically coupled to the anode, the negative end of the series being electrically coupled to the cathode, the generator apparatus further including external positive and negative terminals coupled to the anode and cathode, respectively; a pair of output terminals adapted to be coupled to a load impedance; and circuit means for alternately coupling each of the generator apparatus to the output terminals to provide a continuous electric current flow to the load impedance, said circuit means comprising a pair of charging capacitors, a first pair of controlled current switching devices, each connecting a generator apparatus to a respective charging capacitor, a second pair of current switching devices, each connecting a charging capacitor to the output terminals of the system, and timing control circuits for operating the current switches in sequentially alternations so that, as one generator is coupled to its charging capacitor, the other generator is uncoupled from its charging capacitor, and during this time the charging capacitor of the other generator is coupled to the output terminals while the charging capacitor of the one generator is uncoupled from the output terminals, the timing circuits being adapted to periodically reverse this sequence of connections.