US4494380A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermoelectric cooling device and gas analyzer
Assignee: BILAN Inc
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Filing: 1984-04-19
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Granted: 1985-01-22
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Expires: 2004-04-19
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a thermoelectric device suitable for drying gases in which a finned heat-dissipating device is in contact with the hot face of a thermoelectric element and a thermal sink is in contact with the cold face thereof. The thermal sink has formed therein a conduit which zig-zags from an inlet at the upper part thereof to a point at the bottom thereof and then upwardly to an outlet at the other side. The conduit is formed by routing out a channel in a block and sealing it off with a face plate to provide the desired conduit. The various elements are held together by face plates spanning the heat-radiating device and the thermal sink, and the space between the two is desirably filled with insulating material. The device is used in combination with a gas analyzer in which exhaust gases, for example, from an internal combustion engine, are fed through the dryer and then into the analyzer.
Inventors
- 👤 Ronald H. Cross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:07
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/0004; G01N33/0009; G01N33/0011; G01N33/0014; F; F01; F01N; F01N3/00; F25; F25B; F25B21/00; F25B21/02; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T10/00; Y02T10/10; Y02T10/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A thermoelectric device comprising a thermoelectric element having a cold face and a hot face, a heat-radiating device in heat-transfer with said hot face and having a flat, inner surface having a substantially greater area than the area of contact with said hot face and a thermal sink in heat-transfer contact with said cold face and comprising a flat, inner surface apposed to the flat, inner surface of said heat-radiating device and having an area substantially coextensive with the area of the flat, inner surface of the heat-radiating device; and a conduit in heat-transfer with said thermal sink, said conduit zig-zagging back and forth from an inlet adjacent the top of said thermal sink to a point adjacent the bottom thereof and thence upwardly to an outlet adjacent the top thereof.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A thermoelectric device comprising a thermoelectric element having a cold face and a hot face, a heat-radiating device in heat-transfer with said hot face and having a flat, inner surface having a substantially greater area than the area of contact with said hot face and a thermal sink in heat-transfer contact with said cold face and comprising a flat, inner surface apposed to the flat, inner surface of said heat-radiating device and having an area substantially coextensive with the area of the flat, inner surface of the heat-radiating device; and a conduit in heat-transfer with said thermal sink, said conduit zig-zagging back and forth from an inlet adjacent the top of said thermal sink to a point adjacent the bottom thereof and thence upwardly to an outlet adjacent the top thereof.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A thermoelectric device of claim 1, in which said thermal sink comprises a block of a heat-conductive material having said conduit formed integrally therewith.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermoelectric device of claim 2, in which said conduit is routed in said block and covered by a cover plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A thermoelectric device of claim 1, in which said conduit has a drain located at the bottom thereof.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A thermoelectric device of claim 1, in which said thermal sink comprises a projection having a cross section complementary with said cold face and in heat-transfer, surface-to-surface contact therewith.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
A thermoelectric device of claim 5, in which said thermal sink comprises two parts, one of which comprises said projection and the other one of which comprises a planar surface which includes the flat, inner surface of said thermal sink, said projection having a planar surface abutting the planar surface of said thermal sink in heat-transfer, surface-to-surface contact therewith.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A thermoelectric device of claim 6, in which the portion of said projection which abuts the planar surface of said thermal sink has a larger cross sectional area than that of the cold face of said thermoelectric element.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermoelectric device which further comprises faceplates of non-heat-conductive material fastened to the side edges of said heat-radiating device and said thermal sink.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
A thermoelectric device which further comprises faceplates of non-heat-conductive material fastened to the side edges of said heat-radiating device and said thermal sink.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
A thermoelectric device of claim 6, which further comprises face-plates of non-heat-conductive material fastened to the side edges of said heat-radiating device and said thermal sink and in which said heat-radiating device and said thermal sink are maintained pressed against the faces of said thermoelectric device by said faceplates.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermoelectric device of claim 1, which further comprises insulating material insulating said thermal sink from said heat-radiating device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
19 words
A thermoelectric device of claim 8, in which the space bounded by said faceplates is filled with insulating material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device for analyzing exhaust gases which comprises a thermoelectric device of claim 1 interposed between the source of the exhaust gases and an analyzer, whereby the exhaust gases are dried before being fed into the analyzer.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3255593A
Cited
US3205667A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-01-22 | 1988-07-23 | 1989-01-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-01-22 | 1992-07-23 | 1993-01-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-01-22 | 1996-07-23 | 1997-01-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |