US5038569A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermoelectric converter
Assignee: Denso Corp
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Filing: 1990-04-17
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Granted: 1991-08-13
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Expires: 2010-04-17
Abstract
Abstract A thermoelectric converter has a N-type thermoelectric element, a P-type thermoelectric element, an endothermic electrode and a radiative electrode. One surface of the N-type thermoelectric element is attached to one surface of the endothermic electrode and the other surface is attached to one surface of the radiative electrode. One surface of the P-type thermoelectric element is attached to the other surface of the radiative electrode and the other surface is attached to the other endothermic electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 Yuichi Shirota
- 👤 Kazutoshi Nishizawa
- 👤 Yoshitaka Tomatsu
- 👤 Kenichi Fujiwara
- 👤 Hideo Ohta
- 👤 Kenji Yamada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 19:34
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B21/00; F25B21/02; H; H10; H10N; H10N10/00; H10N10/10; H10N10/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
108 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising: a thermoelectric converting portion having an N-type thermoelectric element, a first electrode, and a P-type thermoelectric element and a second electrode which are stacked sequentially in the order stated in a way such that said first electrode completely separates said N-type thermoelectric element from said P-type thermoelectric element, being in contact with and separating adjacent and opposite surfaces of said N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements, respectively; one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; endothermic means thermally connected to the endothermic electrode for absorbing heat; and radiative means thermally connected to the radiative electrode for radiating heat.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
108 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising: a thermoelectric converting portion having an N-type thermoelectric element, a first electrode, and a P-type thermoelectric element and a second electrode which are stacked sequentially in the order stated in a way such that said first electrode completely separates said N-type thermoelectric element from said P-type thermoelectric element, being in contact with and separating adjacent and opposite surfaces of said N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements, respectively; one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; endothermic means thermally connected to the endothermic electrode for absorbing heat; and radiative means thermally connected to the radiative electrode for radiating heat.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
129 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising: a first electrode having one surface; an N-type thermoelectric element having first and second opposite surfaces, the first surface being coupled to said one surface of said first electrode; a second electrode having first and second opposite surfaces, the first of which is coupled to said second surface of the N-type thermoelectric element; a P-type thermoelectric element which has one surface coupled to the said second surface of the second electrode in a location adjacent a coupled location of said N-type thermoelectric element on said second electrode; one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; endothermic means thermally connected to the endothermic electrode for absorbing heat; and radiative means thermally connected to the radiative electrode for radiating heat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
129 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising: a first electrode having one surface; an N-type thermoelectric element having first and second opposite surfaces, the first surface being coupled to said one surface of said first electrode; a second electrode having first and second opposite surfaces, the first of which is coupled to said second surface of the N-type thermoelectric element; a P-type thermoelectric element which has one surface coupled to the said second surface of the second electrode in a location adjacent a coupled location of said N-type thermoelectric element on said second electrode; one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; endothermic means thermally connected to the endothermic electrode for absorbing heat; and radiative means thermally connected to the radiative electrode for radiating heat.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
144 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising: two rows of thermoelectric converting portions, each thermoelectric converting portion having an N-type thermoelectric element, a first electrode, a P-type thermoelectric element and a second electrode which are stacked sequentially from one side to another side of each row in the order stated, in a way such that said first electrode completely separates said N-type thermoelectric element from said P-type thermoelectric element, being contact with and separating adjacent and opposite surfaces of said N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements, one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; connecting means for connecting electrically one row of thermoelectric converting portions with the other row of thermoelectric converting portions at the same sides thereof; endothermic means thermally connected to the endothermic electrode for absorbing heat; and radiative means thermally connected to the radiative electrode for radiating heat.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
144 words
A thermoelectric converter comprising: two rows of thermoelectric converting portions, each thermoelectric converting portion having an N-type thermoelectric element, a first electrode, a P-type thermoelectric element and a second electrode which are stacked sequentially from one side to another side of each row in the order stated, in a way such that said first electrode completely separates said N-type thermoelectric element from said P-type thermoelectric element, being contact with and separating adjacent and opposite surfaces of said N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements, one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; connecting means for connecting electrically one row of thermoelectric converting portions with the other row of thermoelectric converting portions at the same sides thereof; endothermic means thermally connected to the endothermic electrode for absorbing heat; and radiative means thermally connected to the radiative electrode for radiating heat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein a plurality of the P-type thermoelectric elements are attached to each endothermic electrode and an adjacent radiative electrode and a plurality of the N-type thermoelectric elements are attached to each radiative electrode and adjacent endothermic electrode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the endothermic means and the radiative means comprise louvers which are formed on the endothermic electrode and the radiative electrode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the endothermic means and the radiative means comprise corrugated fins which are attached to the endothermic electrode and the radiative electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the endothermic means and the radiative means comprise heat pipes which are thermally connected to the endothermic electrode and the radiative electrode respectively.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thermoelectric converter of claim 1, 2 or 3 further comprising an insulator which insulates the radiative means from the endothermic means thermally and electrically.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said electrodes are U-shaped.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said electrodes are fan shaped.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein each of said electrodes comprises a pair of parallel plates.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said electrodes are comb shaped.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said electrodes are zig-zag shaped.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
29 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein each said electrode comprises a plurality of fingers adjacent ones of which are bent outward in opposite directions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
29 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein said electrodes are oriented at an acute angle relative to a direction of alignment of said thermoelectric elements.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 4 wherein said electrodes have a slit in a center portion thereof for compensating for mechanical expansion and contraction.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 4 wherein said electrodes have two slits in a center portion thereof for compensating for mechanical expansion and contraction.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 3, wherein two N-type thermoelectric elements are connected to one surface of the first electrode and two P-type thermoelectric elements are connected to the other surface of the first electrode.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of: making a thermoelectric converting portion having an N-type thermoelectric element, a first electrode, a P-type thermoelectric element and a second electrode which are stacked sequentially in the order stated, so that said first electrode is completely between said N-type thermoelectric element and said P-type thermoelectric element and in contact with adjacent surfaces of said N and P-type and thermoelectric elements, one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; connecting an endothermic means to said endothermic electrode; applying current to said thermoelectric converting portion in a direction of stacking thereof, so that said endothermic means absorbs heat and the radiative electrode radiates heat.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
118 words
A method of exchanging heat comprising the steps of: making a thermoelectric converting portion having an N-type thermoelectric element, a first electrode, a P-type thermoelectric element and a second electrode which are stacked sequentially in the order stated, so that said first electrode is completely between said N-type thermoelectric element and said P-type thermoelectric element and in contact with adjacent surfaces of said N and P-type and thermoelectric elements, one of said electrodes being an endothermic electrode and the other being a radiative electrode; connecting an endothermic means to said endothermic electrode; applying current to said thermoelectric converting portion in a direction of stacking thereof, so that said endothermic means absorbs heat and the radiative electrode radiates heat.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
33 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein said N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements and said first and second electrodes are disposed with respect to a direction of stacking thereof.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said N-type and P-type thermoelectric elements and said first and second electrodes are inclined and non perpendicular with respect to a direction of stacking thereof.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
76 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 2 further comprising: a third electrode having a first surface connected to a second surface, opposite to said first surface, of said P-type thermoelectric element; a second N-type thermoelectric element connected to a second surface of said third electrode opposite to said first surface; wherein a plane which would be formed in a direction of resultant current flow passing through at least a portion of all of said thermoelectric elements.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 2 further comprising: a second P-type thermoelectric element connected to a second surface, opposite to said first surface, of said first electrode.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
63 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 1, wherein said first electrode is a flat electrode having a width defined between surfaces to which said N-type thermoelectric element and said P-type thermoelectric element are coupled, and said thermoelectric converting portion is stacked such that resultant current flow is in a direction of stacking and in a direction of said width of said first electrode.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
54 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 2, wherein said second electrode is a flat electrode having a width defined between said first and second surfaces, and said thermoelectric converting portion is stacked such that resultant current flow is in a direction of stacking and in a direction of said width of said second electrode.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
65 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 3, wherein each said first electrode is a flat electrode having a width defined between surfaces to which said N-type thermoelectric element and said P-type thermoelectric element are coupled, and said thermoelectric converting portion is stacked such that resultant current flow is in a direction of stacking and in a direction of said width of said each first electrode.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method as in claim 19, wherein said first electrode is a flat electrode having a width defined between surfaces to which said N-type thermoelectric element and said P-type thermoelectric element are coupled, and said thermoelectric converting portion is stacked such said applying current step forms resultant current flow in a direction of stacking and in a direction of said width of said first electrode.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claims 1 or 3, wherein said first electrode is in contact with an entirety of one face of both of said N and P thermoelectric elements.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
A thermoelectric converter as in claim 2, wherein said second electrode is in contact with an entirety of one face of both of said N and P thermoelectric elements.
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) | 1994-08-12 | 1995-02-11 | 1995-08-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-08-12 | 1999-02-11 | 1999-08-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-08-12 | 2003-02-11 | 2003-08-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |