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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7278199 | Method of making a thermoelectric device In order to provide a highly reliable thermoelectric device, in a thermoelectric device, a plurality of heat-radiating-side electrodes, arranged in accordance with positions where respective thermoelectric elements are to be arranged, are arrayed in an array fashion... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7022553 | Compact system module with built-in thermoelectric cooling An improved integrated circuit package for providing built-in heating or cooling to a semiconductor chip is provided. The improved integrated circuit package provides increased operational bandwidth between different circuit devices, e.g. logic and memory chips. The... | 04/04/2006 |
| 6372978 | Wind/sun solar collection system (HS2) The present invention is a self-contained, solar powered heating and cooling system for a building. The collector has an insulated heating chamber, and a light transmissive cover and a thermostatically controlled vent. The chamber contains absorptive colu... | 04/16/2002 |
| 6365822 | Power system having a radioisotope heat source A power system (10) is provided. System (10) generally comprises at least one generator module (100, 100'), and a heat source (200) encircling at least a portion of the generator module (100, 100'). Each generator module (100) includes at least one genera... | 04/02/2002 |
| 6329587 | Semiconductor power generator based on a source of heavy ions and alpha particles A power generator includes a current-generating cell having a layer of a fission source of heavy ions and alpha particles, and two semiconductor structures, one on each side of the layer of the fission source. The layer of the fission source is preferably... | 12/11/2001 |
| 6222112 | Thermionic converter temperature controller A method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a thermionic reactor over a wide range of operating power, including a thermionic reactor having a plurality of integral cesium reservoirs, a honeycomb material disposed about the reactor which has... | 04/24/2001 |
| 6118204 | Layered metal foil semiconductor power device The present invention is a power cell for directly converting ionizing radiation into electrical energy. The invented isotopic electric converter provides an electrical power source that includes an electronegative material layered in a semiconductor, to ... | 09/12/2000 |
| 5859484 | Radioisotope-powered semiconductor battery A radioisotope-powered semiconductor battery comprises a substrate of a crystalline semiconductor material, the material having at least one degree of confinement, and a radioactive power source comprising at least one radioactive element. The power sourc... | 01/12/1999 |
| 5825839 | Method and apparatus for converting radioactive materials to electrical energy A method and apparatus for converting radioactive energy into electrical energy is provided and includes a first radioisotope (24) emitting alpha particles and a second radioisotope (28) emitting beta particles. A first plate (16) is positioned proximate ... | 10/20/1998 |
| 5712886 | Device for detecting and monitoring perforation of the bottom head of the vessel of a nuclear reactor The detection device includes at least one thermocouple (10) arranged aligned with the bottom head of the vessel of the nuclear reactor, having a first branch (9) made of a first metallic material and at least one second branch (11) made of a second metal... | 01/27/1998 |
| 5610366 | High performance thermoelectric materials and methods of preparation Transition metals (T) of Group VIII (Co, Rh and Ir) have been prepared as semiconductor alloys with Sb having the general formula TSb3. The skutterudite-type crystal lattice structure of these semiconductor alloys and their enhanced thermoelect... | 03/11/1997 |
| 5492570 | Hybrid thermal electric generator The apparatus is a combined Alkali Metal Thermal to Electric Converter (AMTEC) and a thermionic energy converter which are mated by the use of a common heat transfer device which can be a heat pipe, pumped fluid or a simple heat conduction path. By adjust... | 02/20/1996 |
| 5441575 | AMTEC vapor-vapor series connected cells An alkali metal thermoelectric converter (AMTEC) having a plurality of cells structurally connected in series to form a septum dividing a plenum into two chambers, and electrically connected in series, is provided with porous metal anodes and porous metal... | 08/15/1995 |
| 5440187 | Long life radioisotope-powered, voltaic-junction battery using radiation resistant materials An electric battery comprises: a nuclear source of relatively high energy radiation fluence; a semiconductor junction characterized by a curve for this fluence relating minority carrier diffusion length and a damage constant and; an enclosure having a suf... | 08/08/1995 |
| 5266414 | Solid solution matrix cathode An impregnated thermionic cathode includes a porous matrix of sintered tungsten-alloy particles containing less than six percent iridium and/or other platinum-group metal. The pores of the matrix are impregnated with a temporary process impregnant such as... | 11/30/1993 |
| 5260621 | High energy density nuclide-emitter, voltaic-junction battery An electric battery comprises a semiconductor junction incorporating an inorganic crystalline compound of Group III and Group V elements of the Periodic Table characterized by a predetermined annealing temperature for defects therein; a nuclear source of ... | 11/09/1993 |
| 5246505 | System and method to improve the power output and longetivity of a radioisotope thermoelectric generator By using the helium generated by the alpha emissions of a thermoelectric generator during space travel for cooling, the thermal degradation of the thermoelectric generator can be slowed. Slowing degradation allows missions to be longer with little additio... | 09/21/1993 |
| 5228922 | High voltage alkali metal thermal electric conversion device A high voltage multitube alkali metal thermal electric convertor having a plurality of closely packed tubular cells disposed in a tube sheet in a vessel and electrically connected in series, the tube sheet dividing the vessel into a high pressure high tem... | 07/20/1993 |
| 5122332 | Protecting organisms and the environment from harmful radiation by controlling such radiation and safely disposing of its energy A radiation gradient is utilized to transform harmful radiant energy into safer, more useful forms, thus collecting, controlling and consuming the energies of radiant emissions and protecting the environment and living organisms from them. More specifical... | 06/16/1992 |
| 5111099 | Apparatus and method for converting radioactive energy into electrical energy There is provided an apparatus and method for converting radioactive energy into electrical energy, with the apparatus including an outer radioactive protective shell and a radioactive fuel source located within that shell. In a preferred embodiment, thre... | 05/05/1992 |
| 5089054 | Flat plate alkali metal thermoelectric converter module A flat plate alkali metal thermoelectric converter module having a plurality of generally flat plate cells grouped in stacks that are electrically connected in series within the stack, the cells being disposed to minimize the heat energy radiated to a con... | 02/18/1992 |
| 5079469 | Piezonuclear battery A piezonuclear battery generates output power arising from the piezoelectric voltage produced from radioactive decay particles interacting with a piezoelectric medium. Radioactive particle energy may directly create an acoustic wave in the piezoelectric m... | 01/07/1992 |
| 5066337 | Thermal power transfer system using applied potential difference to sustain operating pressure difference A thermal power transfer system using a phase change liquid gas fluid in a closed loop configuration has a heat exchanger member connected to a gas conduit for inputting thermal energy into the fluid. The pressure in the gas conduit is higher than a liqui... | 11/19/1991 |
| 5057160 | Apparatus for passively releasing gases from a vessel against an adverse pressure gradient A microporous plug is provided which serves to seal a vessel so as to prevent the bulk flow of gases through an outlet. The pores of said microporous plug are sized so as to permit the transport of gases to and from the vessel interior by Knudsen diffusio... | 10/15/1991 |
| 5039351 | High performance thin film alkali metal thermoelectric device An alkali metal thermoelectric conversion device formed from a porous tube or plate coated with a thin film of beta-alumina, the porous tube or plate is sintered metal or metal alloy having a coefficient of thermal expansion which approaches that of the b... | 08/13/1991 |
| 5021098 | High contact blind hole thermocouple plug It is useful to be able to place a thermocouple in a plug in a spacecraft heat shield without disturbing the heat flow to the thermocouple. The thermocouple wire is ceramic coated before placement in the plug and a thin metal disc is placed in the bottom ... | 06/04/1991 |
| 4835433 | Apparatus for direct conversion of radioactive decay energy to electrical energy A nuclear battery in which the energy imparted to radioactive decay products during the spontaneous disintegrations of radioactive material is utilized to sustain and amplify the oscillations in a high-Q LC tank circuit is provided. The circuit inductance... | 05/30/1989 |
| 4808240 | Stacked vapor fed amtec modules The present invention pertains to a stacked AMTEC module. The invention includes a tubular member which has an interior. The member is comprised of a ion conductor that substantially conducts ions relative to electrons, preferably a beta"-alumina solid el... | 02/28/1989 |
| 4802929 | Compliant thermoelectric converter The present invention provides a thermoelectric converter including a series of thermoelectric cells bonded to a hot surface and to a waste heat conductor. The heat conductor is in turn bonded to cooling pipes which have corrugations to prevent the build ... | 02/07/1989 |
| 4755350 | Thermionic reactor module with thermal storage reservoir A thermionic energy conversion system assembly is described which comprises a fissionable nuclear fuel which surrounds a cylindrical arrangement of thermionic emitter electrodes which surround corresponding collector electrodes, which in turn surround a c... | 07/05/1988 |
| 4663115 | Protecting personnel and the environment from radioactive emissions by controlling such emissions and safely disposing of their energy An apparatus for protecting personnel and the environment from harmful emissions of radiation from a source thereof includes a plurality of shielding parts so located as to be in the path of the radioactive emissions and to absorb them (one such part bein... | 05/05/1987 |
| 4472347 | Container for the long time storage of radioactive materials There is described a container for the long time storage of radioactive materials, especially spent fuel elements, in suitable geological formations which guarantees an intact barrier for a long period of time even in the event of intrusion or access of w... | 09/18/1984 |
| 4338560 | Albedd radiation power converter A heat-to-electricity converter, particularly adaptable for use by high-atude platforms such as aerostats and space stations, for changing heat energy of radiation from the earth to electric power during day and/or night. The converter includes an array ... | 07/06/1982 |
| 4298768 | Cesium vapor thermionic current generator An electron current generator is disclosed which includes a non-electrical heat source, a heat pipe having its first end in thermal relationship with the heat source, and a second end projecting upwardly therefrom and constituting a thermionic emitter enc... | 11/03/1981 |
| 4284838 | Thermoelectric converter and method The invention comprises the conversion of thermal power into electrical energy. Two dissimilar metals, such as aluminum and brass, are separated by a heat conductive and electrical conductive material. Water makes a good separator. When a fluid is used, i... | 08/18/1981 |
| 4242147 | Device for converting waste nuclear energy to electricity A device for converting waste nuclear energy to electricity comprising a shielded casing housing, a plurality of holders of radioactive materials surrounded by tubes of phosphorescent material to convert the radiation to electricity in adjacent photocells... | 12/30/1980 |
| 4204882 | Thermocouple split follower Thermoelectric generator assembly accommodating differential thermal expansion between thermoelectric elements by means of a cylindrical split follower forming a slot and having internal spring loaded wedges that permit the split follower to open and clos... | 05/27/1980 |
| 4163689 | Vented nuclear fuel element A nuclear fuel cell for use in a thermionic nuclear reactor in which a small conduit extends from the outside surface of the emitter to the center of the fuel mass of the emitter body to permit escape of volatile and gaseous fission products collected in ... | 08/07/1979 |
| 4162369 | Thermoelectric battery, protected against shocks and accelerations In a thermoelectric battery the heat source is suspended on the end of a thermoelectric unit, the other end of which is attached via a heat conducting mass to the casing. A resilient mounting permits resilient rocking of the thermoelectric unit to reduce ... | 07/24/1979 |
| 4111718 | Thermocouples of molybdenum and iridium alloys for more stable vacuum-high temperature performance Thermocouples of the present invention provide stability and performance reliability in systems involving high temperatures and vacuums by employing a bimetallic thermocouple sensor wherein each metal of the sensor is selected from a group of metals compr... | 09/05/1978 |
