THERMOELECTRIC DEVICE

• US 3,681,929 A
• Filed: 12/07/1970
• Issued: 08/08/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1969
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hans Schering
• Original Assignee: Hans Schering
• Inventors: Schering, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Wye, William J.
• Application Number:
  US05/095,728
• Time in Patent Office: 610 Days
• Field of Search: 136/203,204 62/3
• US Class Current: 62/3.2
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/023 Mounting details thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/17 characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device

Abstract

Thermoelectric device includes at least one Peltier block formed of a plurality of n and p-conductive semiconductor legs and metallic bridge members interconnecting the legs at opposite warm and cold sides of the Peltier block, heat exchanger means located respectively at the warm and the cold sides of the Peltier block and having a surface disposed adjacent a surface of the bridge members located at the warm and the cold sides respectively of the Peltier block, and an intermediate layer of solid insulating material and deformable medium for improving heat transfer sandwiched between the surfaces at the warm and the cold sides respectively of the Peltier block, the insulating material being in the form of crystalline particles having a grain diameter exceeding the sum of the roughness depths of the surfaces between which the respective intermediate layer is sandwiched.

Claims

1. Thermoelectric device comprising at least one Peltier block formed of a plurality of n and p-conductive semiconductor legs and metallic bridge members interconnecting said legs at opposite warm and cold sides of said Peltier block, heat exchanger means located respectively at said warm and said cold sides of said Peltier block and having a surface disposed adjacent a surface of the bridge members located at said warm and said cold sides respectively of said Peltier block, and an intermediate layer of solid insulating material and deformable medium for improving heat transfer sandwiched between said surfaces at said warm and said cold sides respectively of said Peltier block, said insulating material being in the form of crystalline particles having a grain diameter exceeding the sum of the roughness depths of the surfaces between which the respective intermediate layer is sandwiched, and a carrier medium mixed with said crystalline particles, said carrier medium being in liquid state at least when initially applied to said surfaces of said bridge members and both of said heat exchanger means.

2. Thermoelectric device according to claim 1, wherein said crystalline particles are formed of at least one metal oxide.

3. Thermoelectric device according to claim 2, wherein said metal oxide is selected from the group consisting of berryllium oxide, aluminum oxide and quartz.

4. Thermoelectric device according to claim 1, wherein said crystalline particles are formed of silicon carbide.

5. Thermoelectric device according to claim 1, wherein said crystalline particles comprise a multiplicity of substantially spherically shaped granules.

6. Thermoelectric device according to claim 1, wherein said carrier medium in said liquid state thereof has a viscosity of greater than 100 centistoke.

7. Thermoelectric device according to claim 1, wherein said carrier medium consists at least partly of silicone oil.

8. Thermoelectric device according to claim 1, wherein said carrier medium is formed at least partly of a hardening plastic material.

9. Thermoelectric device according to claim 8, wherein said plastic material is a synthetic resin having a base of ricinus oil.