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RADIOISOTOPIC THERMOINIC CONVERTER

  • US 3,843,896 A
  • Filed: 02/04/1972
  • Issued: 10/22/1974
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1969
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A radioisotopic thermionic converter comprising:

  • an emitter capsule including a radioisotope fuel mass source of thermal power, at least one layer of material encapsulating and shielding said fuel mass, and an external emitter surface on said layer of material energized by said fuel mass;

    an outer housing including an internal collector surface, said housing enclosing said emitter capsule and providing further shielding for said encapsulated fuel mass, said housing providing a vacuum envelope and maintaining a low pressure condition therein to effect a nominally vacuum mode of operation of said converter;

    means for mounting said emitter capsule in said housing and maintaining said emitter surface normally at a substantially predetermined spacing from said collector surface, said mounting means including elastic means connecting respective ends of said emitter capsule to corresponding ends of said housing whereby said emitter capsule is supported substantially at its ends; and

    output means adapted to connect respectively with said emitter and collector surfaces, for providing an electrical output from said converter, at least one of said elastic means simultaneously serving as the one of said output means connecting with said emitter surface, whereby direct containment of fuel within said emitter capsule effects the most efficient thermal coupling of heat source and diode conversion portion of said converter and the maximum temperature of any portion of said fuel mass does not differ significantly from the temperature of said emitter surface.

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