Nuclear battery shock-support system
First Claim
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1. In a nuclear thermoelectric battery having a radioisotope heat source, a heat sink displaced from said heat source, and a thermoelectric converter between said heat source and said heat sink and in a thermoconductive relationship therewith, a shock support system for said thermoelectric converter, said shock support system comprising:
- a first alignment cap between said converter and said heat sink,a second alignment cap between said converter and said heat source, said first and second caps being thermally conductive,said alignment caps having relieved surfaces operative to slide or rock upon battery shock or vibration, andspring means disposed between said second alignment cap and said heat source, said caps and said spring means serving to provide a thermoconductive relationship between said converter and said heat source and said heat sink, while also serving to protect said converter from shock, vibration and other external forces.
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Abstract
In a nuclear battery utilizing the Seebeck Effect to produce an electric voltage, a shock support system is disclosed wherein thermally conductive spring means and alignment caps support a thermoelectric converter between a heat sink and an independently supported heat source so as to cushion the converter from vibration and shock.
21 Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a nuclear thermoelectric battery having a radioisotope heat source, a heat sink displaced from said heat source, and a thermoelectric converter between said heat source and said heat sink and in a thermoconductive relationship therewith, a shock support system for said thermoelectric converter, said shock support system comprising:
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a first alignment cap between said converter and said heat sink, a second alignment cap between said converter and said heat source, said first and second caps being thermally conductive, said alignment caps having relieved surfaces operative to slide or rock upon battery shock or vibration, and spring means disposed between said second alignment cap and said heat source, said caps and said spring means serving to provide a thermoconductive relationship between said converter and said heat source and said heat sink, while also serving to protect said converter from shock, vibration and other external forces. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A nuclear, thermoelectric battery comprising a housing, a radioisotopic heat source, a heat sink spaced from said heat source, and a thermoelectric converter between said heat source and said heat sink and in thermoconductive relationship therewith, all within said housing,
said heat source carried by a generally hollow support tube, said support tube being fixed within said housing, said thermoelectric converter upstanding within said support tube and spaced from said heat source by a first alignment cap and a spring disposed between said heat source and said first alignment cap, said first alignment cap having a curved side surface portion slidably contactable with said support tube, said thermoelectric converter being spaced from said heat sink by a second alignment cap, said second alignment cap having a curved side surface portion slidably contactable with said support tube and also having a tapered lower surface portion, allowing the second alignment cap to rock or shift upon said heat sink during shock or vibration, said alignment caps and said spring serving to provide a thermoconductive relationship between said converter and said heat source and said heat sink, while also serving to protect said converter from shock, vibration and other external forces.
Specification