Electric power generating element

• US 5,608,181 A
• Filed: 05/17/1995
• Issued: 03/04/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Shigeyuki Yasuda
• Original Assignee: Shigeyuki Yasuda
• Inventors: Yasuda, Shigeyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): Jordan, Charles T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CARROLL, CHRISMAN DION
• Application Number:
  US08/443,167
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 136/200, 136/205, 136/236.1, 310/306, 322/2 R, 429/11, 429/33, 429/41, 429/42, 429/46, 429/112, 429/192, 429/193, 429/212, 429/213, 429/217, 429/51
• US Class Current: 136/200
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 14/00 Electrochemical current or voltage generators not provided for in groups H01M6/00 - H01M12/00; Manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/60 of organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/36 containing electrolyte and made operational by physical means, e.g. thermal cells

Abstract

In an electric power generating element, either positive or negative electrode includes a composition containing an organic compound as a main agent and the positive electrode has an electrically conductive substance so that relatively low-temperature thermal energy is efficiently converted to electric energy. Polyethylene glycol is employed as the organic compound and graphite or a graphite composition is employed as the conductive substance. Salt providing ionic conductivity may be added to the organic compound or polyethylene glycol, and the negative electrode may be formed of a metal having an ionization tendency as large as or larger than copper or a composition of the metal.

Claims

1. An electric power generating element converting a heat energy to an electric energy, comprising a positive electrode containing graphite, a negative electrode formed from a metal composition which includes copper, and at least one polyethylene glycol, wherein both of said electrodes contacts the at least one polyethylene glycol.

2. An electric power generating element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one polyethylene glycol contains a salt providing ionic conductivity.

3. An electric power generating element according to claim 1, wherein the metal composition includes within its composition a metal other than copper having an ionization tendency as large as or larger than copper.

4. An electric power generating element according to claim 1, wherein both of said electrodes contact said at least one polyethylene glycol.

5. An electric power generating element according to claim 1, wherein said at least one polyethylene glycol comprises a positive electrode composition and a negative electrode composition, and wherein said positive electrode contacts said positive electrode composition, and said negative electrode contacts said negative electrode composition.

6. An electric power generating element according to claim 1, wherein the at least one polyethylene glycol is a liquid.

7. An electric power generating element converting a heat energy to an electric energy, comprising:

a) a positive electrode formed from a graphite;

b) a negative electrode formed from a metal composition which includes copper;

c) a solution of polyethylene glycol immersing both positive and negative electrodes;

d) a salt contained in the solution of polyethylene glycol for providing the same with an ionic conductivity; and

e) a heat-transferable vessel filled with the solution of polyethylene glycol and transferring an external heat to the solution of polyethylene glycol.

8. An electric power generating element according to claim 7, which further comprises an agitator agitating the solution of polyethylene glycol.

9. An electric power generating element according to claim 7, wherein the heat transferable vessel comprises a bottle.