Same plane multiple thermoelectric mounting system

• US 20040206386A1
• Filed: 04/13/2004
• Published: 10/21/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Steven Bauman
• Original Assignee: Watts Thermoelectric, LLC
• Inventors: Watts, Phillip C.
• Granted Patent: US 8,227,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 136/205
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/13 characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction

Abstract

This invention is intended to provide a mechanical building block system independent of mechanical tolerances of generator stack elements consisting of multiple parallel in plane elements that can be mass produced and mass assembled without sorting or lapping or machining in place. This implementation allows for simple maintenance of interchangeable unmatched parts.

Claims

1. The elimination of element sorting for mechanical tolerance build up between elements of a multiple in plane thermoelectric module implementation of an electric generator by using automatic self locating mechanical features to accommodate part differences.

2. An integrated generator consisting of any number of in plane thermoelectric modules, assembled between hot or cold fluid or gases.

3. A fluid circulation system that separates air from the circulation fluid enabling heating and cooling components to be added and primed easily and;

4. Minimizing the physical fluid connections by multiple in plane thermoelectric module assembly from features that supply and exit fluids or gases.

5. By integrating the cool and hot fluid or gas ports as features to supply adjacent blocks corresponding fluids from within the element that the thermal losses due to supply hoses are eliminated as supply hoses are not required between blocks.

6. Exact mechanical Port alignment to supply and return manifolds is eliminated by o-ring enabled slip joints in the ports of the hot and cold blocks that allow for multi-axis mechanical differences.

7. Spring compressed elements allow for thermal expansion and contraction while allowing for simple servicing (adding or replacing) elements without mechanical fastener adjustments.