THERMOPILE ASSEMBLY WITH HEAT SINK

• US 20160305827A1
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Published: 10/20/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ademco Inc. (Resideo Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Heil, David, Hazzard, Frederick, Khosla, Ravindra
• Granted Patent: US 9,920,930 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/022 using electronic means F23N5/04 - F23N5/14 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F23N 5/102 using electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 1/14 Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations

Abstract

A heat sink assembly draws heat away from the cold junction of a thermopile element to increase the thermopile'"'"'s power output. In one example, the heat sink assembly includes a first thermally conductive securing mechanism, a second thermally conductive securing mechanism, and a thermally conductive tube having a first end and a second end. The first end of the thermally conductive tube is secured between the first securing mechanism and the second securing mechanism. In some cases, the first end of the thermally conductive tube may include a flanged region adjacent the first end with at least part of the flange region secured between the first securing mechanism and the second securing mechanism. The flange may help with heat transfer to the thermally conductive tube.

Claims

1. A thermopile assembly, comprising:

a thermopile element including a hot junction and a cold junction;

a first thermally conductive securing mechanism;

a second thermally conductive securing mechanism; and

a thermally conductive tube having a first end and a second end, the first end of the thermally conductive tube comprises a flanged region adjacent the first end with at least part of the flanged region secured between the first securing mechanism and the second thermally conductive securing mechanism.

2. The thermopile assembly of claim 1, wherein the first thermally conductive securing mechanism is positioned adjacent to the cold junction.

3. The thermopile assembly of claim 1, further comprising a first electrically conductive wire and a second electrically conductive wire in electrical communication with the thermopile element disposed within the thermally conductive tube.

4. The thermopile assembly of claim 1, wherein the thermally conductive tube is directly secured between and engages the first thermally conductive securing mechanism and the second thermally conductive securing mechanism.

5. The thermopile assembly of claim 1, wherein the first thermally conductive securing mechanism comprises a nut having a first end and a second end and a lumen extending between the first end and the second end.

6. The thermopile assembly of claim 5, wherein the lumen of the first thermally conductive securing mechanism has a first diameter adjacent the first end and a second diameter adjacent the second end, the second diameter larger than the first diameter.

7. The thermopile assembly of claim 6, wherein the lumen of the first thermally conductive securing mechanism transitions from the first diameter to the second diameter in a step-wise manner defining a lip within the lumen at an intermediate location between the first end and the second end.

8. The thermopile assembly of claim 7, wherein the first thermally conductive securing mechanism further comprises a first threaded region adjacent to the first end disposed about an outer surface of the first thermally conductive securing mechanism and a second threaded region adjacent to the second end disposed with the lumen of the first thermally conductive securing mechanism.

9. The thermopile assembly of claim 8, wherein the second thermally conductive securing mechanism comprises a nut having a first end, a second end and a lumen extending between the first end and the second end.

10. The thermopile assembly of claim 9, wherein the second thermally conductive securing mechanism further comprises a first threaded region adjacent to the first end and disposed about an outer surface of the second thermally conductive securing mechanism.

11. The thermopile assembly of claim 10, wherein the first threaded region of the second thermally conductive securing mechanism is configured to threadably engage the second threaded region of the first thermally conductive securing mechanism.

12. The thermopile assembly of claim 11, wherein the first end of the thermally conductive tube is secured between the first end of the second thermally conductive securing mechanism and the lip of the first thermally conductive securing mechanism.

13. A thermopile assembly, comprising:

a bracket having a first side and a second side;

a thermopile having a hot junction and a cold junction;

a securing mechanism for removably securing the thermopile to the bracket, with the hot junction of the thermopile extending in a first direction beyond the second side of the bracket; and

a removable heat sink extending in a second direction beyond the first side of the bracket, the removable heat sink removable from the thermopile, but when installed is in thermal communication with the cold junction of the thermopile for drawing heat away from the cold junction of the thermopile.

14. The thermopile assembly of claim 13, wherein the securing mechanism comprises a first threaded fastener.

15. The thermopile assembly of claim 14, wherein the removable heat sink is secured relative to the thermopile using a second threaded fastener.

16. The thermopile assembly of claim 13, wherein the removable heat sink comprises a thermally conductive tube extending away from the bracket.

17. The thermopile assembly of claim 16, wherein the thermally conductive tube comprises fins.

18. The thermopile assembly of claim 16, wherein the thermally conductive tube includes a plurality of apertures extending through a wall of the thermally conductive tube.

19. A heat sink assembly for use with a thermopile assembly, comprising:

a heat sink; and

a fastener, wherein the heat sink and the fastener are configured to removably secure the heat sink to the thermopile assembly to draw heat away from a cold junction of the thermopile assembly.

20. The heat sink assembly of claim 19, wherein the fastener comprises a threaded fastener that is configured to engage a bracket of the thermopile assembly and the heat sink comprises a thermally conductive tube.