Patent ID: 6029620
Filing Date: 2000-02-29
Classification: F02F,F02G,H01L,Y02T

Abstract:
In a vehicle having a combustion engine including an engine block as a prime mover, and said vehicle also having electricity utilizing devices, a thermoelectric engine block structure suitable for converting a portion of the waste heat generated by said engine into useful direct current including: a first plurality of spaced lamella the lamella being formed of a first thermoelectric material; a second plurality of spaced lamella the second plurality of lamella being formed of a second thermoelectric material, the second plurality of lamella having interior surfaces interleaved with the first plurality of lamella to have electrical contact with each other at junctures therebetween; the first plurality of lamella and the second plurality of lamella receiving heat generated by said engine; a first electrical bus connecting the first lamella of thermoelectric material, said first bus being connected to the positive electrical portion of said vehicle electricity utilizing devices, and a second bus electrically connected to the negative portion of said vehicle electricity utilizing devices; whereby hot temperatures within the interior surfaces of the first and second lamella provide a current to said vehicle electricity utilizing devices, and said lamella also extract heat from said engine.