Patent GB-190423095-A (GB)
Title: Thermo Electric Generators.
Inventor: HOWORTH FRANKLIN WISE
Filed: 1904-10-26
Granted: 1904-12-22
Abstract: 23,095. Howorth, F. W., [Haskell, W. E. (trustee for), Haskell, W. E., Wightman, M. J., Gilmore, W. E., Russell, J. W., and Veazie, W.]. Oct. 26. Thermo - electric batteries. - Relates to thermo - electric generators, and more particularly to means for cooling the cold junctions of the couples, for ensuring an intimate and permanent contact between the elements of a couple, for obviating oxidation at the heated junctions, and for increasing the heating action. In one arrangement, the more fusible element 1, Fig. 1, say a zinc-antimony alloy, is cast round the end 3 of the other element 2, say a copper-nickel alloy. Metal heating-tips 4 are brazed on to the alloy 1 and protect it, at the same time serving as flues for the heating-gases when the couples are assembled as shown. Copper, brass, or other water jackets 7 are brazed to each part 1, and to the part 2 of the succeeding couple, as shown at 9, 9<a>, mica, asbestos, or fireproof-paint insulation 5 separating the parts 1, 2. Perforated washers 10, say of mica, ensure a tight joint between the jackets 7. The couples are held together by a packing 13 of asbestos cement or the like, and by a wedge 6. The water inlet 11 acts as one terminal and the outlet 12 as the other. The jackets may be of conical shape, Fig. 5, being forced into one another with an intervening washer to form a tight joint, while the part 1 may be cast so as to enclose the jackets. The tips 4 may be of the shape shown in Fig. 5, forming concentric flues, the heating-gases passing up one and down the other. Or the gases may be passed up the central flue formed by assembling the couples, then down the inner ducts, and up the outer ones, suitable caps being formed at each end to ensure this circulation. In Fig. 4, the jackets 7 are shown formed with flanges 17, 18, which are bent together with an intervening perforated washer 19 to ensure a tight joint. In Fig. 6, the element 1 completely encloses the element 2, which is provided with a flattened head and is soldered to a water jacket 7 as before, insulation separating the jacket sections and partially enclosing the element 2 as shown. In Fig. 7, the element 2 is shown cup-shaped, with an inwardly-extending lug 20, an outwardlyextending heating-tip 21, and a cover 23, and it completely encloses the element 1, with intervening insulation as shown. The jackets 7 pass through the elements 2, being soldered thereto at 24, and secured in the opposite side by means of a flange 27, soldered to the part 2, and a mica or other washer 25. As before, each jacket 7 is in metallic connection with an element 1 at the surface 26 and with an element 2 of the preceding couple at the surface 24. Several rings of couples may be mounted in a frame 52, 53, 55, Fig. 10, with insulation between the rings. The terminal 11, Fig. 1, of one ring is joined to the terminal 12 of the next by means of a duct 14, and so on, the final inlet and outlet ducts being joined to binding-posts 59. The ducts 14 may be of insulating- material if it be desired to make different electric connections than those afforded by the water-circulation system. A gas burner or the like supplies heat to the interior of the pile. Other forms of couples are also described. In Fig. 9, a steel ring 30 is shown inserted in the element 1, and, as it does not expand as much as the elements 1, 2, it exerts a great mechanical pressure on the metal within it and ensures a good contact between the element 1 and the boss 20 on the element 2. The casing 2 acts as the water jacket, castings 31 connecting adjacent jackets. One casting is brazed to the element 2, and the other is insulated from it by a washer 33, and carries a projection 35 for engaging a copper plate 37 soldered to the element 1. The elements are thus connected in series as before. A layer of waterproof paint or japan coating 36 prevents the water from passing down to the heated end of the couple through the insulation 5 which has been rendered porous by the pouring of the molten metal into the casing 2. In Fig. 12, a steel ring is shown enclosing the element 1 with its cooling-pipe 7, and this in turn encloses the element 2, which is bent outwards as shown. The cooling-pipes 7 are joined and the water is circulated as before. The expansion of the parts 1, 2 and the constraining action of the ring 30 cause a good contact between the elements. In Fig. 14, a steel ring 30, to which a water jacket 7 is soldered, is shown enclosing the element 1. A brass heating-tip 21 projects from the element and carries the other element 2, which is united to the succeeding water jacket to form the series connection, as above. Instead of being used for water-circulation, the jacket in Fig. 9 may contain a hydrocarbon, such as paraffin or petroleum, resin, or other non-oxidizing agent, which is introduced to exclude air. Any material may be used for this purpose, but one generating a non-oxidizing vapour is preferable. Sodium, magnesium, or other absorbent of oxygen may be introduced to insure the exclusion of the latter. In place of the water tubes 31 in Fig. 2, solid rods may be used to form the electric connections.