Improvements in Thermo Electric Generators.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1895
Improvements in Thermo Electric Generators.
I. HARRY BARRINGER COX, of Hartford, in the County of Hartford, and State
of Connecticut, United States of America, Electrician, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in thermo electric generators.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved method of constructing
thermo electric generators whereby the elements constituting the couples will be
most permanently and positively united into a single integral piece by fusing the
metals of the elements into an alloy at the point of junction so that the alloy is
homogeneous with the metals of the elements and is gradually shaded off into the
same.
The invention consists in the peculiar method hereinafter set forth and fully
described.
Heretofore great difficulty has been experienced by reason of the breaking down
and separation of the elements composing the thermo electric couples which
constitutes the generator for various reasons such as the unequal expansion and
contraction of the different elements.
It is the object of this invention to so amalgamate or unite the unlike metals
into a single piece as to absolutely prevent this breaking down or rupture at
the joints as in reality no joints are formed as the metal are int single
piece.
It is well understood that thermo electric generators are generally composed of
alternent elements of thin metal strips such as copper strips and larger blocks
of some softer metal such as an alloy of antimony and zinc.
In carrying out my invention the elements are fused together by means of
electric currents in any suitable manner. The elements can be arranged in a
proper machine which will bring the ends of the elements together and apply the
current. The ends of the unlike elements on engaging are fused at the meeting
points and form an alloy of the metals of the elements which will become
amalgamated with the elements themselves and thereby unite the elements into
a single picce without a joint or break and so that there is in reality no line of
union between the metals.
The copper connecting strips, which of course have a very high fusing point,
are forme very thin and of very small area in cross section indeed in comparison
with the corresponding area of the large elements of an alloy of antimony and
zine of comparatively low fusing point. The large clement of soft metal is made
so much larger than the thin hard metal strip and in such proportion thereto
that the current passing through the great area and surface of the large element
will be so concentrated onto the small thin strip that at the junction between the
large element and strip, both will fuse to form the alby between them and the
graduated alloy junction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in wlint manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The method of making thermo electric generators which consists in fusing the
engaging surfaces of the different elements by electricity and thereby forming an

page_text: alloy of the metals of said elements which unites the elements into a single
piece without line of junction.
2. The method of making thermo electric generators which consists in passing a
current of electricity through unlike elements so as to fuse the metals thereof at
the engaging points into an alloy which unites the element into a single piece by
the graduated alloy junction.
Dated this 16th day of October 1895.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.