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Title: Thermoelectric battery, protected against shocks and accelerations
Claims: We claim: 1. A thermoelectric battery comprising a casing enclosing a thermoelectric assembly of elongated form, the assembly comprising a heat source, a heat sink and a thermoelectric unit attached to and extending between the heat source and the heat sink, with at least the heat source end of the assembly defining an annular space with the casing, a heat-conducting mass disposed at the heat sink end of the assembly and attached to the casing, a resilient mounting for the thermoelectric unit for reducing the stress applied thereto in the event of shock or acceleration applied to the battery, the heat source being surrounded by a cage of spring fingers which are not normally in contact with the heat source or the thermoelectric unit, each of said fingers being anchored at one end and having the other end thereof normally free, and extending into the said annular space between the heat source and the casing, and an abutment member position to be engaged by a free end of a spring finger in the event that the spring finger is bowed to a predetermined extend by the force of the heat source displaced into engagement with the spring finger under the effect of shock or acceleration, the positioning of the spring fingers and the abutment member being such that the cage of spring fingers provides two stages of arresting force for the heat source when displaced by rocking motion of the assembly in excess of a predetermined amount under shock or acceleration, the first stage comprising the arresting force provided by simple bowing of the free ends of spring finers when engaged by the heat source and the second stage, provided under severe shock or acceleration, comprising the arresting force provided by the bending of a spring finger between two points of support. 2. A thermoelectric battery comprising a cylindrical casing of stainless steel enclosing an assembly comprising a heat source secured to one end of a thermoelectric unit comprising a module in the form of a rectangular assembly of a plurality of thermoelectric elements secured together and electrically connected at their ends in the manner of a thermopile, the other end of the thermoelectric module being secured with adhesive to a stainless steel platform, the adhesive comprising epoxy resin for providing electricl insulation while maintaining good heat conducting connection between the module and the platform such that the platform acts as a heat sink for the thermoelectric module and provides a heat conducting path to the casing through an insert which the platform contacts, the surface of the platform remote from the module being shaped to permit rocking movement of the platform on the insert, the platform being biassed into engagement with the insert by the action of a spring transmitted through a cylindrical sleeve which is a sliding fit within the cylindrical casing, a cage of spring fingers disposed in the annular space between the heat source and the casing and surrounding the heat source but not normally in contact with the heat source or the thermoelectric unit, each of said spring fingers comprising molybdenum strip welded to an annular collet shaped so that the bulk of the collet fits inside the sleeve which is a sliding fit within the casing, the spring acting upon both the collet and the sleeve and reacting, at the end thereof remote from the collet, against an abutment also capable of acting as a support for the spring fingers when the latter are bowed over to a predetermined extent, a plurality of short spring fingers of molybdenum strip welded to the collet, the ends of all the spring fingers being bent inwardly to retain the heat source within the cage of spring fingers should the heat source become detached from its mounting, the cage of spring fingers being operative to provide cushioning against the effects of shocks or accelerations by serving to arrest the heat source if the heat source moves into contact with the spring fingers as a result of rocking of the platform against the basis of the spring and, if the lateral acceleration is severe, the longer spring fingers being bowed over into contact with the aforesaid abutment whereby further outward movement of the heat source is resisted by the resilience of the spring fingers bending between two points of support. 3. A thermoelectric battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring fingers are shaped to form a cage which retains the heat source out of contact with the casing in the event that the heat source becomes detached from the thermoelectric unit. 4. A thermoelectric battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein acceleration responsive mechanism operates to drive the spring fingers into contact with the heat source in the event that acceleration of the heat source relative to the casing exceeds a predetermined value. 5. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the casing enclosing the assembly is evacuated for improving insulation against heat loss. Other info: Inventors: Brown, Michael H. (Newbury, GB) Myatt, John (Wantage, GB) Application Number: 846209 Filing Date: 1977-10-27 Publication_date: 1979-07-24 Assignee: United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority (GB2) Primary Class(es): 136/202 136/230, 607/9, 976/DIG416 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Sebastian, Leland A. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: Larson, Taylor and Hinds |
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