The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 14, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 18, 1999
Lester LeRoy Begg, San Diego, CA (US);
Holger Heinrich Streckert, Rancho Santa Fe, CA (US);
General Atomics, San Diego, CA (US);
Abstract
A multiple cell thermionic converter having a generally tubular member of electrically conductive refractory metal with an internal cavity and a tubular envelope of electrically conductive refractory metal disposed in surrounding relationship to such generally tubular member. Electrically insulating ceramic material is disposed upon sections of facing surfaces of the envelope and tubular member, which is in the form of a body that has a central zone of plasma-sprayed refractory metal oxide selected from the group consisting of scandia, hafnia, zirconia and alumina, and a pair of flanking outer zones made of mixtures of the refractory oxide and particulate refractory metal. Refractory metal electron emitters and collectors are supported upon the ceramic bodies and juxtaposed in pairs with an annular gap therebetween to form a plurality of thermionic cells. A thin tube of refractory metal is bonded to the ceramic body by hot isostatic pressing, which also densifies the ceramic, and then machined to create spaced-apart emitters/collectors. Connectors connect the collector of one thermionic cell to the emitter of the adjacent cell to form a series interconnection with the emitter of the cell at one end and the collector of the cell at the opposite end being provided by a second section of the tubular member and the tubular envelope.