Thermionic electric converter
OwnerEdwin D. Davisinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermionic electric converter is disclosed wherein an externally located heat source causes electrons to be boiled off an electron emissive surface interiorly positioned on one end wall of an evacuated cylindrical chamber. The electrons are electrically focused and accelerated through the interior of an air core induction coil located within a transverse magnetic field, and subsequently are collected on the other end wall of the chamber functioning as a collecting plate. The EMF generated in the induction coil by action of the transiting electron stream interacting with the transverse magnetic field is applied to an external circuit to perform work, thereby implementing a direct heat energy to electrical energy conversion.
Claims11
Apparatus for converting heat energy directly into electrical energy comprising:
- (a) a cathode element having an electron emissive surface for emitting electrons in response to the application of heat energy to said surface;
- (b) a collecting element maintained at a positive electrical potential with respect to said cathode element for attracting, accelerating and collecting said electrons;
- (c) an induction assembly comprised of a helical coil having a longitudinal axis and means for producing a stationary transversely oriented magnetic field in the interior region of said coil;
- (d) an evacuated elongated container for fixedly housing said cathode element at a first end, and said collecting element at a second end, and said induction assembly at an intermediate location therein;
- (e) whereby said emitted electrons in accelerated transit towards said collecting element are caused to pass through said coil interior region therein individually exhibiting a minute oscillatory magnetic field action thus giving rise to an induced EMF in said coil.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.