# US 8,787,516 B2 · Thermoelectric power converter support structure > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,787,516 B2 - Document ID: US8787516B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/101,767 - Filed: 2011-05-05 - Published: 2012-11-08 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-05 - Assignees: Aerojet Rocketdyne of DE, Inc. - Applicants: Cheng-Yi Lu; William Determan - Inventors: Cheng-Yi Lu; William Determan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8787516B2 ## CPC - G21D 7/04: using thermoelectric elements {or thermoionic converters}(structural combination of fuel element with thermoelectric element {or with thermoionic converters} G21C3/40 {, G21H1/10}; thermoelectric elements per se H10N10/00, H10N15/00) - G21D 1/00: Details of nuclear power plant (control G21D3/00) - Y02E 30/00: Energy generation of nuclear origin - Y02E 30/30: Nuclear fission reactors - G21D: NUCLEAR POWER PLANT - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract An apparatus is provided and includes a reactor core, a boom and a shield assembly supportively interposed between the reactor core and the boom, a heat pipe disposed in thermal communication with the reactor core, a thermoelectric power converter operably coupled to the heat pipe, struts supportively coupled to the heat pipe at opposite ends of the power converter and hinge joints to rotatably couple the struts to the boom, at least one of the hinge joints being spring-loaded. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An apparatus, comprising: a reactor core, a boom and a shield assembly supportively interposed between the reactor core and the boom; a heat pipe disposed in thermal communication with the reactor core; a thermoelectric power converter operably coupled to the heat pipe; struts supportively coupled to the heat pipe at opposite ends of the power converter; and hinge joints to rotatably couple the struts to the boom, at least one of the hinge joints being spring-loaded. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring loaded hinge joint biases the struts to resist rotation due to thermal expansion of the heat pipe, the apparatus further comprising an end stop to limit the rotation. ### Claim 3 An apparatus, comprising: a reactor core, a boom and a shield assembly supportively interposed between the reactor core and the boom; a heat pipe disposed in thermal communication with the reactor core; two or more thermoelectric power converters operably coupled to the heat pipe; three or more struts supportively coupled to the heat pipe at opposite ends of each of the power converters; and hinge joints to rotatably couple the struts to the boom, at least one of the hinge joints being spring loaded. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the heat pipe is plural in number and further comprising lateral support structures supportively coupled to adjacent struts. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein four power converters are operably coupled to the heat pipe and five struts are supportively coupled to the heat pipe at the opposite ends of each of the power converters. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each strut comprises: an elongate member; and a flanged interface for receiving the heat pipe therethrough at an end of the elongate member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the elongate member comprises titanium. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the flanged interface is tightly fit about the heat pipe. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the flanged interface has a split cap bolted construction. ### Claim 10 (depends on 6) The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the flanged interface comprises a titanium ball pivot joint with a zircon insert. ### Claim 11 (depends on 3) The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the at least one spring loaded hinge joint biases the struts to resist rotation. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising an end stop to limit the rotation. ### Claim 13 A thermoelectric power converter support structure for an apparatus including a reactor core, a boom, a shield assembly supportively interposed between the reactor core and the boom and a heat pipe disposed in thermal communication with the reactor core on which two or more thermoelectric power converters are operably coupled, the support structure comprising: three or more struts supportively coupled to the heat pipe at opposite ends of each of the power converters; and hinge joints to rotatably couple the struts to the boom; at least one of the struts being spring loaded. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The support structure according to claim 13, wherein four power converters are operably coupled to the heat pipe and five struts are supportively coupled to the heat pipe at the opposite ends of each of the power converters. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The support structure according to claim 13, wherein each strut comprises: an elongate member; and a flanged interface for receiving the heat pipe therethrough at an end of the elongate member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The support structure according to claim 15, wherein the elongate member comprises titanium. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The support structure according to claim 15, wherein the flanged interface is tightly fit about the heat pipe. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The support structure according to claim 15, wherein the flanged interface has a split cap bolted construction which captures a titanium ball pivot joint with a zircon insert. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The support structure according to claim 13, wherein the spring loaded hinge joint biases the struts to resist rotation. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The support structure according to claim 19, further comprising an end stop to limit the rotation.