Thermally actuated thermionic switch

Patent · Tue May 31 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:7126920

Barrus, D M; Shires, C D

A thermally actuated thermionic switch which responds electrically to an increase in temperature of thermionic material therein by changing from a high impedance to a low impedance at a predetermined temperature set point is described comprising: an emitter constituting an outer casing of the switch and adapted to be in contact with an associated medium which may undergo a change in temperature, the outer casing having a closed end and an open end, a collector positioned totally within the emitter and separated therefrom by a gap, means for closing the open end of the outer casing formed by the emitter for defining a closed volume within the emitter, electrical lead means connected to the inner surface of the emitter and to the reduced diameter section of the collector and extending through the means for closing the outer casing for connection to an associated power supply and to an associated point of use, and a quantity of thermionic material held in a matrix in a graphite block reservoir, and which is located within the emitter, the thermionic material consisting of metal which ionizes when heated to a temperature above the set point, for electrically connecting the emitter and collector when the thermionic material is ionized.

• Assignee: Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC
• Patent Number(s): US 4747998
• OSTI ID: 7126920
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

30 DIRECT ENERGY CONVERSION
300403 -- Thermionic Converters-- Materials
Components
& Auxiliaries
42 ENGINEERING
420800* -- Engineering-- Electronic Circuits & Devices-- (-1989)
CARBON
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELEMENTAL MINERALS
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
GRAPHITE
IONIZATION
MATERIALS
METALS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
OPERATION
SWITCHES
TEMPERATURE DEPENDENCE
THERMAL INSULATION
THERMIONIC COLLECTORS
THERMIONIC EMITTERS
THERMIONICS