EP1062701A1 - Method and device for making a plurality of thermocouples, and resulting thermoelectric converter - Google Patents

Method and device for making a plurality of thermocouples, and resulting thermoelectric converter

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Publication number
EP1062701A1
EP1062701A1 EP98913873A EP98913873A EP1062701A1 EP 1062701 A1 EP1062701 A1 EP 1062701A1 EP 98913873 A EP98913873 A EP 98913873A EP 98913873 A EP98913873 A EP 98913873A EP 1062701 A1 EP1062701 A1 EP 1062701A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
sections
wire
wires
longitudinal
transverse
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Application number
EP98913873A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Edouard Serras
Nicolas Serras
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Individual
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Individual
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Publication date
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Publication of EP1062701A1 publication Critical patent/EP1062701A1/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N10/00—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects
    • H10N10/80—Constructional details
    • H10N10/82—Connection of interconnections
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N10/00—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N10/00—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects
    • H10N10/01—Manufacture or treatment
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H10—SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES; ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N—ELECTRIC SOLID-STATE DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H10N10/00—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects
    • H10N10/10—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects
    • H10N10/13—Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects operating with only the Peltier or Seebeck effects characterised by the heat-exchanging means at the junction

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method and a device for manufacturing a plurality of thermocouples, as well as a thermoelectric converter obtained by carrying out this method and the applications of this converter.
  • thermoelectric converter formed from a plurality of thermocouples connected in series, to produce electricity by SEEBECK effect from the temperature difference between a hot source and a cold source.
  • the hot junctions of thermocouples are placed in the vicinity of the hot source, such as for example a flame, a hearth of combustion, etc. and the cold junctions of the thermocouple are placed in the vicinity of the cold source, such as for example the 'ambient atmosphere, water, etc ..., to generate a relatively low electrical power, but which may be sufficient for the supply of an electrical device with low consumption, such as in particular a radio receiver with transistors.
  • the low-cost manufacture of such a converter poses problems which have not been resolved, in particular with regard to the manufacture and connection of the thermocouples and of the thermal insulation between the hot junctions and the cold junctions of the thermocouples.
  • the object of the invention is to provide a simple, reliable and inexpensive solution to these problems.
  • thermocouples connected in series, characterized in that it consists in alternately depositing on a support substantially parallel transverse sections of wires of two materials electrically conductive, forming a row in which each section of one of the two conductive materials is located between two sections of the other conductive material, to deposit on the ends of these sections two longitudinal wires of conductive material which are perpendicular to said sections, weld the longitudinal wires to the ends of the sections and, for each longitudinal wire, to cut the part of this wire which extends between two transverse sections and to keep the part of the wire which extends between one of these two sections and the following section, the sections of the two longitudinal wires being offset from one wire to the other so that the two successive transverse sections mentioned above are connected together at one end and connected to other transverse sections at their other end.
  • thermocouples connected in series is thus obtained in a simple, reliable and inexpensive manner.
  • this process then consists in depositing a strip of electrically and thermally insulating material over all of the sections and of the wires thus welded and of winding the whole of the strip and of sections on a mandrel of electrically and thermally insulating material.
  • this strip comprises an adhesive face, applied to the sections of wire and the abovementioned wires.
  • the invention also provides a device for carrying out this method, characterized in that it comprises a movable belt driven between means for cutting and laying sections of wire and the above-mentioned longitudinal wires, welding means, means for cutting the longitudinal wires and means for laying an insulating strip, the movable belt comprising 3 transverse grooves or notches for receiving and positioning said sections of wire.
  • the welding means are of the type with two rotary electrodes between which the longitudinal wires and the corresponding ends of the wire sections are guided.
  • thermoelectric converter obtained by carrying out the above process, characterized in that the ends of the cylinder formed by the above winding on the mandrel are covered with an insulating material, such as refractory cement, and a disk of thermally conductive material.
  • One end of this cylinder, corresponding to the cold source, is connected to heat removal means.
  • thermoelectric converter can be mounted in a heating or lighting device, such as in particular a kerosene lamp, for the electrical supply of a transistor radio receiver.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate steps of the manufacturing method according to the invention
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic view of part of a manufacturing device according to the invention.
  • FIG. 4 shows schematically welding means according to the invention
  • FIG. 5 shows schematically an oil lamp equipped with a converter 1 according to the invention.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 2 for the description of the essential steps of the method according to the invention.
  • sections 12, 14 of electrically conductive wires are deposited on a support 10, these sections 12, 14 being of the same length, oriented transversely to a longitudinal direction of the support 10 and aligned to form a row in which they are alternated, the sections 12, 14 being made of two different materials, usually used for the manufacture of thermocouples (for example a nickel-chromium alloy and a nickel-copper alloy).
  • two longitudinal wires 16, 18 of electrically conductive material are deposited which, for example, are made of copper or, preferably, one of them being of material constituting the sections 12 and the other of the material constituting the sections 14 above.
  • the wires 16, 18 are then welded to the ends of the sections 12, 14 as indicated in 20, to form a sort of ladder whose bars are made up of sections 12, 14 and the uprights of the wires 16, 18.
  • the wires 16, 18 are then cut as shown in FIG. 2, that is to say by cutting a wire 16 between two successive sections 12, 14 and letting it connect these sections 12, 14 to the sections 14, 12 above and next, and so on, the sections of the wires 16, 18 being shifted one step from one wire to the other so that two sections 12, 14 are interconnected at one of their ends by a length of wire 18 and are connected to other sections 12, 14 at their other end by a length of wire 16.
  • thermocouples connected in series, with a relatively low cost price.
  • FIG. 3 A manufacturing device according to the invention is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3.
  • It comprises the aforementioned support 10, formed by an endless strip mounted on end rollers 22, at least one of which is powered to move the strip in the direction indicated by the arrows, two stations 24 for cutting and fitting the sections of wire 12, 14 on the strip 10, a station 26 for supplying and depositing the longitudinal wires 16, 18 on the ends of the sections 12, 14, a welding station 28, a station 30 for cutting the wires 16, 18 between the sections 12, 14 as described with reference to FIG.
  • a station 32 for cutting the lengths of wires 16, 18 to form assemblies comprising a predetermined number of thermocouples, a station 34 for depositing on these assemblies a strip 36 of a flexible electrically and thermally insulating material and a station 38 for depositing cylindrical mandrels of thermally and electrically insulating material and winding strips 36 with the sections of wire around these mandrels.
  • the support strip 10 comprises notches or transverse grooves of shallow depth, formed at regular intervals to receive and position the transverse sections 12, 14 of electrically conductive wires, and it has a width less than the length of the sections 12, 14 .
  • these sections of son are flat ribbons having a length of 50 mm, a width of 2 mm and a thickness of 0.1 mm and are spaced apart from each other by about 2 mm.
  • the strip 36 deposited on the sections of 6 wires 12, 14, 16, 18 is preferably made of ceramic fibers, with a thickness of 0.8 mm, and has an adhesive face (the lower face in the view of FIG. 3) by means of which it is applied and fixed on the thermocouple assembly such as that shown in FIG. 2.
  • thermocouples Attaching this insulating strip to one set of thermocouples allows the latter to be handled without problem.
  • the strip 36 carrying the thermocouple assembly is wound around the mandrel of insulating material (preferably ceramic)
  • the adhesive face of the strip 36 makes it possible to fix the turns of the winding to each other by gluing .
  • 16, 18 on the ends of the sections 12, 14 are of the type shown in FIG. 4 and comprise, for each wire 16, 18, two rotary discs 40 between which the corresponding wire 16, 18 pass and the corresponding ends of sections of wire 12 , 14, the peripheries of the discs 40 forming or comprising electrodes applied to the wire 16, 18 and to the ends of the sections 12, 14 respectively, which makes it possible to weld the wires 16, 18 on the ends of the sections 12, 14.
  • the rolled cylinder which is obtained at the output of the manufacturing device shown in FIG. 3, can comprise approximately 400 to 500 thermocouples connected in series. On the axial ends of this cylinder, one can deposit a layer of refractory cement, then a plate of an electrically insulating and thermally conductive material, for example of an anodized metal. A thermoelectric converter is thus obtained which can be connected to a circuit electrical through the lengths of wire 16, 18 which are at the ends of the set of thermocouples.
  • One end of this converter is designed to be placed in the vicinity of a heat source, for example a combustion hearth, while scr. other end is in the vicinity of a cold source e ⁇ can for example be ventilated or connected to a heat radiator, the electrical energy produced at the bernes of the converter depending on the temperature difference between the ends of the converter.
  • a heat source for example a combustion hearth
  • scr. other end is in the vicinity of a cold source e ⁇ can for example be ventilated or connected to a heat radiator, the electrical energy produced at the bernes of the converter depending on the temperature difference between the ends of the converter.
  • the converter 42 can be placed in a kerosene lamp 44 of a conventional type, above the wick thereof, so that its lower end is at the level of the part warmer flame when the kerosene lamp is used.
  • the upper part of the ceramic mandrel around which the thermocouple assembly is wound can be connected, by crimping, to a tube 46 made of heat-conducting material, the upper end of which is capped by a radiator 48 disposed between the side handles of the lamp and the upper ring 50 allowing the attachment of the lamp.
  • the underside of the converter 42 can be brought to a temperature of the order of 500 ° C., while its upper end is maintained at a temperature of the order of 80 to 100 ° C, thanks to tube 46 and radiator 48.
  • the converter When the converter comprises 400 to 450 thermocouples, it then generates an electrical voltage of approximately 8 to 9 volts in steady state, which makes it possible to power a radio transistor receiver without problem. 8
  • the converter according to the invention can also be used with other heat sources, and its practical applications are extremely numerous and varied.

Abstract

The invention concerns a thermoelectric converter formed by transverse alternating wire sections (12, 14) made of two different electroconductive materials connected at their ends by longitudinal wire sections (16, 18) constituted by laying two longitudinal wires on the ends of the transverse sections (12, 14), soldering the longitudinal wires on the ends of the sections and cutting the longitudinal wires (16, 18). The invention simplifies the manufacture of converters formed by a plurality of series-connected thermocouples.

Description

1 1
PROCEDE ET DISPOSITIF DE FABRICATION D'UNE PLURALITE DE THERMOCOUPLES, ET CONVERTISSEUR THERMOELECTRIQUE AINSI OBTENU.METHOD AND DEVICE FOR MANUFACTURING A PLURALITY OF THERMOCOUPLES, AND THERMOELECTRIC CONVERTER THUS OBTAINED.
L'invention concerne un procédé et un dispositif de fabrication d'une pluralité de thermocouples, ainsi qu'un convertisseur thermoélectrique obtenu par exécution de ce procédé et les applications de ce convertisseur.The invention relates to a method and a device for manufacturing a plurality of thermocouples, as well as a thermoelectric converter obtained by carrying out this method and the applications of this converter.
Il a déjà été proposé d'utiliser un convertisseur thermoélectrique formé d'une pluralité de thermocouples reliés en série, pour produire par effet SEEBECK de l'électricité à partir de la différence de température entre une source chaude et une source froide. Les jonctions chaudes des thermocouples sont placées au voisinage de la source chaude, telle par exemple qu'une flamme, un foyer de combustion, etc.. et les jonctions froides du thermocouple sont placées au voisinage de la source froide, telle par exemple que l'atmosphère ambiante, de l'eau, etc..., pour générer une puissance électrique relativement faible, mais qui peut être suffisante pour l'alimentation d'un appareil électrique à faible consommation, tel notamment qu'un récepteur radio à transistors.It has already been proposed to use a thermoelectric converter formed from a plurality of thermocouples connected in series, to produce electricity by SEEBECK effect from the temperature difference between a hot source and a cold source. The hot junctions of thermocouples are placed in the vicinity of the hot source, such as for example a flame, a hearth of combustion, etc. and the cold junctions of the thermocouple are placed in the vicinity of the cold source, such as for example the 'ambient atmosphere, water, etc ..., to generate a relatively low electrical power, but which may be sufficient for the supply of an electrical device with low consumption, such as in particular a radio receiver with transistors.
La fabrication à bas prix d'un tel convertisseur pose cependant des problèmes qui n'ont pas été résolus, en particulier au niveau de la fabrication et de la connexion des thermocouples et de 1 ' isolation thermique entre les jonctions chaudes et les jonctions froides des thermocouples . L'invention a pour but d'apporter une solution simple, fiable et peu coûteuse à ces problèmes.The low-cost manufacture of such a converter, however, poses problems which have not been resolved, in particular with regard to the manufacture and connection of the thermocouples and of the thermal insulation between the hot junctions and the cold junctions of the thermocouples. The object of the invention is to provide a simple, reliable and inexpensive solution to these problems.
Elle propose pour cela un procédé de fabrication d'une pluralité de thermocouples connectés en série, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste à déposer en alternance sur un support des tronçons transversaux sensiblement parallèles de fils de deux matières électriquement conductrices, formant une rangée dans laquelle chaque tronçon d'une des deux matières conductrices se trouve entre deux tronçons de 1 ' autre matière conductrice, à déposer sur les extrémités de ces tronçons deux fils longitudinaux de matière conductrice qui sont perpendiculaires auxdits tronçons, à souder les fils longitudinaux sur les extrémités des tronçons et, pour chaque fil longitudinal, à couper la partie de ce fil qui s'étend entre deux tronçons transversaux et à conserver la partie du fil qui s'étend entre l'un de ces deux tronçons et le tronçon suivant, les coupes des deux fils longitudinaux étant décalées d'un fil à l'autre pour que deux tronçons transversaux successifs précités soient reliés entre eux à une extrémité et reliés à d'autres tronçons transversaux à leur autre extrémité.It therefore proposes a method of manufacturing a plurality of thermocouples connected in series, characterized in that it consists in alternately depositing on a support substantially parallel transverse sections of wires of two materials electrically conductive, forming a row in which each section of one of the two conductive materials is located between two sections of the other conductive material, to deposit on the ends of these sections two longitudinal wires of conductive material which are perpendicular to said sections, weld the longitudinal wires to the ends of the sections and, for each longitudinal wire, to cut the part of this wire which extends between two transverse sections and to keep the part of the wire which extends between one of these two sections and the following section, the sections of the two longitudinal wires being offset from one wire to the other so that the two successive transverse sections mentioned above are connected together at one end and connected to other transverse sections at their other end.
On obtient ainsi, de façon simple, fiable et bon marché, une pluralité de thermocouples reliés en série .A plurality of thermocouples connected in series is thus obtained in a simple, reliable and inexpensive manner.
Selon une autre caractéristique de l'invention, ce procédé consiste ensuite à déposer une bande de matière électriquement et thermiquement isolante sur l'ensemble des tronçons et des fils ainsi soudés et à enrouler l'ensemble de la bande et des tronçons sur un mandrin de matière électriquement et thermiquement isolante.According to another characteristic of the invention, this process then consists in depositing a strip of electrically and thermally insulating material over all of the sections and of the wires thus welded and of winding the whole of the strip and of sections on a mandrel of electrically and thermally insulating material.
De préférence, cette bande comprend une face adhésive, appliquée sur les tronçons de fil et les fils précités .Preferably, this strip comprises an adhesive face, applied to the sections of wire and the abovementioned wires.
L'invention propose également un dispositif pour l'exécution de ce procédé, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un tapis mobile entraîné entre des moyens de découpe et de pose des tronçons de fil et des fils longitudinaux précités, des moyens de soudure, des moyens de coupe des fils longitudinaux et des moyens de pose d'une bande isolante, le tapis mobile comprenant des 3 rainures ou encoches transversales pour la réception et le positionnement desdits tronçons de fil.The invention also provides a device for carrying out this method, characterized in that it comprises a movable belt driven between means for cutting and laying sections of wire and the above-mentioned longitudinal wires, welding means, means for cutting the longitudinal wires and means for laying an insulating strip, the movable belt comprising 3 transverse grooves or notches for receiving and positioning said sections of wire.
De préférence, les moyens de soudure sont du type à deux électrodes rotatives entre lesquelles sont guidés les fils longitudinaux et les extrémités correspondantes des tronçons de fil.Preferably, the welding means are of the type with two rotary electrodes between which the longitudinal wires and the corresponding ends of the wire sections are guided.
Cela permet de réaliser automatiquement et au défilé les soudures des fils longitudinaux sur les extrémités des tronçons de fil. L'invention propose également un convertisseur thermoélectrique obtenu par exécution du procédé précité, caractérisé en ce que les extrémités du cylindre formées par 1 ' enroulement précité sur le mandrin sont recouvertes d'une matière isolante, telle qu'un ciment réfractaire, et d'un disque de matière thermiquement conductrice.This allows the welds of the longitudinal wires to be made automatically and in the process on the ends of the wire sections. The invention also provides a thermoelectric converter obtained by carrying out the above process, characterized in that the ends of the cylinder formed by the above winding on the mandrel are covered with an insulating material, such as refractory cement, and a disk of thermally conductive material.
Une des extrémités de ce cylindre, correspondant à la source froide, est reliée à des moyens d'évacuation de chaleur.One end of this cylinder, corresponding to the cold source, is connected to heat removal means.
Ce convertisseur thermoélectrique peut être monté dans un appareil de chauffage ou d'éclairage, tel en particulier qu'une lampe à pétrole, pour l'alimentation électrique d'un récepteur radio à transistors .This thermoelectric converter can be mounted in a heating or lighting device, such as in particular a kerosene lamp, for the electrical supply of a transistor radio receiver.
L'invention sera mieux comprise et d'autres caractéristiques, détails et avantages de celle-ci apparaîtront plus clairement à la lecture de la description qui suit, faite à titre d'exemple en référence aux dessins annexés dans lesquels : les figures 1 et 2 illustrent schématiquement des étapes du procédé de fabrication selon 1 ' invention ;The invention will be better understood and other characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear more clearly on reading the description which follows, given by way of example with reference to the appended drawings in which: FIGS. 1 and 2 schematically illustrate steps of the manufacturing method according to the invention;
- la figure 3 est une vue schématique d'une partie d'un dispositif de fabrication selon l'invention ;- Figure 3 is a schematic view of part of a manufacturing device according to the invention;
- la figure 4 représente schématiquement des moyens de soudure selon l'invention ; - la figure 5 représente schématiquement une lampe à pétrole équipée d'un convertisseur selon 1 ' invention.- Figure 4 shows schematically welding means according to the invention; - Figure 5 shows schematically an oil lamp equipped with a converter 1 according to the invention.
On se réfère d'abord aux figures 1 et 2 , pour la description des étapes essentielles du procédé selon 1 ' invention.Reference is first made to FIGS. 1 and 2 for the description of the essential steps of the method according to the invention.
Selon ce procédé, on dépose sur un support 10 des tronçons 12, 14 de fils électro-conducteurs, ces tronçons 12, 14 étant de même longueur, orientés transversalement par rapport à une direction longitudinale du support 10 et alignés pour former une rangée dans laquelle ils sont alternés, les tronçons 12, 14 étant réalisés en deux matières différentes, utilisées usuellement pour la fabrication des thermocouples (par exemple un alliage nickel -chrome et un alliage nickel - cuivre) .According to this method, sections 12, 14 of electrically conductive wires are deposited on a support 10, these sections 12, 14 being of the same length, oriented transversely to a longitudinal direction of the support 10 and aligned to form a row in which they are alternated, the sections 12, 14 being made of two different materials, usually used for the manufacture of thermocouples (for example a nickel-chromium alloy and a nickel-copper alloy).
Sur les extrémités des tronçons 12, 14 des fils électro-conducteurs, on dépose deux fils longitudinaux 16, 18 de matière électro-conductrice qui par exemple, sont en cuivre ou bien, de préférence, l'un d'eux étant de la matière constituant les tronçons 12 et l'autre de la matière constituant les tronçons 14 précités .On the ends of the sections 12, 14 of the electrically conductive wires, two longitudinal wires 16, 18 of electrically conductive material are deposited which, for example, are made of copper or, preferably, one of them being of material constituting the sections 12 and the other of the material constituting the sections 14 above.
On soude ensuite les fils 16, 18 sur les extrémités des tronçons 12, 14 comme indiqué en 20, pour former une sorte d'échelle dont les barreaux sont constitués des tronçons 12, 14 et les montants des fils 16, 18.The wires 16, 18 are then welded to the ends of the sections 12, 14 as indicated in 20, to form a sort of ladder whose bars are made up of sections 12, 14 and the uprights of the wires 16, 18.
On coupe ensuite les fils 16, 18 comme représenté en figure 2, c'est-à-dire en coupant un fil 16 entre deux tronçons successifs 12, 14 et en le laissant relier ces tronçons 12, 14 aux tronçons 14, 12 précédent et suivant, et ainsi de suite, les coupes des fils 16, 18 étant décalées d'un pas d'un fil à l'autre de sorte que deux tronçons 12, 14 sont reliés entre eux à l'une de leurs extrémités par une longueur de fil 18 et sont reliés à d'autres tronçons 12, 14 à leur autre extrémité par une longueur de fil 16.The wires 16, 18 are then cut as shown in FIG. 2, that is to say by cutting a wire 16 between two successive sections 12, 14 and letting it connect these sections 12, 14 to the sections 14, 12 above and next, and so on, the sections of the wires 16, 18 being shifted one step from one wire to the other so that two sections 12, 14 are interconnected at one of their ends by a length of wire 18 and are connected to other sections 12, 14 at their other end by a length of wire 16.
Ce procédé permet de fabriquer simplement et à cadence élevée une pluralité de thermocouples connectés en série, avec un prix de revient relativement faible.This process makes it possible to manufacture simply and at high speed a plurality of thermocouples connected in series, with a relatively low cost price.
Un dispositif de fabrication selon l'invention est représenté schématiquement en figure 3.A manufacturing device according to the invention is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3.
Il comprend le support 10 précité, formé par une bande sans fin montée sur des rouleaux d'extrémité 22 dont au moins l'un est moteur pour déplacer la bande dans le sens indiqué par les flèches, deux postes 24 de découpe et de pose des tronçons de fil 12 , 14 sur la bande 10, un poste 26 d'amenée et de dépose des fils longitudinaux 16, 18 sur les extrémités des tronçons 12, 14, un poste de soudure 28, un poste 30 de découpe des fils 16, 18 entre les tronçons 12, 14 comme décrit en référence à la figure 2, un poste 32 de découpe des longueurs de fils 16, 18 pour former des ensembles comprenant un nombre prédéterminé de thermocouples, un poste 34 de dépose sur ces ensembles d'une bande 36 d'une matière souple électriquement et thermiquement isolante et un poste 38 de dépose de mandrins cylindriques de matière thermiquement et électriquement isolante et d'enroulement des bandes 36 avec les tronçons de fil autour de ces mandrins .It comprises the aforementioned support 10, formed by an endless strip mounted on end rollers 22, at least one of which is powered to move the strip in the direction indicated by the arrows, two stations 24 for cutting and fitting the sections of wire 12, 14 on the strip 10, a station 26 for supplying and depositing the longitudinal wires 16, 18 on the ends of the sections 12, 14, a welding station 28, a station 30 for cutting the wires 16, 18 between the sections 12, 14 as described with reference to FIG. 2, a station 32 for cutting the lengths of wires 16, 18 to form assemblies comprising a predetermined number of thermocouples, a station 34 for depositing on these assemblies a strip 36 of a flexible electrically and thermally insulating material and a station 38 for depositing cylindrical mandrels of thermally and electrically insulating material and winding strips 36 with the sections of wire around these mandrels.
Avantageusement, la bande support 10 comporte des encoches ou rainures transversales de faible profondeur, formés à intervalles réguliers pour recevoir et positionner les tronçons transversaux 12, 14 de fils électro-conducteurs, et elle a une largeur inférieure à la longueur des tronçons 12, 14.Advantageously, the support strip 10 comprises notches or transverse grooves of shallow depth, formed at regular intervals to receive and position the transverse sections 12, 14 of electrically conductive wires, and it has a width less than the length of the sections 12, 14 .
Dans un mode de réalisation préféré de l'invention, ces tronçons de fils sont des rubans plats ayant une longueur de 50 mm, une largeur de 2 mm et une épaisseur de 0,1 mm et sont espacés les uns des autres d'environ 2 mm. La bande 36 déposée sur les tronçons de 6 fils 12, 14, 16, 18 est de préférence en fibres de céramique, avec une épaisseur de 0,8 mm, et comporte une face adhésive (la face inférieure sur la vue de la figure 3) au moyen de laquelle elle est appliquée et fixée sur l'ensemble de thermocouples tel que celui représenté en figure 2.In a preferred embodiment of the invention, these sections of son are flat ribbons having a length of 50 mm, a width of 2 mm and a thickness of 0.1 mm and are spaced apart from each other by about 2 mm. The strip 36 deposited on the sections of 6 wires 12, 14, 16, 18 is preferably made of ceramic fibers, with a thickness of 0.8 mm, and has an adhesive face (the lower face in the view of FIG. 3) by means of which it is applied and fixed on the thermocouple assembly such as that shown in FIG. 2.
La fixation de cette bande isolante sur 1 ' ensemble de thermocouples permet de manipuler ce dernier sans problème. De plus, lorsque la bande 36 portant l'ensemble de thermocouples est enroulée autour du mandrin de matière isolante (de préférence en céramique) , la face adhésive de la bande 36 permet de fixer les spires de l'enroulement les unes aux autres par collage. De préférence, les moyens de soudure des filsAttaching this insulating strip to one set of thermocouples allows the latter to be handled without problem. In addition, when the strip 36 carrying the thermocouple assembly is wound around the mandrel of insulating material (preferably ceramic), the adhesive face of the strip 36 makes it possible to fix the turns of the winding to each other by gluing . Preferably, the means for welding the wires
16, 18 sur les extrémités des tronçons 12, 14 sont du type représenté en figure 4 et comprennent, pour chaque fil 16, 18, deux disques rotatifs 40 entre lesquels passent le fil 16, 18 correspondant et les extrémités correspondantes de tronçons de fil 12, 14, les périphéries des disques 40 formant ou comportant des électrodes appliquées sur le fil 16, 18 et sur les extrémités des tronçons 12, 14 respectivement, ce qui permet de souder au défilé les fils 16, 18 sur les extrémités des tronçons 12, 14.16, 18 on the ends of the sections 12, 14 are of the type shown in FIG. 4 and comprise, for each wire 16, 18, two rotary discs 40 between which the corresponding wire 16, 18 pass and the corresponding ends of sections of wire 12 , 14, the peripheries of the discs 40 forming or comprising electrodes applied to the wire 16, 18 and to the ends of the sections 12, 14 respectively, which makes it possible to weld the wires 16, 18 on the ends of the sections 12, 14.
Le cylindre roulé que l'on obtient en sortie du dispositif de fabrication représenté en figure 3, peut comprendre environ 400 à 500 thermocouples connectés en série . Sur les extrémités axiales de ce cylindre, on peut déposer une couche de ciment réfractaire, puis une plaque d'une matière électriquement isolante et thermiquement conductrice, par exemple d'un métal anodisé . On obtient ainsi un convertisseur thermoélectrique qui peut être relié à un circuit électrique par l'intermédiaire des longueurs de fil 16, 18 qui se trouvent aux extrémités de l'ensemble de thermocouples .The rolled cylinder which is obtained at the output of the manufacturing device shown in FIG. 3, can comprise approximately 400 to 500 thermocouples connected in series. On the axial ends of this cylinder, one can deposit a layer of refractory cement, then a plate of an electrically insulating and thermally conductive material, for example of an anodized metal. A thermoelectric converter is thus obtained which can be connected to a circuit electrical through the lengths of wire 16, 18 which are at the ends of the set of thermocouples.
Une extrémité de ce convertisseur est αestinée à être placée au voisinage d'une source de chaleur, par exemple d'un foyer de combustion, tandis que scr. autre extrémité est au voisinage d'une source froide e~ peut être par exemple ventilée ou reliée à un radiateur de chaleur, l'énergie électrique produite aux bernes du convertisseur dépendant de la différence de température entre les extrémités du convertisseur.One end of this converter is designed to be placed in the vicinity of a heat source, for example a combustion hearth, while scr. other end is in the vicinity of a cold source e ~ can for example be ventilated or connected to a heat radiator, the electrical energy produced at the bernes of the converter depending on the temperature difference between the ends of the converter.
Comme représenté en figure 1, le convertisseur 42 peut être placé dans une lampe à pétrole 44 d'un type classique, au-dessus de la mèche de celle-ci, de façon à ce que son extrémité inférieure soit au niveau de la partie la plus chaude de la flamme lorsque la lampe à pétrole est utilisée.As shown in FIG. 1, the converter 42 can be placed in a kerosene lamp 44 of a conventional type, above the wick thereof, so that its lower end is at the level of the part warmer flame when the kerosene lamp is used.
Comme on l'a représenté schématiquement, la partie supérieure du mandrin de céramique autour duquel est bobiné l'ensemble de thermocouples, peut être reliée, par sertissage, à un tube 46 en matière conductrice de la chaleur, dont l'extrémité supérieure est coiffée par un radiateur 48 disposé entre les poignées latérales de la lampe et l'anneau supérieur 50 permettant l'accrochage de la lampe.As shown diagrammatically, the upper part of the ceramic mandrel around which the thermocouple assembly is wound, can be connected, by crimping, to a tube 46 made of heat-conducting material, the upper end of which is capped by a radiator 48 disposed between the side handles of the lamp and the upper ring 50 allowing the attachment of the lamp.
Lors de l'utilisation de la lampe à pétrole, la face inférieure du convertisseur 42 peut être portée à une température de l'ordre de 500°C, tandis que son extrémité supérieure est maintenue à une température de l'ordre de 80 à 100°C, grâce au tube 46 et au radiateur 48.When using the kerosene lamp, the underside of the converter 42 can be brought to a temperature of the order of 500 ° C., while its upper end is maintained at a temperature of the order of 80 to 100 ° C, thanks to tube 46 and radiator 48.
Lorsque le convertisseur comprend 400 à 450 thermocouples, il génère alors une tension électrique d'environ 8 à 9 volts en régime permanent, ce qui permet d'alimenter sans problème un récepteur radio à transistors. 8When the converter comprises 400 to 450 thermocouples, it then generates an electrical voltage of approximately 8 to 9 volts in steady state, which makes it possible to power a radio transistor receiver without problem. 8
Le convertisseur selon l'invention peut également être utilisé avec d'autres sources de chaleur, et ses applications pratiques sont extrêmement nombreuses et variées. The converter according to the invention can also be used with other heat sources, and its practical applications are extremely numerous and varied.

Claims

REVENDICATIONS
1) Procédé de fabrication d'une pluralité de thermocouples connectés en série, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste à déposer en alternance sur un support [ 1 2 ) des tronçons transversaux sensiblement parallèles (12, 14) de fils de deux matières électriquement conductrices, formant une rangée dans laquelle chaque tronçon (12, 14) d'une des deux matières conductrices se trouve entre deux tronçons de l'autre matière conductrice, à déposer sur les extrémités de ces tronçons deux fils longitudinaux (16, 18) de matière conductrice qui sont perpendiculaires auxdits tronçons, à souder les fils longitudinaux (16, 18) sur les extrémités des tronçons et, pour chaque fil longitudinal (16, 18), à couper la partie de ce fil qui s'étend entre deux tronçons (12, 14) et à conserver la partie du fil qui s'étend entre l'un de ces tronçons et le tronçon suivant, les coupes des deux fils longitudinaux (16, 18) étant décalées d'un fil à l'autre pour que deux tronçons successifs (12, 14) soient reliés entre eux à une extrémité et reliés à d'autres tronçons transversaux à leur autre extrémité.1) Method for manufacturing a plurality of thermocouples connected in series, characterized in that it consists in alternately depositing on a support [1 2) substantially parallel transverse sections (12, 14) of wires of two electrically conductive materials , forming a row in which each section (12, 14) of one of the two conductive materials is located between two sections of the other conductive material, to deposit on the ends of these sections two longitudinal wires (16, 18) of material conductive which are perpendicular to said sections, to weld the longitudinal wires (16, 18) on the ends of the sections and, for each longitudinal wire (16, 18), to cut the part of this wire which extends between two sections (12 , 14) and to keep the part of the wire which extends between one of these sections and the following section, the sections of the two longitudinal wires (16, 18) being offset from one wire to the other so that two sections s uccessifs (12, 14) are interconnected at one end and connected to other transverse sections at their other end.
2) Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce qu'il consiste ensuite à déposer une bande (36) de matière électriquement et thermiquement isolante sur l'ensemble des tronçons et des fils ainsi soudés et à enrouler la bande (36) avec les tronçons (12, 14) et les fils (16, 18) sur un mandrin de matière électriquement et thermiquement isolante.2) Method according to claim 1, characterized in that it then consists in depositing a strip (36) of electrically and thermally insulating material over all of the sections and wires thus welded and in winding the strip (36) with the sections (12, 14) and the wires (16, 18) on a mandrel of electrically and thermally insulating material.
3) Procédé selon la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que la bande isolante (36) comprend une face adhésive appliquée sur les tronçons (12, 14) et les fils (16, 18) précités.3) Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the insulating strip (36) comprises an adhesive face applied to the sections (12, 14) and the son (16, 18) above.
4) Dispositif pour l'exécution du procédé décrit dans l'une des revendications précédentes, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend un tapis mobile (10) entraîné entre des moyens (24) de découpe et de pose de 10 tronçons de fil (12, 14) , des moyens (26) de guidage et de pose des fils longitudinaux (16, 18), des moyens de soudure (23) , des moyens (30) de coupe des fils longitudinaux et des moyens (34) de pose d'une bande isolante (36), le tapis mobile (10) comprenant des rainures ou encoches transversales pour la réception et le positionnement des tronçons de fil (12, 14) précités.4) Device for carrying out the method described in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a movable belt (10) driven between means (24) for cutting and laying of 10 sections of wire (12, 14), means (26) for guiding and laying the longitudinal wires (16, 18), welding means (23), means (30) for cutting the longitudinal wires and means (34) for installing an insulating strip (36), the movable belt (10) comprising transverse grooves or notches for receiving and positioning the aforementioned sections of wire (12, 14).
5) Dispositif selon la revendication 4, caractérisé en ce que les moyens de soudure (28) sont du type à deux électrodes rotatives (40) entre lesσuelles sont guidés les fils longitudinaux (16, 18) et les extrémités des tronçons de fil (12, 14) .5) Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the welding means (28) are of the type with two rotary electrodes (40) between lesσuelles are guided the longitudinal son (16, 18) and the ends of the wire sections (12 , 14).
6) Convertisseur thermoélectrique obtenu par exécution du procédé décrit dans 1 ' unes des revendications 1 à 3, caractérisé en ce qu'il comprend une alternance de tronçons transversaux de fils (12, 14) de deux matières électro-conductrices différentes, reliés à leurs extrémités par des tronçons de fils longitudinaux (16, 18) qui sont réalisés dans les mêmes matières que les tronçons transversaux (12, 14).6) Thermoelectric converter obtained by carrying out the method described in one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises alternating transverse sections of wires (12, 14) of two different electrically conductive materials, connected to their ends by sections of longitudinal wires (16, 18) which are made of the same materials as the transverse sections (12, 14).
7 Convertisseur selon la revendication 6, caractérisé en ce que les extrémités du cylindre formé par l'enroulement de la bande isolante (36) avec les tronçons transversaux (12, 14) et les tronçons de fil longitudinaux (16, 18), sont recouvertes d'une matière isolante, telle qu'un ciment réfractaire, et d'un disque de matière thermiquement conductrice.7 converter according to claim 6, characterized in that the ends of the cylinder formed by the winding of the insulating strip (36) with the transverse sections (12, 14) and the longitudinal wire sections (16, 18), are covered an insulating material, such as refractory cement, and a disc of thermally conductive material.
8) Convertisseur selon la revendication 7 caractérisé en ce qu'une de ces extrémités, correspondant la source froide, est reliée à des moyens (46, 48) d'évacuation de chaleur.8) Converter according to claim 7 characterized in that one of these ends, corresponding to the cold source, is connected to means (46, 48) of heat removal.
9) Convertisseur selon la revendication 7 ou 8, caractérisé en ce qu'il est monté dans un appareil de chauffage ou d'éclairage, tel par exemple qu'une lampe à pétrole (44), pour l'alimentation électrique d'un récepteur radio à transistors. 9) Converter according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it is mounted in a heating or lighting device, such as for example a kerosene lamp (44), for the electrical supply of a receiver transistor radio.
EP98913873A 1998-03-10 1998-03-10 Method and device for making a plurality of thermocouples, and resulting thermoelectric converter Withdrawn EP1062701A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
PCT/FR1998/000476 WO1999046823A1 (en) 1998-03-10 1998-03-10 Method and device for making a plurality of thermocouples, and resulting thermoelectric converter
OA1200000246A OA11486A (en) 1998-03-10 2000-09-08 Method and device for manufacturing a plurality of thermocouples, and thermoelectric converter thus obtained.

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CN100346490C (en) * 2004-06-21 2007-10-31 浙江大学 A preparation method for slice type thermoelectric converter
AU2007202399A1 (en) * 2007-05-25 2008-12-11 Hopkins, Jason Andrew Mr Manufacturing process for thermoelectric generators
US8334749B1 (en) * 2009-09-28 2012-12-18 General Electric Company Temperature detection in a gas turbine
JP5742174B2 (en) * 2009-12-09 2015-07-01 ソニー株式会社 Thermoelectric generator, thermoelectric power generation method, and electric signal detection method
CN103178201B (en) * 2013-03-20 2015-07-08 刘宇 Cold and hot bidirectional chip of semiconductor

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JPS586187A (en) * 1981-07-02 1983-01-13 Citizen Watch Co Ltd Manufacture of thermopile
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