US2291812A

US2291812A - Thermopile

Info

Publication number: US2291812A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1942-08-04
Anticipated expiration: 1959-08-04

Description

ug. 4, E942.

W. H. KLIEVER i THERMOPILE Filed April 23, 1941 INVENTOR. Wulclo H. Klim-ven* A Horn 2y Patented ug. 4, 1942 vUNITED STATES.A PATENT ori-'ICE THERMOPILE Waldo H. Kliever, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Minneapolis-Honeywell Regulator Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Delaware Application April 23, 1941, Serial No. 389,945

(Cl. 13G-4) 7 Claims.

This'invention relates to thermocouples, and particularly to thermocouples adapted for use may be supportedl in a fixed position.- Suitable

electrical insulating strips

22 and 23 are ploaced between the thermopile and the shield, .and also between the thermopile and the. burner I2.

If desired, the hot junctions of the thermopile may be protected against the corrosive effect of the flame by surrounding them with a metallic A further object is to provide, in a combined burner and thermopile structure, improved means formaintaining the cold junctions of the ther--l mopile at a relatively low, even temperature.`

Other objects of my invention, and the advantages attained with its use, will become apparent from a consideration of the attached specification, claims, and drawing, in which:

Figure 1 represents an elevation of a burner and thermocouple arrangement embodying my invention,

Figure 2 represents a. vertical section through the pilot burner of Figure 1, and

Figure 3 represents a cross section taken on the line 3,-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 1 shows a main fuel burner I0 to which gas is supplied through a connection not shown.

A bracket II attached to one" side of the main burner I carries a pilot burner I2. Pilot burner I2 is a generally tubular structure having a row of oriiices I3 in one side thereof. Fuel is supplied through the lowerend of the tubular burner I2 and issues through the orlnces I3, being ignitedy outside-the orifices.

A thermopile generally indicated by the reference numeral I4 is mounted on the pilot burner I2. The thermopile I4 is of a generally helicall form and is wound aroundthe pilot burner I2 in such a manner that the hot junctions I5 of the thermopilel are substantially in front of the burner orificesl I3. The cold junctions I6 of the thermopile are held close to the back of the pilot burner I2 so as to maintain a good heat conducting contact with the burner structure.

A generally semi-cylindrical shield member encloses the cold junctions I6 and holds them sleeve 2,4 of suitable heat conducting characteristics. 1

-The thermopile I4 consists of a plurality-of alternate sections of diil'erent thermoelectric characteristics, as is well known in the art. Each of these sections is welded tothe adjacent sections at a butt joint as 'shown at I5 and I6 in Figure 3these joints forming the hot and cold junctions of the thermopile. It should be-apparent from the foregoing de-l scription that I have provided a thermopile which is compact in construction and readily adaptable to mountingy on a'conventional type of fuel burner. It should also be apparent, since the hot junctions of my thermopile are exposed to the flame and since the cold junctions are arrangedv so that the heat is rapidly conducted away from them, that the structure described enhances the temperature difference between the hot and cold junctions. My thermopile therefore produces an electromotive force which is high in comparison with electromotive forces produced by-similar devices of the prior art.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that my invention is readily adaptable to modications other than thatV described herein, and I'therefore wish to be limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention: v

1. In combination, a substantially tubular fuel burner having a plurality of orices along one v side thereof, and a thermopile comprising a plurality of hot junctions connected in alternate series with a plurality of cold junctions, said thermopile being wound as a helix about said burner with said hot junctions substantially in line with said oriiices and said cold Junctions separated from said orifices by said burner. y

2. In combination, a substantially tubular fuel burner having at least one orice for the escape of fuel therefrom, and a thermopile comprising a plurality of'h'ot junctions connected in alternate 'series with a plurality of cold junctions. said ends of the shield 2t may be turned over and` fastened to the burner l2 by welding or any other ysuitable means, in order that the thermopile with the burner name and the said cold junguons -1-1,

thermopile being mounted on and surrounding the said burner with said hot Junctions spaced from the burner and in heat conducting relation being located at points separated from said flame by a portion of said burner.

3'. In combination, a substantially tubular fuel burnerhaving a plurality of orifices, a thermopile comprising a plurality of hot junctions connected in alternate series with a plurality of cold junctions, said thermopile being wound as a helix about said burner with said hot junctions substantially in line with said orifices and said cold junctions substantially on the opposite side of said burner from said orifices, and means supporting said thermocouple with said cold junctions in heat conducting relation to said burner and with said hot junctions spaced from said burner.

burner having a plurality of orifices along one side thereof, a thermopile comprising a plurality of hot junctions connected in alternate series with a plurality of cold junctions, said thermopile being wound as a'helix about said burner with said hot junctions substantially in 'line with said orices and said cold junctions substantially on the opposite side of said burner from said orlces, and a heat-conductingshieldmember extending along said burner outside said cold junctions, said shield member holding said cold junctions in heat-conducting relation with said shield and said burner.

5. In combination, a substantially tubular fuel burner having a plurality of orifices along one side thereof, a thermopile comprising a plurality of hot junctions connected in alternate series with a plurality of cold junctions, said thermopile being wound as a helix about said burner with said hot junctions substantially in line with.

aannam said orifices and said cold junctions substantially on the opposite side 'of said burner from said oriiices, a heat-conducting shield member extending along said burner outside said cold junctions, said shield member holding said cold junctions ln heat-conducting relation with said shield and said burner, and electrical insulation around said cold junctions.

6. In combination, a substantially tubular fuel burner having 'a plurality of orifices for the escape of fuel therefrom, a thermopile comprising a plurality of hot junctions connected in alternate series with a plurality of cold junctions, said thermopilebeing Wound about said burner with said hot junctions exposed to the heat from the iiam'es at said oriilces and said cold junctions remote from said flames, and means supporting said thermocouple with said cold junctions in heat conducting relation to said burner and with said hot junctions spaced therefrom.

7. In combination, a substantially tubular fuel burner having a 'plurality of orices along one side thereof, a thermopile comprising a plurality of hot junctions connected in alternate series with a plurality of cold junctions, said thermopile being wound as a helix about said burner with said hot junctions substantially in line with said orifices and said cold junctions substantially on the opposite side ofA said burner from said orices, means supporting said thermocouple with said cold junctions in heat conducting relation, to said burner and with said hot junctions spaced therefrom, and electrical insulation between said cold junctions and said burner.

WALDo Yn. KLIEVER.