US3767947A - Miniaturized electric source - Google Patents

Miniaturized electric source Download PDF

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Publication number
US3767947A
US3767947A US00034734A US3767947DA US3767947A US 3767947 A US3767947 A US 3767947A US 00034734 A US00034734 A US 00034734A US 3767947D A US3767947D A US 3767947DA US 3767947 A US3767947 A US 3767947A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
source
collector
source according
compound
radiation
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00034734A
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English (en)
Inventor
K Adler
G Ducommun
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Biviator AG
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Biviator AG
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Biviator AG filed Critical Biviator AG
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Publication of US3767947A publication Critical patent/US3767947A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G04—HOROLOGY
    • G04C—ELECTROMECHANICAL CLOCKS OR WATCHES
    • G04C10/00—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces
    • G04C10/02—Arrangements of electric power supplies in time pieces the power supply being a radioactive or photovoltaic source
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21G—CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS; RADIOACTIVE SOURCES
    • G21G4/00—Radioactive sources
    • G21G4/04—Radioactive sources other than neutron sources
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21H—OBTAINING ENERGY FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES; APPLICATIONS OF RADIATION FROM RADIOACTIVE SOURCES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; UTILISING COSMIC RADIATION
    • G21H1/00—Arrangements for obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources, e.g. from radioactive isotopes, nuclear or atomic batteries
    • G21H1/02—Cells charged directly by beta radiation

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a miniaturized electric source of the type having a radioactive source emitting B-radiation, a collector for receiving this radiation and output electrodes formed by said collector and a terminal connected to said source.
  • Tritium H termed T in the following specification
  • T Tritium
  • This invention aims to overcome the above difficulties and to provide a miniaturized source of high power output and life time, extremely low volume and simple construction. This is achieved by providing a source comprising a tritium compound in a solid state, a layer of said composition being deposited on at least one surface of a carrier, and the space between said source and said collector comprising a layer of a solid state dielectric having a thickness and density proper for allowing passage of said B-radiation at an energy in the order of up to 18 keV and for electrically insulating said source from said collector.
  • T in a chemically bound solid state the problem of diffusion does no longer exist or may in any case be neglected.
  • the source which is of circular shape has a metal disc 1, for instance of copper, serving as a carrier for the radioacive material.
  • This material is applied to both surfaces of disc 1 in very thin layers 2.
  • the thickness of such layers 2 is suitably selected in relation to the absorption of B-radiation of the available energy therein such that the radiation emitted from the innermost portion of such layers still leaves the layers in an significant amount.
  • the radioactive material used is a compound of T with an element of suitable affinity.
  • MT is used in the illustrated embodiment, but any other composition may be used. Similar compounds exist with Zirconium, Yttrium and other elements. The use of the one or other of the available compounds is a question of chemical stability and price.
  • the illustrated embodiment LiT is applied to carrier 1 in a density of 200 mC/cm
  • the coated surface of disc 1 is 2 cm so that the total amount of LiT is 400 mC in the new state of the source, and it will still be in the order of 200 mC after about 10 to 15 years.
  • the radioactive source formed by carrier 1 and layers 2 is enveloped by foils 3 of plastic material flanged down and over-lapping each other along the edge of disc 1.
  • Foils 3 are extremely thin in the order of 0.2;]. when their density is lg/cm, this thickness being proper on one hand for allowing passage of the B-radiation from layers 2 through foils 3 and on the other hand for electrically insulating the radioactive source from the collector.
  • the collector is formed by a metallic casing 4 for instance of steel comprising two shells frictionally engaging each other along the rim. Each shell of the casing is coated at its inner surface with a layer 5 of graphite serving as an absorbtion medium avoiding reflection of electrons from the collector back towards the radioactive source.
  • the casing 4, layer 5, upper plastic foil 3 and upper layer 2 of LiT have a hole for passage of a terminal wire 6 soldered to plate I.
  • a metallic screen 7 is fixed on terminal wire 6 for collecting possible radiation passing through the hole of the collector. Screen 7 and the inner end of terminal 6 are imbedded in a bead 8 of plastic material, this material filling also the space between terminal 6 and the collector 4, 5, whereby all parts are properly insulated from each other.
  • the B-radiation emitted by layers 2 passes through foils 3 and is collected by collector 4, 5. In this way the collector is charged to a high negative potential relatively to disc 1. Due to the extremely thin insulating foils 3 between the radioactive source and the collector the electric source hasa relatively high capacity in the order of 1,000 pF. This is advantageous particularly when the source is loaded by an oscillator as is usual in electric timepieces,where the current consumption is highly variable.
  • the source is extremely compact and flat and is thus highly suitable for use in watches where it may be accommodated at one side of the timepiece, or in any other miniaturized electric or electronic instrument.
  • a miniaturized electric source utilizing the energy of B-radiation emitted by radioactive tritium comprisa. a source of B-radiation comprising a metal disc having coated on at least one surface thereof a thin layer of a solid tritium compound;
  • a collector element comprising a metallic casing enclosing said disc
  • a dielectric layer of plastic foil enveloping said disc, interposed between said disc and said collector casing and also enclosed by said collector casing, and having a thickness and density adapted to allow passage of said B-radiation at an energy level in the order of up to 18 Rev.
  • a source according to claim 1 wherein said compound is applied to said metal disc in an amount of 200 mC/cm 5.
  • a source according to claim 1 wherein said collector is a metal capsule enclosing said source and plastic foil and contacting said plastic foil.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
  • General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • X-Ray Techniques (AREA)
  • Particle Accelerators (AREA)
US00034734A 1969-05-07 1970-05-05 Miniaturized electric source Expired - Lifetime US3767947A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH700069A CH516231A (de) 1969-05-07 1969-05-07 Miniaturisierte Spannungsquelle für Zeitmessgerät

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3767947A true US3767947A (en) 1973-10-23

Family

ID=4318361

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00034734A Expired - Lifetime US3767947A (en) 1969-05-07 1970-05-05 Miniaturized electric source

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3767947A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
JP (1) JPS4819511B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
AT (1) AT302439B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
BR (1) BR7018880D0 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
CH (2) CH700069A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR2042447B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1235090A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL7006748A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5008579A (en) * 1989-03-03 1991-04-16 E. F. Johnson Co. Light emitting polymer electrical energy source
US5079469A (en) * 1990-10-15 1992-01-07 The United State Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Piezonuclear battery
US5124610A (en) * 1989-03-03 1992-06-23 E. F. Johnson Company Tritiated light emitting polymer electrical energy source
US5235232A (en) * 1989-03-03 1993-08-10 E. F. Johnson Company Adjustable-output electrical energy source using light-emitting polymer
US5608767A (en) * 1994-05-09 1997-03-04 General Electric Company Neutron-activated direct current source
US5620464A (en) * 1992-12-18 1997-04-15 Angeion Corporation System and method for delivering multiple closely spaced defibrillation pulses
US5672928A (en) * 1994-05-09 1997-09-30 General Electric Company Stabilized in-vessel direct current source
US20070133733A1 (en) * 2005-12-07 2007-06-14 Liviu Popa-Simil Method for developing nuclear fuel and its application
US20110266916A1 (en) * 2010-04-29 2011-11-03 Donofrio Raymond S Tritium battery
WO2012042329A1 (en) * 2010-09-30 2012-04-05 Da Vinci Association For Inventors' Rights Radioactive isotope electrostatic generator
WO2022133469A1 (en) * 2020-12-17 2022-06-23 Westinghouse Electric Company Llc Methods of manufacture for nuclear batteries
US12198826B2 (en) 2020-11-04 2025-01-14 Westinghouse Electric Company Llc Nuclear battery

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH539928A (de) * 1972-05-26 1973-07-31 Biviator Sa Nuklearbatterie
IT237213Y1 (it) * 1995-10-12 2000-09-05 Scaccabarozzi Marco Orologio con meccanismo elettronico incluso in un elemento dischermatura
GB2363897A (en) * 2000-06-24 2002-01-09 Mathew David Platts Radioactive decay electricity generator
CN109994243B (zh) * 2019-04-03 2024-07-30 原子高科股份有限公司 一种放射源及其制备方法

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2774891A (en) * 1954-11-23 1956-12-18 Universal Winding Co Means for collecting and utilizing electrical energy of nuclear transformations
US2837666A (en) * 1953-07-24 1958-06-03 Ernest G Linder Radioactive voltage source employing a gaseous dielectric medium
US2876368A (en) * 1953-04-06 1959-03-03 Tracerlab Inc Nuclear electret battery
US2930909A (en) * 1954-11-23 1960-03-29 Leesona Corp Radioactive battery with solid dielectric spacers and method of manufacture
US2934887A (en) * 1954-03-02 1960-05-03 Ancienne Manufacture D Horloge Driving device for clockwork

Family Cites Families (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR1165088A (fr) * 1955-10-27 1958-10-17 Radiation Res Corp Générateur nucléaire d'électricité

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2876368A (en) * 1953-04-06 1959-03-03 Tracerlab Inc Nuclear electret battery
US2837666A (en) * 1953-07-24 1958-06-03 Ernest G Linder Radioactive voltage source employing a gaseous dielectric medium
US2934887A (en) * 1954-03-02 1960-05-03 Ancienne Manufacture D Horloge Driving device for clockwork
US2774891A (en) * 1954-11-23 1956-12-18 Universal Winding Co Means for collecting and utilizing electrical energy of nuclear transformations
US2930909A (en) * 1954-11-23 1960-03-29 Leesona Corp Radioactive battery with solid dielectric spacers and method of manufacture

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5124610A (en) * 1989-03-03 1992-06-23 E. F. Johnson Company Tritiated light emitting polymer electrical energy source
US5235232A (en) * 1989-03-03 1993-08-10 E. F. Johnson Company Adjustable-output electrical energy source using light-emitting polymer
US5008579A (en) * 1989-03-03 1991-04-16 E. F. Johnson Co. Light emitting polymer electrical energy source
US5079469A (en) * 1990-10-15 1992-01-07 The United State Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Piezonuclear battery
US5620464A (en) * 1992-12-18 1997-04-15 Angeion Corporation System and method for delivering multiple closely spaced defibrillation pulses
US5672928A (en) * 1994-05-09 1997-09-30 General Electric Company Stabilized in-vessel direct current source
US5608767A (en) * 1994-05-09 1997-03-04 General Electric Company Neutron-activated direct current source
US20070133733A1 (en) * 2005-12-07 2007-06-14 Liviu Popa-Simil Method for developing nuclear fuel and its application
US20110266916A1 (en) * 2010-04-29 2011-11-03 Donofrio Raymond S Tritium battery
WO2012042329A1 (en) * 2010-09-30 2012-04-05 Da Vinci Association For Inventors' Rights Radioactive isotope electrostatic generator
US12198826B2 (en) 2020-11-04 2025-01-14 Westinghouse Electric Company Llc Nuclear battery
WO2022133469A1 (en) * 2020-12-17 2022-06-23 Westinghouse Electric Company Llc Methods of manufacture for nuclear batteries
US12080435B2 (en) 2020-12-17 2024-09-03 Westinghouse Electric Company Llc Methods of manufacture for nuclear batteries

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH516231A (de) 1971-11-30
GB1235090A (en) 1971-06-09
FR2042447A1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-02-12
FR2042447B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-10-19
AT302439B (de) 1972-10-10
CH700069A4 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-07-15
BR7018880D0 (pt) 1973-03-15
JPS4819511B1 (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1973-06-14
NL7006748A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1970-11-10

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