Microwatt thermoelectric generator

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What is claimed is: 1.
In a microwatt thermoelectric generator including a sealed container, a nuclear source in the container for heating a thermopile having a hot plate and a cold plate, and located in the container a getter means and a foil insulation package, the improvement comprising: means for preventing heat from the nuclear source from by-passing the thermopile, including an auxiliary foil package surrounding the thermopile and located nearer to the hot plate than to the cold plate, said foil package having an axial length less than the axial length of said thermopile, the outer edges of said auxiliary package contacting the foil insulation package and the inner peripheral edges of said auxiliary package disposed closely adjacent the thermopile so that a heat barrier is formed for preventing heat from the hot plate from by-passing the thermopile.
2.
The microwatt thermoelectric generator of claim 1 wherein said auxiliary foil package has a hole defined therein through which a tension wire can pass.




Description:
The present invention relates to an improved microwatt thermoelectric generator of the type described in co-pending U.
S.
patent application Ser.
No.
189,842 filed Oct.
18, 1971, entitled MICROWATT THERMOELECTRIC GENERATORS, and assigned to the present assignee.
In Assignee's earlier application, a highly advantageous microwatt thermoelectric generator construction is disclosed which has special applicability for powering implants within a human body such as those used to control or regulate heart function.
For the first time, an electrical power supply utilizing a nuclear energy source was made available for this purpose.
The object of the present invention is to provide an improvement to the construction disclosed in Assignee's co-pending earlier application, which increases the efficiency and life of the generator.
According to this invention the improvement constitutes arranging an auxiliary foil package about the thermopile between its hot and cold ends to prevent heat from bypassing the pile