Thermo-electric converter and machinery for manufacturing the same comprises insulating block with set of parallel channels for conducting wires made of two different metals

摘要

Thermo-electric converter has block (10) made of insulating material such as ceramics with set of parallel channels (12) for conducting wires (16,18) made of two different metals e.g. alloys, which are joined in pairs by welding at extremities outside block, and forming a set of cold junctions on one side of the block and a set of hot junctions on the other side of the block. The set of conducting wires so joined at extremities constitutes an open loop. The channels (12) in ceramic block (10) are identical and are limited by walls (14) having the same thickness in full extent of the block. The channels (12) are of a quadrilateral cross-section e.g. square, and are arranged in equidistant rows and columns in the block. Each wire (16,18) comprises parts for positioning and immobilization in the channel (12) where it is lodged, in the form of a bent or undulated section (20) having a transversal amplitude at least equal to the maximum transversal dimension of the channel (12). Each wire (16,18) can have two bent sections (20) located near each extremity and with slightly different amplitudes, so that the bent section of lower amplitude is introduced first into the channel in the process of assembly. Each wire has an extremity (22) bent at substantially right angle, which is joined to the extremity of the neighboring wire made of different metal, e.g. alloy of nickel-chromium or copper-nickel. At least one part (24) of the bent terminal section (22) of wire (16,18) is flattened and joined to the extremity of the neighboring wire. The sides of block with junctions of wires (16,18) are covered with a layer of thermally conducting and electrically insulating material closing up the channels. The material covering the cold junctions is elastic, e.g. silicon adhesive, and that covering the hot junctions is resistant to temperature of about 900-950 degrees C, e.g. a type of varnish or enamel. The machinery for the manufacture of the proposed converter comprises the means for support and holding the block (10), the means for bringing the wire to the block, the tools for forming, cutting and introducing the wires (16,18) to the channels (12), the means for displacing the block in two perpendicular directions corresponding to rows and columns, a welding post comprising a laser generator and the means for the laser beam guiding, and the means for information processing in connection with the channel position on the side of the block, and the control of the tools, the means for displacing the block, the laser generator, and the guiding means. The positioning means include a digital camera, and the means for production control of assembly of wires include the measurement of electrical circuit continuity.