Abstract: A heat sensitive tape capable of generating a temperature representative measurable voltage. The tape includes an elongated flexible strip of electrically non-conductive material. A pair of thermoelectric conductors extend along the strip in spaced apart side-by-side relation. The tape also includes an electrical insulation capable of passively self-generating a temperature representative voltage between the conductors when the tape is exposed to ambient temperature. The insulation causes a change in the temperature representative measurable voltage with an increase or decrease in temperature at every location along the strip. A change in the temperature representative measurable voltage under such condition is representative of a change in ambient temperature. The insulation also causes a change in the temperature representative measurable voltage with an increase in temperature above the prevailing ambient at any location along the strip.

Abstract: Tungsten, molybdenum, and alloys thereof are useful as electrode members for thermoelectric legs made from chalcogenides of copper and/or silver.

Abstract: A thermoelectric module containing lead telluride as the thermoelectric mrial is encapsulated as tightly as possible in a stainless steel canister to provide minimum void volume in the canister. The lead telluride thermoelectric elements are pressure-contacted to a tungsten hot strap and metallurgically bonded at the cold junction to iron shoes with a barrier layer of tin telluride between the iron shoe and the p-type lead telluride element.

Abstract: Tungsten, molybdenum, and alloys thereof are useful as electrode members for thermoelectric legs made from chalcogenides of copper and/or silver.

Abstract: The contact members used with thermoelectric legs formed from self-segmenting thermoelectric compositions (compositions in which a constituent migrates under the influence of combined thermal and electrical gradients to create a gradation of doping levels that is beneficial for thermoelectric conversion) should be specially chosen to compensate for and best take advantage of the self-segmenting feature. In general, at least an exterior thickness of the contact member against the end of the leg toward which the migrating constituent moves should include the constituent at substantially its free-state chemical potential.

Abstract: In a thermoelectric generator, a component comprises a ceramic insulator, having over limited areas thereof, each area corresponding to a terminal end of thermoelectric wires, a coating of a first metal which adheres to the insulator, and an electrical thermoelectric junction including a second metal which wets said first metal and adheres to said terminal ends but does not wet said insulator, and a cloth composed of electrically insulating threads interlaced with thermoelectric wires.

Abstract: A bonded electrical contact and method for a thermoelectric element. A thin layer of a ductile diffusion barrier, which is non-poisonous to thermoelectric materials, such as iron, tungsten, molybdenum, or niobium, is disposed between the thermoelectric material and a contacting shoe, such as stainless steel, which has poisonous alloy constituents. The thermal expansion coefficient of the diffusion barrier, which does not match that of the thermoelectric material, is overridden by that of the shoe, whose coefficient does correspond with that of such high expansion thermoelectrics as the telluriden.

Abstract: An improved hot junction construction for thermocouples is provided by means of a tight fitting internal tube positioned over the outer end of the thermocouple wire prior to its fusion with the tip tube. The internal tube is formed of an alloy, such as an iron alloy containing chromium and nickel, such that the components thereof form a metal solution with the components of the thermocouple wire, which may be of a nickel-containing alloy such as copper-nickel alloy, and the external tube formed, for example, of an iron-chromium alloy. When the outer ends of the wire, internal tube and tip tube are fused, a hot junction is produced which is substantially free of pores, gaseous inclusions and stresses.

Abstract: An improved thermocouple sensor is disclosed comprising a pair of thermocouple wires formed from tungsten-rhenium or molybdenum-rhenium alloys and terminating in ends adapted for thermocouple application, and a metal mass of tungsten or molybdenum intimately contacting the terminal wire ends so as to form an electrical connection therebetween and means for making same.

Abstract: This invention relates to thermocouple hot junction members which are used in immersion thermocouple assemblies employed for measuring the temperature of molten metal. At the temperatures involved, which are over 1200.degree.C and often in the region of 1800.degree.C and more, noble metals and alloys thereof have to be used to form a thermocouple conductor pair and up to now these have been united at the hot junction by a spot weld.In the hot junction of this invention the weld is replaced by a conductive refractory powder bridge so that the thermocouple conductor elements do not have to be joined. Each thermocouple conductor element is located in a leg of a quartz glass U-tube and the refractory powder bridge is located in the base of the U-tube so that opposed ends of the conductor elements are embedded in the powder which forms a thermocouple junction.

Abstract: Improved thermoelectric device and process, comprising the high-temperature, vacuum bonding of a graphite contact and silicon-germanium thermoelectric element by the use of a low void, aluminum, metallurgical shim with low electrical resistance sandwiched therebetween.