Apparatus for manufacturing thermoelectric module

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10553772-B2
Application number	US-201615156685-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 17, 2016
Priority date	Mar 29, 2016
Publication date	Feb 4, 2020
Grant date	Feb 4, 2020

Abstract

An apparatus for manufacturing a thermoelectric module is provided. The apparatus includes a thermoelectric element interposed between a lower substrate that includes a lower electrode and an upper substrate that includes an upper electrode. Additionally, the apparatus includes a first block that is configured to support the lower substrate and a second block that is configured to move vertically with respect to the first block and support the upper substrate. A jig is configured to position the thermoelectric element in connection with the upper electrode and the lower electrode.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for manufacturing a thermoelectric module in which a thermoelectric element is disposed between a lower substrate with a lower electrode and an upper substrate with an upper electrode, the apparatus comprising:
a first block configured to support the lower substrate;
a second block configured to move vertically with respect to the first block and support the upper substrate;
a jig configured to position the thermoelectric element in connection with the upper electrode and the lower electrode;
a shielding wall installed on an exterior side surface of the first block and the second block;
a first heater embedded within the first block, the first heater configured to apply heat to a first bonding material disposed between the lower electrode and the thermoelectric element; and
a second heater embedded within the second block, the second heater configured to apply heat to a second bonding material disposed between the upper electrode and the thermoelectric element,
wherein the first heater extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lower substrate, and the second heater extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the upper substrate,
wherein the first block has a seating groove configured to receive the lower substrate, and
wherein the first block has a guide portion formed to protrude around the seating groove.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the jig includes a slot to receive the thermoelectric element.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the jig includes a plurality of jigs vertically arranged, and the slots of the plurality of jigs are arranged to intersect with each other at a predetermined angle and the slots have an overlapping area with each other.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the second block has a seating groove configured to receive the upper substrate.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a guide structure configured to guide a vertical movement of the second block is installed between the first block and the second block, and the guide structure has a one guide bar that extends in an upward direction from the first block and a guide aperture formed in the second block.

6. An apparatus for manufacturing a thermoelectric module including a lower substrate, a lower electrode, a thermoelectric element, an upper electrode, and an upper substrate, the apparatus comprising:
a first block configured to support the lower substrate;
a second block spaced apart from an upper part of the first block and configured to press the upper substrate to the lower substrate;
a jig configured to position the thermoelectric element between the first block and the second block and retain the positioned state thereof;
a first heater embedded within the first block, the first heater configured to apply heat to a first bonding material disposed between the lower electrode and the thermoelectric element;
a second heater embedded within the second block, the second heater configured to apply heat to a second bonding material disposed between the upper electrode and the thermoelectric element; and
a shielding wall installed on an exterior side surface of the first block and the second block,
wherein the first heater extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lower substrate, and the second heater extends in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of the upper substrate,
wherein the first block has a seating groove configured to receive the lower substrate, and
wherein the first block has a guide portion formed to protrude around the seating groove.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the jig includes a first jig having a first slot that extends along a first direction and a second jig having a second slot that extends along a second direction, and the first jig and the second jig are arranged to intersect the first slot and the second slot with each other at a predetermined angle.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein both ends of the first jig include a pair of first steps configured to be inserted into an edge of the second jig.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein both ends of the second jig are provided with a pair of second steps configured to be inserted into an edge of the first jig.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Han Saem
• Lee Jong Kook
• Song Kyong Hwa
• Kim Byung Wook
• Kwak Jin Woo
• Kim Gyung Bok
• Lyo In Woong

Classifications

• H01L35/32

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L35/08

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H01L35/34 Primary

  Electricity · mapped topic

• H10N10/80

  Constructional details · CPC title

• H10N10/17

  characterised by the structure or configuration of the cell or thermocouple forming the device · CPC title