US 12,114,571 B2
Clamp apparatus for energy harvesting
Girish S. Mali, Nashua, NH (US); and Burt Sacherski, Nashua, NH (US)
Assigned to SENSIA LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Sensia LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed on Sep. 24, 2019, as Appl. No. 16/580,809.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/886,688, filed on Aug. 14, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0050501 A1, Feb. 18, 2021
Int. Cl. H10N 10/80 (2023.01); H01L 25/10 (2006.01); H10N 10/17 (2023.01); H10N 10/817 (2023.01)
CPC H10N 10/80 (2023.02) [H01L 25/10 (2013.01); H10N 10/17 (2023.02); H10N 10/817 (2023.02)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for harvesting energy, the system comprising:
a frame having a fixed width, a fixed depth, a fixed length, and an open side opposite a close side, wherein the frame is a single continuous piece and comprises:
a top;
a left side extending orthogonally from a first edge of the top; and
a right side extending orthogonally from a second edge of the top, the left side and the right side fixed relative to the top and each other, and wherein:
the open side is configured to receive an elongated object within the frame,
the frame extends longitudinally along the elongated object for the length of the frame,
an interior planar surface of the left side faces an interior planar surface of the right side to receive the elongated object within the frame;
a first block coupled to the frame and extending longitudinally for at least a portion of the length of the frame;
a second block coupled to the frame and extending longitudinally for at least a portion of the length of the frame, wherein the first block and the second block are pivotal relative to the top, the left side, and the right side;
at least one thermoelectric device mounted to one of the first block and the second block;
a first mount located on the frame and displaced from the open side of the frame; and
a second mount located on the frame and displaced from the open side of the frame, wherein:
the first block and the second block operatively engage the elongated object when the elongated object is inserted within the frame to positively retain the frame to the elongated object,
the at least one thermoelectric device is operative to generate electric energy from thermal energy present within the elongated object,
the first block is pivotally connected to the frame by the first mount,
the second block is pivotally connected to the frame by the second mount, and
the first and second block pivot apart from each other to receive the elongated object within the frame, wherein the first and second block each pivot relative to the entire frame.