US1296264A - Vapor-rectifier. - Google Patents

Description

n. E. CARPENTER.

VAPOR RECTIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9.1914.

1,296,264. Patented Mar. 4,1919.

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`WITNESSES: v u* INVENTOR 62u mz gif/ ATTORNEY TE sTA'rEs ATENE `o'EEroE.

DAVID E. CARPENTER, OF'WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VAN IA.

VAPOR-RECTIFIER.

Specication'of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 4, 1919.

Application 'led J une 9, 1914. Serial No. 843,943.

ing the permanency and steadiness ,of the arc when started.

In the accompanymg drawing, Figure 1 is a-view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a mercury vapor rectifier embodying my invention; and Fig. 2 is aview, in section, of a portion of a mercury vapor rectifier embodying a modified form of 'current supply.

As is well known in the art, the flow of an electric current throughv a gas or an evacuated space is possible only when said gas or said evacuated space contains ions or electrons. These ions or electrons are generally formed from the substance of one of the electrodes, generally the cathode Accordingly, the flow of current through a mercury Lamp or rectifier is possible because of the presence of ions or electrons from the body of mercury constituting the cathode, I have found that, with the extensive and complicated sy'stems of shielding now in use to prevent the throwing off of masses of molecular mercury from the body of the cathode and hence to prevent short circuiting between the anodes, 1t is difficult to obtain a suiiicient number of ions or electrons in the neighborhood of the lanodes, their free passage upward from the cathode being greatly obstructed by the tortuous path providedvforl the'arc. I have found that,by locating ion generating devices near the anodes and in proximity to points of inflection of the vapor arc, thus assuring a plentiful supply of ions at all portions on the vapor' path, a vapor rectifier may be started much more readily and its operation, when started, may'l be rendered much more stable during wide fluctuations of load and, of impressed voltage. Referring to the form of device shown in Fig. 1, 3'is a container of substantially gasralso serves to restrict t tight material,l such, for example, as drawn' steel. The container 3 is provided with a cover 4 and the two are joined by any suitable gas-tight seal. A pair ofv anodes 5 and (i project through thc coverinto the interior of the container 3 and are supported therefrom by insulating gas-tight seals 7 and 8. The anodes 5 and G are supplied with alternating current from a suitable source 9. A pool of mercury 10 in the bottom of the container serves as the cathode, and current is taken therefrom through the wall of the container to a connection 11 leading to a load 12. From the load 12, the rectified, current is returned by a wire 13 to the-mid point of the source 9, all as is well known in the art. A rod of conducting material 14 projects through thev cover' andis supported vtherefrom by an insulating gas-tight seal 15. The lower end of the rod 14 is adjacent the upper surface of the cathode pool so that, by the application of a moderately high voltage for starting or by the movement ofthe rod 14 into and out of the cathode pool, a keepalive arc of the ordinary type may be maln- 4separate the central portion ofthe cathode pool Vfrom the outer portions thereof and ie cathode activity to the central portion of the pool. A disk 17 of refractory material, such, for example, as iron, having an' opening 1S in the central portion thereof, rests upon the upper edge of the ring 16 and serves to still further confine the region of cathode activity. A frusto-conical shielding member 19 is supported from the disk 17 by anyysuitable means, such, for example, as arms 20. The

rod 14 is insulated from the member 19 by a bushing 21. A tube 22'of refractory insulating material, such, for example, as quartz surrounds the rod 14 and rests upon the member 19, shielding therod 14 from the vapor arc. Shielding members23 and 24, preferably constructed of conducting'material, are supported from the sealing devices 7 and 8 in any suitable manner and render the direct arcing p ath'between the anodes relatively long and tortuous, since the arcing openings 25 and 26Xface awayfromV each other. The breaking down` of the negative electrode reluctance of an anode is generally` caused by the impact thereupon of a body of molecular mercury thrownv off from the cathode by means of the cathode flame and, since the vapor are must rise through the opening 18, pass out under the-edge of the member 19 and pass through the openings 25 and 26,.

it is extremely difficult for any cathode particles to impinge directly upon the anodes.

l An electrode 27 projects through the r cover. and is insulated, throughout the greater part of its length, by an extension of an-insulating seal 28 or by any equivalent means. A Geissler-tube discharge is maintained between the lower end of the electrode 27 and the wall 4of the container by means of any suitable source of high-potential current, such, for example,'as an induction coil 29, the primary winding of which is energized from ar'battery 30 which may 'also supply current to the keep-alive anode 33 'and the mercury in the cup 21 by any suit- V14. A cup 31 Ais mounted on the wall of the container near the cathode and is insulated from the wall by insulating means32. Condensation from the wall will keep the cup 31 filled with mercury at all times. An

'auxiliary anode 33 is mounted adjacent the mercury in the cup as, for example, by an extension of the insulating means 32. An

ionizing arc is maintained between the'anode able source 34 through a full wire circuit 35. l*Having thus described the structureuand relative arrangement of the various ele- 1 lments of my device, the operation is as fol lows: By the application of high-potential,

high-frequency, current or by any other suitable Astarting method, small direct current arcs are initiated between the lower 'end of the rod 14 and the cathode pool 10 and between the anode 33 and the pool in member 31. A Geissler-tube discharge isalso initiated between the anode 27 and the wall of the container. By the operation of these discharges, the'interior of the container is filled with ions or electrons so that, upon.

supplying alternating current from the source 9, alternate waves will'ow from the anodes 5 'and '6,y and rectification 'will be initiated in the usual manner.

Cups, similar to the member 31, might be ldisposed throughout the container. to serve as sources of ionization -or meansmight be installed4 for maintaining Geissler discharges in' various parts of the container for providing ions, as desired. v Obviously, the

v number and arrangementl of -the ionicsources must be vadapted tothe specific sys'y i. tem of )shielding employed between 'the main'anodes and the main cathode.

l Referring to the form of mydevice shown in Fig. 2, 38`is the wall of a container, pref erably ,of steel; 3-9 is one ofthe main anodes `supported-therein and `4 is the cathode pool,

all as in the device of Fig. 1. Members 41, 42, 43 and 44 are similar in structure andin function to the corres onding members in Fig. l1. A cup shape member 45 of nonma etic material such for example as nic el alloy is weided tothe edges o an opening in the wall of the container 38, as shown at 46. A winding 47 is slipped over the outer surface of the cup shaped member 45 and connected to any suitable alternating current source. A cup shaped member 48 of magnetic material, laminated if desired, is slipped over the Winding 47 and attached to the container by any suitable means shown at 49. A laminated mushroom magnetic core member 50, carrying a plurality of windings 51,52 and 53, is mounted within the cup shaped member -45 and is entirely sealed within a container 54 of gas-ti ht material, such, for example, `as glass. neterminal of each of the windings 51, 52 and 53' is grounded on the wall of the container -by a wire 55. The' remaining terminal of the winding 51 is connected, by a-wire 56, tol an anode 57 vsupported adjacent the surface Having thus described the structure .of` Fig. 2, the operation is as follows: Upon suppl 'ng alternating current, to the winding 4 an alternating magnetic flux is set up through the core member 50,' the cup shaped member 48 and that portion of the container wall constituting the edges of the opening in which is welded the member 45. Electromotive forces of any'desiredamount are generated within the windings 51, 52, 53,

and the current flowing therefrom causes an arc between the anode 57 and the and causes `the filaments 58 and v59 to become pool 40 incandescent. Ions or electrons are accordingly generated in` great numbers within the container and, upon supplying analternating electromotive force through the main anodes, current flow and rectification will ensue. I Y

.The specific transforming device l45'54 employed for setting up currentflow ina plurality of separate circuits within a container vwithout the necessity of sealing al great number of wires through the walls of the container, with liability to leakage,

forms no part of my invention but-is sepa- .lrately described and claimedl in U. S. 1-"at-y ent No. 1,150,017, issued to Y) the Westingw house Electric & Manufacturing Company,

Aug. 17, 1915, on an application filed by David C. Davis. j Obviously, any other old and Well known means for generating ions by the current flow in the small auxiliary circuits of Fig. 2 may be employed.

While I .have shown my' invention in two specific embodiments, I do not wish it to be restricted to the specific forms shown, but desire that it be construed broadly to cover any and all means for generating ions or electrpns at a plurality of points within the container -of vacuum electric apparatus in order to promote theflow of current therethrough, and I desire that only such limitations shall be imposed upon my invention as are set forthin the acco panying claims., I claim as my invention:

A comprising an evacuated container and suitcomprising an evacuated container reventing 1. The combination with a vapor rectifier,

which points there are means preventing free ionic travel. Y

2. The combination with a Vaporrectiier,

and suitable/ working electrodes therein, of means independent of the main circuit for generating ions adjacent the main cathode, and means, also independent of the main circult, for generatin ions adjacent a main anode.

3. The com ination with a vapor rectifier, comprising an evacuated container and suitable Working electrodes therein,'of means, including an auxiliary circuit, for generating ions adjacent one portion of the main arc pathmeans, including lan auxlliary circuit, for generating ionsl adjacent another portion of the main arc path, and meansfor the flow of pulsating current rom one auxiliary circuit to the other.

vIn testimony w subscribed my name this 28th DAVID E. CARIJIENTER.

Witnesses:

G. R. GWIN,

B. B. HINES.

day of May hereof, Ihave hereunto

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