GB730624A - Plasma conservation thyratron - Google Patents

Abstract

730,624. Thermionic valves. RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA. Aug. 10, 1953 [Aug. 26, 1952J, No. 22014/53. Class 39 (1). In a gas-filled discharge tube, solid conductive extended portions of the anode and/or the control electrode serve to provide a completely enclosed region for the plasma discharge, except for minimal inter-electrode clearance. The tubes described are plasma thyratrons, and the construction of the invention enables the plasma to be conserved more efficiently during the conductive period, and also dissipated more quickly during the non-conductive period. In Fig. 2, the cathode 12 is surrounded coaxially by the control electrode, formed by a cylindrical array of rods 14, bounded by end collars 35. A pair of end plates 18, 19 abut against the inside surfaces of mica spacers 22, 23, being connected to the grid wires and extending almost to the cathode. The surrounding anode 16, which may have inwardly-extending fins, is similarly connected to end-plates 20, 21. In the modi- . fication of Fig. 3, the grid comprises a number of U-shaped members 14<SP>1</SP>, all joined at their centre-point, the anode being a dome-ended member 161. In this arrangement there is only one mica spacer 23, with end plates 19<SP>1</SP>, 21<SP>1</SP> as previously. The inter-electrode gaps between cathode and control electrode plates, and between the latter and the anode plates, may contain insulating members. The thyratron described may be used in an inverter circuit such as Fig. 6 (not shown). Fig. 7 (not shown) compares graphically the performance of the tube with prior tubes.