US1008728A - Vacuum-tube electric apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

D. McF. MO0RE. VACUUM TUBE ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION TILED FEB. 7, 1906. I 1,008,728. Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET INVENTOR .Ddfll6/ //7' Fa f/0I1 001'8 BY WM WITNESSES."

A NORA/[Z5 1). MOE. MOORE. VACUUM TUBE ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB-7, 1906.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

A) WITNESSES:

lNl/E/VTOR .Darnel m Er/nn [floor-e.

1 Arron/v55 1). MOE. MOORE. VACUUM. TUBE ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION IILED FEB-7, 1906.

Patented Nov. 14, 1911.

3 BHEETB-SHEET 3.

WITNESSES:

1,008,1i28. J y

- UNI ED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DANIEL MoFARLAN Moons, or uuwhnx, NEW JERSEY, nssrenon T Moons. ELEC- TRICAL coMrANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y., A conronn'rlou'or NEW YORK.='

VACUUM-TUBE ELECTRIC ArrAnA'rUs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 14., 1911'.

To all tvhom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, DANIEL MCFARLAN Moons, a citizenof the United States, and resident of Newark, in the county of Essex and State "of New Jersey, with ,post-oflice address 52 Lawrence street, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vacuum-TubeElectric Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to vacuum tube or vaporelectric lamps, vacuum or vapormectifiers, X-ray tubes, vacuum: oscillographs, wireless telegraph receivers and other devices which are provided with suit able electric terminals-whereby electric energy may be passedthrough the gaseous contents of the tube for any'purpose and which. generally may be classified under the head of vacuum tubes.

In a previous application for patent filed by me Aug. 21st, 1905, I have described a method of maintaining a practically uniform gaseous condition within avacuum tube by feeding gas from a source of gas under pressure in a determinate regulated amount into the tube through a restricted opening or openings or by means of a valve automatically governed by'changes in the gaseous condition within the tube. As described in said application, the gas is fed from a pipe sealed to the tube at any point, although, I have shown it as consisting of a single feed tube connected to the vacuum tube at or about the middle thereof in order to secure a more uniform distribution 'of the gas than would be possible if the connection were made near one end only.

My present invention consists among other things in feedingthe gas into the tube at both ends thereof near the electrodes or in the case of a tube of great length to feed the gas into the tube at a number of points,

in order that there may be a more even dis- 'tribution of thegas fed into said tube.

.To prevent a short-circuiting of the electric energy through the gas feedtubethe terminals of which are connected to the tube at points across which a considerable difi'erence of potential exists, I interpose in' said gas column. finely divided non-conducting material either in solid or loose state, but preferably consisting ofa mass of granular material, said material being pervious to the gas. When such material is provided, find that the tendency to short My invention consists further in certain details of construction and combinations of apparatus hereinafter more particularly describedand then specified-in the claims.

. For the purpose of setting forth my invention, I shall describe the-same as applied to a vacuum tube lamp into which gas is fed at both ends.

in size one-half. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same i 85 the circuits and apparatus in one of its apparatus. Fig. 4is a general diagram of forms. Fig." 5 is a general diagram illustrating a modification of the circuits. Figs.

6, 7 and 8 show. in detail various devlces that may be used for positively determining the rate of flow of gas into the tube without the use of any automatic valve action, but in a manner to maintain a practically uniform gaseous condition within the tube. Fig. 9 shows a modification wherein the valve is worked by changes in the magnetic condition of the transformer, which supplies electric energy to the tube. Fig. 10

shows another form of valve which may be employed for feeding vacuum tube.

1 indicates the tube of glass containing air or other gas or vapor to be maintained in constant condition as to tension orother quality and which gas or vapor in the case 105 of a vacuum tube lamp is rendered lum1- nous by the passage of the electric energy.

The electrodes 2 are shown as internal electrodes, but might be external and are located within enlarged terminals of the tube 110 air or other gas to the 1. Said terminals together'with the transformer or other devices supplyin high tension 'energy tothe 'tube are'inc osed in a suitable insulating and'fireroof box or casing- 18 from which the'tube 1 of glass projects and extends: to any desired distance and in any desired direction. 3 isa secondary of the transformer supplying high tension energy to thetube and at aprimarycone,

nected'to alternating current mains ,5. The

invention is notfhowever, limited to tubes run by alternating currents, but isalso applicable totubes operated by continuous currents. The terminals of the tube may besupported within casing 18 by suitableclips 19 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

H 20 is a tank located preferably inthebox 18 and containing. nitrogen or other gas according to the character of light desired.

Tank-20 is connected by a flexible or other pipe 21 with the vacuum tube through 'devices for feeding the gas from the tank in the determinate or regulatedamount neces-' sary for keeping the gaseous tensionwithin the tube constant. I v

22 is achamber also by preference located in box 18 and containing an airdrier such for instance as chlorid of calcium, and a filtering material such. for instance as cotton packed in the 'ends of the chamber and inclosing'the chlorid of calcium. Airm'ay be takenthrough said chamber 22'and stopcock 23 to a flexible pipe 21 from which'it may be deliveredin the regulated amount to the vacuum tube as will be desired. Ob-

' viou'sly the air drier might be placed at any 69' -said energymay tend to pass without circu-lating through the vacuum tube. Said desired point in the connections leading from the source of gas to the tube.

6 is a tube into which the air or gas is slowly and gradually fed and. fromwhich it passes into the vacuum tube'l at any'desired point or points. It is desirable to feed the air or gas into the vacuum tube .at both ends thereof, especially when said tube is' of great length in orderto obtain a uni-- formity of gaseous condition throughout .the tube and prevent it," in the case of a lamp, from being brighter at one end than at the other. To accomplish this, the tube 6 branches into'the'tubes J6 connected to the vacuum tube as shownwithin the box 18.

When the tube 1 is of great length, there would be a tendency to diversion of the elect'ric energy from one terminal of the vacuum tube to the other through the comparatively short length of tubing 6, whoseendsconnect at points between which there is a great difference of electrical potential. To avoid jtl lis, a mass of material 24 pervious to gas is located in the gas passage through which Q,.- i1i'ateria-l.f24 may be solid or sub wide Imechanically, but is preferably a ar material-of an insulating character such for instance as fine beach sand. This material is .pervious to the air or gas but acts to prevent the diversion of the electric energy through the connecting tubes 6'. It also acts'to prevent the high poten- 70 tial's from working back from the vacuum tube through the feed tube or tubes to the valve and tank. A packing 26 of fibrous 1 material, preferably glass fiber, may be used to" reta-inthe sand'or other granular materia'l in place. The feedingof the air-or gas into the tube6 in the requisite amount or at the desired rate may be produced by'the use of a valve acting to close or open a port or passage, one or more in number, and said port' or passage or passages may be through a mass of porous material, immersed in a liquid like mercury,'whose level is changed to produce a valve action or said valve may be a valve com osed wholly of solid material as will be presently described- The slowor regulated feed may also be produced by permitting the air or gas to flow or percolate constantly through a mass of porous material or1through a minute opening or leak of any character as for instance at the edge of the port in a plug or tapered yalve,-whose faces are well oiledso as to secure the presence of a film of oil for the gas to pass through. V

In .case the feed of the gas is controlled by valve action, 'the following valve construction may be used: 7 is amass of porous material] preferably consisting of rather 1 dense arc light carbon. The denser the carbon, the less: the length of the mass 7 through which the gas is required to pass.

The mass 7 is seated as a stopper in the end 7 of a tube 8 joined to tube 6 and located in a chamber 9', preferably of glass, forming avalve chamber with which tube 21 or 21 connects: In-fthechamber 9 is a body of liquid such as mercury surrounding the .mass of porous material 7 and leaving the H0 upper -terminal of the same exposed or adapted to be exposed by a slight change of level of the liquld 11 brought about inany desired ,way, as for instance, by the operation of a plunger or liquid displacer 10 imthrough which gas under pressure may leak into and through the mass 7. As indicated in Fig. 6, the mass might have its'tip' constantly -exposed, the minute "leakage being determined by the small size of the tip and the length of the mass. "It is preferred to may be 120 works in the samebody of liquid in which the tip of the valve proper is located and .is exposed to the same pressure of incoming gas, it is obvious that any changes in such pressure will not affect the height of the liquid so as to disturb the adjustment of the valve and the same will, therefore, work in a uniform manner in response to the action of the magnet and irrespective of variations in the pressure of the body of gas constituting the source of supply.

The displacer 10, Fig. 1, may be operated by means of an. electromagnet 16, the laminated core of which indicated at 12, is held in a tubular extension of the tubular displacer 10 by a contraction 13. The tube or chamber 9 is supported within the casing 18 by clips 17 An adjustment of the vertical position of the displacer to determine the extent to which the tip of the mass 7 shall be normally exposed above the level of the liquid may be secured by adjusting the position of the coil 16 of the electromagnet vertically on the tube 9 by means of a screw 15. Mercury is preferred because it forms an efl'cctivc air seal and does not clog the pores of the porous mass 7.

The automatic action of the valve thus constructed and in response to change of gaseous condition within the tube 1 may be obtained by connecting the electromagnet 16 to theelectric circuit of the lamp either by placing it in the primary connection from the constant potential mains 5 as shown in Fig. 4 or by connecting it into the secondary circuit of the transformer as shown in Fig. 5. As is well known, there is a critical tension or degree of vacuum in the tube at which the resistance to the passage of electric energy through the gas from one elec-; trode to the other of the tube is at its lowest. If the vacuum increases beyond this critical point, the resistance increases below ithe degree of vapor or gastension at which the resistance and current change from a decreasing value of resistance and increasdegree of vacuum should be maintained as near as possible to the point where the resistance is least, "though sufiiciently below such point to avoid the possibility of changes of tension extending over to the degree where the resistance will increase with an'increase of the vacuum. When then the vacuum in the lamp becomes slightly higher through continued action of the electric energy upon the gaseous contents, and the resistance decreases, slightly more current flows through the magnet which thereupon causes the height of the liquid level to fall by lifting the displacer 10. This permits mg value of current, but for economy the gasto flow through the tip of the plug or pencil 7 into the lamp until the normal gaseous condition therein is restored so that the magnet will let the displacer 10 fall a am.

The transformer may be either what is known as the core type as shown in Fig. 9 or the-shell type as indicated in. Fig. 10 and may be supported in a frame 37 within the casing 18. The core 12 which operates the valve. instead of being "operated by a coil 16 independent of the transformer, may be operated by changes of magnetic condition in the transformer itself as indicated in these Figs. 9 and 10 in which cases it is located in an opening or partial break in -the magnetic circuit 29 of the transformer and is lifted by any increase in the lines of force flowing; By this means thetransformer'is made to operate also as an effective steadying inductance since the increased current flow through the tube, which brings the core 12 into action tooperate the valve, also produces an increase inth'e self-inductance of the transformer itself thereby cutting down the flow of current to the tube.

In Fig. 10 a simple form of valve having no liquid is shown. 32 is a plug of brass or other metal closing the end of tube 6, through which air may be fed to the vacuum tube. Said plug 32 is centrally perforated and the mouth of the perforation is closed when no air flows by a disk 33 which is made spring 40 aided by gravity to close the valve.

Screw 41 adjusts the action of the spring. The valve is opened by increase in the mag netic lift upon the core 12. The frame 30 attached tothe core 29 supports plug 32. and guides. As shown the device feeds air but by inclosing the parts to form a valve cham her and connecting said chamber with a tank, any desired gas may be fed to tube 6 and to the vacuum tube.

Referring to Fig. 1 and the form of valve shown therein, it will be'obvious that the constancy of condition in the tube 1 can be maintained by an adjustment of the parts such that each excursion 0f theplunger to and fro will result in an uncovering and complete covering of the tip of the plug or the tip may be at all times exposed and the action be by an increase and decrease of thetube, as a whore, inverted,,or by other means the mercury v11 isremoved. This permits the gas pressure to become'high up to the "stop-cock 25. When the lamp is again set up .for use after shipment, the correct amount'of mercury is first'poured into the glass tube 9 and thenthe stop-cock 25 is very gradually opened, that is, by slowstages, so, that the tube gradually uses up the air'which was entrapped between the bottom of theflporousplug. 7 and the st0pcook 25. After it is all'used up, which can j" be determinedin .a number of .ways, but

principally by the appearance of'the light, the stop-cock will be turned-on full, and the feeding of the gas to thetubewill then become automatic, as before described. [The-f gradual adjusted flow maybe obtained without movement of the valve-by using a stopbe near to the edge 'of the port in the valvecock 28, Fig. 7 and setting the sameso that the edge of the port running through it will body, so as .to 1 permit an extremely slight leak through the film'of oil or grease onthe adjacent surfaces, a slow. and continuous flow of gas in the requisite amount to maintain the standard gaseous condition inthe tube may be produced. The same action mightbe secured by the peculiar form of valve shown in.Fig. 8 in which the port or 'holecorresponding to port is packed with 34 indicates an mductive resistance inter- Q posed preferably inthe primary circuit of the transformer {for the purpose .of steadying the light. This inductive'resistance is supported in a frame 36 within the casing 18 and-is of the shell type. 'Its' two coils 3'5 arein-series with one another and'are wound to produoea consequent pole between tliem in the core or portion of the core to which they are applied, and are adjustable to and By this adjustment to from one another. vary the magnetic leakage the self inductive effectof the coils may-be varied and the in- -York and State of New York this I As shown in Fig. 9 thev steadying resistance, the transformer and the means for actuating the valve may be combined in one instrument. By locating the gas tank,-which' is preferably of metal, within the casing 18,

the danger of fire or of damage from contact with said tank arising from accidental working back of the high potentials through the' tubes or passages connecting the vacuum tube and tank, is effectually avoided. The said box or casing 18 is in fact a danger proof box or case and by the location of the transformer and other parts which may have the required high potential of its secondary within said box, the apparatus is made to meet .therequirements. of fire underwriters and is free from objection on the score of possible fire -or harm touching the parts. 7

In the foregoing descritpion and in the claims appended,'ttl 1e term gas is to be understood, as including the aeriformucom dition of any solid or liquid and commonly admission of the gas by an automatic Valve to persons.

action controlled through changes of the gas or vapor tension within the tube. 7

2. The combination wit "a vacuum tube operated by alternating currents, of a steadying inductance of the shell type hav ing a pair of coils adjustable with relation to oneanother on the magnetic circuit of the inductance, as and for the purpose described. Signed at New :York in the county of New 22d day of January D. 1906. Y

T DANIEL MCFARLAN Moons:

Witnesses:

' O. T. TISCHNER, Jr.,

LILLIAN Bnom).

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