US1631085A - Electrical apparatus - Google Patents

Description

May 3L 192?o 1,631,085

T. w. CASE ELECTRI CAL APPARATUS Filed Avril 16, 1923 Patented May 31, 1927.

flHEOIDORE WILLARD CASE, OF AUBURN, NEW YORK.

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS.

Application filed April 16, 1923. Serial No. 632,496.

This invention relates to a new and improved electrical apparatus, particularly adapted for translating sound waves into light waves or variations of light waves which can be efficiently photographed or reproduced upon a film, thereby constitutlng a translatable film record of sound waves, particularly articulate or musical sound waves. 7

I have produced and my invention includes as a separable element, an instantane nus varying light source of a most efiicient character, highly actiuic for photographic purposes and operable with comparatively low voltage, and peculiarly adapted for the production of a clear, distinct and read ly translatable photograph of electrical variaations, especially as effected by variatlons in sound Waves.

Other objects and advantages relate to the details of the apparatus, all as will more fully appear from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a diagrammatic illustration of an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic illustration of another embodiment of my invention.

Figure 3 illustrates a somewhat different form of hook-up.

The apparatus as shown comprises a microphone 1- connected in circuit with a source of potential, as battery 2 and the primary ,-3 of atransformer 4,

the secondary 5 of which is connected in circuit with the filament 6- and grid -7- of an electron-discharge device :8-, the plate '9 of which is connected in circuit with a source of potential, as battery -10--, the primary 11 of a transformer -12- and the filament 6- of the electron-discharge device.

The filament --6 may be heated in any suitable manner, as by connection in circuit with the source of potential, as battery -9A. The secondary -13 of the transformer -12 is preferably connected in circuit with a source of potential, as battery 17 and the two spaced electrodes 14- and 15 disposed within the bulb 16- which may, perhaps, preferably be formed of glass with a quartz end through which the rays pass to the photographing apparatus. The electrodes may be of any desired form and as here illustrated, the electrode l4.- 1 s 1n the form of a comparatively small cylmder which may perhaps preferably be formed of a materialsuch as aluminum to reduce the cathode sputtering and consequent darkening of the glass or quartz endplece of the bulb 16.

Preferably the electrodes are arranged in close proximity, as for instance, a distance of about th to %th of an inch, altho wide variation may be had in that respect.

The essential feature of this invention re- SKlGS particularly in the means provided for effecting operation of this bulb with comparatively low voltage, and further in the production of a variable light highly actinic for photographic purposes, and this is effected in accordance with the invention here disclosed by coating one or both of the electrodes with a rare earth oxide, such as thorium, cerium, etc, which materials in the combination here disclosed accomplish the object of this invention.

My present experience leads me to believe that the advantages of this invention are attained by reason of the fact that the coating material consisting of or comprising a rare earth oxide as described, gives off electrons at room temperature under an impressed voltage whereby the operation of the lamp can be effected with comparatively low voltage in the production of a light highly actinic for' photographic purposes, and the lamp is capable of carrying a much greater current when once in operation as compared with a lamp in which such a coating is not present. Also the character of the light is etter.

The bulb 16 should contain an easily ionizable gas, such as preferably helium, altho argon or other gases may be used, and by the expression an easily ionizable gas, as used in the specification and claims hereof, I do not mean to limit myself to one particular character of gas, but rather use the expression as illustrative of any easily ionizable gas, whether it be of a single kind or character, or a combination or mixture of gases, as for instance, helium and argon.

The light produced by the lamp of this invention is highly concentrated, and may, if desired, be made of very small size particularly desirable for photographic purposes when a lens -19- is used for focusing the lightv upon a film -l8 moving past the relatively small orifice 23- in the usual manner of photographin As before stated, the electrode 14-- is here shown in the form of a small cylinder, as for instance was of an inch in diameter, and preferably the interior only of the cylinder is coated with a rare earth oxide or oxides. The electrode 15 may perhaps preferably, as shown, terminate near the base of the cylinder or may, if desired extend some distance into the cylinder.

In F igure 2 a structure is shown substantially similar to that illustrated in Figure 1, except that the electrode 15 is Shown in the form of a filament so that if desired,

the same may be heated in any usual manner, as by a source of potential (not shown) or may be used as an unheated electrode in former -12 is omitted and the electrodes -1-'1 and -15- are connected directly in circuit with the plate 9- and filament -6 of the electron-discharge device -8.

As heretofore stated, it is In present opinion that the advantages of his invention are attained by reason of the fact that one or both of the electrodes is coated with a rare earth oxide that gives off electrons under an impressed voltage, but the operation of this coating may be of some other character and may not be due entirely or at all to the emission of electrons, and for that reason I do not desire to state positively the exact method of operation of the lamp, but limit my positive description to the fact that advanta' es are attained by the apparatus as described without regard to the particular reasons therefor, and I do not desire to limit myself to the form, shape or arrangement of the electrodes or any particular method of applying the coating of rare earth oxide or oxides, as various changes may be made Without departing from the invention as setforth in the appended claims.

I claim 1. In an apparatus for producing a photographic record of light variations corresponding to electrical variations, a bulb containing a pair of electrodes spaced apart a distance not greater than one inch, and the negative one of said electrodes comprising a rare earth oxide, and a gas within the bulb at such a pressure that an intense concentrated glow is produced about the negative electrode.

2. In an apparatus for producing a photographic record of light wave variations corresponding to electrical variations, a bulb containing a pair of unheated electrodes in an atmosphere of an inert gas at. such a pressure that a glow is concentrated about the negative electrode at operating voltage, and the negative one of said electrodes comprising a rare earth oxide.

3. In an apparatus for producing a photographic record of light wave variations corresponding to electrical variations, a bulb containing a pair of unheated electrodes in an atmosphere of helium at. such a pressure that a glow is conotmtrated about the negative electrode at operating voltage, and the negative one of said electrodes comprising a rare earth oxide.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26th day of March, 1923.

THEODORE WILLARD CASE.

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