US1839502A - Fluid electrode electric discharge device - Google Patents
Fluid electrode electric discharge device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US1839502A US1839502A US91755A US9175526A US1839502A US 1839502 A US1839502 A US 1839502A US 91755 A US91755 A US 91755A US 9175526 A US9175526 A US 9175526A US 1839502 A US1839502 A US 1839502A
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- discharge device
- cathode
- electric discharge
- electrode electric
- fluid electrode
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
Links
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 title description 8
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 10
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 10
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 8
- QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N mercury Chemical compound [Hg] QSHDDOUJBYECFT-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 238000009833 condensation Methods 0.000 description 5
- 230000005494 condensation Effects 0.000 description 5
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 5
- 229910052753 mercury Inorganic materials 0.000 description 5
- 150000001875 compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 3
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 229910000497 Amalgam Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 229910052792 caesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- TVFDJXOCXUVLDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N caesium atom Chemical compound [Cs] TVFDJXOCXUVLDH-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000011521 glass Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000010438 heat treatment Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000000737 periodic effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052701 rubidium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- IGLNJRXAVVLDKE-UHFFFAOYSA-N rubidium atom Chemical compound [Rb] IGLNJRXAVVLDKE-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- 241000282326 Felis catus Species 0.000 description 1
- FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N Magnesium Chemical compound [Mg] FYYHWMGAXLPEAU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Potassium Chemical compound [K] ZLMJMSJWJFRBEC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000007792 addition Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052783 alkali metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 150000001340 alkali metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 229910052784 alkaline earth metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052788 barium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N barium atom Chemical compound [Ba] DSAJWYNOEDNPEQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 238000010276 construction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052749 magnesium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011777 magnesium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002736 metal compounds Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052700 potassium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011591 potassium Substances 0.000 description 1
- 230000005855 radiation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 229910052712 strontium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- CIOAGBVUUVVLOB-UHFFFAOYSA-N strontium atom Chemical compound [Sr] CIOAGBVUUVVLOB-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000009466 transformation Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
- H01J13/00—Discharge tubes with liquid-pool cathodes, e.g. metal-vapour rectifying tubes
- H01J13/02—Details
- H01J13/32—Cooling arrangements; Heating arrangements
Definitions
- the cathode drop a loss of voltage which varies with the distance between the anode and the cathode, and the anode drop.
- the voltage drop in the rectifier means 29 a loss in the transformation ofthe energy in the device.
- the loss of voltage in the container is reduced by adding metals or their compounds to the fluid cathode, whereby the electron emission of the cathode is increased.
- the increase in the electron emission is a consequence of the decreased loss of voltage, or the decreased work of emission, when the electrons leave the 30 fluid electrode and enter the discharge chamher.
- All of the metals of the first and second groups of the periodic system that is, the alkali metals and the alkali earth metals, or their compounds, have been found particularly adapted for this purpose.
- Such metals are, for example, barium, strontium, potassium, magnesium, caesium, and rubidium.
- the last two metals, caesium and rubidium are very well adapted for use as additions to a mercury cathode.
- the materials may be added'to the mercury in pure metallic form so that they will form an amalgam with the mercury.
- the added materials may com-.
- the relative amount of the added material is preferably so chosen that the emissivity of even exceed the normal temperature in the condensing chamber.
- special means for maintaining the temperature of the condensation chamber and of the cathode higher than-is the case in the usual uncooled discharge device Special heating means may be provided which will heat the condensation chamber and the cathode, and the discharge device may also be surrounded by a heatinsulating material which prevents a too rapid radiation of the heat produced within the container.
- Our invention consists in the details of construction and combinations hereinafter more particularly described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a preferred con- I struction illustrating the application of our invention to a rectifier.
- a glass container 1 of a mercuryvapor rectifier is of the usual shape, and is provided with anode arms 2, the mercury cathode 3 being amalgamated with one of the above-mentioned metals of the first and second groups.
- the glass vessel is surrounded by a heat-insulating cover member 4, and a heating means, in the form of a spiral wire 5, is provided directly on the container 1.
- the admixture of metals of the first and second groups to the fluid cathode has also the advantage that the mixtures are resent in the metal vapor between the cat ode and anode. Consequently, the exciting potential of this metal vapor is reduced, and thus the loss of'voltage in the rectifier is still further decreased. It is possible, therefore, in such devices, to make the distance between the cathode and the anodes larger than ordinarily. This has the further advantage that the safety against back fire is increased.
- the anode arms 2 can be made materially longer than usual. Consequently, the path for back fires is increased by double the amount by which the anode arms are lengthened.
- Our new apparatus may also be utilized in discharge devices which have no definite cathodes, as in devices serving for the passage of alternating currents.
- a vapor electric device comprising an electrode composed of a liquid amalgam of mercury and material from the group comprising the first and second groups of the periodic table of elements, two solid electrodes, and means adapted to reduce the rate of heat outflow from said device, except in the vicinity of said solid electrodes.
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- Hybrid Cells (AREA)
Description
jafil- 1932- R. RUDENBERG ET AL 1,839,502
FLUID ELECTRODE ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed March 2, 1926 WITNESSES: INVENTOR w BY ,ATORE Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENTQOFFICE REINHOLD RUDENBERG, OF IBERLIN-GBUNEWALD, AND RUDOLF G. BERTHOLD, OF
BERLIN-SIEMENSSTADT. AND KARL DONA'I' AND WERNER ESPE, OF BERLIN- CHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 8a MANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,-A CORPORATION FLUID ELECTRODE ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICE Application filed March 2, 1926, Serial No. 91,755, and in Germany May 22 1925.
izes very quickly at the point where the arc touches the cathode, and returns along the walls of the container in fluid form after condensation. It is known that such devices have a predetermined voltage drop, depending upon the voltage drop in the fluid cathode,
or the cathode drop, a loss of voltage which varies with the distance between the anode and the cathode, and the anode drop. The voltage drop in the rectifier, however, means 29 a loss in the transformation ofthe energy in the device.
According to our invention, the loss of voltage in the container is reduced by adding metals or their compounds to the fluid cathode, whereby the electron emission of the cathode is increased. The increase in the electron emission is a consequence of the decreased loss of voltage, or the decreased work of emission, when the electrons leave the 30 fluid electrode and enter the discharge chamher.
All of the metals of the first and second groups of the periodic system, that is, the alkali metals and the alkali earth metals, or their compounds, have been found particularly adapted for this purpose. Such metals are, for example, barium, strontium, potassium, magnesium, caesium, and rubidium. Especially the last two metals, caesium and rubidium, are very well adapted for use as additions to a mercury cathode. The materials may be added'to the mercury in pure metallic form so that they will form an amalgam with the mercury.
It is also possible, however, to add compounds of these metals to the fluid cathode.
Obviously, the added materials may com-.
prise any desired number of different metals. The relative amount of the added material is preferably so chosen that the emissivity of even exceed the normal temperature in the condensing chamber. In order to make complete condensation possible, in such a case, and to obtain a good return flow of the condensate into the cathode chamber, it has been found preferable to utilize special means for maintaining the temperature of the condensation chamber and of the cathode higher than-is the case in the usual uncooled discharge device. Special heating means may be provided which will heat the condensation chamber and the cathode, and the discharge device may also be surrounded by a heatinsulating material which prevents a too rapid radiation of the heat produced within the container.
Our invention consists in the details of construction and combinations hereinafter more particularly described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, the single figure of which is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a preferred con- I struction illustrating the application of our invention to a rectifier.
In theiillustrated embodiment of our invention, a glass container 1 of a mercuryvapor rectifier is of the usual shape, and is provided with anode arms 2, the mercury cathode 3 being amalgamated with one of the above-mentioned metals of the first and second groups. In order to make possible a certain condensation,-on the one hand, and a maintenance of the heated state of the metal compound, on the other hand, the glass vessel is surrounded by a heat-insulating cover member 4, and a heating means, in the form of a spiral wire 5, is provided directly on the container 1. Y
The admixture of metals of the first and second groups to the fluid cathode has also the advantage that the mixtures are resent in the metal vapor between the cat ode and anode. Consequently, the exciting potential of this metal vapor is reduced, and thus the loss of'voltage in the rectifier is still further decreased. It is possible, therefore, in such devices, to make the distance between the cathode and the anodes larger than ordinarily. This has the further advantage that the safety against back fire is increased. For example, as shown in the drawing, the anode arms 2 can be made materially longer than usual. Consequently, the path for back fires is increased by double the amount by which the anode arms are lengthened.
Our new apparatus may also be utilized in discharge devices which have no definite cathodes, as in devices serving for the passage of alternating currents.
We claim as our invention:
In combination with a vapor electric device comprising an electrode composed of a liquid amalgam of mercury and material from the group comprising the first and second groups of the periodic table of elements, two solid electrodes, and means adapted to reduce the rate of heat outflow from said device, except in the vicinity of said solid electrodes. 7
In testimony whereof we aifix our signatures.
REINHOLD RUDENBE'RG. RUDOLF G. BERTHOLD. KARL DONAT.
WERNER ESPE.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE1839502X | 1925-05-22 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US1839502A true US1839502A (en) | 1932-01-05 |
Family
ID=7745509
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US91755A Expired - Lifetime US1839502A (en) | 1925-05-22 | 1926-03-02 | Fluid electrode electric discharge device |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US1839502A (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2648024A (en) * | 1946-02-20 | 1953-08-04 | Us Navy | Heat retaining means for hydrogen thyratron |
US3113209A (en) * | 1959-09-16 | 1963-12-03 | Shimula Yoshihiro | High temperature furnace for X-ray diffractometer |
US3430081A (en) * | 1964-12-02 | 1969-02-25 | Us Air Force | Mercury vapor for magnetohydrodynamic generators |
US4520290A (en) * | 1982-10-29 | 1985-05-28 | Cherry Electrical Products Corporation | Gas discharge display with built-in heater |
US4692655A (en) * | 1985-11-14 | 1987-09-08 | Dale Electronics, Inc. | Plasma display having heater and method of making same |
-
1926
- 1926-03-02 US US91755A patent/US1839502A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2648024A (en) * | 1946-02-20 | 1953-08-04 | Us Navy | Heat retaining means for hydrogen thyratron |
US3113209A (en) * | 1959-09-16 | 1963-12-03 | Shimula Yoshihiro | High temperature furnace for X-ray diffractometer |
US3430081A (en) * | 1964-12-02 | 1969-02-25 | Us Air Force | Mercury vapor for magnetohydrodynamic generators |
US4520290A (en) * | 1982-10-29 | 1985-05-28 | Cherry Electrical Products Corporation | Gas discharge display with built-in heater |
US4692655A (en) * | 1985-11-14 | 1987-09-08 | Dale Electronics, Inc. | Plasma display having heater and method of making same |
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