US1935423A

US1935423A - Electric discharge device

Info

Publication number: US1935423A
Application number: US335463A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry A Wayringer
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1929-01-28
Filing date: 1929-01-28
Publication date: 1933-11-14
Anticipated expiration: 1950-11-14
Also published as: DE496254C; FR688985A; GB347684A

Description

ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICE Fiied Jan. 28, 1929 Figl. T:

/a /7. Inventor:

, Hen H A'wagringer 20 WW His Attorney.

Patented Nov. 14, 1933 UNITED; STATES ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICE Henry A. Wayringer, Schenectady, N. Y., assignmto General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application January 28, 1929. Serial No. 335,463

6 Claims.

The present invention relates to gaseous discharge devices, such, for example, as lamps con- I taining neon, mercury vapor, or other gas, and

its object is to provide a continuoustube coiled upon itself having a single wall thickness where by a concentrated light source may be provided.

Heretofore, when concentrated gaseous discharge lamps have been desired, a tubular envelope has been coiled upon itself to form a compact body.

The coiling up of a tube, when consistmg of a *refractory glass, or fused quartz; is a tedious and difficult operation and the completed article has two wall thicknesses as well as idle space between adjacent turns or loops of the luminous discharge.

In accordance with my invention a more eflicient construction is provided for a luminous unit which not only is more easily fabricated but which also isless bulky and has but a single wall between adjacent turns. ll'he novel features of my improved construction are pointed out with particularity in the appended claims but in general my invention makes use of a container having partition walls forming sinuous passages therein.

The accompanying drawing shows in Fig. l in side elevation a' projector containing a lamp embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective on a large scale ofan improved lamp, part of the lamp structure being broken away, and Fig. 3 is a fragmental view of amodification.

Referring to the drawing, and in particular to Figs. 1 and 2, the lamp shown-comprises eiec trode chambers l and 2 containing respectively a cathode 3, and an anode 4 of any approved type a and an intermediate communicating, illuminating tube or chamber which is coiled upon itself to form a flat disc 5. The cathode end of the lamp is provided'with a base 5 which may be screwed into a socket '7 within a projector 8, this forming no part of my invention.

, The projector 8, carried by a pedestal 9, is pro-- vided wtih a mirror (not shown) oppositefthe lamp. It has been shown only to illustrate one particular use of a lamp embodying my invention. Current is conveyed to the anode by conductor 11 and to the cathode (which may be'thermionic and of known construction) by conductors connected to the terminals of the socket 7 and not illustrated.

The novel features of my invention are particularly concerned with the construction of the i1- luminating portion .of such a lamp, as illustrated in greater detail in Fig. 2. The illuminating chamber 5 comprises plates 13, liof fused quartz (or silica) which are-united by a side wall it to form an enclosure which communicates withthe electrode chamber 2 as indicated and with the electrode chamber 3 at a peripheral portion which has been broken away. Within this enclosure is a transverse partition 16 which forms within the chamber a. sinuous or spiral passageway leading from one electrode chamber to another.

In the fabrication of this structure, the partition 16 first is formed by coiling a ribbon of the desired vitreous material, for example, fused quartz, upon itself into a spiral or other desired form. This ribbon is then fused to one of the

plates

13 or 14 by means of a blow pipe, are, or other suitable means. The plate 13 may be placed over the spiral 16 which rests on a suitable re-= fractory support, such as graphite, and the flame is directed upon the plate at the line of contact of the plate and the partition to produce a fusion seal and firm union between the two. The remaining plate 14 then is joined similarly by fusion to the side wall 15 and the partition 16 to form a gas-tight enclosure or panel of transparent material.

It is not essential that the device comprising my invention should be formed of members of the particular shape illustrated in Fig. 2. In Fig. 3' there is illustrated an embodiment of my invention having flat angular enclosing walls 17 and flat partition plates, one set 18 of which is connected to one of the end plates, and another set 19 is connected to the opposite end plate, thereby leaving a sinuous passage or labyrinth communicating with the conduits 20, 21 leading to the electrode chambers at the ends of said. passage, which have not been illustrated in this figure.

The luminous unit made as herein. described when filled with a gas which becomes luminous while conducting an electric current forms a sub stantiaiiy continuous luminous field suitable for use in electric signs, in projectors or other 111- laminating devices.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. 'An electric discharge device comprising plates spaced apart, side walls sealed thereto to constitute an enclosure, one or more transverse partitions arranged between said plates to form a sinuous passage in said enclosure, the adjacent ing with the passage formed by the COIWOIII? 'tions of said partition and electrodes in said chambers adapted to conduct an electric discharge through said passage.

3. 'An electric lamp comprising a container, electrodes therein and a partition arranged therein to form a continuous, single-walled tube coiled upon itself.

4. An electric lamp comprising an -envelope of vitreous material, a plurality of partitions sealed 1,9aa,42a a m1. having a single-walled, convolute partition therein arranged to define; a passage forming a substantially continuous; uniformly luminous field when filled with a luminous gas, a conductive luminous gas in said passage and electrodes for said gas on the panel at the ends 01 said passage.

'6." An electric lamp comprising an envelope of transparent material having a convolute partition therein which is arranged to form a compact.

passage the adjacent portions of which are separated by a single wall, a gaseous filling therefor,

electrodes including a thermionic cathode spaced -.apart in said passage, and conductors sealed into said envelope and being connected to said electrodes. HENRY A. WAYRINGER.