US1961269A

US1961269A - Electron discharge apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1961269A
Application number: US306398A
Authority: US
Inventors: Paul T Weeks
Original assignee: Raytheon Production Corp
Current assignee: Raytheon Production Corp
Priority date: 1928-09-17
Filing date: 1928-09-17
Publication date: 1934-06-05
Anticipated expiration: 1951-06-05
Also published as: GB319208A; FR681321A

Description

June 5, 1934. P. T. WEEKS ELECTRON DISCHARGE APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 17, 1928 J m F Patented June 5, 1934 UNITED STATES ELECTRON DISCHARGE APPARATUS Paul T. Weeks, Cambridge, Mass., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Raytheon Production Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Application September 17, 1928, Serial No. 306,398 Renewed October 18, 1932 16 Claims. (Cl. Z50-27.5)

My invention relates to electron discharge apparatus and particularly to the construction thereof. More specifically my invention relates to the manner of supporting the various electrodes of a vacuum tube.

It is highly desirable that the elements of a vacuum tube be rigidly supported so that the electrodes are maintained in predetermined relationship under all conditions to which the tube may be subjected. Especially is this desirable in order that the so-called microphonic effects may be avoided. Such effects are due to the relative position of the electrodes varying at an audible rate. By increasing the rigidity of the structure, it is obvious that the frequency of the elements will be increased so that audible microphonic effects will be avoided. Furthermore, it is highly desirable that such a structure be simple, cheaply manufactured and assembled.

In general, the tube embodying my invention is characterized by a press which has sealing portions or wings in more than one vertical plane.

Standards are sealed in this press forming a rigid frame work. To further increase the rigidity of the structure, the standards are preferably substantially straight and parallel throughout their lengths, and at their free ends pierce an insulating member which retains them in fixed relationship. The cathode, grid, and anode are supported within the space dened by the frame and insulating member. The anode is preferably supported by two of the standards. In this way the anode standards and insulating member contribute to form a rigid enclosing structure for the grid and cathode. The grid and cathode each have one end engaging the insulating member. The other end of one of the electrodes is supported by a standard. The other end of the other electrode is supported by one or more wires sealed in the press, although it too may, if desired, be supported by another standard.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation view of my invention with certain parts cut away.

Figure 2 is an elevation view at right angles to the view of Figure 1, showing certain parts in section.

Figure 3 is a View of the press.

Figure 4 is a view looking down on the tube with certain parts broken away.

Press 1 has portions or wings 2 in more than one vertical plane, and, as shown here, in two planes, preferably, though not necessarily at right angles to each other. The top surfaces of portions or wings 2 are preferably in one horizontal plane. Sealed in the outer parts of wings 2 are standards or

arbors

4, 5, 6y and 7 of metal, such as hard nickel. These standards are preferably parallel throughout their entire length, and as shown here, define the parallel edges of a solid geometrical figure, in this instance, a rectangular prism.

By having the standards straight, it is possible to use hard, resilient metals. Where, as in prior devices, the supporting standards had to be bent to meet the electrode surfaces, the use of spring metal was practically impossible since the resiliency ofthe wire tended to make it straighten out and difficult to work with. To avoid this difflculty, Wires of metal having little resiliency or else separate wires and welds were used. In either case it is obvious that a weaker structure will result.

The free ends of the standards pierce an insulating member 9, of any suitable material, such as mica, lava or the like. This' insulating member 9 serves to rigidly connect orv anchor the free ends of the standards to each other, and therefore may be termed an anchoring member. This insulating member may be of any shape whatsoever, and is shown as substantially rectangular with the standards passing through the corners therei of. If desired, a symbol or the like may be stamped out in the mica. In order to maintain the insulating member on the standards and prevent it from sliding down or coming off the standards are preferably distorted as by crimping on both sides of said member. Any other suitable means for retaining the insulating member in place on the standards may be used if desirable.

Supported by two of said standards is an anode or plate 11. This anode is preferably made of metal gauze and so shaped as to provide a. substantiallyy cylindrical portion within it. The

anode may be made in two portions as shown in Figure 4, and slipped over standards 4 and 6. All the standards, insulating member 9 and anode 11, mutually assist each other in forming a rigid structure within which the remaining electrodes may be supported.

Centrally disposed within the anode is a cathode structure, vhere shown as of the type adapted to be energized -by alternating current while at the same time maintaining an equipotential electron emitting surface, although any desired kind of cathode may be used. The cathode structure, comprises a cylindrical metallic cathode 15, the outer surface of which has been suitably treated with chemicals so that, at an elevated temperature, a copious supply of electrons will be emitted. Engaging the ends of cathode 15 lare insulating bushings 16 of suitable material, and through which pass leads 1'7 and 18, between which is connected a lamentary heater 19 of platinum, tungsten or any other suitable material. The bushingscenter the leads and heater element and thus maintain them out of contact with cathode 15. Small metal collars 20 may be welded to the leads in order to maintain the bushings in place.

Lead 18 of the heater pierces insulating member 9 at the center to be supported thereby and has its end so connected as to be also supported by standard 5 by means of Wire 22 suitably welded to both members. Lead 17 of the heater is welded to wire 25 sealed in an intermediate portion of press 1. In order to provide a contact for the equipotential cathode 15, lead 26 suitably welded to sleeve 15 is provided. This lead is welded to a wire 28 sealed in an intermediate portion of press l. Thus it will be seen that the cathode structure is rigidly supported by wires 25 and 28 at one end and insulating member 9 at the other end. Wire 22 connecting standard 5 and lead 18 furnishes an additional support for the cathode structure.

Between the cathode structure and anode is a grid comprising a helical coil of wire 30, the turns of which are maintained in xed relation to each other by means of diametrically opposed Wires 31 and 32, suitably welded or fastened to each turn of wire 30. One end of each of wires 31 and 3 2 pierces insulating member 9, and as shown here,

is in a direct line between

standards

5 and 7 and cathode lead 18. The other end of wire 31 is bent and welded to standard 7 for support, as'wellas for conduction purposes. 1f desired, wire 32 may be omitted.

Suitable leads are connected to standards 4, 5, '7 and wires 25 and 28. The entire structure is suitably enclosed in a glass containing vessel which is exhausted and freed of all impurities in accordance with the usual practice. In order to clean up any remaining impurities and to maintain a high vacuum, suitable chemicals such as magnesium may be carried by capsule welded to wire 51 and suitably supported from any one of the standards. 'Ihe usual base is provided for quick detachable connection of the various elements of the tube in a circuit.

A tube built as shown has been found to be free of microphonic effects to an unusual degree. The frame comprising the standards when reinforced by insulating member 9, provides an unusually rigid structure within which the electrodes may be supported. Due to the rigidity of the standards, the shape of the anode is maintained as desired.

As is well known, in ordinary tubes, trouble has been experienced by the fact that if the supporting wires for the anode tend to spring away from each other, the anode is usually pulled out of shape and has its walls brought undesirably close to the grid making a connection between said electrodes possible. On the other hand, if the wires tend to approach each other, the anode is bulged ards in xed relationship tol each other, irrespective of any tendency to spring away.

The insulating members are punched out by Aquently to be seriously damaged in transportapredetermined relationship,

machine and hence are uniform. l'I'he standards are automatically maintained in place prior to sealing. The frame as a whole will therefore be the same in all tubes within close limits. This means that the three electrodes at the top will always be in xed predetermined relationship and be independent of human hands. Wires 25 and 28 are also maintained automatically before sealing and are bent by automatic means. When lead 17 of the cathode heater is welded to 25, the cathode structure is correctly positioned. Grid wire 3l is also bent so that when its end is welded to standard 5, the bottom of the grid is correctly positioned. In this way, tubes may be so accurately built that they will have substantially similar constants and properties. j

Since the grid is supported between one of thc standards and the insulating member, -it is evident that any vibration of the grid relative to the plate is practically impossible. The mutual rigidity of the standards and insulating member is such that the grid is rigidly supported. The cathode structure being supported by two wires .V at the bottom and the insulating member, as well as the connecting wire to one of the standards, is rigidly maintained. Unlike tubes of the prior art, no amount ofordinary shaking or vibration, either intentional or otherwise will substantially adect the relation of the electrodes to each other Vor to the press. The tube disclosed here is not top heavy and does not have such an unsupported length of wire, straight or curved, as to make it structurally weak. Tubes as disclosed by prior art have been known fre-v tion or handling violently. A tube built as dis.

closed here has been found to'be so strong me. chanically that any damage to the tube is practically impossible without the breakage of the container.

1. In a vacuum tube, a. press, a plurality of standards sealed in said press, said standards being parallel for their entire length andlying in more than one plane and an insulating member at the free end of said standards maintaining said standards in spaced relationship.

2. In a vacuum tube, a press, a plurality4 of standards having wings extending in a plurality of planes lying in a plurality of planes sealed therein, an insulating member directly engaging and retaining the free ends of said standards in an electrode and means for supporting one end of said electrode in said insulating member and the other end of said electrode on one of said standards.

3. In a vacuum tube, a press having wings extending in a plurality of planes, a plurality of straight standards sealed therein and lying in more than one plane, an insulating member retaining the free ends of said standards in iixed relationship, an anode, grid,` and cathode, one oi the ends respectively of said cathode and grid engaging said insulating member and means for maintaining the other ends of said cathode and grid in iixed relationship.

4. In a vacuum tube, a press, a plurality of standards sealed therein at points the outer ones of which form corners of a polygon transverse to the direction of the standards, an insulating member engaging the free ends of all said standards, an electrode comprising a helical member and a wire member engaging and retaining the coils of the helix in place, and means for retaining an end of said wire member in said insulating asv member and the other end on one o! said standards.

5. In a vacuum tube, a press having wings extending in more than one plane, a plurality of standards lying in more than one plane sealed therein, an insulating member, the free ends of said standards engaging said insulating member, an anode, grid, and cathode, said anode being connected to and supported on two of said standards, said grid being connected to and supported by said insulating member and a third standard said cathode being engaged and supported by said insulating member.

6. In a vacuum tube, a press having wings ex- .ending in more than one plane, rectangularly disposed straight standards sealed therein, an insulating member. directly engaging said standards, an anode, grid, and cathode, two of said electrodes directly engaging said insulating member, and the remaining electrode being supported by at least one of said standards.

'7. In a vacuum tube, a press having wings in at least two planes, straight standards lying in a plurality of planes sealed therein, an insulating member engaging the tops of all of said standards, and electrodes mounted on said standards and below said member.

8. A space discharge device comprising a discharge vessel, an electrode supporting press having a plurality of wings extending in more than one plane in said vessel, four straight standards sealed in said wings, the sealing points of said standards forming corners of a quadrangle, a rigid member directly engaging and mechanically connecting said four standards thereby forming a rigid assembly, an anode engaging two of said standards diagonally disposed toward each other, a grid engaging a third standard and said rigid member, a cathode engaging said member and means extending from said press for additionally supporting said cathode.

9. In a space discharge device, a press having wings extending in more than one plane, four straight standards sealed in said press, the sealing points of said standards forming corners of a quadrangle, an insulating member directly engaged by the free ends of said standards, an anode engaging two of said standards diametrically disposed, a grid, said grid being supported by said insulating member and on a third standard, and a cathode, said cathode being supported by said insulating member and means extending from said press for additionally supporting said. cathode.

10. A space Adischarge tube comprising a discharge vessel, an electrode supporting stem in said vessel, more than two upstanding wire standards anchored to said stem, the anchoring points of said standards forming corners of a polygon transverse to the direction of the standards, an anchoring member directly engaging more than two of said standards lying in more than one` l 3 plane at a distance above said anchoring points and joining said standards into a rigid structure. and electrodes supported at a plurality of points on said structure.

11. A space discharge tube comprising a discharge vessel, an electrode supporting stem in said vessel, more than two upstanding wire standards anchored to said stem, the anchoring points of said standards forming corners of a polygon' transverse to the direction of the standards, an anchoring member directly engaging more than two of said standards lying in more than one plane at a distance above said anchoring points and joining said standards into a rigid structure, and a plurality of electrodes supported on said structure insulated from each other.

12. A space discharge tube comprising a discharge vessel, an electrode supporting press having a plurality of Wings extending in more than one plane in said vessel, more than twoupstanding wire standards sealed into said wings, the sealing points of said standards forming corners of a polygon transverse to the direction of the standards, an anchoring member directly engaging the upper ends of more than two of said standards lying in more than one plane, a plurality of electrodes supported on said structure insulated from each other below said anchoring member, more than one of said electrodes being each supported at one end by one of said standards and at the other end by said anchoringl member.

13. In a space discharge device, a press having wings in more than one plane, a pluralityy of standards sealed therein, a plurality of electrodes supported on said standards, and an insulating member directly engaged by the free ends of said standards, the points of engagement between said standards and insulating member dening a three-dimensional geometrical gure.

14. In a space discharge device, a press having wings extending in more than one plane, polygonally disposed straight standards sealed therein, an insulating member having its corners engaged by said standards and a cathode engaging an intermediate portion of said member, and a plu-I rality of electrodes supported on said standards.

l5. In a space discharge device, a press having wings in more than one plane, straight standards i lying in a plurality of planes sealed in said wings and an insulating member whose main plane is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the press, engaging at least three of said standards lying in at least two diierent planes, anda plurality of electrodes supported by said standards.

16. In a space discharge device, a press having wings in at least two planes, straight standards sealed therein in a plurality of planes, and an insulating member directly engaged by said standards, and a plurality of electrodes supported by said standards.

PAUL T. WEEKS.

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION.

.mem No. 1,961,269. p l Innes, .1934.

PAUL T. WEEKS.

It is hereby certified( that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, lines 117, 123, 132, 142, and page 3, lines 3, 14, and 22, claims l, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7, respectively, for "vacuum tube" read space discharge device; page 2, lines 123 and,124, claim 2, strike Aout the words "a plurality of standards" and insert the same before "lying" in line 125. of same claim; line 135, claim Inafter "member" insertA directly engaging and; and line 143, claim 4, after "points" insert a comma; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with' thesecorrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the ease in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of July, A. D. 1934.

llryan M. Battey f (Seal) l i Acting Commissioner 0f Patents.