US1990190A - Gaseous electric discharge device - Google Patents

Gaseous electric discharge device Download PDF

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US1990190A
US1990190A US645284A US64528432A US1990190A US 1990190 A US1990190 A US 1990190A US 645284 A US645284 A US 645284A US 64528432 A US64528432 A US 64528432A US 1990190 A US1990190 A US 1990190A
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series
devices
transformer
electric discharge
leads
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US645284A
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Hendrik A W Klinkhamer
Ferdinandus H A V Stekelenburg
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General Electric Co
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General Electric Co
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B41/00—Circuit arrangements or apparatus for igniting or operating discharge lamps
    • H05B41/14—Circuit arrangements
    • H05B41/16—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by dc or by low-frequency ac, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec ac, or with network frequencies
    • H05B41/20—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by dc or by low-frequency ac, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec ac, or with network frequencies having no starting switch
    • H05B41/23—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by dc or by low-frequency ac, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec ac, or with network frequencies having no starting switch for lamps not having an auxiliary starting electrode
    • H05B41/232—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by dc or by low-frequency ac, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec ac, or with network frequencies having no starting switch for lamps not having an auxiliary starting electrode for low-pressure lamps
    • H05B41/2325—Circuit arrangements in which the lamp is fed by dc or by low-frequency ac, e.g. by 50 cycles/sec ac, or with network frequencies having no starting switch for lamps not having an auxiliary starting electrode for low-pressure lamps provided with pre-heating electrodes
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S315/00—Electric lamp and discharge devices: systems
    • Y10S315/02—High frequency starting operation for fluorescent lamp

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to gaseous electric discharge devices generally and more particularly the invention relates to starting and operating circuits for such devices.
  • the object of the present invention is to pro-'; vide an illuminating system for roads, or the like. Another object of the invention is to pro-. vide a very eflicient illuminating system which is inexpensive to make and to install. Further objects and advantages attaching to the device and to its use and operation will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following particular description and from the appended claims.
  • gaseous .electric discharge devices. having a thermionic electrode require a higher voltage to start the device into operation than to maintain the device in "operation.
  • the excess voltage supplied to the device duringthe operation thereof is absorbed by an impedance connected in series with the gaseous electric discharge device.
  • this series impedance has been a resistance or an inductance which absorbed all the excess voltage.
  • at least 50 per cent of the excess voltage is absorbed in the current supply leads of the electric discharge device which makes it possible to use a smaller and cheaper resistance or inductance in the supply circuit to reduce the cost of the illuminating system.
  • the current supply leads for the gaseous electric discharge device are smaller in diameter than prior supply leads for similar devices to obtain the desired result.
  • the excess voltage not absorbed by the current supply leads in any particular instance is absorbed in a small, inexpensive, series connected resistance, which is preferably a variable resistance, to regulate the value of the'total resistance connected in series with the gaseous electric discharge device.
  • the new and novel use of the current supply leads of the electric dischargedevice is of great value where a plurality of series connected devices separated cdmparatively large distances are used to illuminate roads, for example.
  • the leads connecting the devices in series if made in accordance with the present invention, are smaller and cheaper than would be practical if they were not used as part of the series connected impedance for the device which, of course, lowers the manufacturing and installation costs of the system to a minimum.
  • auto-transformers are the most emcient, most practical and least expensive transformers for use in my new and novel illuminating system.
  • Such transformers when used in the series connected system distribute the voltage throughout the system in a very advantageous manner.
  • the series connected discharge devices are of the type having a thermionic electrode at each end thereof the two leads for each electrode are connected to a small section at the respective ends of said transformer and the mid-part'of said transformer between said sections is made of smaller and cheaper wire to eflect a great saving in the manufacturing cost of the transformer. This is entirely practical as the mid-part of the transformer, in this case, is not. traversed by the operating current.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of my invention
  • Fig. 2 is a similar view of another embodiment and view of another embodiment of my invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a similar of my invention.
  • the illuminating system comprises a plurality of gaseous electric discharge devices comprising a container 1 having a gaseous atmosphere therein of a rare gas, a metal vapor, or a mixture of a rare gas, such as neon, and a metal vapor, such as sodium.
  • Two thermionic electrodes 2, 3 and 2, 3 are sealed into said container 1.
  • Said electrodes comprise a metal cylinder 2, such as a nickel cylinder and a heating iilament'3 inside said cylinder.
  • the exterior walls of said cylinder are coated with an electron emitting material, such as barium oxide.
  • the heating filaments 3 and 3 of said electrodes 2, 3 and 2, 3 are connected in series by lead 21 and the cylinders 2 and 2 are connected to the current supply leads for said filaments 3 and 3 by leads and 20, as shown.
  • the electric discharge devices are connected in series to the secondary of the transformer 5 by leads 4 and 4.
  • the primary of said transformer 5 is connected to the terminals of an alternating current source.
  • the excess voltage supplied to said devices is absorbed by the current supply leads 4 and 4 which are of such diameter and length that they act as the series connected resistance.
  • This function of the conductors 4 and 4 is indicated by dotted lines along the length of said leads 4 and 4.
  • a small adjustable resistanceo is connected into the lead 4 between the first of said series connected discharge devices and the secondary of said transformer '5. The adjustment of said resistance 6 regulates the value of the total resistance'in the circuit.
  • the supply leads 4 are smaller in diameter and the resistance 6 is smaller than would be the case where the current leads 4, 4 were not used as a substantial part of the series connected resistance which reduces the cost of manufacturing and installing the illuminating system to a minimum.
  • FIG. 2 In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2 two different types of electric discharge devices are illustrated but it will be understood, of course, that in practice only one type of such devices are used in any given illuminating system.
  • One of the devices illustrated has a container '7 filled with a gaseous atmosphere similar to that disclosed in connection with the devices of Fig. 1.
  • a thermionic electrode 9, 10 is sealed into each end of said container.
  • Each of said electrodes 9, 10 and 9, 10 comprises an electron emitting cathode part 9, which is a coiled nickel or tungsten filament coated or impregnated with electron emissive material, such as barium oxide, and an anode part 10 which is a metalcylinder, such as a nickel cylinder, surrounding said cathode 9.
  • Said anode part 10 and said cathode part 9 are connected to each other by lead 20, as shown.
  • the other of said discharge devices comprises a container 8, having electrodes 11, 12 sealed therein and a gaseous atmosphere therein similar to that of the discharge device first described.
  • Said electrodes 12 are anodes and said electrode 11 is an electron emitting cathode similar -to the cathodes 9 and 9.
  • the discharge devices illustrated in Fig. 2 are connected to auto-transformers 13 and 14 respectively.
  • Said electrodes 9, 10 are connected 'to sections at the respective ends of said autotransformer 13 and cathode 11 is connected to the mid-section of transformer 14.
  • Said auto-transformers 13 and 14 are less expensive than the usual transformer having separate coils and further in the case of transformer 13 the part thereof between taps 15 and 16 is made of smaller and cheaper wire as said part is not traversed by the operating current. This reduces the total manufacturing cost of the system.
  • the lead 18 connecting said transformers 13 and 14 in series is connected to a tap 17 on said transformer 14 between the ends thereof which decreases the voltage required to operate this lamp unit which permits the connection of a larger number of lamp units into the circuit than would be possible otherwise.
  • the leads 18 serve as part of the series resistance as in the embodiment illustratedin Fig. 1.
  • Small resistances 19 are connected into the leads connecting anodes 12 to the ends of the auto-transformer 14 to regulate the discharge current.
  • FIG. 3 A circuit for an illuminating system particu larly useful in illuminating roads, or the like is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing.
  • a two conductor cable is used in this circuit and successive discharge lamp devices are connected to a different conductor as shown.
  • the condimtors are each connected to a transformer the primary of which is connected to a three-phase current supply system having a neutral.- I
  • each lamp unit with a parallelly connected shunt operated by automatic means controlled by the higher voltage induced between the terminals of the transformer, or the lamp device when either said transformer, or said lamp device fails. This avoids the failure of the entire system where one lamp unit fails.
  • each lamp device is approximately 40 meters and the number of lamp devices is 34'.
  • Each lamp device is connected to an auto-transformer.
  • a voltage of 300 volts is supplied by the secondary of the transformer to which the cable connecting the lamp units in series is connected.
  • Each of the two leads in each cable is 4 mm in diameter and the resistance thereof is 4.38 ohms/m.
  • Such an illumi-- nating system illuminates a section of road 1.4 km. in length.
  • Such a system requires a transformer station every 2.8 km. as a section 1.4 km. can be illuminated on each side of said transformer station.
  • the section of road illuminated by such an illuminating system can be increased in length by increasing the number of series connected lamp units and by increasing the voltage supplied by the main. transformer. i
  • An illuminating system comprising a plurality of series connected gaseous electric are discharge devices eachhaving an electrode comprising a filament and electron emitting oxide material heated thereby and a sodium vapor filling, a current source for said system andan impedance connected in series with each of said devices comprising the leads connecting said'devices in series.
  • An illuminating system comprising aplurality of series connected gaseous electric are discharge devices each-having an electrode comprising a filament and electron emitting oxide material heated thereby and a sodium vapor filling, a current source for said system and an im pedance connected in series with each of said devices, 50%-90% of the series impedancebeing in the leads connecting said devices in series.
  • An illuminating system comprising a plurality of series connectedgaseous electric arc discharge devices each having an electrode comprising a filament and electron emitting oxide material heated thereby and a sodium vapor filling, a current source for said system and an impedance connected in series with each of said devices, 50%-90% of the series impedance being in the leads connecting said-devices in series and a variable resistance in said series circuit to control the total impedance therein.

Description

Feb. 5, 1935. H. A. w. KLINKHAMER ET AL 1, 9
, GASEOUS ELECTRIC DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Dec. 1,. 1952 Invenfors HendrikAW Klinkhamer AarT deBr'uin Fer-clinandus H.A.vcm sfekelenbuwzg Their Afl'orney GASEOUS ELECTRIC Hendrik A.
Ferdlnandns H. A. hoven, Netherlands, tric Compa y,
$ PATENT oFFIc mscnanae DEVICE W. Klinkhamer, Aart de Brain, and I van Stekelenburg, Eindassignors to General Elec-, a corporation of New York Application December 1, 1932, Serial No. 645,284
Inthe Netherlands December 2, .1931
3 Claims. (Cl. 176-124) The present invention relates to gaseous electric discharge devices generally and more particularly the invention relates to starting and operating circuits for such devices. l
The object of the present invention is to pro-'; vide an illuminating system for roads, or the like. Another object of the invention is to pro-. vide a very eflicient illuminating system which is inexpensive to make and to install. Further objects and advantages attaching to the device and to its use and operation will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following particular description and from the appended claims.
, It is known in the art that gaseous .electric discharge devices. having a thermionic electrode require a higher voltage to start the device into operation than to maintain the device in "operation. The excess voltage supplied to the device duringthe operation thereof is absorbed by an impedance connected in series with the gaseous electric discharge device. In prior devices this series impedance has been a resistance or an inductance which absorbed all the excess voltage. In the present invention at least 50 per cent of the excess voltage is absorbed in the current supply leads of the electric discharge device which makes it possible to use a smaller and cheaper resistance or inductance in the supply circuit to reduce the cost of the illuminating system. The current supply leads for the gaseous electric discharge device are smaller in diameter than prior supply leads for similar devices to obtain the desired result. This reduces further the manufacturing cost of the illuminating system and also reduces the installation cost of such a system. The greater the percentage of the excess voltage absorbed in the current supply leads the greater will be the saving in the manufacturing and installation cost of the system but in practice it is advisable to absorb approximately 50%-90% of the excess voltage in the supply leads of the gaseous electric discharge device. The excess voltage not absorbed by the current supply leads in any particular instance is absorbed in a small, inexpensive, series connected resistance, which is preferably a variable resistance, to regulate the value of the'total resistance connected in series with the gaseous electric discharge device.
The new and novel use of the current supply leads of the electric dischargedevice is of great value where a plurality of series connected devices separated cdmparatively large distances are used to illuminate roads, for example. The leads connecting the devices in series, if made in accordance with the present invention, are smaller and cheaper than would be practical if they were not used as part of the series connected impedance for the device which, of course, lowers the manufacturing and installation costs of the system to a minimum.
I have found that auto-transformers are the most emcient, most practical and least expensive transformers for use in my new and novel illuminating system. Such transformers, when used in the series connected system distribute the voltage throughout the system in a very advantageous manner. When the series connected discharge devices are of the type having a thermionic electrode at each end thereof the two leads for each electrode are connected to a small section at the respective ends of said transformer and the mid-part'of said transformer between said sections is made of smaller and cheaper wire to eflect a great saving in the manufacturing cost of the transformer. This is entirely practical as the mid-part of the transformer, in this case, is not. traversed by the operating current.
In the drawing accompanying and forming part of this specification several embodiments of my invention are illustrated in which Fig. 1 is a schematic view of one embodiment of my invention,
Fig. 2 is a similar view of another embodiment and view of another embodiment of my invention,
Fig. 3 is a similar of my invention.
Referring to Fig. l of. the drawing the illuminating system comprises a plurality of gaseous electric discharge devices comprising a container 1 having a gaseous atmosphere therein of a rare gas, a metal vapor, or a mixture of a rare gas, such as neon, and a metal vapor, such as sodium. Two thermionic electrodes 2, 3 and 2, 3 are sealed into said container 1. Said electrodes comprise a metal cylinder 2, such as a nickel cylinder and a heating iilament'3 inside said cylinder. The exterior walls of said cylinder are coated with an electron emitting material, such as barium oxide. The heating filaments 3 and 3 of said electrodes 2, 3 and 2, 3 are connected in series by lead 21 and the cylinders 2 and 2 are connected to the current supply leads for said filaments 3 and 3 by leads and 20, as shown. The electric discharge devices are connected in series to the secondary of the transformer 5 by leads 4 and 4. The primary of said transformer 5 is connected to the terminals of an alternating current source. when current is applied to the above circuit the cylinders 2 and 2 are promptly brought to an electron emitting temperature by heating filaments 3 and 3. As soon as sufficient electrons have been emitted into the discharge path an electric discharge is established between said electrodes 2, 3 and 2, 3. During the operation of the device each of said electrodes acts alternately as anode and cathode. I
During the operation of the devices the excess voltage supplied to said devices is absorbed by the current supply leads 4 and 4 which are of such diameter and length that they act as the series connected resistance. This function of the conductors 4 and 4 is indicated by dotted lines along the length of said leads 4 and 4. A small adjustable resistanceo is connected into the lead 4 between the first of said series connected discharge devices and the secondary of said transformer '5. The adjustment of said resistance 6 regulates the value of the total resistance'in the circuit.
,The supply leads 4 are smaller in diameter and the resistance 6 is smaller than would be the case where the current leads 4, 4 were not used as a substantial part of the series connected resistance which reduces the cost of manufacturing and installing the illuminating system to a minimum.
In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 2 two different types of electric discharge devices are illustrated but it will be understood, of course, that in practice only one type of such devices are used in any given illuminating system. One of the devices illustrated has a container '7 filled with a gaseous atmosphere similar to that disclosed in connection with the devices of Fig. 1. A thermionic electrode 9, 10 is sealed into each end of said container. Each of said electrodes 9, 10 and 9, 10 comprises an electron emitting cathode part 9, which is a coiled nickel or tungsten filament coated or impregnated with electron emissive material, such as barium oxide, and an anode part 10 which is a metalcylinder, such as a nickel cylinder, surrounding said cathode 9. Said anode part 10 and said cathode part 9 are connected to each other by lead 20, as shown. The other of said discharge devices comprises a container 8, having electrodes 11, 12 sealed therein and a gaseous atmosphere therein similar to that of the discharge device first described. Said electrodes 12 are anodes and said electrode 11 is an electron emitting cathode similar -to the cathodes 9 and 9.
The discharge devices illustrated in Fig. 2 are connected to auto- transformers 13 and 14 respectively. Said electrodes 9, 10 are connected 'to sections at the respective ends of said autotransformer 13 and cathode 11 is connected to the mid-section of transformer 14. Said auto- transformers 13 and 14 are less expensive than the usual transformer having separate coils and further in the case of transformer 13 the part thereof between taps 15 and 16 is made of smaller and cheaper wire as said part is not traversed by the operating current. This reduces the total manufacturing cost of the system.
The lead 18 connecting said transformers 13 and 14 in series is connected to a tap 17 on said transformer 14 between the ends thereof which decreases the voltage required to operate this lamp unit which permits the connection of a larger number of lamp units into the circuit than would be possible otherwise. The leads 18 serve as part of the series resistance as in the embodiment illustratedin Fig. 1. Small resistances 19 are connected into the leads connecting anodes 12 to the ends of the auto-transformer 14 to regulate the discharge current.
A circuit for an illuminating system particu larly useful in illuminating roads, or the like is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing. A two conductor cable is used in this circuit and successive discharge lamp devices are connected to a different conductor as shown. The condimtors are each connected to a transformer the primary of which is connected to a three-phase current supply system having a neutral.- I
It is desirable to provide each lamp unit with a parallelly connected shunt operated by automatic means controlled by the higher voltage induced between the terminals of the transformer, or the lamp device when either said transformer, or said lamp device fails. This avoids the failure of the entire system where one lamp unit fails.
In the circuit of the flluminating system illustrated in Fig. 3 I find it most advantageous to use electric discharge lamp devices filled with sodium vapor and adapted to start on approximately 17.5 volts and to operate on approximately 13 volts with a discharge current of 6 amperes.
The distance between each lamp device is approximately 40 meters and the number of lamp devices is 34'. Each lamp device is connected to an auto-transformer. A voltage of 300 volts is supplied by the secondary of the transformer to which the cable connecting the lamp units in series is connected. Each of the two leads in each cable is 4 mm in diameter and the resistance thereof is 4.38 ohms/m. Such an illumi-- nating system illuminates a section of road 1.4 km. in length. Such a system requires a transformer station every 2.8 km. as a section 1.4 km. can be illuminated on each side of said transformer station. The section of road illuminated by such an illuminating system can be increased in length by increasing the number of series connected lamp units and by increasing the voltage supplied by the main. transformer. i
What we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-
1. An illuminating system comprising a plurality of series connected gaseous electric are discharge devices eachhaving an electrode comprising a filament and electron emitting oxide material heated thereby and a sodium vapor filling, a current source for said system andan impedance connected in series with each of said devices comprising the leads connecting said'devices in series.
2. An illuminating system comprising aplurality of series connected gaseous electric are discharge devices each-having an electrode comprising a filament and electron emitting oxide material heated thereby and a sodium vapor filling, a current source for said system and an im pedance connected in series with each of said devices, 50%-90% of the series impedancebeing in the leads connecting said devices in series.
3. An illuminating system comprising a plurality of series connectedgaseous electric arc discharge devices each having an electrode comprising a filament and electron emitting oxide material heated thereby and a sodium vapor filling, a current source for said system and an impedance connected in series with each of said devices, 50%-90% of the series impedance being in the leads connecting said-devices in series and a variable resistance in said series circuit to control the total impedance therein.
HENDRIK A. w. AART n1: BRUIN. FERDINANDUS H. A. VAN STEKELENBURG.
US645284A 1931-12-02 1932-12-01 Gaseous electric discharge device Expired - Lifetime US1990190A (en)

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