US1999300A

US1999300A - Electron discharge apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1999300A
Application number: US336243A
Authority: US
Inventors: Lyle Andrew Ernest
Original assignee: OLD COLONY TRUST Co
Current assignee: OLD COLONY TRUST Co
Priority date: 1929-01-30
Filing date: 1929-01-30
Publication date: 1935-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1952-04-30

Description

April! w, 1135. A. E. LYLE 3 ELECTRON DISCHARGE APPARATUS Filed Jan. 30, 1929 manufactured.

Patented Apr. 30, 1935 ELECTRON DISCHARGE APPARATUS Andrew Ernest Lyle, Cambridge, Mass, assignor, by mesne assignments, to Old Colony Trust Company, a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 30, 1929, Serial No. 336,243 Renewed January 23, 1933 11 Claims. '(o1. 250 27.5),

This invention relates to electron discharge apparatus and especially to rectifiers. An object of my invention is to devise a structure which will be simple, sturdy, compact, easily and cheaply As is well known, in the manufacture of electron discharge devices, especially in vacuumtubes and rectifiers, it is essential that the structure be as simple as possible in order that the manufacturing costs may be reduced. On the. other hand, it is desirable that mechanically and electrically the structure be suitable for the purposes desired. In general, the rectifier embodying my invention is characterized by substantially straight supports allowing the use of heavier spring arbors, a minimum number of welds, and a structure which is so compact andsturdy, that the rectifier will withstand rough handling, as in transit, without any substantial damage thereto.

Referring to the drawing, 7

Figure l is a side elevation View with a portion of the plate broken away;

Figure 2 is a view at right angles to Figure l, and showing portions of the device in section;

Figure 3 is a detail View of the stem;

Figure 4 is a plan view looking down on. top of the tube with certain parts broken away. 7

The rectifier disclosed herein is of the high vacuum thermionic type having two cathodes and two plates connected for full wave rectification. The rectifier comprises a stem I having wings 2. It will be noted that these wings are not at right angles to each other, although they may be; The angle and extent of the wingsis chosen with the purpose of obtaining a predetermined clearance between the corners thereof as well as long surface paths for insulation.

If the rectifier is to withstand high potentials, I prefer to construct the stem in accordance with my copending application, Serial No. 336,244, filed January 30, 1929 wherein I have disclosed and claimed such a structure. In that case, I have disclosed a method of constructing a stem having long surface paths for insulation. Briefly the stem is constructed as follows. An ordinary glass tube from which all stems are made is taken and has one end flared in accordance with usual practice. The other end is also flared. The top end is then suitably shaped by machinery so that wings at desired angles are formed thereon. In this manner, the wing extent is substantially increased while using standard materials on standard machines.

Sealed in the wings arearbors 4, 5, 6, and 1. As shown, these arbors extend upward and parallel to each other. By having the arbors straight, it is possible to use heavier wire having considerable spring thereto. Engaging each pair of arbors are anodes or plates [0. These plates are composed of two U shaped members, a larger member II and a smaller member [2, and are suitably welded or crimped at their meeting edges to form a hollow rectangular space therebetween. The complete plate members I0 are welded to the pairs of arbors 4, 5 and 6, 1, respectively. Above the plate members and engaging the ends of the arbor is an insulating member I5 of any suitable material, preferably mica. This member is rectangularly shaped and has its four corners pierced by the four arbors. This member may be of any shape and extent whatever. It is evident that the member retains the wires passing through it in predetermined relationship thus keeping the parts in position. This makes for rigidity and strength.

Sealed in the intermediate portion of Press I are supports 20, 2|, 22, 23, 24 and 25.

Supports

22 and 23 extend upwardly, piercing mica member 15. Welded to the top of these supports are spring members 28 which extend outwardly over the space enclosed by the plates. These spring members have a loop or bight in their end for supporting filamentary cathodes 30. The ends of the filaments 3!! are suitably welded to the remaining supports 26, 2|, 24 and 25. These supports are bent over to project underneath the space enclosed by the plates in order to meet the filaments.

To reduce the number of external connections, a Wire is welded from one end of one filament to another end of the other filament, thus joining the filaments in series. The heating current will pass from one terminal of one of the filaments through the filament, through wire 35 of the other terminal of the filament, through that filament and then out. Rectified current will pass alternately from the filaments to one of the plates). It is evident that it would be very simple to make a half wave rectifier out of the structure by connecting the plates together. Suitable leads make connection for the heating and rectified currents.

The rectifier is enclosed in a glass envelope in accordance with customary practice. This envelope is exhausted to a high vacuum and the metal parts freed of their occluded gases. In order to clean up any remaining impurities, a bell 50 suitably supported by a Wire 5| Welded to one of the supporting arbors, has a getter therein. This getter may be magnesium, calcium, misch metal or any of the-usual chemicals. In order to cause the getter to function, the bell is flashed.

From the above it is evident that the rectifier is easy and cheap to manufacture because of the few bends necessary. It will also be noted that there are but few welds to make. It is evident that a rectifier of this construction will be able to withstand shipment and rought handling incident thereto. Furthermore, due to the press construction, there is a comparatively long distance along the surface of the glass between any two points having a great difierence of potential. This is an important feature since rectifiers handling heavy currents at high voltages are liable to break down at the press. The glass becomes hot and has a smaller resistance than when cold, thus resulting in a certain amount of conduction. This conduction causes electrolysis in the glass and breaks down the seals.' Hence, the

press construction is such thatmaximum protec tion against flashovers is secured while at the same time the desired spacing between arbors is attained so that it is unnecessary to bend them.

I claim: v

1, A space discharge device comprising a press, four arbors projecting upwardly from said press and sealed therein, two anodes, each anode supported by two of said arbors, an insulating member rigidly mechanically interconnecting the upper ends of said anodes, supporting members sealed in said press, a pair of filamentary cathodes, and means for supporting said pair of filamentary cathodes in cooperative relationship to said anodes.

2. A space discharge device comprising a press, four arbors sealed therein and extending upwardly therefrom, two anodes, each anode supported by two of said arbors, an insulating member rigidly mechanically interconnecting the upper ends of said anodes and supported by said arbors, a plurality of supports sealed in the press and means for supporting two cathodes from said supports, each of said cathodes cooperating with an anode.

3. A space discharge device comprising a press, four arbors sealed therein, two plates, each of said plates supported by two of said arbors, additional supporting means sealed in said press, said additional supporting means including two straight standards of substantially the same length as the arbors, two filamentary cathodes, and means for supporting said two filamentary cathodes in cooperative relationship with said anodes on said supporting means.

4. A space discharge device comprising a press, four straight arbors sealedin said press and defining the edges of a rectangular prism, two plates, each plate supported by two of said arbors, means for rigidly mechanically interconnecting thetops of said plates, each of said two plates enclosing a hollow space, supporting wires sealed in said press, certain of said supporting wires being bent over so that their ends are under the space enclosed by the anodes, others of said supporting wires extending upwardly, two filaments, and means for supporting said two filaments within the space defined by the anodes and between said supporting wires.

'5. A space discharge device comprising a press, standards sealed in said press, a plurality of plates directly secured to and supported by said standards, an insulating member above said plates and engaged by said standards and retaining them in predetermined relationship, a plurality of additional standards between said plates and engaging said insulating member, supporting wires sealed in said press, filamentary cathodes and means for supporting said filamentary cathodes between said additional standardsand said supporting wires.

6. A space discharge device comprising a press having angularly disposed wings, standards sealed in said wings, a plurality of plates secured to and supported by said standards, an insulating member above said platesaand engaged by said standards, additional standards sealed in said press disposed between said plates and engaging said insulating member, supporting wires sealed in said press, and a plurality of filamentary cathodes supported between said additional standards and said supporting wires.

7. A space discharge device comprising a press, said press having a tubular lower portion, said press having fourangularly disposed wings extending beyond the space defined by said tubular portion, a standard sealed in each of said wings,

a plurality of plates supported by said standards,

an insulating member engaged by'said 'standards, said insulating member being directly above said plates, additional members sealed insaid press, filamentary cathodes and means for supporting said filamentary cathodes in cooperative relationship to said plates by said additional members.

8. A space discharge device'comprising a. press having a plurality of wings lying in more than one plane, a plurality of arbors lying in more than one plane and sealed at their lower ends in said wings, a plurality of anodes, one of said anodes being supported at its lower end by at least two of said' arbors lying in one plane, another of said anodes being supported at itslower end by at least one arbor lying in another plane; a plurality of additional supports sealed in said press, a plurality of cathodes in cooperative relationship to said anodes, each of said cathodes being supported at its lower end by at least one of said additional supports, and' means for mechanically connecting the upper ends of all of said anodes and cathodes, whereby each of said electrodes are supported by arbors-lying ina plurality of planes.

9. A space discharge device comprising a press having a plurality of wings lying in more than one plane, a plurality of arbors lying in more than one plane and sealed at their lower ends in said wings; a plurality of plates supported by'said arbors, an insulating member connected to the upper ends of all of said arbors, additional sup ports sealed in said press; a plurality of cathodes cooperating with said plates, said cathodes being supported at their lower ends by said addi' tional supports, and means-for supporting the upper ends of said cathodes, said means being mechanically connected to said insulating mem ber;

10. A space current tube comprising a gas tight vessel having a press with aplurality of wings lying in more than one plane, a plurality of arbors lying in more than one plane sealed at their lower ends in saidwings, twoor' more anodes, two or more cathodes cooperating with said anodes, said cathodes and said anodes being each insulatingly heldby at least three arbors lying in morethan oneplane. 11. A space current, tube; comprising a gastight vessel, a stem within said vessel, a plurality of arbors lying in more than one plane anchored at their lower ends tosaid stem, twoor more anodes, two or more cathodes cooperating with said anodes, said anodes and said cathodes being each supported by'at least three arbors lying in more than one plane.

ANDREW ERNEST @ERTlFlCATE OF GGRRECTMN.

Patent No, 1,999,300 April 30, 1935.

ANDREW ERNEST LYLE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 2, first column, line 31, claim 2, after "press" insert the commas and words two cathodes; and line 32, of said claim, alter "supporting" insert the word said; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these corrections therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office Signed and sealed this 11th day of June, A. 9. i935.

Leslie Frazer (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.