US2012238A - Luminous tube and circuit - Google Patents

Description

Patented Aug. 20, 1935 UNlTED STATES PATenron-" cg 2,012,238 LUMINOUS I'UBE AND c rnourr Brant Eknayan, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, as-

signor, by mesne assignments, to Ecksol Corporation of America, a corporationof Delaware Application March 6, 1933, Serial No. 659,802

7 Claims. (01. 176-124) This invention includes the art of luminous tubes.

It relates specifically to the art of arc-discharge luminous tubes. Such tubes require current-limiting means in series therewith in order to prevent the development of a runaway arc and my invention provides a novel utilization of such current-limiting means where the latter develops magneticfiux as in'operation of such tubes on alternating current.

Another object of my invention is to generate incandescent light in a highly eflicient manner to be blended with the light radiated by a gas under the influence of anelectric discharge.

Another object is to generate in a highly ,eflicient manner energy to heat the thermionic cathodes of gas'discharge tubes. 1

Other objects and advantages will be apparent hereinafter.

For illustrative purposes reference may be had to the accompanying drawing, it being understood that the invention is illustrated but not limited by the drawing and the description thereof.

Supply terminals I, 2 and 3 of a three wire 220 volt supply deliveralternating current to corresponding terminals I' and 3'. Terminal I' is connected to anode 5 of tube I through ballast 4. Terminal 2' is connected to anode 7 through ballast 6. Cathode 8 of tube I is connected to the neutral or ground 3- of the three wire system through wires 9 and I0. Cathode 8 is coated with. an activated thermionic substance and is heated by resistance. The current for this purpose may be supplied by coil II which is wound on core I2 of a transformer (switch 26' being then closed). Coil II is a secondary coil and is closely interlinked with primary coils 4 and 6. Another secondary coil I4 likewisereceives magnetic flux'from primary coils 4 and 6 and lights an incandescent lamp I5.

I to heat cathodes 8 only until the tubes are lighted" or rendered operative and thereafter heating current from the transformer 22 can be shut off by opening switch 24'and heating of the cathodes during operation of the tubes efiected by coils II. I

Broadly, the respective tubes I and I6 or either of them may contain any as and/or vapor capable of radiating lightQduringa period of useful commercial life under the influence of any electric discharge. For example, tube I may contain neon and .the'incandescent light I5 may be used to effect a partial correction of the neon radiation and supply some of the wave lengths not found in vtheneon spectrumi' or the tube I may contain mercury with or without a rarefgas.

The tubes may be operated as follows:

First cathodes 8 coated with an activated thermionic substance are brought to an emissive, temperature, by current supplied from transformers 22 (switch 24 being then closed). Dischargepotential is then applied to anodes 5 and I and cathodes 8 respectively and ionizing energy such as an externally applied high frequency discharge is applied by the device conventionally designated as I8. Ser. No. 659,803 filed on even date herewith I describe a means of applying ionizing energy to a gas discharge tube and I preferably employ that means. Said application is herewith incorporated by reference and made a part hereof.) An arc discharge then occurs through each leg of the double anode tube I (or I6). For example a discharge occurs from I through ballast 4, from anode 5 to cathode 8 and back to the neutral wire 3. Discharge also occurs from 2' through ballast 6, from anode I to cathode 8, and back to neutral wire 3. Alternating current passing through the respective coils 4 and 6 generates'magnetic flux which interlinks with coil I4 on core I2 andinduces current in coil I4 which lights incandescent lamp I5. Flux also vinterlinlrs with secondary coil II and generates current which heats thermionic cathode 8. For

this purpose switch 26 must be closed andswitch 24 can then be opened. I

Thus the ballasts 4 and 6 simultaneously per- 1 form two important functions. They limit the current in the arc discharge tubes in series therewith and generate current which may be utilized as described.

(In my copending application From this point of view my invention therefore includes an arc discharge tube adapted to radiate means to create additional incandescent radiation sufficient to make the total incandescent radiation about equal to the amount of light radiated b the mercury tube.

4. A luminous arc discharge tube containing neon, a second luminous arc discharge tube con-.

taining mercury and a gas selected from the group consisting of argon, krypton and xenon, the mercury tube having an envelope that intensifies the green wave lengths in the mercury light said mercury light during operation of the tubes radiating from about 3.5 to 4.5 times as much light as the neon tube, current carrying means in series'with each tube which means generates magnetic flux when a discontinuous current is passed through said means, means to convert said flux into energy which acts as ballast for said tube during operation thereof and also is converted into incandescent radiation which is blended with the light from the neon and mercury tubes, and means to create additional incandescent radiation sufi'lcient to make the total incandescent radiation about equal to the amount of light radiated by the mercury tube.

5. Means to discharge an electric current through a column of a substance which in the gaseous phase emits light in which blue and green radiations predominate under the influence of an electric dischargesaid means constituting a first source of light, means to discharge an electric current through a column of a substance which in the gaseous phase emits light in which red radiations predominate under the influence of an electric discharge said means constituting a second source of, light, means to control the current discharged through the respective columns at least one of said control means comprising current carrying means which generates magnetic fiux when a discontinuous current is passed through the said means at least one incandescent filament in an envelope separate from the envelope of the discharge tube and means to convert the fiux capable of being generated by said current carrying means into current which during operation heats the incandescent filament to incandescence thereby generating a significant proportion of incandescent light which is blended with the light from said first and second sources.

6. Means to discharge an electric current through a column of a substance which-in the gaseous phase emits light in which blue and green radiations predominate under the influence of an electric discharge said means constituting a first source of light, means to discharge an electric current through a column of a substance which in the gaseous phase emits light in which red radiations predominate under the influence of an electric discharge said means constituting a second source of light, means to control the current discharged through the respective c01- umns at least one of said control means comprising current carrying means which generates magnetic flux when a discontinuous current is passed through the said means at least one into incandescence thereby generating a significant proportion of incandescent-light which is blended with the light from said first and second sources. '7. Means to discharge an electric current through a column of mercury said means constituting a firstsource of light, means to discharge an electric current through a column of neon said means constituting a second source of light, means to control the current discharged through the respective columns at least one of said control means comprising current carrying by generating a significant proportion of incandescent light which is blended with the light from said first and second sources- BRANT EKNAYAN.

Aug. 20, 1935. H. EKNAYAN 2,012,239

LUMINOUS TUBE STARTING DEVICE F iled March 6, .95s 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR- HRH/VT [AWAY/UV- BY/U ' ATTORN Y-

Images