US2016904A - Electric discharge device - Google Patents

Electric discharge device Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2016904A
US2016904A US518152A US51815231A US2016904A US 2016904 A US2016904 A US 2016904A US 518152 A US518152 A US 518152A US 51815231 A US51815231 A US 51815231A US 2016904 A US2016904 A US 2016904A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
stem
cathode
anode
envelope
discharge device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US518152A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
George F Murphy
Harry C Steiner
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from US487272A external-priority patent/US2027175A/en
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Priority to US518152A priority Critical patent/US2016904A/en
Priority to DEA65158D priority patent/DE658915C/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2016904A publication Critical patent/US2016904A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H01J17/50—Thermionic-cathode tubes
    • H01J17/52—Thermionic-cathode tubes with one cathode and one anode
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H01J17/50—Thermionic-cathode tubes
    • H01J17/52—Thermionic-cathode tubes with one cathode and one anode
    • H01J17/54—Thermionic-cathode tubes with one cathode and one anode having one or more control electrodes
    • H01J17/56—Thermionic-cathode tubes with one cathode and one anode having one or more control electrodes for preventing and then permitting ignition, but thereafter having no control

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to electrical discharge apparatus, more particularly to thermionic devices containing an ionizable medium and provided with a source of electrons, a cooperating anode and an electrostatic control member or grid.
  • the pressure of the medium and the impressed voltages are such that a discharge of arc-like character is produced between the electrodes, the initiation of the discharge being controlled by the voltage on the grid.
  • the grid voltage determines whetherl the arc will start 'and by a continued repetition of applying and withdrawing the anode voltage the control member may determine the average plate current over a period of time. Devices of this character' have been described by A. W.
  • An object of the present invention is to improve on the supporting structure of a cathode, particularly one of the indirectly heated type to the end that a cathode of large bulk and Weight may be accurately and rigidly positioned Within the envelope.
  • This object is attained in brief by relieving the leading-in conductors entirely of the support of the cathode so that these conductors are called upon only to deliver electrical energy to the cathode.
  • the cathode is carried by arigid me- 5 tallic structure secured to the envelope at a con- Venient place and the conductors are constituted of flexible wire.
  • FIG. 1 shows a view in elevation of the improved tube
  • Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the cathode shown in Fig. 1 with a portion broken away and exposing the interior members
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross sectional view of the 20 anode portion or the envelope.
  • numeral I designates the envelope ofan electric discharge device which terminates in re-entrant stems 2 and 3.
  • the lower stem 3 is closed by a press 4, while theup- 25 per stem 2 carries atthe center a small inverted tubular member 5 open at one end.
  • a transverse glass member 6 which carries a piece of 30 tubing l closed at its upper end.
  • 'Ihe member 'I is hermetically sealed to a rigid conductor which passes, rather loosely, through the bore of the tube 5 and is secured to; an anode 9 of any suitable and well known design.
  • the rigid con- 35 ductor 8 is joined to a flexible lead Il!
  • the grid or control member takes the form of a perforated cylinder II closed at the lower end and secured in position by embracing the stem 2 to which it is 40 clamped by a metal member I2'.
  • a lead I3 is taken from the grid through a stem I4 which closes the outer end of a transverse glass tubulature I5.
  • metallic extensions I6 are 45 afliXed to the lower end of the grid and these extensionscarry a starting ring I'I.
  • the cathode I 8 consists of the usual form of heater (not shown) of which only one of the conductors I9 is illustrated, and about this heater, suitably in- 0 sulated therefrom, are a plurality of rigidly spaced discs 20. These discs are usually coated with an electron emitting material such as barium carbonate (BaCOs) to produce an abundance of electrons necessary for carrying current 55 through the tube. About the discs are located one or more heat shields 2
  • BaCOs barium carbonate
  • the lower end of the cathode is closed by three or more heat shields 20' provided along their periphery with downturned flanges which are secured to the interior surfaces of the respective heat shields 2 I.
  • a cathode of this kind has been described in the Hull application Serial No. 487,- 533, filed October 9, 1930, and entitled Cathode structures for thermionic devices. Also in the Pike application Serial No. 487,541, filed October 9, 1930, and entitled Cathode structures for thermionic. devices. It is evident that the cathode involves a considerable amount of metal and for this reason is quite heavy, particularly in the larger size tubes.
  • a rigid framework 23 consisting of U-shaped metal up'- rights which are secured, preferably by welding, to the surface of the outermost heat shield 2! and at the other end to a resilient band 24 of metal.
  • a resilient band 24 of metal Three equidistantly arranged uprights are illustrated but it will be understood that the number may vary, depending upon the weight and shape of the cathode to be supported.
  • the member 24 is clamped about the stem 3 and when this member is of suflicient length so as to obtain a large surface of contact with the stem, the framework is held rigidly in place.
  • the current for the heater is conducted through a flexible multi-strand lead I9 connected to a solid leading-in conductor sealed in the stem 4 and terminating in a ilexible lead 29.
  • the other end (not shown) of the heater is attached to the cap member 22 so that the cathode or load current leads serve as a part of the heater circuit.
  • the load current is taken from the cathode by means of a pair of flexible multi-strand leads 26 connected in parallel, to flattened rigid rods 21 sealed in the stem, also terminating in flexible leads 28 as in the case of the heater circuit.
  • the heavy cathode structure which may weigh from one pound in the smaller size tubes to ten pounds or even more in the largerI devices, is held rigidly in place by the framework and the strain on the stern is reduced to a minimum by the improved method of support.
  • the inverted tube 5 prevents the arc discharge from bombarding the place where the conductor 8 is sealed in the stem 'l and to that extent, also precludes puncture or cracking of the glass at this place.
  • An impro-ved structure of the type described finds particular utility in electrostatically controlled arc discharge devices containing an ionizable medium, such as inert gas or vapor.
  • an ionizable medium such as inert gas or vapor.
  • the pressure of the latter is such that an arc discharge capable of carrying large currents is produced and the starting of the arc controlled by the inhibiting effect of the grid member IB.
  • Alternating current is usually employed in the plate circuit so as to resto-re to the grid in a ⁇ practical manner, the control function at the beginning of each complete cycle.
  • the rigidity of cathode support offered by the framework 23 is such that the cathode is held strictly in proper position notwithstanding a relatively long distance between the latter and the stem which supports it, and the electrical characteristics of the tube as a whole are maintained uniform and reproducible. Moreover, due to the absence of glass strain at both ends of the envelope, the operating life of the tube is materially increased.
  • An electric discharge device comprising an envelope winch contains an ionizable medium and which is closed by oppositely directed stems, an anode supported from one stem by means of a rigid leading-in conductor, a cathode supported from the other stem by a rigid framework, a exible lead for the cathode, an extension formed on the anode-supporting stem, said extension terminating in a member which closely surrounds the anode leading-in conductor and extends toward the anode-supporting stem whereby said anode supporting stem is protected from positive ion bombardment.
  • An electric discharge device comprising an envelope terminating in a stem, said envelope containing an ionizable medium and a plurality of electrodes, one o-f said electrodes supported from said ste-m by meansof a conductor, an extension formed on the stem, said extension terminating in a member which surrounds said conductor and extends toward said stem, the electrode to which said conductor is secured being mounted wholly exterior to said extension.
  • An electric discharge device comprising an envelope terminating in a stem, said envelope containing an ionizable medium and a plurality of electrodes including an anode, said anode supported from said stem by means of a conductor, an extension formed on the stem, said extension terminating in a member which surrounds the anode conductor only and extends toward said stem.
  • An electric discharge device comprising an envelope which contains an ionizable medium and which is closed by oppositely directed stems, an anode supported from one stem by means of a conductor, a cathode supported from the other stem, an extension formed on the anode supporting stem., said extension terminating in a member which surrounds the anode conductor and extends away from the anode and cathode.

Landscapes

  • Lasers (AREA)
  • Electron Sources, Ion Sources (AREA)
US518152A 1930-10-08 1931-02-25 Electric discharge device Expired - Lifetime US2016904A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US518152A US2016904A (en) 1930-10-08 1931-02-25 Electric discharge device
DEA65158D DE658915C (de) 1930-10-08 1932-02-23 Gittergesteuertes, dampf- oder gasgefuelltes elektrisches Entladungsgefaess aus Glas mit lichtbogenartiger Entladung

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US487272A US2027175A (en) 1930-10-08 1930-10-08 Grid construction of electric discharge devices
US518152A US2016904A (en) 1930-10-08 1931-02-25 Electric discharge device

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2016904A true US2016904A (en) 1935-10-08

Family

ID=27048939

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US518152A Expired - Lifetime US2016904A (en) 1930-10-08 1931-02-25 Electric discharge device

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US2016904A (de)
DE (1) DE658915C (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2434525A (en) * 1943-08-23 1948-01-13 Rheem Mfg Co Coating on metals
US3046601A (en) * 1959-08-28 1962-07-31 Shell Oil Co Cavity configuration determination

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2434525A (en) * 1943-08-23 1948-01-13 Rheem Mfg Co Coating on metals
US3046601A (en) * 1959-08-28 1962-07-31 Shell Oil Co Cavity configuration determination

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE658915C (de) 1938-04-20

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2331398A (en) Electronic discharge device
US2399003A (en) Electric discharge device
US2036069A (en) Electric switch
US2416661A (en) Dispenser type cathode electric discharge device
US2184756A (en) Electric discharge device
US2016904A (en) Electric discharge device
US1874753A (en) Controlled arc discharge apparatus
US1924319A (en) Cathode structure for thermionic devices
GB1141448A (en) Multiple-cathode x-ray triode tube
USRE15278E (en) Electron-discharge apparatus
US2409716A (en) High-voltage discharge device
US1889612A (en) Rectifying apparatus
US2927240A (en) Gaseous discharge device
US2283639A (en) Electric discharge device
US2381632A (en) Electron discharge device
US2129015A (en) Braun tube
US2082602A (en) Thermionic cathode
US1760525A (en) Rectifier
US2027175A (en) Grid construction of electric discharge devices
GB379342A (en) Improvements in and relating to electric switches of the vacuum type
USRE19870E (en) Electron discharge device with
US1913427A (en) Electric discharge device
US1953906A (en) Rectifier tube
US1211091A (en) Cathode-ray device.
US1787699A (en) X-ray tube