US2020413A - Means for obtaining flame effects in negative glow devices - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 12, 1935. A. F. HENNINGER. J 2,020,413

MEANS FOR OBVTAINING FLAME EFFECTS IN NEGATIVE GLOW DEVICES i Filed May 18, 1951 RQ-@UQ nnpaanauannnngnuunnnu unnnngppananppnpppg'.

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNITED sTATEs I MEANS FOR OBTAINING FLAME EFFECTS I 1N NEGATIVE GLOW DEVICES Andrew F. Henninger, Jr., Chicago, Ill.

Application May 18, 1931, Serial No. 538.052

' realms. -(ci. 11s-'14) This invention relates to negative glowdevices I and has for its principal purpose the provision of a negative glow device wherein a ilaming effect in, conjunction with the figure design or legend may be obtained.

My invention'also-contemplates the provision of novel means for controlling the discharge between electrodes in a negative glow devicewhereby to create a visible flaming appearance between the electrodes. y

My invention contemplates further the provision of a novel combination embodying a flaming discharge between electrodes and a flashing de.- sign. With this combination, it is possible to obtain some very striking and attractive effects which may be used for display purposes.

I will describe the preferred formof my 'invention by reference to the accompanying drawing Whereinl Fig. 1 is a side view partly in section of the negative glow device embodving my invention that, by using certain combinations of elements in a gas filled envelope, for example, one conu taining neon or other gas such as argon, krypton, helium, zenon, or mercury vapor, I can produce a flaming discharge which when properly applied greatly enhances the striking eect produced by the negative glow in conjunction with an electrode having-a particular design embodied therein. I find that to obtain the best results, "it is necessary to use a practically pure gas because, if impure gases are used, the amingefiect is reduced; if the impurities are too great, it is eliminated completely. I also find that, while a slight amount of impurities or other gas in the gas bring out the figures or designs more distinctly, the brilliant glow due to the gas'is destroyed to a certain degree particularly when neon gas is used as the filling.

In preparing the envelopes, I preferably use' a slightlyhigher pressure than that I normally use in negative glow devices. With neon gas, the

normal pressure I have used is about ten to twelve millimeters of mercury, and, for obtaining the best flaming eiect, I flnd it is better to use a pressure of around eighteen to twenty millimeters of mercury. y,

lReferring now to Figs. 3 and 4 as embodying the simplest form of the invention, I have two electrodes 5 and 6 which, ii placed in a neon gas 5 Fig. 4. This barrier is preferably entirely dis- 15 connected from the exterior of the tube so far as any conductive connection is concerned. The shield may be made of metal which I havefound to be very satisfactory or it may be made of some other suitable substance. initiated with the shield` 9 in place follows the shortest path between electrodes 5 and 6, as for example in the direction of the arrows shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and along this path there is produced the appearance of a flame or moving glow. 25 As to the exact cause or theory underlying this phenomenon, I am not suiilciently sure to state such theory; however, I nd that'I am able to reproduce this condition at will by using a shield in the manner shown in the drawing and con- 30 forming to what is otherwise good practice in ther art of making negative glow devices.

This flaming effect giving thel appearance of burning designs on the electrodes 5 and 6 per- -mits me to employ the effect in a number of 35 striking ways one of which is illustrated in Figs. l and 2. In these figures an evacuated bulb or envelope II) has mounted therein a plurality of elements II, I2, I3, and I4. Element I2 forms the shield and in the present instance has cut out 40 therefrom a design-indicated by the word Radio at I5. Similarly electrode I4 has a certain design as indicated at I6 cut out from it.

The lead-in wires Il and I8 and I9's e rve also as the supporting means for supporting the ele- 45 ments, and the element I2 which has no lead in wire is supported by means of the insulated bushings, indicated for example at 20 and 2I, from the elements Il and I3. f

The circuit connections are provided in Fig. 2 50 by means of which electrode II may always be kept in circuit while electrodes I3 and I4v are alternately caused to glow. The circuit disclosed in Fig. 2 is very simple and, of course, may be made more involved if it is desired to use a large The discharge when 20 number of electrodes to obtain different effects. It consists essentially of the input transformer 2I, limiting resistance 22, a thermostat 23 having a heating coil 24 and adapted to open and close one circuit at 2B. Electrode II isl connected as shown to one end of the transformer 2| while electrode I4 is connected to the other end of the' transformer. Electrode I3 being closer to electrode I I and slightly larger than electrode I4 4will tend to take the current when it is connected in parallel with electrode I4. It is, however, alternately vconnected in parallel and removed by means of the thermostat 2J and a heating coil 24. Since the details ofV this circuit have been explained fully in my previous applications,-Serial lNo. 516,079 and Patent No. 1,960,245, dated May 29, 1934, it is believed that the operation thereof to alternately cause electrodes I3 and I4 to glow will be understood without further explanation.

When two of the electrodes are glowing, I obtain a very striking effect in that the front side of electrodes I I which maybe insulated on the back side as indicated at 26 will glow and the discharge will take place from say electrode I 3 to electrode II and produce fiery streamers passing through the openings ofthe design I5 in the shield I2 because this is the shortest path to electrode II. The eiect, therefore, i's that the top of electrode Il is burning, and the flames are being sucked through the openings in the shield I2 to the glowing background or fire which is merely the negative glow on the surface of Velectrode II. Electrode I4 being dark at this time also shows a glow through the design opening I6 to produce'an added attraction. Now if the circuitis changed by the opening 'of contact 25 by thermostat 23, electrode I3 will become dull or dark while electrode I4 willaglow, and the `saine fiery streamer effect from the top of I4 will conltinue to occur. Instead of having a glowing design or legend upon a dark background, there will now be present a glowing background with the dark letters.

By various combinations of this character, I-

amable to present some very striking and attractive displays.

From the above descriptiom'it is believed that the construction andoperation of this device will be clear to those skilled in this art. It is also believed to be obvious that various minor modiilcations may be made without departing from the scope'of the invention as set forth in the opening paragraphs of the specification and in the claims. l l

Having thus described myinventionfwhat I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1'. A negative glow device comprising an envelope having'a gaseous filling of the inert gas group at a pressure of above fteen millimeters of mercury and having therein a pair of spaced electrodes associated to form a design, means for connecting a source of alternating current across said electrodes to cause negative glow on both, and a shield interposed in the path of discharge between said electrodes operating upon passage of current between said electrodes to cause a naming light between the electrodes in addition to the glow on the electrodes the edges of said of said electrodes.

2. A negative glow' display lamp structure for causing flaming effects between electrodes of the lamp including an envelope, a gaseous filling for said envelope at a pressure of approximately eighteen to twenty millimeters of mercury, a pair 5 -of display forming electrodes in said envelope,

means for connecting a source of alternating current across said electrodes to cause negative glow on both, and a' shield interposed between v' 4. A negative glow display lamp structure for causing flaming effects between electrodes of the 25 lamp including an envelope, a gaseous filling for said envelope at a pressure of approximately eighteen to twenty millimeters of mercury, three display forming electrodes in said envelope, means for selectively and successively connecting 30 a source of alternating current across different pairs of said electrodes whereby to cause negative glowon the pairs of electrodes, and a shield interposedvbetween one pair of electrodes, said shield and one of said electrodes having open- 35 ings therein in the form of display legends.

5. A negative glow display lamp structure for causing flaming eifects between electrodes of the lamp including an envelope, a neon gas filling 'for said envelope at a pressure of approximately o eighteen to twenty millimeters of mercury, three display forming electrodes in said envelope, means for selectively and successively connecting a source of alternating current across different pairs of said electrodes whereby to cause 4;, negative glow on the pairs of electrodes, and a shield interposed between one pair of the electrodes.

6. A negative glow device comprising an envelope having a. gaseous filling of a substantially 50 pure inert gas, said gas being/under a pressure of between ten to twenty millimeters of mercury,

a pair of spaced electrodes therein, means for connecting a source of alternating current across said electrodes to cause negative glow on both, and a shield interposed in the path of discharge between said electrodes, edgesvof said shield being extended beyond corresponding edges of one of said electrodes. l

7. A negative glow device comprising an en- 00 velope having a gaseous illling'of'a substantially pure inert gas,y said gas being under a pressure of approximately fifteen to twenty millimeters of mercury, a pair of spaced electrodes in said envelope, means for connecting a'source of alter- 65 nating current across said electrodes to cause negative glow on both, and a shield interposed in the path of discharge between said electrodes. said shield being of substantially greater area than'one of said electrodes. .70

ANDREW F. HENNINGER. Jn.

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