US2049167A

US2049167A - Space discharge device

Info

Publication number: US2049167A
Application number: US749344A
Authority: US
Inventors: Carl F Miller
Original assignee: Hygrade Sylvania Corp
Current assignee: Hygrade Sylvania Corp
Priority date: 1934-10-22
Filing date: 1934-10-22
Publication date: 1936-07-28
Anticipated expiration: 1953-07-28

Description

July 28, 1936. Q E MlLLER 2,049,167

SPACE DISCHARGE DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1954 INVENTQR ATTORNEY Patented July 28, 1936 a STATES GFE'ECE SPACE DISCHARGE DEVICE Carl F. Miller, Emporium, Pa., assignor to Hygrade Sylvania Corporation, Salem, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application October 22, 1934, Serial No. 749,344

6 Claims.

closing envelope.

Accordingly one of the principal objects of this invention is to provide a novel form of spacer whereby the electrodes of a radio tube, lamp or similar device can be maintained in predetermined fixed spatial relations with respect tothe enclosing envelope and with respect to one another.

:It has been proposed heretofore to provide the electrode assembly or mount of a radio tube or the like with a disc or similar member which is adapted to bear against the inner wall of the tube envelope to steady the electrode assembly. For example, one known type of spacer for this pur pose consists of a disc of mica or similar insulating material provided with a series of aligned perforations adapted to register with the several electrode support posts, said member having edge projections to engage the wall of the envelope. This type of spacer has the disadvantage however that since it is assembled in end-on relation and over the ends of the supporting posts, it is not possible for the person assembling the device to view conveniently the interelectrode spacing, and in the case of tubes having a large number of electrodes each electrode support post must be manually and individually aligned with its corresponding perforation in the spacer member. Because of the end-on assembly method necessitated by this prior type of spacer disc, unless the various electrode support posts are held in the proper spaced relation during the assembly of the spacer, much time is consumed in effecing the proper assembly of the spacer. Furthermore any non-uniformity of spacing between the various posts as compared with the disc perforations, may require a forcing of the disc into position with the possibility of chipping the edges of one or more of the perforations, thus introducing a source of non-uniformity in the finished tube.

- Accordingly another object of this invention is to provide a bi-part spacer member which may be assembled in such a way that during the assembly operation the interior spacing of the electrodes may be clearly observed.

A feature of the invention relates to a bi-part spacer member which is capable of being assembled in a motion which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the electrode assembly.

Another feature relates to a bi-part spacer member'having cooperating notches in opposing edges to define a plurality of perforations for receiving and spacing the support posts of an electrode assembly.

10 A further feature relates to a spacer member wherein the leakage path between the several electrode posts passing therethrough is materially reduced.

A still further feature relates to a spacer member having a plurality of substantially circular perforations adapted to receive electrode support posts and a rectangular perforation to receive an electron-emitting cathode member.

A still further feature relates to a spacer member which is capable of being assembled so that it is positioned between, and supports the turns of a helically wound electrode or similar member.

Other features and advantages not specifically enumerated will be apparent after a consideration of the following detailed descriptions and the appended claims.

While the invention will be described herein as embodied in one known type of discharge device, namely, a dome type radio tube, it will be understood that this is done merely for purposes of explanation and not by way of limitation.

Accordingly in the drawing, Fig. 1 is a top plan view, partly in section, of a tube embodying features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a partial sectional view of a tube such as ispartly illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing the manner in which the bi-part spacer member is assembled.

Fig. 4 is a detailed sectional view of the arrangement of Fig. 1 along the line 4-4 but with certain of the parts omitted for clarity.

Fig. 5 shows an alternative arrangement wherein the spacer member intersects one of the electrodes between adjacent turns.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 represents an enclosing envelope such as is ordinarily employed in radio tubes, lamps or similar devices. Preferably, although not necessarily, the envelope l terminates at its upper end in a portion 2 of reduced diameter, this portion being provided, if necessary, with a metallic connection cap 3 of known construction. The envelope I may be provided at its lower end with a mount including an electrode assembly and a reentrant stem terminating in a press (not shown) wherein the various lead-in and electrode support wires are sealed. As shown in Figs. 1 'to 3 of the drawing the electrode assembly of the mount may comprise a central tubular or cylindrical cathode member 4 and a plurality of concentric electrodes 5, 8, I, 8. Thus for example, the electrodes 5, 6 and I may consist of wire wound, or other foraminous structures capable of acting as grids, while the electrode 8 may consist of a solid or perforated plate adapted to act as' an anode. Each of the electrodes 5, 6, I and 8 may be provided with a pair of vertical uprights or supporting posts. Thus the grid 5' is wound around or is supported by the posts 9, I the grid 6 is supported by posts I I, I2; grid is supported by posts I3, I4; while the plate 8 is supported by posts I5, I6. Preferably the various electrode supporting posts extend slightly beyond the ends of the associated electrodes as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

For the purpose of spacing the several electrodes from one another there is provided, in

, accordance with the invention, a bi-part spacer member comprising the part I! and the part I8. Parts I! and I8 may be made of any suitable material preferably an insulating material such as mica or the like. As shown clearly in Figs. 1

:and 3, the part I! is provided with oppositely extending arms I9, 28 and a third arm 2I extending at right angles to arms I9 and 20. Each ofthe said arms is provided with smaller projections or teeth 22 which are adapted to engage the inner wall of the portion 2 of the envelope as shown clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawing. The arms I9 and 28 are provided with two circular perforations adapted to register with and fit over the plate support posts I5, I6. The said perforajtions in member I! are in alignment with the edge 23 which in turn is provided with a series of aligned notches adapted to register with corresponding posts 9 to I4 inclusive. The said edge is also provided with a V-shaped notch adapted to register with the tubular cathode member 4. Preferably the notches registering with the support wires 9 to I4 are semi-circular although if desired these notches may be V-shaped.

The part I8 of the bi-part spacer member is likewise provided with a pair of perforations adapted to register with the posts I and I8 and the edge 24 is also provided with a series of semicircular notches 25, 26, 2!, 28, 28, 38, and with a central V-shaped notch 3 I. The notches in member I8 are so arranged that when the said member is assembled as shown in Fig. 1 the cooperating notches in the

edges

23 and 24 define a central rectangular perforation to receive the cathode member 4 and a plurality of sets of circular perforations to receive the posts 9 to I4. Preferably the V-notches are so designed that when the parts I-!, and I8 are assembled they define a square opening having a width substantially equal to the diameter of the cathode member 4, so that the said cathode member is supported at four points around its periphery.

The manner of assembly of the spacer member is believed to be obvious from the foregoing description. Suflice it to say that the member I! V is first placed in position with the outer perforations engaging plate support posts I5 and I6 and if desired the said member I! may rest upon and be supported by the upper edge of the cylindrical electrode 8 as shown more clearly in Fig. 2. Likewise the member I8 is then assembled over the post I5 as indicated in Fig. 3 and the said member is then swung around until the notches in the edge 24 engage the associated electrode support posts whereupon the tongue 3| may be slipped over the post I6. With the parts thus 5 assembled, small

metal cross pieces

32, 33 may be welded to the posts I5, I6 to fasten the spacer members against vertical movement.

As will be noticed from the showing of Fig. 4, the members I! and I8 when assembled are not in the same plane so that the effective length of the leakage path between the several electrode support .posts is correspondingly increased. The electrode assembly having the spacer means fastened thereto is then positioned within the envelope I, so that the teeth 22 flexibly engage the wall portion 2. Consequently the electrode assembly is thus supported against tilting movement on opposite diameters.

If desired the members I! and I8 in addition to supporting the electrode assembly against tilting movement with respect to the envelope I may also be used to support one or more of the grid electrodes 5, 6 and I. Thus as shown in Fig. 5 the electrode 5 consisting of a wire 34 helically wound around the support posts 9 and I0 is slightly longer than the anode 8 so that when the members I! and I8 are assembled they intersect the grid electrode between two adjacent turns. hers I! and I8 support the grid electrode against tilting movement in the manner described in con- 1 nection with Figs. 1 to 3 and at the same time the said grid is supported against vertical movement by reason of the interlocking arrangement between the members I! and I8 and the associated grid turns.

While specific shapes and arrangements of the members I! and I8 have been disclosed herein,

it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. For example, where the antitilting effect is not desired the arms I9, 20 and 2| may be omitted in which event the bi-part members I! and I8 serve merely to space the various electrodes from one another. Furthermore while one specific manner of engaging the envelope with the spacer is shown, various modifications and changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The foregoing arrangements provide means for supportingthe elements of a tube so that there is a minimum of microphonic noise or electrical.- disturbance resulting from the tight-fit that is obtained between the mica and the various support posts; Furthermore the chances of the ele-i ments of the electrode assembly rattling or being mechanically jarred are materially reduced.

What I claim is:

1. An electron discharge device having an envelope, a mount within said envelope and comprising a plurality of electrodes having side posts, an insulating spacer having an edge provided with a plurality of slots, said side posts being received in saidrslots to space said electrodes in fixed relation with respect to each other and an insulating member cooperating with said spacer for closing the ends of said slots to lock said side posts in said slots.

2. An electron discharge device having an envelope,.a mount within said envelope and comprising a plurality of electrodes having side posts, an insulating spacer having an edge provided with slots for receiving the ends of said side posts,

a second insulating spacer having an edge pro-.75

By this arrangement therefore, the mem- 30 Y vided with slots in registry with the slots in said first spacer, said spacers being positioned to lock said side posts between said spacers within said slots.

3. An electron discharge device having an envelope, a mount within said envelope comprising a plurality of electrodes having side posts with their ends in alignment, a spacer positioned on one side of said side posts and provided with apertures in which the end side posts are received and a straight edge having slots in which the rest of the side posts are received, a second spacer positioned on the other side of said side posts above said first spacer and in contact therewith and having apertures in which the end side posts are received and a straight edge having slots in registry with the slots on said first spacer in which the rest of the side posts are received, said spacers being secured to said end side posts to lock the side posts in the slots between said spacers.

4. A device of the character described comprising an electrode assembly said assembly including a pair of electrodes, and means for spacing said electrodes comprising a pair of separable insulator members having registering notches in 'their opposed edges said notches engaging corresponding projections on said electrodes.

5. A device according to claim 4 in which certain of said registering notches define a circular opening and others of said notches define a rectangular opening.

6. A device of the character described comprising a tubular cathode member, an electrode having a supporting post, means to space said cathode from said electrode comprising a bi-part insulator member the opposing edges of each part of said member being provided with registering notches one set of notches defining a circular opening to receive said post, and the other set defining a rectangular opening to receive said cathode member.

CARL F. MILLER.