US2093273A - Getter for vacuum tubes - Google Patents

Description

p 1937- A HASLAUER GETTER VACUUM TUBES Original Filed Jan. 22, 1934 INVENTOR ADOLF HASLAUER.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GETTER FOR VACUUM TUBES Adolf Haslauer, East Orange, N. J.

7 Claims.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a flag getter cup for vacuum tubes. The present application contains the same subject matter as applicants abandoned patent application No. 707,689, filed January 22, 1934..

In vacuum tube constructions it is customary to provide a flag getter cup for the purpose of holding some highly reactive metal such as calcium, magnesium and barium, in a position to be exposed to electron bombardment on the last stage, for heating it to its vaporization temperature and causing chemical action for aiding in the evacuating of the vacuum tube.

In prior devices it has been customary to construct such flag getter cups from sheet metal formed with a pressed out portion producing a pocket into which the calcium or other material is disposed, and welding screen material over the pocket for holding the reactive metal so that the fumes may escape upon vaporization. The construction of this getter cup necessarily is expensive in that the welding operation is a delicate operation which is produced by hand.

This invention has for an object to construct a getter cup which is characterized by a continuation from the sheet metal body portion thereof adapted to be bent across the pocket for the purpose of closing the pocket holding the highly reactive metal within the pocket, and to arrange said continuation with a plurality of perforations to allow the escape of vapors during the electron bombardment.

Still further the invention also proposes an arrangement whereby the continuation is locked into its operative position.

Furthermore the invention contemplates the provision of a tongue continuation upon the edge of said continuation and adapted to engage in an aperture in the body of said flag getter cup for the purpose of holding the pocket closed.

Another one of the objects of this invention is the arrangement of a continuation from the body of the flag getter cup which is adapted to extend across the pocket and which is formed with an opening adapted to be covered by a screen clamped into position when said continuation is placed in its operative position.

Still further the invention proposes the construction of articles as mentioned which are simple and durable and which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, and to the apcircuit may be traced through the element 2| to pended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawing forming a material part of this disclosure:--

Fig. 1 is an elevational View of a portion of a 5.

vacuum tube equipped with a flag getter cup according to this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the flag getter cup per se.

Fig. 4 is an edge elevational view of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a bottom elevational view of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a developed view of material to be formed into a getter cup according to a modification of this invention.

Fig. 7 is a sectional view as though taken on the line 'l-'l of Fig. 6 but illustrating the material properly bent into the finished getter cup.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but illustrating another embodiment of this invention. 20

Fig. 9 is a sectional view as though taken on the line 99 of Fig. 8, but showing the getter cup in its fully operative position.

In Figs. 1 and 2 the mount of a vacuum tube has been illustrated merely for the purpose of dis: closing the association of the flag getter cup thereon. This mount comprises a glass stem ||l upon which the various elements of the tube are supported. This tube is of the screen type and is shown provided with a cylindrical screen I having support bars l3 at the sides. These support bars are welded or in any other manner secured to a support l5 projecting from the top of the glass stem I0 and a support |6 extending through the glass stem and connecting with a wire l6 constituting the lead for the screen. The plate ll of the tube is of cylindrical form and supported on one side by the element l8 projecting from the top of the glass stem I0 and at the other side of the element l9 also supported upon the glass stem 40 IE but continuing into the lead IQ for the plate connection. The filament 2|! is arranged within the plate I1 and supported by a bar 2| which is Welded at the bottom end upon a support 22 projecting from the top of the glass stem I0. Leads 23 are leads connecting with the filament for energizing the filament.

A continuation from the support l3 supports the flag getter cup 25. This flag getter cup isv located immediately below the lower point of the support 2|. A lead 26 connects with the upper end of the support 2| for a circuit to cause the electron bombardment of the getter cup. This the getter cup, then the support I 3 to the support 16 and then the lead l6.

One particular type of tube has been selected for the purpose of illustrating the invention but it must be borne in mind that the invention relates merely to the details of the getter cup 25. The manner of obtaining the circuit for the electron bombardment of the getter cup is not important though one circuit has been illustrated so that the invention may be understood. The getter cup is used during the evacuating of the casing of the vacuum tube into which the mount is placed and sealed. The getter cup according to this invention comprises sheet metal material adapted to be attached to an electrode or other portion in the vacuum tubeto be in the bombardment circuit and having a fiat surface 26 with a pressed out portion 21 forming a pocket 28 for holding highly reactive material for the electron bombardment.

A perforated continuation 29 from the said fiat surface 26 is bent across the bottom of the pocket 28 to close the'pocket and hold the said material therein. The getter cup is provided with a portion 30 bent at right angles to the flat surface 26 and having a pressed out semi-circular portion 3! into which a wire may be engaged for attaching the sheet metal upon the electrode. The flat surface 26 is also shown with a pressed out portion 32 for the same purpose.

A continuation of support 13 or any other adjacent support is connected or welded to a convenient position on the getter cup flag 25. Getter cup flag 25 will now be supported as an integral part of the complete mount assembly. In supporting getter cup flag 25 it is to be so positioned as to be subjected to the heating effect of the high frequency field of the bombarding apparatus necessary to bring the metal of the getter cup flag 25 to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the active metal contained in the enclosure consisting of pocket 28 and perforated tongue 29.

As illustrated on the drawing the getter cup is supported by the wire l3 engaging the pressed out portion 32 welded into position. In some types of tubes it may be best to support the getter cup by a wire extending vertically and for this reason the sheet metal is also provided with the vertical recesses 3|. The feature of the invention lies solely in the fact that the perforated portion 29 is a continuation from the fiat surface 26 and is adapted to be bent beneath the fiat surface for the purpose of closing the pocket 28. This distinguishes from prior constructions wherein screen material was placed below the pocket 28 to close the pocket and welded in position. The feature of this construction is that the flag getter cup may be formed from one stamping bent merely into proper shape.

. In Figs. 6 and '7 a modification of the invention has been disclosed in which a tongue 33 in the form of a small continuation from the free end of the continuation Z9 is adapted to engage in an opening 33 in portion 30 for the purpose of locking the continuation 29 into its closed position. Fig. 7 illustrates the getter cup in the closed position. It should be noticed that the tongue 33 extends through the opening 34 and so holds the highly reactive material 35 within the pocket 38 produced by the pressed out portion 21. In'other respects this form of the invention is similar to the previous form and corresponding parts may be recognized by the identical reference numerals.

In Figs. 8 and 9 another form of the invention has been disclosed wherein screen material is extended over the pocket for closing the pocket and held in place by a bent portion of sheet material of the getter cup. More particularly this getter cup is shown provided with a continuation 29' having a recessed portion 36 with a central opening 31 acting as a frame for a small piece of screen material 38. The continuation 29 is also provided with the tongue 33 adapted to engage the opening 34. The arrangement is such that after the highly reactive material 35 has been engaged into the pocket 28 then the continuation 29 is extended across the pocket so that the screen 38 closes the pocket and the tongue 33 of the continuation is engaged through the opening 34 for the purpose of locking the continuation 29 in the operative position. A feature of this form is that screen material has been used for closing the pocket and this screen material is firmly secured in place without the necessity of welding, being held in place merely by the opening of a certain portion of the body of the getter cup.

It is to be understood that in connection with this device, any reactive metal may be used, such as calcium, magnesium, barium, cerium, etc.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:-

1. A flag getter cup for vacuum tubes, comprising sheet metal with a continuation adapted to be attached on an electrode and having a flat surface with a pressed out portion forming a pocket for holding highly reactive material for electron bombardment, a perforated continuation from one side of said flat surface bent across said pocket to hold said reactive material therein, a second continuation projecting at right angles from the other side of said flat surface and to the same side as said perforated continuation, and engaging a tongue on the edge of said perforated continuation for holding said pocket closed.

2. A flag getter cup for vacuum tubes, comprising sheet metal adapted to be attached on an electrode and having a fiat surface with a pressed out portion forming a pocket for holding highly reactive material for electron bombardment, a perforated continuation from said flat surface bent across said pocket to hold said reactive material therein, and a continuation from the other side of said flat surface extended at right angles and to the same side as said continuation, and a tongue projecting from the edge of said first continuation and engageable with said second continuation for holding the continuation across said pocket.

3. A flag getter cup for vacuum tubes, comprising sheet metal with a continuation adapted to be attached on an electrode and having a flat surface with a pressed out portion forming a pocket for holding highly reactive material for electron bombardment, a perforated continuation from said fiat surface bent across said pocket to hold said reactive material therein, and a tongue projecting from the edge of said second mentioned continuation and engageable with said first continuation for holding the continuation across said pocket, said tongue extending through an opening in said first continuation.

4. A flag getter cup for vacuum tubes, comprising sheet metal having a top flat surface with a vertical continuation at one side, a portion of said flat surface being pressed upwards forming a pocket for holding a highly reactive material for electron bombardment, a perforated continuation from said flat surface directly opposite said vertical side for extending across said pocket to close the pocket and having a tongue engageable through an opening in said vertical side.

5. A blank to be folded into a flag getter cup for vacuum tubes, comprising sheet material having a central portion with a pressed out area for forming a pocket for holding highly reactive material for electron bombardment and having a perforated continuation on one side adapted to be bent across the pocket to close the pocket, and also having a tongue continuation on said perforated continuation for engaging an opening in said sheet metal to lock the perforated continuation in place.

6. A flag getter cup for vacuum tubes, comprising sheet metal adapted to be attached to an electrode and having a flat surface with a pressed out portion forming a pocket for holding highly reactive material for electron bombardment, a continuation from said flat surface for extending across said pocket to close said pocket and having a pressed out portion forming a frame with a centrol opening, and a screen within said pressed out portion constituting the frame for closing the pocket.

'7. A flag getter cup for vacuum tubes, comprising sheet metal adapted to be attached to an electrode and having a flat surface with a pressed out portion forming a pocket for holding highly reactive material for electron bombardment, a continuation from said flat surface for extending across said pocket to close said pocket and having a pressed out portion forming a frame with a central opening, and a screen within said pressed out portion constituting the frame for closing the pocket, and a tongue upon said continuation engageable with a portion of said sheet metal to hold the continuation in fixed position.

ADOLF HASLAUE-R.

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