US2182736A - Rectifying device - Google Patents

Rectifying device Download PDF

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Publication number
US2182736A
US2182736A US140772A US14077237A US2182736A US 2182736 A US2182736 A US 2182736A US 140772 A US140772 A US 140772A US 14077237 A US14077237 A US 14077237A US 2182736 A US2182736 A US 2182736A
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United States
Prior art keywords
cathode
anode
lines
discharge
envelope
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Expired - Lifetime
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US140772A
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English (en)
Inventor
Penning Frans Michel
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.)
Koninklijke Philips NV
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Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken NV
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H01J17/02—Details
    • H01J17/14—Magnetic means for controlling the discharge

Definitions

  • My invention relates to A. C. rectifying devices, and more particularly to devices comprising at least one cold-cathode ionic discharge tube having a low-pressure gaseous filling,
  • cold-cathode as used herein is to be understood to mean a cathode which is not heated to facilitate the disengagement of electrons
  • gaseous filling is to be understood to mean a filling consisting of one or more gases or vapors, or mixtures thereof.
  • the object of my invention is to overcome the above difficulties by reducing the high ignition voltage in the conductive direction, which is associated with the low pressures, without at the same time unduly decreasing the high ignition voltage in the non-conductive or reverse direction.
  • active part of the cathan ode surface is meant the part of the cathode area which is twice traversed by the magnetic lines of force and which limits the electron orbits extending along these lines.
  • the active anode area is preferably so arranged that it extends substantially in the direction of the lines of force within the discharge space.
  • the oathode is formed of two parallel plates and the anode is in the form of an elongated member extending perpendicularly between these plates, whereas in another embodiment the anode is shaped as a as hollow cylinder, and two cathode plates are arranged at each end of the cylinder and normally to the axis thereof. whereby the discharge path is substantially enclosed by the electrodes.
  • a magnetic field which is nonhomogeneous in the discharge space i. c. has lines of force which are curved in the discharge 5 space, and so arrange the anode that practically none of the lines strikes same.
  • the object of my invention is to improve the rectification in cold-cathode ionic discharge tubes whereby they will have excellent blocking properties without materially increasing the ignition voltage in the conductive direction.
  • FIGS 1 to 3 inclusive are partly-sectionized schematic views of rectifying devices according to the invention.
  • Fig. 4 is a view along line 4 of Fig. 3;
  • Fig. 5 is a partly-sectionized side view of a rectifying device according to another embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 6 is a. partly-sectionized schematic view of a rectifying device according to the invention.
  • Fig. 7 is a graph illustrating the advantages of the present invention.
  • the rectifying device illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises an ionic rectifying. tube having a substantially cylindrical envelope 2 forming two presses 6 and 1.
  • Supported from press I is a cold cathode structure in the form of two parallel apertured plates 3 and 4, for instance of nickel or molybdenum, each provided with an external lead 8.
  • a cold cathode structure in the form of two parallel apertured plates 3 and 4, for instance of nickel or molybdenum, each provided with an external lead 8.
  • an elongated anode 5 Arranged perpendicularly to plates 3 and 4 and passing through the apertures therein with a clearance, is an elongated anode 5, of the same material, supported at its ends from press 6 by suitable conductive supports provided with external leads 9.
  • the tube contains a gaseous filling of low pressure, for instance argon at about 0.02 mm. of mercury.
  • a horseshoe permanent magnet I Disposed outside envelope 2 is a horseshoe permanent magnet I, which produces within the discharge space of the tube a homogeneous and constant magnetic field having lines of force a, which traverse plate 3, then pass substantially parallel to anode i, and finally traverse plate 4. It will be noted that substantially none of the lines of force strikes anode 5.
  • an electromagnet can be used; however a permanent magnet, of course, gives a simpler construction and 10 does not require energizing current. Furthermore, the polarity of the field is of no importance in obtaining the above results, and thus it is frequently convenient and possible to use an alternating magnetic field whose exciting current 5 can be obtained in a very simple manner, for instance from an A. C. network which also supplies the anode voltage, so that the excitation of the magnet and the anode voltage will be in synchronism. In this case the circuit must be so so arranged that the electromagnet is sufllciently excited during the phase in which the anode allows passage of current, and that the magnetic field disappears only at those moments at which it is not needed. Thus, the difliculties in pro- 28 ducing D. C. excitation are avoided in a simple manner.
  • the rectifying device shown in Fig. 2 is somewhat similar to that of Fig. 1 and has similar parts indicated by the same reference numerals. 30 However, in Fig. 2 the cathode is formed of two solid parallel plates II and II, for instance of nickel or molybdenum, whereas the anode is in the form of a cylinder ID of the same material, and surrounds the magnetic field produced by an 38 electromagnet having a coil 80, a. soft iron core 8
  • the lines of force first traverse one or the cathode plates, then 40 pass substantially parallel to the active surface of the anode, and finally traverse the second cathode plate.
  • the magnetic field in this case can also be produced by a permanent magnet, asdescrlbedinFig. 1. Itwillbenotedthatin 5 Fig. 2 the discharge path is shielded in an advantageous manner by the electrodes, and that the magnetic lines of force extending between plates II and I! do not strike the anode cylinder Ii, which surrounds these lines instead of 50 being surrounded thereby as in Fig. 1.
  • the rectifying device of Figs. 3 and 4 comprises a rectifying tube having a hermetically-sealed vitreous envelope l3 forming two re-entrant portions each supporting, by means of conductive 55 supports ll provided with external leads ID.
  • a cold-cathode in the form of a disc I for instance of nickel or nickel or molybdenum.
  • a glass rod l8 supporting a conductive rod llcarrying an anode 20 in the form so of a metal ring, for instance of nickel or molyb-
  • anode 20 in the form so of a metal ring, for instance of nickel or molyb-
  • I provide cup-shaped metal screens il suitably supported from the electrode supports. It will be noted that in Fig. 3 the disposition and type of the electrodes is somewhat similar to that of Fig. 2 except that anode cylinder 10 20 is substantially shorter than anode IQ of Fig. 2.
  • Coaxlally surrounding the tube is a magnetic coil 23, which produces between anodes I4 a substantially homogeneous magnetic held, as indicatedbythellnesb.
  • 9,182,785 l 3 w I gized in the manner set forth in connection with Fig. 1 or a permanent magnet of proper shape may be used
  • the tube shown in Fig. 3 is drawn to scale, and g in a suitable construction in which envelope II is about 280 mm. long and about '10 mm. in diameter (the other dimensions being in the proportion shown), the iollowing results were obtained.
  • the ignition voltage in the conductive direction was of the order of 400 volts, and a single-phase rectified current of the order of 10 milliamperes was obtained.
  • a mercury-vapor filling as this allows the pressure of the filling to be maintained at the same value during the entire life of the tube. This can be obtained in the go well-known manner by providing a reservoir or liquid mercury within the tube, which ismaintained at the proper temperature as regards the admissible values of vapor pressures.
  • a reservoir or liquid mercury within the tube, which ismaintained at the proper temperature as regards the admissible values of vapor pressures.
  • the cathode may be of a metal having a low melting point, preferably less than 0., for instance caesium or mercury,
  • the discharge tube comprises an envelope 26 forming two presses 50 and 5!.
  • an anode in the form of an elongated metal member 25, for instance of molybdenum or tungsten.
  • a cold cathode 24 in the form of a metal cylinder, for instance or nickel.
  • anelectric coil 21 Surrounding the tube substantially coaxial with anode 25 and 30 cathode 26 is anelectric coil 21, which produces a magnetic field whose lines of force are indicated by lines o. The field so produced is a rotational-symmetrical non-homogeneous field.
  • the coil 21 should have a length less 55 than half the length of the cathode cylinder 24, and should be arranged about the middle portion of the cylinder 2Q, whereas cylinder 24 should be of such a size as to surround a greater portion of the lines of force. As shown, coil 21 has a length 70 equal to it, L, L being the length of cylinder 24.
  • Fig. 5 also shows the connections for singlephase halt-wave rectification, in which the A. 6. current to be rectified is supplied from a transformer 9i, whereas the coil 21 is energized from the primary winding thereof. '5
  • the invenion is particularly advantageous for initiating the discharge in a mercury-cathode discharge tube
  • a comparatively high voltage,'sufilcient for initiating a discharge between cold electrodes can be set up between the anode and the cathode parts, and two cathode parts can be used as a fixed and liquid electrode for a separate discharge of 'high current intensity and lower voltage; the discharge issuing from the anode initiating the discharge or lower voltage.
  • the device illustrated in Fig. 6 comprises a discharge tube having an hermetically-sealed envelope formed-of a vitreous portion 52,13.
  • cap- 25 a mercury cathode 29, and an annular electrode 3
  • for instance of molybdenum, suitably sup- 30 ggrted from the envelope by a conductive support
  • Surrounding the tube is a cylindrical magnet coil 30, which produces a rotational-symmetrical magnetic field whose lines of force, as indicated '5 by h, traverse cathode 28 and anode 29 and pass through the annular electrode 3
  • are interconnected through circuit arrangements, schematically in- 40 dicated by reference numerals 32 and 33, whereby circuit arrangement 33, electrodes 28 and 23,- and the discharge path of the tube form an optional rectifying circuit having a materially lower voltage, and'whereby electrodes 28 and 29, as regards 45 the higher voltage of circuit 32, are both negative and receive substantially the same potential.
  • the discharge incorporated in th s circuit arrangement and passing between cathode 28 and anode 29 can be initiated at a cathode. spot 50 formed by means of electrode 3!.
  • have substantially the arrangement of the elec-' trodes in Fig. 3 except that one of the cathode plates i4 is replaced by the liquid cathode 28. 55 It. is also possible to produce in Fig. 6 a homogeneous magnetic fieldtraversingcathode 28-and anode 28, in the same manneras the magnetic field of Fig. 2 traverses cathode plates H and [2;
  • An A. C. rectifying device comprising, an ionic discharge tube comprising an envelope, 0. cold cathode and an anode spaced apart to form a discharge space, and a low-pressure gaseous filling within said tube, and means to produce within said space a non-homogeneous magnetic field having lines of force entering and leaving the space through said cathode with most of said lines passing through the space without intersecting the anode.
  • An A. C. rectifying device comprising an ionic discharge tube comprising an envelope, a tubular-shaped cold-cathode, an elongated anode extending coaxially within said cathode and forming a discharge space therewith, a low-pressure gaseous filling within said envelope, and
  • An A. C. rectifying device comprising an ionic discharge tube comprising an envelope, 9. tubular-shaped cold-cathode, an elongated anode extending coaxially within said cathode and forming a discharge space therewith, a low-pressure gaseous filling within said envelope, and means including an electric coil surrounding said tube and having a length less than half the length of said cathodeto produce a non-homogeneous rotational-symmetrical magnetic field having an axis coinciding with the axes of said cathode and anode and lines of force intersecting said cathode near the ends thereof, said-cathode surrounding a greater part of said field and most II of said lines of force passing throu h the discharge space without intersecting the anode.
  • a device for rectifying high alternating voltages comprising an ionic discharge tube having an envelope, a cold cathode and an anode within said envelope and spaced apart to form a discharge space, and an ionizable gaseous filling within said envelope and having a pressure between 10- and 10-- mms. of Hg, and means to produce a magnetic field having lines of force traversingthe space within the envelope with a major portion of said lines passing through the discharge space between the anode and cathode and entering and leaving said discharge space through portions of the active cathode surface adjacent the same, most of the lines of said major portion passing through the discharge space without intersecting the surface of the anode.
  • a device for rectifying high alternating voltages comprising an ionic discharge tube having an envelope, 9. cold cathode having an active surface, an anode spaced from said cathode to form a discharge space and having an active surface opposing said active cathode surface and parallel thereto, and an ionizable gaseous filling within said envelope and having a pressure between 10- and 10- mms. of Hg, and means to produce a magnetic field having lines of force traversing the space within the envelope with a major portion of said lines passing through the discharge space between said active surfaces and entering and leaving said discharge space through portions of said active cathode surface, most of the lines of said major portion passing through the discharge space without intersecting the surface of the anode.
  • a device for rectifying high alternating voltages comprising an ionic discharge tube having an envelope, a cold cathode structure comprising two cathode members spaced apart, an anode extending between said cathode members and forming a discharge space therewith, and an ionizable gaseous filling within said envelope and having a pressure between 10* and 10- mms.
  • a device for rectifying high alternating voltages comprising an ionic discharge tube having an envelope, a tubular anode, a cold cathode comprising two members each disposed at one end of said anode and extending substantially perpendicular to the axis thereof, said members and anode forming a discharge space, and an ionizable gaseous filling within said envelope and having a pressure between 10- and 10- mms.
  • a device for rectifying high alternating voltages comprising an ionic discharge tube having an envelope,-a liquid mercury cathode, and an anode within said envelope and spaced from said cathode to form a discharge space, an ionizable gaseous filling within said-envelope and having a pressure between 10- and 10- mms.
  • a device for rectifying high alternating voltages comprising an ionic discharge tube having an envelope, a cold cathode of a material having a melting point less than 30 0., and anode within said envelope and spaced from said cathode to form a discharge space, and an ionizable gaseous filling within said envelope and having a pressure between 10* and 10- mms. of Hg, and means to produce an alternating magnetic field having lines of force traversing the space within the envelope with a major portion of said lines passing through the discharge space between the anode and cathode and entering and leaving said discharge space through portions of the active cathode surface, most of the lines of said major portion passing through the discharge space without intersecting the surface of the anode.

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US140772A 1936-05-07 1937-05-04 Rectifying device Expired - Lifetime US2182736A (en)

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DE488886X 1936-05-07

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US (1) US2182736A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
FR (1) FR821616A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB488886A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL50267C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2502236A (en) * 1945-09-12 1950-03-28 Raytheon Mfg Co Gaseous discharge device
US2506431A (en) * 1945-03-06 1950-05-02 Atomic Energy Commission Pressure measuring device
US2624867A (en) * 1945-11-27 1953-01-06 James D Cobine Gas discharge tube
US2640170A (en) * 1946-08-16 1953-05-26 Louis Bernat Device for converting motion into electrical energy
US2662980A (en) * 1950-07-25 1953-12-15 Otto G Schwede Rotatron-electrical transducer
US2798181A (en) * 1954-03-26 1957-07-02 Jr John S Foster Pumping ion source
US2906922A (en) * 1958-05-28 1959-09-29 Joslyn Mfg & Supply Co Spark gap unit
DE1134765B (de) * 1960-12-15 1962-08-16 Licentia Gmbh Spannungsstabilisatorroehre
DE1147697B (de) * 1960-11-22 1963-04-25 Csf Gasgefuellte Gleichrichterroehre
US3215893A (en) * 1959-11-24 1965-11-02 Csf Cold cathode gaseous rectifier tube
US3234456A (en) * 1961-02-09 1966-02-08 Elton Ind Inc Electronic gas analyzer using paramagnetic properties of the gas to control electron flow
US3267307A (en) * 1963-05-13 1966-08-16 Fox Raymond Magnetically channeled plasma diode heat converter
US3303378A (en) * 1964-06-17 1967-02-07 Chorney Paul Monolithic cathode structure
DE2819111A1 (de) * 1977-05-17 1978-11-23 Hughes Aircraft Co Gasentladungs-schaltroehre mit gekreuzten feldern und verfahren zum einschalten einer solchen schaltroehre
US4833363A (en) * 1985-07-16 1989-05-23 English Electric Valve Company Limited Ignitron with arc-centering magnetic field
WO2014143100A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 General Electric Company Cold-cathode switching device and converter

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2506431A (en) * 1945-03-06 1950-05-02 Atomic Energy Commission Pressure measuring device
US2502236A (en) * 1945-09-12 1950-03-28 Raytheon Mfg Co Gaseous discharge device
US2624867A (en) * 1945-11-27 1953-01-06 James D Cobine Gas discharge tube
US2640170A (en) * 1946-08-16 1953-05-26 Louis Bernat Device for converting motion into electrical energy
US2662980A (en) * 1950-07-25 1953-12-15 Otto G Schwede Rotatron-electrical transducer
US2798181A (en) * 1954-03-26 1957-07-02 Jr John S Foster Pumping ion source
US2906922A (en) * 1958-05-28 1959-09-29 Joslyn Mfg & Supply Co Spark gap unit
US3215893A (en) * 1959-11-24 1965-11-02 Csf Cold cathode gaseous rectifier tube
DE1147697B (de) * 1960-11-22 1963-04-25 Csf Gasgefuellte Gleichrichterroehre
DE1134765B (de) * 1960-12-15 1962-08-16 Licentia Gmbh Spannungsstabilisatorroehre
US3234456A (en) * 1961-02-09 1966-02-08 Elton Ind Inc Electronic gas analyzer using paramagnetic properties of the gas to control electron flow
US3267307A (en) * 1963-05-13 1966-08-16 Fox Raymond Magnetically channeled plasma diode heat converter
US3303378A (en) * 1964-06-17 1967-02-07 Chorney Paul Monolithic cathode structure
DE2819111A1 (de) * 1977-05-17 1978-11-23 Hughes Aircraft Co Gasentladungs-schaltroehre mit gekreuzten feldern und verfahren zum einschalten einer solchen schaltroehre
US4833363A (en) * 1985-07-16 1989-05-23 English Electric Valve Company Limited Ignitron with arc-centering magnetic field
WO2014143100A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 General Electric Company Cold-cathode switching device and converter
US20160020057A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2016-01-21 General Electric Company Cold cathode switching device and converter
US10580610B2 (en) * 2013-03-15 2020-03-03 General Electric Company Cold cathode switching device and converter

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Publication number Publication date
NL50267C (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB488886A (en) 1938-07-15
FR821616A (fr) 1937-12-09

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