US2379064A - Swivel mounting of electrode support - Google Patents

Description

June 26, 1945. s, HE RY ET A 2,379,064

SWIVEL MOUNTING OF ELECTRODE SUPPORTS Filed Feb. 10, 1944 lllll-k\ Z3 1 Z4 z Z3 19 v a 4 16 INVENTORS. 15' CHE/63?) 1, c. I/I/EE/VEE 7 12 BY mm ATTORNEY Patented June 26, 1945 UNITED s'r-Arss PA E OFFICE i Sidney J. Cherry, East Orange, and Leo 0. Werner, Bloomfield, N. J., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation,' East Pittsburgh, Pa., a

, corporation oi? Pennsylvania I Application February 10, 1944, SerialNo. 521,774

4 Claims. (Cl. 250-215) This invention relates to electronicdevices, and more particularly to mounting. of electrodes on lead-in or supporting wires.

,One of the problems encountered in the fabrication of electronic devices is to obtain proper alignment of the electrodes that the proper spacings therebetween may be secured and maintained. Because of the fact that glass is used for the press or other seal by which the lead-in wire is supported, and in turn, on which the electrodes are mounted, the requisite accuracy of lead-in wire position to automatically result in accurate location of .the electrodes, cannot be assured, since the pressing of the glass or sealing of lead-in'wire thereto disturbs the relation of the lead-in wires with respect to each other. Normal procedure heretofore has necessitated bending the lead-in wires after they are secured in the'glass stem and after the electrodes are secured upon the wires, This operation presents its difficulties of wire bending to accurate positions, which is uncertain and tedious, and often results in cracking the glass stem. It is especially difiicult'of attainment in large electronic devices wherein the lead-in wires are so heavy that they cannot be readily j ment of electrodes, slows down fabrication severely so that solution of the problem is of vital importance.

In its most general aspect, therefore, the present invention seeks and secures a solution of the problem referred to above.

A general object of the invention is to obtain alignment of the electrodes without necessitating distortion or bending of the lead-in wire.

Likewise a general object of the invention is to facilitate the aligning operation for electrodes in electronic devices.

More specifically an object of the invention is to provide a junction which will accommodate itself to a given position of the electrode applied to a lead-in wire.

Another object of the invention is to secure firm grip on the electrode for permanent retention thereof in given position.

Yet another object of the invention is topermit lateral as well as angular adjustment in assembly of the electrode on its lead-in wire.

Still further objects of the invention will appear to persons skilled in the art to which it appertains, asthe description progresses, both by direct recitation thereof and Icy-implication from the context Figure 1 is .a longitudinal sectional view of a portionof an-electron discharge device-showing the present invention in use therein; Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectionalyiew of the swivel mounting in its operative position with the electrode support; and, i r r Figure 3 is a sectional view of a washerconstituting an element of the invention.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawing, the reference numera1 l0 designates a glass flare forming part of the envelope of an electronic device, said flare having, in the specific showing herein, a plurality. ofv glass stems H for introduction of a lead-in wire 12 from the exterior to the interior of the envelope longitudinally through each stem. The invention is applicable with respect to each of these lead-in wires, butfor brevity and clarity the, description will make particular reference hereinafter to the lead-in wire for grid I3. While there is no limitation intendedas to dimensions, it may be stated that the electronic device here indicated is one which employs heavy lead-in wires having diameters of three sixteenths of an inch and more. Such wires, especially where the longitudinal dimension is relatively short, are exceedingly rigid and very diflicult to bend.

Various modes of sealing of the lead-in wire to the stem are available in the art, the particular one chosen for illustration herein comprising an inverted cup M the rim of which is sealed in the upper end of the glass stem and the end wall of which at the top of the cup is secured to the leadin wire by welding or otherwise.

The end of the lead-in wire above the cup, that is, the end within the envelope, is provided with a long screw-threaded shank l5. -Upon a lower part of this shank is threaded a positioning nut l6, and at the upper end is threaded thereon a clamping or look nut l1.

An electrode bracket I8 having an aperture 19 therethrough for the purpose is situated on said threaded shank 15 between nuts I6 and IT. The aperture l9 in said bracket I8 is of greater diameter than the shank, thereby permitting the bracket to be shifted laterally with respect to the threaded shank of the lead-in wire. Said bracket is a heavy metallic bar bent at a right angle intermediate of its ends so as to provide a horizontal arm 2| in which said aperture is provided, and to provide an upstanding arm 2| at the upper part of which the lower end of said grid I3 is secured. Other forms of brackets may be employed, and are in fact shown with respect to other electrodes, the essential feature thereof from standpoint of the present invention residin in the provision of a transverse part or arm having an aperture for and of greater diameter than the shank of the lead-in wire thereto.

The end face of each nut 16 and II, which is directed toward the transverse arm of the bracket, is concave, and interposed between the concave surface of the nut and the flat face of the bracket arm, is a washer 22. Said washer has one end surface 23 which is convex on the same radius of ourvature as that of the concave surface of the nut, and has its opposite end surface 24 flat to rest upon the flat surface of said bracket arm. The center of curvature of each contiguous concave and convex surface is preferably located at the theoretic intersection of the axis thereof with the through of said threaded end of the lead-in wire and larger than said wire thereby enabling said bracket to be moved laterally of the wire, and a nut on said threaded end clamping said bracket thereon.

2. Electrodemounting structure comprising a lead-in wire having a threaded end, an electrode bracket on said threaded end, a washer on said 'threaded end, said washer having a plane face juxtaposed against said bracket and having a convex surface on its face away from the bracket, and a nut on said threaded end, said nut having a concave surface at its end toward the convex surface of the washer and adapted to be juxtaperiphery of the other contiguous concave and convex surfaces of the other nut. This arrangement affords a minimum thickness for the washer but at the same time permits angular adjustment or deflection of the flat surfaces thereof with the curved surfaces remaining contiguous to each other. Each washer has a central hole 25 therethrough normal to the flat surface 24; said hole being of greater diameter than the diameter of the threaded shank l5 of the lead-in wire which passes therethrough. This construction consequently will permit the washer to tilt as required upon said shank.

From the above description it will now be apparent that the bracket supporting the electrode will have a limited universal movement, that is, may be tilted in any desired direction and may be laterally moved as desired in obtaining the alignment of the electrode attached thereto in relation of that electrode to other electrodes in the device. After the electrode has been positioned where desired, the lock nut I1 is tightened and the electrode retained where adjusted.

We claim:

' 1. Electrode mounting structure comprising a lead-in wire having a threaded inner end, an electrode bracket on said threaded end, said bracket having an opening therein for reception thereposed thereagainst for clamping the bracket in angularly desired position on said threaded end.

3. Electrode mounting structure comprising a lead-in wire having a threaded end, an electrode bracket on said threaded end, a washer on said threaded end, said washer having a hole therethrough of greater diameter than said threaded end and having a plane faceiuxtaposed against said bracket and having a. convex surface on its face away from the bracket, and aunt on said threaded end, said nut having a concave surface at its end toward the convex surface of the washer and adapted to be juxtaposed therea'gainst for clamping the bracket in angularly desired position onsaid threaded end. 1

4. Electrode mounting structure comprising a lead-in wire having a threaded inner end, an electrode bracket on said threaded end, said bracket having an opening therein for reception therethrough of said threaded end of the lead-in wire and larger than said wire thereby enabling said bracket to be moved laterally of the wire, said washer having a plane face juxtaposed against said bracket and having a convex surface on its face away from the bracket, and a nut on said threaded end, said nut having a concave surface at its end toward the convex surface of the washer and adapted to be juxtaposed thereagainst for clamping the bracket in angularly desired position on said threaded end.

SIDNEY J. CHERRY; LEO'C. WERNER.

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