US2515931A - Electric discharge tube - Google Patents

Electric discharge tube Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2515931A
US2515931A US42478A US4247848A US2515931A US 2515931 A US2515931 A US 2515931A US 42478 A US42478 A US 42478A US 4247848 A US4247848 A US 4247848A US 2515931 A US2515931 A US 2515931A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
negative temperature
electric discharge
tube
discharge tube
energy
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US42478A
Inventor
Six Willem
Haayman Pieter Willem
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.)
Hartford National Bank and Trust Co
Original Assignee
Hartford National Bank and Trust Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Hartford National Bank and Trust Co filed Critical Hartford National Bank and Trust Co
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2515931A publication Critical patent/US2515931A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01B—CABLES; CONDUCTORS; INSULATORS; SELECTION OF MATERIALS FOR THEIR CONDUCTIVE, INSULATING OR DIELECTRIC PROPERTIES
    • H01B1/00—Conductors or conductive bodies characterised by the conductive materials; Selection of materials as conductors
    • H01B1/06—Conductors or conductive bodies characterised by the conductive materials; Selection of materials as conductors mainly consisting of other non-metallic substances
    • H01B1/08—Conductors or conductive bodies characterised by the conductive materials; Selection of materials as conductors mainly consisting of other non-metallic substances oxides
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01C—RESISTORS
    • H01C7/00—Non-adjustable resistors formed as one or more layers or coatings; Non-adjustable resistors made from powdered conducting material or powdered semi-conducting material with or without insulating material
    • H01C7/04—Non-adjustable resistors formed as one or more layers or coatings; Non-adjustable resistors made from powdered conducting material or powdered semi-conducting material with or without insulating material having negative temperature coefficient
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S313/00—Electric lamp and discharge devices
    • Y10S313/07—Bombardment induced conductivity

Definitions

  • Thisinvention relates to an electric discharge tube having .angelectrode system which comprises an electrode consisting of a material having a high negative temperature coefficient, and to a circuit arrangement comprising such a tube.
  • .angelectrode system which comprises an electrode consisting of a material having a high negative temperature coefficient
  • circuit arrangement comprising such a tube.
  • a means which has been resorted to for reducing the energy requiredin opening and closing and for speedingup these operations consists in the construction of relays andswitches on electronic lines.
  • defiection tubes to thisend.
  • the electron current is adapted to b controlled very rapidly and with little energy.
  • a disadvantage is, however, that-the current travels by way of the electron beam.
  • the resistance thus introduced into the electric circuit is high, which may sometimes be very objectionable, for instance if such a tube should pass speech currents in a telephone circuit.
  • Another disadvantage, which is at least as serious, consists in that such a tube passes current only in one direction.
  • This material is heated by the electron current striking it, due to which its resistance decreases. Since the material comprises two electrodes, it is possible in this manner to cause a current to flow between these two electrodes through the material having a negative temperature coeflicient.
  • the relay is, for instance, controlled by means of a control-grid surrounding the cathode which emits the electron current. This yields, as it were a normal triode-construction, wherein the anode consists of the material having a negative temperature coefiicient. As a material for this anode cuprous oxide has been proposed.
  • the present invention meets these drawbacks by providing a body consisting of materials have ing a negative temperature coefiicient, which body comprises at least two conductors, in come bination with an electron current which is formed into a beam in such manner that on striking the body having a negative temperature coeflicient it increases the conductivity of this body at least a thousandfold in 5 seconds at the most.
  • the electrode finally struck by the electron current is not a luminescent screen or metal elec-' trode but a material having a negative temperature coefficient.
  • the operation of the tube is materially improved with the use of a material having a very high negative temperature coefiicient
  • Such materials are, for instance, cobalt oxide with lithium oxide, and zinc titanate or magnesium chromite with magnetite and manganese oxide (M11804) with nickel oxide.
  • electric discharge tubes wherein the electron current is formed into a beam, are adapted to be controlled with comparatively little energy.
  • a tube according'to th invention by means of deflection in which, consequently, the beam, in accordance with the deflection voltage, is either directed or not directed on to the body consisting of a material having a negative temperature coefficient.
  • the beam may either or not be suppressed, for instance by means of a'grid or a socalled Wehnelt-cylinderto whicha negative voltage may be applied.
  • Such a tube may advantageously be used in a circuit-arrangement for automatic telephone exchanges, wherein it is adapted to replace mechanical relays or selectors.
  • the electron current is continuously directed to the body made from a material having a negative temperature coefiicient, but is not exclusively concentrated thereon. In this manner the body is continuously heated, it is true, but the value both of the intensity of the electron current and of the size of the body are such that this heating does practically not involve any conductivity.
  • the beam is adapted to be concentrated on the body so that the latter is strongly heated. and becomes conductive.
  • this body had a volume of 0.07 cu. mm.
  • This body consisted of cobalt oxides with lithium oxide. By means of 0.2 watt this'body could be heated to 300 C. in one second which resulted. in increasing its conductivity 10,000 times.-v
  • Bod'y' consisting of zinctitanate with magnetite or of "manganese oxide. andnickel. oxide would require avolume of 0.1 cu. mm.
  • Fig. 1 represents diagrammatically an electric discharge tube according to the invention, in which the electron current formed into a beam is adapted to be directed, by means of: deflection electrodes, on to three bodies provided in the tube which bodies consist of a material having a negative temperature coefficient.
  • Figures 2 and 3 represent forms of the body having a negative temperature coefiicient.
  • Fig; 1 the wall of the discharge tube is designated l.
  • Th reference numeral 2 denotes'the cathode.
  • the system by means of whichthe' concentrated beam is obtained is represented. diagrammatically and designated 3.
  • the deflection electrodes are designed 4 and 5'.
  • the reference numeral 6 denotes the bodies which have a negative temperature coefficient and each of which is clamped between two electrodes 1 and 8. In accordance with the voltage onthe deflection electrodes 4'. and 5,.the beam strikes one of the bodies 6'. In this event the heating of these bodies causes the passage of a, current between electrodes landrfl'.
  • These electrodes are naturally connected'to a circuit comprising a source of current.
  • the body having negative temperature coefficient consists. of two concentric conductors 9 and In between which the material: ll having a negative temperature coefficient is sandwiched.
  • This body may for instance, beobtained by. drawing out a corresponding body of larger sizeto the desired size.
  • Fig. 3 represents a body which is indirectly heated.
  • the material having a negative temperature coeflicient is designated l2 and the electrodes between which the current passes bear the reference numerals l3 and I4.
  • the material l2 having a negative temperature coefficient is externally provided with a conductive coating I5 which may be connected to the positive end of a, source of potential, of which the negative. end is connected to the cathode of the discharge tube.
  • An electron discharge device comprising an envelope, a cathode source of a beam of electrons within said envelope, means to concentrate said electrons-into a beam of given energy content, means to control said concentrated electron beam, a pair of electrodes positioned in said envelope and spaced from said cathode, said concentration means and said control means, and a mass of an electrically conductive material having a negative temperature coeflicient' supported between and electrically connected to said pair of electrodes, said control means being adapted to direct said electron beam to said mass, said mass having a thermal inertia at which impingement of said beam of given energy content thereon producesa thousandfold increase in the conductivity thereof'in approximately- 5 seconds.
  • An electric dischargedevice as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that thematerial having a negative temperature" coefficient consists of manganese oxide with nickel oxide.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Physical Or Chemical Processes And Apparatus (AREA)

Description

ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBE Filed Aug. 4, 1948 WlLLEM 31X PIETER WILLEMYHAAYMAH INVE NTORS AGENT Patented July 18, 1950 PATENT: orries ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBE Willem Six and Pieter Willem Haayman, Eind- .hoven, Netherlands, assignors to Hartford National Bank and TrustGompany, Hartford,
Conn, as trustee Application August 4, 1948', Serial No. 42,478 h In the Netherlands August 16, 1947 5 Claims.
Thisinvention relates to an electric discharge tube having .angelectrode system which comprises an electrode consisting of a material having a high negative temperature coefficient, and to a circuit arrangement comprising such a tube. v In electro-engineering switches and relays are usedfor-very diverse purposes. The constructions are'suchas to fulfill 1 their function best for each different purpose. A common condition which is nearlyalways imposed is that the relay or the switch should open and close rapidly and with the use of as little energy as possible, in other words little control energy. In mechanical constructions great achievements have been made but, naturally, a limit is set both to the rate of opening and closing and to the energy required. A means which has been resorted to for reducing the energy requiredin opening and closing and for speedingup these operations consists in the construction of relays andswitches on electronic lines. Thus, for instance, it is known to use defiection tubes to thisend. In such a tube the electron current is adapted to b controlled very rapidly and with little energy. A disadvantage is, however, that-the current travels by way of the electron beam. The resistance thus introduced into the electric circuit is high, which may sometimes be very objectionable, for instance if such a tube should pass speech currents in a telephone circuit. Another disadvantage, which is at least as serious, consists in that such a tube passes current only in one direction.
In electric discharge tubes it is furthermore known to direct an electron current on to amat'er'ial having a negative temperatur coeflicient.
This material is heated by the electron current striking it, due to which its resistance decreases. Since the material comprises two electrodes, it is possible in this manner to cause a current to flow between these two electrodes through the material having a negative temperature coeflicient. In this event "the relay is, for instance, controlled by means of a control-grid surrounding the cathode which emits the electron current. This yields, as it were a normal triode-construction, wherein the anode consists of the material having a negative temperature coefiicient. As a material for this anode cuprous oxide has been proposed.
On of the disadvantages from which this known relay tube suffers is that the time elapsing before switching the current on is still very considerable, since the anode has a high thermal inertia. This might be avoided byusing a high energy, but in this event special steps must be taken to carry ofi this energy in a short time,
and these steps, in turn, require tosupply more energy, and so on. Finally a limitis set tothe energy per sq. cm. which the cathode is capable of delivering. In. addition th 'directradiation of heat from the cathode tends to become disadvantageous since this entails an increase in anode temperature.
The present invention meets these drawbacks by providing a body consisting of materials have ing a negative temperature coefiicient, which body comprises at least two conductors, in come bination with an electron current which is formed into a beam in such manner that on striking the body having a negative temperature coeflicient it increases the conductivity of this body at least a thousandfold in 5 seconds at the most.
In this manner an electric discharge tube resembling a cathode beam tube is obtained. However, the electrode finally struck by the electron current is not a luminescent screen or metal elec-' trode but a material having a negative temperature coefficient.
Naturally, the operation of the tube is materially improved with the use of a material having a very high negative temperature coefiicient;
Such materials are, for instance, cobalt oxide with lithium oxide, and zinc titanate or magnesium chromite with magnetite and manganese oxide (M11804) with nickel oxide.
As is known, electric discharge tubes, wherein the electron current is formed into a beam, are adapted to be controlled with comparatively little energy.
It is possible to control a tube according'to th invention by means of deflection in which, consequently, the beam, in accordance with the deflection voltage, is either directed or not directed on to the body consisting of a material having a negative temperature coefficient. 'Alternatively, however, the beam may either or not be suppressed, for instance by means of a'grid or a socalled Wehnelt-cylinderto whicha negative voltage may be applied.
Furthermore it is possible to introduce into a single discharge tube a plurality of bodies having a negative temperature coeflicient and to direct the beam by deflection now to one body now on the other. Such a tube may advantageously be used in a circuit-arrangement for automatic telephone exchanges, wherein it is adapted to replace mechanical relays or selectors.
In a particular form of construction of a tube according to the invention the electron current is continuously directed to the body made from a material having a negative temperature coefiicient, but is not exclusively concentrated thereon. In this manner the body is continuously heated, it is true, but the value both of the intensity of the electron current and of the size of the body are such that this heating does practically not involve any conductivity. By applyinga definite control voltage to a concentrating electrode provided in the tube, the beam is adapted to be concentrated on the body so that the latter is strongly heated. and becomes conductive.
To gain an idea of the size of the body having a negative temperature coefiicient, and of the required energy and the results obtained, the following example is given.
In a cathode-beam tube permitting 0.2 watt to be directed on to the body having: a' negative temperature coeflicient, this body had a volume of 0.07 cu. mm. This body consisted of cobalt oxides with lithium oxide. By means of 0.2 watt this'body could be heated to 300 C. in one second which resulted. in increasing its conductivity 10,000 times.-v
Bod'y' consisting of zinctitanate with magnetite or of "manganese oxide. andnickel. oxide would require avolume of 0.1 cu. mm.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood and. readily carried into efiect it will now be explained more fully with reference to the accompanying drawing, given by Way of example.
Fig. 1 represents diagrammatically an electric discharge tube according to the invention, in which the electron current formed into a beam is adapted to be directed, by means of: deflection electrodes, on to three bodies provided in the tube which bodies consist of a material having a negative temperature coefficient.
Figures 2 and 3 represent forms of the body having a negative temperature coefiicient.
In Fig; 1 the wall of the discharge tube is designated l. Th reference numeral 2 denotes'the cathode. The system by means of whichthe' concentrated beam is obtained is represented. diagrammatically and designated 3. The deflection electrodes are designed 4 and 5'. The reference numeral 6 denotes the bodies which have a negative temperature coefficient and each of which is clamped between two electrodes 1 and 8. In accordance with the voltage onthe deflection electrodes 4'. and 5,.the beam strikes one of the bodies 6'. In this event the heating of these bodies causes the passage of a, current between electrodes landrfl'. These electrodes are naturally connected'to a circuit comprising a source of current.
InFig. 2 the body having negative temperature coefficient consists. of two concentric conductors 9 and In between which the material: ll having a negative temperature coefficient is sandwiched. This body may for instance, beobtained by. drawing out a corresponding body of larger sizeto the desired size.
Fig. 3 represents a body which is indirectly heated. In this figure the material having a negative temperature coeflicient is designated l2 and the electrodes between which the current passes bear the reference numerals l3 and I4. The material l2 having a negative temperature coefficient is externally provided with a conductive coating I5 which may be connected to the positive end of a, source of potential, of which the negative. end is connected to the cathode of the discharge tube.
What We. claim is:-
1.- An electron discharge device comprising an envelope, a cathode source of a beam of electrons within said envelope, means to concentrate said electrons-into a beam of given energy content, means to control said concentrated electron beam, a pair of electrodes positioned in said envelope and spaced from said cathode, said concentration means and said control means, and a mass of an electrically conductive material having a negative temperature coeflicient' supported between and electrically connected to said pair of electrodes, said control means being adapted to direct said electron beam to said mass, said mass having a thermal inertia at which impingement of said beam of given energy content thereon producesa thousandfold increase in the conductivity thereof'in approximately- 5 seconds.
2. An electric discharge device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in-that the material having negative temperature coefiicient' consists of cobalt oxide With lithium oxide.
3. An electric discharge device as claimed in claim 1, characterised in-that'the materialhaving a negative temperature coefiicient consists of Zinc titanate with magnetite. Y
4'. An electric dischargedevice as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that thematerial having a negative temperature" coefficient consists of manganese oxide with nickel oxide.
5. Anelectric disch'argeide'vice as claimed" in claim 1, characterised in that the discharge device'comp'rises a plurality of bodies having anegativetemperature coeflicient' onto which'th'e beam may be directed by means of deflection control.
WILLEM- SIX. PIETER WILLEM I-IAAYMAN'.
REFERENCES. CITED The following referencesare of recordin the file of this patent:
UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Namev Date 2,237,671 Kallmann Apr. 8, 1941 2,357,922 Ziebolz et al. Sept. 12,.1944 2,314,666 Cunnifi". May 1, 1945
US42478A 1947-08-16 1948-08-04 Electric discharge tube Expired - Lifetime US2515931A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL2515931X 1947-08-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2515931A true US2515931A (en) 1950-07-18

Family

ID=19874545

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US42478A Expired - Lifetime US2515931A (en) 1947-08-16 1948-08-04 Electric discharge tube

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US2515931A (en)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2736803A (en) * 1949-03-16 1956-02-28 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Frequency control
US2776371A (en) * 1952-07-18 1957-01-01 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Quantizing system employing cathode ray tube
US2786880A (en) * 1951-06-16 1957-03-26 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Signal translating device
US2803779A (en) * 1950-04-20 1957-08-20 Philips Corp Electron switching device
US2879401A (en) * 1954-12-03 1959-03-24 Gulton Ind Inc Device for detecting electromagnetic radiations
US2993011A (en) * 1956-04-26 1961-07-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp Process for producing lithium substituted transition metal oxides and members prepared therefrom
US3255372A (en) * 1961-03-02 1966-06-07 Hyman A Michlin Large camera and display screens and switching thereto
US6463832B1 (en) 2000-02-24 2002-10-15 Vaughan & Bushnell Manufacturing Company Capped head hammer
US20060021474A1 (en) * 2004-07-28 2006-02-02 Michael Burgess Double headed striking tool

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2237671A (en) * 1939-02-15 1941-04-08 Emi Ltd Electron discharge device
US2357922A (en) * 1941-12-06 1944-09-12 Electronbeam Ltd Electronic translating device
US2374666A (en) * 1941-03-11 1945-05-01 Tung Sol Lamp Works Inc Electronic device, circuit, and method

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2237671A (en) * 1939-02-15 1941-04-08 Emi Ltd Electron discharge device
US2374666A (en) * 1941-03-11 1945-05-01 Tung Sol Lamp Works Inc Electronic device, circuit, and method
US2357922A (en) * 1941-12-06 1944-09-12 Electronbeam Ltd Electronic translating device

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2736803A (en) * 1949-03-16 1956-02-28 Hartford Nat Bank & Trust Co Frequency control
US2803779A (en) * 1950-04-20 1957-08-20 Philips Corp Electron switching device
US2786880A (en) * 1951-06-16 1957-03-26 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Signal translating device
US2776371A (en) * 1952-07-18 1957-01-01 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Quantizing system employing cathode ray tube
US2879401A (en) * 1954-12-03 1959-03-24 Gulton Ind Inc Device for detecting electromagnetic radiations
US2993011A (en) * 1956-04-26 1961-07-18 Westinghouse Electric Corp Process for producing lithium substituted transition metal oxides and members prepared therefrom
US3255372A (en) * 1961-03-02 1966-06-07 Hyman A Michlin Large camera and display screens and switching thereto
US6463832B1 (en) 2000-02-24 2002-10-15 Vaughan & Bushnell Manufacturing Company Capped head hammer
US20060021474A1 (en) * 2004-07-28 2006-02-02 Michael Burgess Double headed striking tool

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US2960659A (en) Semiconductive electron source
US2515931A (en) Electric discharge tube
FR2395595A1 (en) X=Ray tube with heated cathode elements as emitter - applies voltage across ends with cut=out of different depths in strip
US2293177A (en) Electron discharge device circuits
US2786880A (en) Signal translating device
US2532738A (en) Arrangement comprising a cathoderay tube having means for deflecting the cathode-ray beam
US2532747A (en) Circuit arrangement comprising a cathode-ray tube
US2818532A (en) Single action timing circuit
US2710361A (en) Binary coding and decoding tube of the cathode ray type
US1309704A (en) stoekle
US2797357A (en) Feedback arrangements for beam switching tubes
GB840288A (en) Improvements in or relating to electric circuits including electron discharge devices having at least one secondary emissive electrode
US2533251A (en) Time base circuit for cathode-ray oscillographs
US2416355A (en) Impulse generator circuits
US3309557A (en) Electron gun utilizing a strip transmission line to extract electrons from a cathode
GB1055695A (en) Electron tube
US3165660A (en) Hydrogen thyratrons with heat shields and priming electrodes
US1739043A (en) Vacuum-tube relay
US2039101A (en) Electric discharge device and control apparatus therefor
US3105169A (en) Pulse generator
US2848646A (en) Counting circuit using multiple position beam switching tubes
US2899551A (en) Beam advancement in magnetron beam switching tubes
US2762944A (en) Magnetic triode
US2066037A (en) Electron tube
US3097322A (en) Magnetron beam switching tube