US2527552A - Electric discharge tube - Google Patents

Electric discharge tube Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2527552A
US2527552A US91578A US9157849A US2527552A US 2527552 A US2527552 A US 2527552A US 91578 A US91578 A US 91578A US 9157849 A US9157849 A US 9157849A US 2527552 A US2527552 A US 2527552A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
gap
cathode
discharge
electrode
main
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
US91578A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Hough George Hubert
White Charles De Boismaison
Rivers William David Richard
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.)
International Standard Electric Corp
Original Assignee
International Standard Electric Corp
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 International Standard Electric Corp filed Critical International Standard Electric Corp
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2527552A publication Critical patent/US2527552A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H01J17/38—Cold-cathode tubes
    • H01J17/48—Cold-cathode tubes with more than one cathode or anode, e.g. sequence-discharge tube, counting tube, dekatron
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J17/00—Gas-filled discharge tubes with solid cathode
    • H01J17/02—Details
    • H01J17/04—Electrodes; Screens
    • H01J17/06—Cathodes
    • H01J17/066—Cold cathodes
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J2893/00—Discharge tubes and lamps
    • H01J2893/0064—Tubes with cold main electrodes (including cold cathodes)
    • H01J2893/0065—Electrode systems
    • H01J2893/0066—Construction, material, support, protection and temperature regulation of electrodes; Electrode cups

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to cold' cathode electric discharge tubes and is particularlyconcerned with the construction of a tube in which discharge at an auxiliary gap primes or triggersa discharge at the main gap.
  • a three-electrode discharge gap assembly for a cold cathode electric discharge tube comprising a pair of electrode plates mounted on a sheet of insulating. material, the said plates having substantially parallel opposed dischargev gap surfaces at right angles to and separated from said sheet, and a third, auxiliary, electrode. protruding through an aperture in said sheet beneath said'plates.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of:a discharge tube according to the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a gap assembly of a dischargetube according to the present invention
  • Fig. 3 is a plan view corresponding to Fig. 2:
  • Fig. 4 shows a preferred ,constructionofthe discharge surfacesof. the main anode and cathode electrodes.
  • the tube shown accommodates a double aSsem-' bly, both assemblies being similar and each-comprising three nickel rods 3, sealed into thepress 2, a mica plate 4 and main discharge electrodes 5.
  • the centre rod of the three nickelrods 3 may be used either as a cathode or an anode. trigger, as will be discussed below, the other two forming lead out connections for the anode and cathode of I the main discharge gap.
  • the mica plate t passes over the ends of the rods,; so-asto leave asmall area of each protrudingabovethe surface.
  • the main gap is provided bythe electrode plates '5 which are. formed from flat: sheetswith upturned channel section edges 6, (Fig. 4;). the channelrecesses facing the fiat portion of the. plate so as to provide a pair of extended rectangu-- lar surfaces opposed to one ;-another;toform the 2? gap.
  • the two main electrode plates are mounted on" the mica plate 4 and riveted thereto in conventional manner. In order to maintain accurate gap dimensions it is preferred that the outer edges I (Fig; 4') of the plates be turned under to position them with respect to' the edge of the mica sheet.
  • a cathodeelectrode frequently has an activated surface of low work function, but in cases where the cathode is: unactivated it is possible to'reverse the polarity of the electrodes in circuit so that the electrode normally the cathode is made the anode.
  • the device would then, however, exhibit abnormal glowwhenthe' whole of the cathode surface .is covered with glowthe cathode dark space tends to contract with increasing current and the voltage across the gap rises above that for normal glowconditions.- It-will-be appreciated, that the conditions for triggering the main gap by means of an auxiliary anode or an auxiliarycathode. are quite -different,apartfrom any asymmetry ofthe main gap electrodes. Furthermore,
  • a symmetrical gap system is chosen so that the difference in rise of main gap current for cathodic or anodic triggering is a minimum.
  • the construction so far described besides being simple to manufacture, has accurately defined main and trigger gap dimensions.
  • the main gap electrodes being symmetrical in shape and all electrodes being of the same material, the construction is very suitable for use with the trigger electrode connected either as an anode or as a cathode. In the latter case a further constructional feature, which may readily be incorporated, may be desirable.
  • the auxiliary gap should be worked under abnormal glow conditions or at least with glow covering most of the cathode surface; the latter, therefore, should be small and accurately defined.
  • G. H. I-Iough and L. C. Baker bearing Serial No.'90,316 filed April 29, 1949, that if a collar of metallic or of insulating material is placed around a cathode to clear the same but by less than the length of the cathode fall, cathode flow is inhibited from spreading through the collar.
  • the mica plate 4 may be made to fulfil this purpose and it may then be referred to as a field control plate.
  • An electric discharge device comprising an envelope enclosing a non-conductive member having an aperture therein, a pair of mutually insulated electrodes having flat symmetrically shaped opposing surfaces positioned on one side of said member and defining a discharge gap, and an auxiliary electrode protruding through said aperture but not into the gap defined by said surfaces.
  • a cold cathode electric I discharge device comprising a gas filled envelope, an electrode structure mounted within said envelope and including a non-conductive member having an aperture therein, first and second electrodes having fiat symmetrically shaped opposing surfaces positioned on one side of said member and defining a discharge gap therebetween, and a third electrode protruding through said aperture but disposedoutside said discharge gap.
  • a cold cathode gas filled electric discharge device comprising an envelope enclosing a nonconductive member, a pair of electrodes attached to said member and having substantially parallel opposed rectangular surfaces positioned on one side of said member, said surfaces forming a main discharge gap therebetween, and an auxiliary electrode extending from said one side of the insulating member towards but not with in said main discharge gap.
  • a device wherein said third electrode is spaced an equal distance from said first and said second electrodes and constitutes a trigger electrode for initiating the discharge across the gap defined by said opposing surfaces.
  • a device according to claim 4 wherein said trigger electrode comprise a metal rod.
  • a device wherein there is further provided three support rods for mounting respectively said first, second and third electrodes.
  • An electric discharge device comprising an envelope enclosing an apertured fiat member, a first electrode protruding through said aperture on one side of said member, mutually insulated second and third electrodes each having a portionsubstantially parallel with said member and an upturned portion, said upturned portions having symmetrically shaped opposed surfaces raised above the protruding end of said third electrode said surfaces defining a discharge gap therebetween.
  • said first electrode constitutes a cathode trigger electrode spaced from said member within said aperture a distance less than the normal cathode fall, said cathode trigger electrode spaced an equal distance from said second and said third electrodes.
  • An electric discharge device comprising a gas filled envelope enclosing a flat non-conducting member, a pair of rectangular electrodes each having a portion parallel with said member and attached thereto and an upturned channelshaped end portion said end portions having 0pposed rectangular surfaces raised from said member, and an auxiliary electrode extending from said member towards but not within the gap defined by said opposed surfaces.
  • Electric discharge tube comprising a gas apertured to pass over the first three and the filled envelope, at least six electrode lead-out last three rods respectively of said line, a pair of rectangular metal plates secured to each of said sheets and to the first and third of the respective three rods, the plates of each pair of plates having opposed upturned edges providing a pair of rectangular surfaces closer together than adjacent said rods, said surfaces forming a discharge gap vertically above the end of the second of the respective three rods and forming therewith a trigger discharge gap, and a sheet of insulating material mounted between said mica sheets to inhibit ionisation coupling between the gap assemblies.

Landscapes

  • Discharge Lamp (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)
US91578A 1948-05-06 1949-05-05 Electric discharge tube Expired - Lifetime US2527552A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB273237X 1948-05-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2527552A true US2527552A (en) 1950-10-31

Family

ID=10257719

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US91578A Expired - Lifetime US2527552A (en) 1948-05-06 1949-05-05 Electric discharge tube

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US2527552A (xx)
CH (1) CH273237A (xx)
FR (1) FR985678A (xx)
GB (1) GB677884A (xx)
NL (1) NL74217C (xx)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2647221A (en) * 1951-04-16 1953-07-28 Northrop Aircraft Inc Poly-anode flip-flop tube
US3070718A (en) * 1959-06-27 1962-12-25 Telefunken Gmbh Multiple-gap gas discharge tube
US3531654A (en) * 1967-03-06 1970-09-29 Robert L Eby Solid state substitute for a dual triode electron tube

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2447377A (en) * 1945-12-10 1948-08-17 Bendix Aviat Corp Device for regulating electrical discharge

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2447377A (en) * 1945-12-10 1948-08-17 Bendix Aviat Corp Device for regulating electrical discharge

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2647221A (en) * 1951-04-16 1953-07-28 Northrop Aircraft Inc Poly-anode flip-flop tube
US3070718A (en) * 1959-06-27 1962-12-25 Telefunken Gmbh Multiple-gap gas discharge tube
US3531654A (en) * 1967-03-06 1970-09-29 Robert L Eby Solid state substitute for a dual triode electron tube

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB677884A (en) 1952-08-27
NL74217C (xx)
FR985678A (fr) 1951-07-23
CH273237A (de) 1951-01-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
EP0305077A1 (en) Spark gap devices
US2373175A (en) Electron discharge apparatus
US2527552A (en) Electric discharge tube
US2295569A (en) Gaseous electron discharge device
US2797348A (en) Grid system for gaseous discharge device
US3188514A (en) Gas generating electric discharge device
US2618767A (en) Multicathode gaseous discharge device
US4015172A (en) Two path voltage arrester
US2451556A (en) Electrode structure for gaseous discharge devices
US2878407A (en) Ion control means
US2948825A (en) Electric-discharge device
US3471733A (en) High current vacuum gap devices
US2422659A (en) Spark gap discharge device
US2443205A (en) Gaseous discharge device
US2604602A (en) Cold cathode gaseous discharge device
US2604603A (en) Cold cathode tube
US2914695A (en) Devices for regulating electrical discharges
US2472865A (en) Gaseous discharge device
US2092804A (en) Screen grid electron discharge tube
US3336492A (en) Low pressure gas-filled discharge device having an envelope comprising metal parts at different potentials in operation insulated from one another by ceramic members
US3046436A (en) Electrical switch
US2990061A (en) Indicator tube
US2039449A (en) Gas-filled discharge tube system
US2627045A (en) Electron discharge glow control electrode
US2039637A (en) Electric discharge device