US3244926A - Counter tube electrode structure - Google Patents

Description

April 5, 1966 c. F. EYER ETAL COUNTER TUBE ELECTRODE STRUCTURE Filed June 2, 1961 Z 6 6 0 W 1- Q 4 M ,H a w H I'M m M W I n q //H/ W n LUM/" MM w w m ff I 5 41m United States Patent 3,244,926 COUNTER TUBE ELECTRODE STRUCTURE Charles F. Eyer, Williamspo'rt, and Joseph W. Ritz, Montoursville, Pa., assignors to Sylvania Electric Products 'Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed June 2, 1961, Ser. No. 114,340 Claims. (Cl. 313-245) This invention relates to counter tubes employing a central anode disc surrounded by a number of spaced rods successively acting as gas discharge transfer cathodes during tube operation.

In tubes of this nature, the internal cathode rods are vertically spaced with respect to one another and with the centrally positioned anode by means of several horizontally and individually spaced disc-type insulators. In the prior art, the respective electrode rods were snugly threaded through appropriate apertures in these several insulating spacers for mounting purposes. Since the spacers were usually vfabricated from mica orsome similar fragile material, the tediousness of this electrode rod mounting operation made it expensive and time consuming.

In tube structures utilizing the foregoing construction, the electrode rods and spacers were first formed as a sub- ,assembly. This structure was then joined to a stem button or wafer containing the required lead-in wires by welding the individual electrode rods to appropriate stem leads. The large number of welding operations and the close spacing of the Welds were contributory causes for many tu'be failures because of improper welds or short circuits between the conductive elements within the tube.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a simplified gas discharge tube containing the essential functioning elements constructed and mounted in such a manner so as to be conducive to the production of a superior quality tube by employment of simplified inexpensive manufacturing techniques.

It is also an object of this invention -to provide a counter tube with an electrode spacersupported above the stem button at substantially one elevation of the cathode rods.

Another object of the invention is to provide :a counter 'tube with multi-purpose integral cathode and lead-in electrodes.

A further object of ,the invention is to provide improved means forsupporting and spacing the cathode rods relative to one another.

The foregoing objectives are achieved in one aspectof the invention by utilizing integral electrodeleads in the tube for several functions. These leads, which extend exteriorly of the tube, serve as base pins or external connectors. Within the tube, the leads extend upwardly and are uniformly bent to seat an insulator spacer formed to equidistantly locate the cathode with reference to a common central anode disc. Since the electrodelead-ins are integral with the cathode leads, there are no welds or jointures within the tube. Further simplificationiis brought about by seating the insulator spacer directly on the electrode bends. A gaseous discharge tube formed in this manner achieves distinct advantages over the prior art by alleviating innumerable welds and other internal structural supports.

These and other objects will become apparent after considering the following specification when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a counter tube mount illustrating one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an assembled elevational view of a counting tube utilizing the mount structure of FIG. 1, with the envelope in section; and

3,244,926 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 FIG. 3 is a partially sectioned view of an alternate electrode assembly.

A gas discharge or counter tube of the character .disclosed herein can be adequately described as a four output cathode version comprising a central anode .20 surrounded by four output cathode rods and associated guides, collectively designated as 24.

These electrode rods 24 are integral in construction and extend through and-inward of stem button 12 where they are uniformly bent to form a circular seat 26. Upon this seat are placed a mica shield 16 and an insulating spacer 18. Anode lead 14 is also integral and is inwardly bent to extend axially and perpendicularly through the mount structure to support anode disc 20 which is in spaced relationship with cathode and guide rods 24.

During operation, a potential difierence is developed between the anode and cathodes to cause ionization of the gas in the tube so that a discharge or arc will occur between the anode and a given cathode. Between each output cathode and a succeeding output cathode, two guide rods are placed to receive sequential voltage pulses capable of shifting the are from the conducting cathode to the next adjacent first guide rod,..then to the associated second guide rod and on to the next output cathode. In order to properly attain this transfer, with simplestmagnitudes of voltages, the guide rods and cathodes should be substantially equally spaced from each other, and all spaced a like distance from the anode.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, .a circular stem disc or button '12 is traversed by a number ofrods 24 including an anode conductor 14. These rods and anode conductor are hermetically sealed in the button 12 which may be of any insulating material such as glass, .alumina ceramic, or steatite. As here shown, the circle of rods or pins 24, including the anode conductor '14, is near the perimeter of the stem disc 12, but insomeinstances, it is desired to have the anode conductor pass axially through the button. If desired, each ofthe lead-in rods 24 may be of the type comprising these seetions of metal with 2. treated central copper-clad section of reduced diameter to afford a good hermetic and non-cracking seal with apertures 15 in .stem button 12. Anode lead 14 is of similar construction except fthe inner section is of heavier gauge. The exterior portion of this lead may also be of heavier gaugeito afforda larger pin'for socket orientation. Each of the rods forming the electrodes .24 in thettube and the anode lead-in ,14.pass through .the stem' button-12, preferably perpendicularly thereto, the lowerends etxend- .ingexteriorly of the tube :.to .formithe pins for insertion into a tube socket. The upper portionsextend perpendicularly-into the interior of the=tube mountand, at a point above the stern button 12, aresangularly bent radially toward the :axis of thetube and .then sharply upwardly to form a diametrically :smaller circlesofbends or seats 26. .All of these seats are substantially at:a common horizontal level-and serve ,to'seat micadisc 16. .Anodelead 14-is deformed in a somewhatsimilar mannen'butis'bent'radially and angularly to the centerline ofthe stemi button and then-upwardly. 'The portion of conductor 14 between stem button'12-and the axial bend 'is -.coated.-.with insulating material 13, which adds rigidity and seating. The mica shield 16, of a diameter suflicient to make contact with an envelope 10, is snugly threaded by appropriate apertures 23 over the upper ends of the rods and seated on bends 26, anode conductor 14 extending axially theretbru. This shield 16 prevents sublimation products in the upper portion of the tube from settling in the lower portion of the tube and particularly prevents the formaion of sublimation deposits on the stem button 12 and adjacent portions of the rods. It also acts as a positioner of the mount structure when enveloped. On top of the mica shield 16 is fitted an insulating spacer 18 of steatite or alumina or the like, of smaller diameter than shield 16, having cavities or recesses'31 registering with similarly located apertures 28 in the shield. Recesses 31, shown in FIG. 3, are used for localized control of sublimation about each of the electrode rods v24. The cavities or cup-like depressions form insulating barriers in the cathode anode sublimation path which develops during tube usage. If so desired, shield 16 may be eliminated and insulating spacer 18 made of larger diameter sufficient to additionally assume the functions of shield 16 or other sublimation reducing means may be employed.

The vertical rods 24 in circular array protrude upwardly through spacer 1S and are substantially parallel and equally spaced to form the cathodes and control rods of the counter tube. The anode conductor 14 extends vertically and axially through a registering aperture in the insulating spacer 18 to a height slightly in excess of the cathodes and control rods. A sleeve of insulating material 30, threaded onto anode conductor 14, positions anode disc 20 for securement on anode lead 134 at a location adjacent to and equally spaced from the upper ends of the rods 24. The above arrangement maintains insulating spacer 18 and mica shield 16 on rod seats 26. An alternate structure for maintaining the spacer and shield on seats 26 involves swaging one or more of the rods at the top surface of the spacer, as indicated by the deformation or swage 29 in FIG. 3, to enlarge the rod at this point thereby forcing some of the metal of rod 24 into cavity 31 and by this means prevent the spacer and shield from shifting upwardly along rods 24.

. Theassembled tube structure herein described is hermetically enveloped in a glass closure as shown in FIG. 2. Tubulation for evacuation and gas filling is not shown but may be incorporated in a manner familiar to the art.

Thus, this invention provides a counting tube structure wherein there are no welds or other joints within the tube, and wherein only the seated spacer 18 need afford the essential insulating properties and requisite positioning of the rods with respect to each other and to the anode. Compared with the prior art, innumerable welds or jointures are eliminated along with other structural supports, thereby promoting quality, compactness, and simplicity of structure and reduced expense of manufacturing.

Although several embodiments of the invention hav been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and'modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. A gaseous discharge tube comprising an envelope including an insulating. button having an array of rods passing therethrough, an insulating spacer within the envelope above the but-ton and provided with an array of perforations, an anode supported above the spacer, said rods being located in and positioned by the perforations in the spacer and extending from the button to positions spaced from the anode, at least some of said rods being bent intermediate the button and spacer to form'a spacer seat, said rods being integral throughout their extent within the tube.

2. A gaseous discharge tube comprising an'envelope including an insulating button having a circular array of rods passing therethrough, an insulating spacer within the envelope above the buttonafid provided with an array of perforations, an anode supported above the spacer, said rods being located in and positioned by the perforations in the spacer and extending from the button to positions spaced from the anode, said rods having bends therein intermediate the button and spacer to form a spacer seat, and means for holding the spacer at the bends of the rods, said rods being integral throughout their extent within the tube.

3. A gaseous discharge tube comprising an envelope including an insulating button having a circular array of rods passing through apertures, a circular insulating spacer above the button, a circular insulating shield of larger diameter than the spacer positioned below the spacer and in contact therewith, a circular array of registering apertures in the shield and spacer, the diameter of the circle of apertures in the spacer and shield being smaller than that in the button, an anode supported above the spacer, a series of rods located in and positioned by the apertures in the spacer and extending from the button to positions spaced from the anode, said rods being bent intermediate the button and spacer to form a spacer seat, and a sleeve positioned between the anode disc and the spacer to maintain the spacer and underlying shield against the seats.

4. A gaseous discharge tube comprising an envelope including an insulating button having an array of rods passing through apertures, an insulating spacer above the button, an insulating shield positioned below the spacer and in contact therewith, an array of registering apertures in the shield and spacer, an anode supported above the spacer, a series of rods located in and positioned by the apertures in the spacer and extending from the button to positions spaced from the anode, said rods being bent intermediate the button and spacer to form a spacer seat.

5. A gaseous discharge tube comprising an envelope including an insulating button having a circular array of rods passing through apertures, a circular insulating spacer above the button, a circular insulating shield of larger diameter than the spacer positioned below the spacer and in contact therewith, a circular array of registering apertures in the shield and spacer, the diameter of the circle of apertures in the spacer and shield being smaller than that in the button, an anode supported above the spacer, a series of rods located in and positioned by the apertures in the spacer and extending from the button to positions spaced from the anode, said rods being bent intermediate the button and spacer to form a spacer seat, and some of said rods being deformed immediately above the spacer to maintain the spacer and underlying shield against the seat.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,651,004 9/1953 Acton. 2,896,118 7/1956 Williams.

GEORGE N. WESTBY, Primary Examiner.

ARTHUR GAUSS, Examinen' C. R CAMPBELL, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A GASEOUS DISCHARGE TUBE COMPRISING AN ENVELOPE INCLUDING AN INSULATING BUTTOM HAVING AN ARRAY OF RODS PASSING THERETHROUGH, AN INSULATING SPACER WITHIN THE ENVELOPE ABOVE THE BUTTOM AND PROVIDED WITH AN ARRAY OF PERFORATIONS, AN ANODE SUPPORTED ABOVE THE SPACER, SAID RODS BEING LOCATED IN AND POSITIONED BY THE PERFORATIONS IN THE SPACER AND EXTENDING FROM THE BUTTON TO POSITIONS SPACED FROM THE ANODE, AT LEAST SOME OF SAID RODS BEING BENT INTERMEDIATE THE BUTTOM AND SPACER TO FORM A SPACER SEAT, SAID RODS BEING INTEGRAL THROUGHOUT THEIR EXTENT WITHIN THE TUBE.

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