US3508102A - Indicator tube with electrodes supported by a rigid insulating mass - Google Patents

Indicator tube with electrodes supported by a rigid insulating mass Download PDF

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Publication number
US3508102A
US3508102A US725381A US3508102DA US3508102A US 3508102 A US3508102 A US 3508102A US 725381 A US725381 A US 725381A US 3508102D A US3508102D A US 3508102DA US 3508102 A US3508102 A US 3508102A
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United States
Prior art keywords
cathode
tube
envelope
electrodes
pins
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
US725381A
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English (en)
Inventor
Arthur B Shesser
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.)
Unisys Corp
Original Assignee
Burroughs 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
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Publication of US3508102A publication Critical patent/US3508102A/en
Assigned to BURROUGHS CORPORATION reassignment BURROUGHS CORPORATION MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). DELAWARE EFFECTIVE MAY 30, 1982. Assignors: BURROUGHS CORPORATION A CORP OF MI (MERGED INTO), BURROUGHS DELAWARE INCORPORATED A DE CORP. (CHANGED TO)
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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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
    • H01J17/38—Cold-cathode tubes
    • H01J17/48—Cold-cathode tubes with more than one cathode or anode, e.g. sequence-discharge tube, counting tube, dekatron
    • H01J17/49—Display panels, e.g. with crossed electrodes, e.g. making use of direct current
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J2893/00—Discharge tubes and lamps
    • H01J2893/0069—Tubes for displaying characters

Definitions

  • the disclosure is of a cold cathode, gas-filled indicator tube which has an envelope of minimal diameter and length and includes a stack of cathode electrodes in the form of characters which face the side wall of the envelope.
  • the envelope includes a flat base and a flat dome which lie close to the upper and lower ends of the cathode electrodes. Support for the upper end of the electrode assembly may be provided in diiferent ways, and, at the lower end, tube pins support the anode and cathodes.
  • the cathode leads and the tube pins to which they are connected are embedded in a mass of insulating material which serves to shield the cathode leads and the tube pins and to provide a rigid support for the lower ends of the cathode characters.
  • the mass of insulating material is shaped to prevent the deposition of continuous paths of sputtered cathode metal between adjacent cathode characters.
  • Indicator tubes of the general type described above have been manufactured successfully and have been used commercially for many years. However, there is an everpresent need to miniaturize, eliminate parts, and reduce the cost of manufacture of these tubes.
  • a display tube embodying the invention includes a gas-filled envelope having a base and dome including an electrode assembly which occupies substantially the entire volume of the envelope.
  • the base of the envelope carries tube pins to which the anode and cathode mounting tabs are secured, and, in addition, the cathode mounting tabs and their tube pins are embedded in a mass of insulating material as part of the support therefor. This permits a minimum number of auxiliary support elements to be employed.
  • the insulating material is shaped to prevent the formation of continuous conducting paths between cathodes as may be formed by sputtering of the cathode material during manufacture or operation.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a tube embodying the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a front elevational view, partly in section, of the base portion of the tube of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the stem portion of the tube of FIG. 1.
  • An indicator tube embodying the invention includes an envelope 20 which contains a gas suitable for supporting cathode glow.
  • a gas may be argon, neon, or the like, at a pressure which may be in the range of about 30 to about 100 mm. of mercury. If desired, other substances such as mercury may be added in small quantities to the gas content of the envelope.
  • the envelope 20 is generally elongated and its side wall 30 comprises a viewing window through which glowing cathodes may be viewed.
  • the envelope 20 includes a base or stem 40, through Wich metal pins or leads extend, and by means of which electrical connection is made from the cathode character electrodes within the tube to external electrical circuitry.
  • the pins of leads 50 are oriented in two rows parallel to a diameter of the stern as shown. However, it is clear that these leads 50 may be oriented in a single row or in a circle or in any other manner, if desired.
  • Two or more auxiliary leads or pins are provided in the stern for connection to the tube anode, and these pins are provided with glass sleeves for shielding purposes, if this is deemed necessary.
  • Two other pins are provided for connection to auxiliary electrodes to be described.
  • the upper end of the envelope remote from the stem is known as the dome of the envelope and carries a tubulation for evacuating the envelope and filling it with the desired gas atmosphere.
  • Tubulation 110 could be at another location on the tube envelope, if desired.
  • the electrode assembly of tube 10 includes a stack of cathode electrodes which are in the form of numerals, letters or other characters, and a tubular anode electrode which surrounds and encloses the cathode electrodes.
  • the anode electrode comprises a solid back plate and a front mesh screen which curve and meet each other at the sides of the cathode stack where they merely touch or are welded together.
  • the pins 60* at the rear of the stem are welded to the anode back plate 130 to provide support and to serve as means for applying operating potential to the anode.
  • a similar lead may also be secured to the screen 140, if desired.
  • the cathode electrodes 120 are of a metal such as stainless steel, and each includes a main body portion, in the shape of a character, and upper and lower mounting leads or tabs and 160, respectively.
  • the lower tabs extend downwardly from the main body portions of their cathodes so that the come into direct alignment with leads 50, and each tab is welded to a lead.
  • the tabs 160 of adjacent cathodes in the stack are welded to pins in difierent rows to maximize the spacing between them.
  • the upper cathode tabs 150 may be supported in different ways.
  • a support post is secured between the rear plate 130 and front screen 140 by means of eyelets or by welding or the like, and the cathode tabs 150 are mounted thereon by means of suitable apertures or slots in the tabs, and they are insulated from each other by insulating washers 180.
  • the post 170 is either made of an insulating material, or it is made of metal and coated or sleeved with glass, or the like.
  • the upper cathode tabs may also be supported in many other ways known in the prior art.
  • a box-like member (not shown) may be secured between the anode plate and screen, and the cathode tabs may be inserted into the box through appropriate slots and held in place by an insulating cement.
  • the cathodes may not require an upper support.
  • these members are embedded in a mass 200 of insulating material which extends from the top surface of the stem up to the lower edge of the character-shaped main body portion of each cathode 120.
  • Sufiicient insulating material is used to embed the tabs and pins and to provide a solid, rigid mass which performs both the insulating function and the function of supporting the cathode electrodes by supporting their lower tabs.
  • One suitable material for the insulating mass 200 is a mixture of chrome oxide and sodium silicate which adheres well to the metals normally used in such tubes. Other materials such as sauereisen, a mixture of aluminum oxide and potassium silicate, or various glass frits, might also be used.
  • the tube includes in its atmosphere a small quantity of mercury vapor which serves to minimize cathode sputtering during tube operation.
  • the mercury may be provided in any suitable fashion. For example, it may be introduced directly with the primary gas atmosphere, or it may be released by heat from a capsule 230 suitably located within the envelope.
  • the tube 10 also includes the auxiliary characters 90 such as decimal points or commas or the like which are located on both sides of the stack of cathodes at positions which such characters would normally occupy.
  • Each auxiliary character arrangement includes a pin 80 provided with a glass sleeve 70, and a ceramic washer 240 seated on the upper end of the glass sleeve 70.
  • a metal disk 250 of cathode material, which comprises a decimal point, is positioned with its lower edge resting on the washer 240 and is welded to pin 80.
  • a side-view cathode glow indicator tube comprising an elongated envelope containing a gaseous atmosphere capable of supporting cathode glow, said envelope including an elongated viewing window parallel to the principal axis of said envelope,
  • said envelope including a base at its lower end and a dome at its upper end having a tubulation
  • an electrode assembly comprising cathode electrodes and an anode electrode mounted within said envelope facing said viewing window
  • first cathode tube pins extending through said base into said envelope for connection to said cathode electrodes and for connecting said cathode electrodes to external electrical circuits
  • said cathode electrodes comprising character-shaped electrodes assembled in a stack and arrayed in substantially parallel planes facing said viewing window,
  • each cathode electrode including a character-shaped portion and at least one cathode support at the lower end thereof, each said cathode support being secured to one of said first tube pins so that the lower ends of said cathodes are secured in place with respect to the base of the tube,
  • said insulating material comprises a mixture of chrome oxide and sodium silicate.
  • said anode electrode comprises an anode plate positioned behind all of said cathode electrodes, and an anode screen positioned in front of all of said cathode electrodes, and including support means secured between said anode plate and anode screen and engaging and supporting the upper ends of said cathode electrodes.

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  • Cathode-Ray Tubes And Fluorescent Screens For Display (AREA)
  • Vessels And Coating Films For Discharge Lamps (AREA)
US725381A 1968-04-30 1968-04-30 Indicator tube with electrodes supported by a rigid insulating mass Expired - Lifetime US3508102A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US72538168A 1968-04-30 1968-04-30

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3508102A true US3508102A (en) 1970-04-21

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US725381A Expired - Lifetime US3508102A (en) 1968-04-30 1968-04-30 Indicator tube with electrodes supported by a rigid insulating mass

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US3508102A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
DE (1) DE6916419U (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
GB (1) GB1230355A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
NL (1) NL6906589A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)
SE (1) SE340488B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3629637A (en) * 1970-04-01 1971-12-21 Burroughs Corp Indicator tube with leads extending through mesa to support cathodes

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3358176A (en) * 1965-07-19 1967-12-12 Burroughs Corp Multiple cathode indicator tube having no obstruction in the form of support disks
US3437861A (en) * 1965-02-19 1969-04-08 Japan Radio Co Ltd Gas filled cold cathode indicator tube

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3437861A (en) * 1965-02-19 1969-04-08 Japan Radio Co Ltd Gas filled cold cathode indicator tube
US3358176A (en) * 1965-07-19 1967-12-12 Burroughs Corp Multiple cathode indicator tube having no obstruction in the form of support disks

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3629637A (en) * 1970-04-01 1971-12-21 Burroughs Corp Indicator tube with leads extending through mesa to support cathodes

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE340488B (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-11-22
DE6916419U (de) 1969-09-25
NL6906589A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1969-11-03
GB1230355A (enrdf_load_stackoverflow) 1971-04-28

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AS Assignment

Owner name: BURROUGHS CORPORATION

Free format text: MERGER;ASSIGNORS:BURROUGHS CORPORATION A CORP OF MI (MERGED INTO);BURROUGHS DELAWARE INCORPORATEDA DE CORP. (CHANGED TO);REEL/FRAME:004312/0324

Effective date: 19840530