US682694A - Electric gas or vapor lamp and electrode therefor. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Sept. l7, 190k Inventor P. c. HEWITT. ELECTRIC GAS 0R VAPOR LAMP AND ELECTRODE THEREFOR.

(Application filed. Apr. 5, 1900.)

(No Model.)

NITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

PETER COOPER HEWITT, OF NEW YQRK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO PETER COOPER HEWITT, TRUSTEE, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRIC GAS OR VAPOR LAMP AND. ELECTRODE THEREFOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 682,694, dated September 17, 1901.

Application filed April 5, 1900. Serial No. 11,616. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, PETER OooPER HEWITT, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Gas or Vapor Lamps and Electrodes Therefor, of which the following is a specification. My invention relates to that class of electric-lighting devices in which electric energy is transformed into light by its action upon gases or vapors inclosed in a suitable chamber.

In the operation of lamps of the character referred to I have found that suitable gases having the proper density may be so affected by electric currents of moderate electromotive force as to yield an intense light and operate at very high efficiencies. he resistance which a lamp of this character offers to the passage of current seems to reside in the gas carrying the current between the electrodes and at-the point between the gas or vapor and the electrodes,- particularly the cathode. When the lamp is started and receives current, these resistances may be so adjusted as to cause the lamp to be self-regulating. In operating the lamps the electric current tends to pass around to the back of the oathode, and unless prevented is liable to fuse the leading-in conductors and disintegrate the glass usually surrounding them. To avoid this I provide an electrically-tight protecting-covering for such portions of the electrode, leaving exposed only those portions at which it is desired that the current shall enter. This phenomenon mainly manifests itself at the negative electrode.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a lamp having electrodes embodying my-invention.

Referring to the drawing, l'represents the main body of the lamp.

2 represents an electrode (in this instance assumed to be the anode) located in the upper part of the lamp and within or near the neck of an enlargement 4, which is sometimes employed as a coolingrchamber. ode is represented at 5. These electrodes may be made of suitable metalsuch, for instance, as iron or any desired conducting ma- The oath terial. The electrode 2'is shown as being seated within a porcelain sleeve 11, which is held by a glass column 10, surrounding the leading-in wire '7. The electrode 5 is shown as being seated within a tube 14, of porcelain or other suitable material which is a non-conductor at such temperatures as it may attain in the lamp and inert to chemical reactions at the temperatures and surroundings to which itis subjected in the operation of the lamp. The cylinder 14 is shown as being car ried by the stem or column 12 of glass, through which the leading-in wire 8 is passed. The

joints between the electrode and the porce= lain and between the porcelain and the glass are suificiently tight to prevent the electric current from passing through them, and thus reaching the metal parts within, thus making a complete insulation of the stem of the elec- 7o trode from the wall of the vessel to the electrode.

With electrodes of the character described I am able to operate the lamp so that the current will pass to and from the electrodes and be prevented from passing around to the portions near the leading-in wires.

In the operation of lamps of this character it is possible for the current to heat the oathode to a very high temperature and yet not impair the non-conducting quality of the material protecting the conductor leading to it.

In certain other applications filed by mefor instance, Serial Nos. 11,605, 11,606, and 11,607, filed April 5, 1900, and Serial Nos. 44,647, 44,648, and 44,649, filed January 25', 190l-claims are made upon certain of the features disclosed herein.

The invention claimed is 1. The combination of a closed chamber, a 0

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3. In a gas or vapor lamp, an electrode having an exposed conducting-surface, a sleeve or covering of insulating material protecting the remaining portion of the electrode, and a non-conducting supporting-pillar for the sleeve composed of a different material therefrom.

4:. In an electric lamp having a vapor or gas path of such density as to conduct currents, an electrode having an exposed portion, a non-conductor surrounding the conductor leading to the electrode for protecting said conductor, consisting of a material inert to chemical reactions Within the lamp and forming an electrically-tight joint therewith.

5. The combination of a closed chamber, a

PETER COOPER HEWITT.

Witnesses:

WM. l-I. CAPEL, CHARLES B. HILL.

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