US2617064A - Vapor-electric device - Google Patents

Vapor-electric device Download PDF

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Publication number
US2617064A
US2617064A US189784A US18978450A US2617064A US 2617064 A US2617064 A US 2617064A US 189784 A US189784 A US 189784A US 18978450 A US18978450 A US 18978450A US 2617064 A US2617064 A US 2617064A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
sponge
cathode
mercury
disc
molybdenum
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
US189784A
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English (en)
Inventor
Lewin Gerhard
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.)
Westinghouse Electric Corp
Original Assignee
Westinghouse 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 Westinghouse Electric Corp filed Critical Westinghouse Electric Corp
Priority to US189784A priority Critical patent/US2617064A/en
Priority to ES0199876A priority patent/ES199876A2/es
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2617064A publication Critical patent/US2617064A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J13/00—Discharge tubes with liquid-pool cathodes, e.g. metal-vapour rectifying tubes
    • H01J13/02—Details
    • H01J13/04—Main electrodes; Auxiliary anodes
    • H01J13/06—Cathodes
    • H01J13/10—Containers for the liquid pool; Arrangements or mounting thereof
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J2893/00—Discharge tubes and lamps
    • H01J2893/0072—Disassembly or repair of discharge tubes
    • H01J2893/0073—Discharge tubes with liquid poolcathodes; constructional details
    • H01J2893/0074—Cathodic cups; Screens; Reflectors; Filters; Windows; Protection against mercury deposition; Returning condensed electrode material to the cathodic cup; Liquid electrode level control
    • H01J2893/0075—Cathodic cups
    • H01J2893/0077—Cathodic cup construction; Cathodic spot control
    • 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
    • Y10S428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10S428/922—Static electricity metal bleed-off metallic stock
    • Y10S428/9265—Special properties
    • Y10S428/929—Electrical contact feature
    • 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
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/12—All metal or with adjacent metals
    • Y10T428/12014—All metal or with adjacent metals having metal particles
    • Y10T428/12021—All metal or with adjacent metals having metal particles having composition or density gradient or differential porosity
    • 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
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/12—All metal or with adjacent metals
    • Y10T428/12014—All metal or with adjacent metals having metal particles
    • Y10T428/12028—Composite; i.e., plural, adjacent, spatially distinct metal components [e.g., layers, etc.]
    • Y10T428/12042—Porous component
    • 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
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/12—All metal or with adjacent metals
    • Y10T428/12014—All metal or with adjacent metals having metal particles
    • Y10T428/12028—Composite; i.e., plural, adjacent, spatially distinct metal components [e.g., layers, etc.]
    • Y10T428/12063—Nonparticulate metal component
    • Y10T428/12097—Nonparticulate component encloses particles
    • 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
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/12—All metal or with adjacent metals
    • Y10T428/12229—Intermediate article [e.g., blank, etc.]
    • Y10T428/12236—Panel having nonrectangular perimeter
    • Y10T428/12243—Disk
    • 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
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T428/00—Stock material or miscellaneous articles
    • Y10T428/12—All metal or with adjacent metals
    • Y10T428/12486—Laterally noncoextensive components [e.g., embedded, etc.]

Definitions

  • This invention relates to vapor-electric devices such as are generally known as ignitrons.
  • the invention also provides for the-more effective cycle of vaporization at the point of arc instigation of the reconstructing liquid cathode material, condensation and return to the initial point of arc instigation.
  • the invention further provides for copious supply of the liquid cathode material at the point of arc instigation.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a sponge cathode that will gulp in, as fast as available, all liquid cathode material condensing on or flowing to the sponge cathode, and yet make the liquid available at the surface where the arc strikes.
  • Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal sectional view of an ignitron of arbitrarily selected construction showing my invention embodied therein;
  • Fig. 2 is a cross-section on line IL-II of Fig. 1;
  • Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the sponge cathode alone
  • Figs. 4 and 5 are similar sectional views of modified constructions of sponge cathodes.
  • Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view of a modified construction of disc for the firing area of the cathode.
  • a cylindrical casing of steel or other sturdy material having a bottom I2 integral therewith and a top header l3 sealed at the upper rim of said casing to provide a closed envelope adapted to be evacuated.
  • the particular header shown provides appropriate lead-in seals l4, l5 for electrode leads !5, I1 respectively for an anode l8 and ignitor l9 within the casing and supported from said header by said leads.
  • the lead-in sea s each include a glass or other insulating sleeve 20 by which the leads are kept electrically distinct from each other and from the casing.
  • the an ode I8 is located toward the top of the casing, well above the bottom wall l2, whereas the ignitor I9 is located below the anode, preferably centrally of the casing, and is directed toward and terminates at its bottom in. the vicinity of said bottom wall.
  • Said ignitor is shown. as relatively slender and tapers downwardly, with its bottom end quite small.
  • Said ignitor may be composed of materials as used for ignitors of the prior art, or may be of such other material or materials adapting it more especially to the present invention.
  • a sponge cathode designated generally by numeral 2
  • the aforementioned lower small end of the ignitor l9 rests upon the upper surface of the sponge cathode 2
  • the ignitor projects, from its contact on the sponge cathode, at right angles thereto and in a direction longitudinally of the casing.
  • Mercury or other reconstructing liquid cathode material is applied to'the sponge cathode 2
  • One manner of thus charging the sponge body with mercury is to cleanse the sponge material until sufiiciently clean to be wetted by mercury and then apply an excessive amount of mercury in the casing, whereupon the sponge will immediately fill with mercury, after which the free mercury which is not absorbed into the sponge can be poured off.
  • the sponge cathode 2!, with the absorbed mercury, constitutes the cathode of the ignitron.
  • Molybdenum dries up at its exposed surface far more rapidly than iron and is not as readily absorptive of mercury, and therefore may leave pools or drops of mercury on occasion on the surface of a molybdenum sponge cathode pending the delayed absorption of the mercury.
  • the surface of a molybdenum sponge may dry up during stand-by periods and also under conditions of temporary increase of gas pressure which may occur from overload. Excess mercury on the outside of the sponge is undesirable and detrimental since it may cause arc-backs or spontaneous ignition under shock. Furthermore, failure of mercury to reenter the sponge promptly, depletes the supply of mercury in the sponge where needed for arc-striking purposes. The lasting quality of molybdenum, however, is much superior to an iron sponge.
  • each sponge cathode illustrated comprises a body portion 23 of sintered iron or other material having absorptive affinity for the reconstructing cathode fluid, such as the mercury above men tioned, and a sintered molybdenum, or equivalent material, arc-striking portion 24.
  • the interstices between granules of molybdenum are smaller than between iron granules which render capillarity in molybdenum more pronounced than capillarity of the iron body, and capacity for mercury superior to molybdenum.
  • the body portion 23 of the sponge cathode is shown relatively fiat or thin of pan-cake shape to fit within the bottom portion of the container fiatwise on the bottom wall thereof and frictionally 'held in place as above described.
  • the arc-striking portion 24 comprises in whole or in part a smaller disc than said body portion, said smaller disc being embedded in said body portion 23 with the upper surfaces of said body portion and disc lying in a common plane whereby both are exposed within the container only at their upper faces.
  • the disc is preferably located concentric to the said body, and is of less diameter and of less thickness than said body.
  • Said disc is sintered compressed molybdenum or its equivalent having sponge characteristic and highly resistive to erosion.
  • the disc may be thereby made to be effectively homogeneous throughout.
  • the capillarity of the disc is determined by the degree of compactness, but the material has ample sponge characteristic even when compressed under formulating force of several tons per square inch.
  • the surface of the disc where the arc strikes may be made closer grained than the part of the disc not subject to direct arc contact.
  • the disc is indicated as having its upper surface of finer granules than are used to form the lower part of the disc.
  • the lower part of the disc provides larger inter stices between particles'and constitutes a more ample reservoir for the mercury in proximity to the arc-striking surface of the closer-grained material, so there will be a copious supply of mercury to and for the arc-striking surface of the disc.
  • the body portion 23 of the sponge cathode may be made in whole or in part of compressed sintered iron granules an inherent characteristic of which is more active absorption of mercury coming in contact therewith than will occur with a similarly compressed sintered body of molybdenum granules.
  • An ignitron in use will condense mercury vapor on the side walls of the container, and that condensation forms in drops which run down the wall and lodge upon the sponge cathode surface.
  • a sintered iron sponge in the vicinity of the side wall of the container said surface will be in appropriate location to receive and absorb the drops of mercury and thereby avoid presence or fiow of mercury over the central arc-striking surface.
  • the body portion furthermore extends under the molybdenum disc at the center, and accordingly will deliver the absorbed mercury to the under side of said disc during operation of the ignitron.
  • the supply of mercury from the iron body is fed to the arc-striking surface of the molybdenum disc.
  • the body portion 23 with its upper surface comprising a graded thickness of molybdenum sponge 25 in the area radially outward from the central disc of molybdenum.
  • the structure of this modification, Fig. 4 preferably provides a deeper thickness of the molybdenum 25 toward the center of the body than toward the periphery thereof.
  • the grading of the molybdenum thus affords maximum corrosion resistance in the area most likely to be affected by the arc, and affords maximum absorptive characteristic toward the periphery where the condensed mercury returns to the cathode.
  • the graded molybdenum may be employed throughout the central portion of the body, and applied in appropriate depth and fineness of particles as shown in Fig. 5, to entirely replace the separately formed disc of molybdenum.
  • FIG. 6 Another modification is shown in Fig. 6, the disc there shown being graded as to thickness of the fine and coarser particles, the top layer 26 of said disc having fine particles and the lower part of the disc having coarse particles, and the intermediate portion is graded from the fine particles at the top to the coarse particles at the bottom.
  • This construction has the advantage of the arc-resisting surface at the top and of furnishing a more copious supply of mercury thereto by the capillarity derived from the larger interstices toward the bottom of the disc, which in turn are supplied by the reservoir of mercury in the interstices of the body 23.
  • a vapor-electric device comprising a sealed casing having an anode therein, a sponge cathode fixed in said casing, said. cathode comprising different sponge materials at different portions of said cathode and with an extensive part of one making intimate contact with a corresponding part of the other, an ignitor in said casing and in contact with one of said sponge materials, and reconstructive cathode material absorbed in said sponge cathode.
  • a vapor-electric device comprising a sealed casing having an anode therein, a sponge cathode fixed in said casing, said cathode comprising a body of one sponge material and an arc-striking portion of a different sponge material carried by said body, an ignitor in said casing and in con tact with said arc-striking portion of the sponge cathode, and reconstructive cathode material absorbed in said sponge cathode.
  • a sponge cathode for a vapor-electric device comprising different sponge materials at different portions of said cathode and with an extensive part of one making intimate contact with a corresponding part of the other, one of said materials being characterized by aflinity to absorption of a reconstructing cathode material and the other characterized by its resistance to erosion from the effects of an arc thereon.
  • a sponge cathode for a vapor-electric device comprising different sponge materials at different portions of said cathode, one of said sponge materials being carried by and of less surface area than the other and having greater resistance to erosion than the said one material from the effects of an arc thereon, said one material having greater affinity to absorption of a reconstructing cathode material than said other sponge material.
  • a sponge cathode for a vapor-electric device comprising different sponge materials at different portions of said cathode and with an extensive part of one making intimate contact with a corresponding part of the other, one of said materials being composed of sintered iron granules.
  • a sponge cathode for a vapor-electric device comprising different sponge materials at different portions of said cathode and with an extensive part of one making intimate contact with a corresponding part of the other, one of said materials being composed of sintered molybdenum granules.
  • a sponge cathode for a vapor-electric device comprising different sponge materials at different portions of said cathode and with an extensive part of one making intimate contact with a corresponding part of the other, one of said materials being composed. of sintered iron granules and the other composed of sintered molybdenum granules.
  • a sponge cathode for a vapor-electric device comprising different sponge materials at different portions of said cathode and with an extensive part of one making intimate contact with a corresponding part of the other, one of said materials comprising a larger body than the other, and said other being coaxially disposed with respect to the larger, and both having surfaces exposed in the same general direction.
  • a sponge cathode for a vapor-electric device comprising a pan-cake shaped body portion of one material having an exposed upper surface, and a smaller disc of another material concentrically disposed to the body portion and having an upper face exposed in the same direction as said upper face of said body portion.
  • a sponge cathode for a vapor-electric device comprising a pan-cake shaped body portion of sintered sponge iron having an exposed upper surface, and a smaller disc of molybdenum embedded in said body and with a face thereof exposed in the same direction as and lying substantially in the same plane as said exposed face of the body portion.
  • a sponge cathode for a vapor-electric device comprising a cake of metallic sponge ma.- terial having greater density at one portion thereof for constituting an arc-striking surface thereat resistive to erosion from the effects of the arc, and having another portion thereof of less density for promoting absorption of reconstructive cathode material condensation.

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  • Carbon And Carbon Compounds (AREA)
  • Solid Thermionic Cathode (AREA)
US189784A 1950-10-12 1950-10-12 Vapor-electric device Expired - Lifetime US2617064A (en)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US189784A US2617064A (en) 1950-10-12 1950-10-12 Vapor-electric device
ES0199876A ES199876A2 (es) 1950-10-12 1951-10-05 Un dispositivo eléctrico de descarga de arco

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US189784A US2617064A (en) 1950-10-12 1950-10-12 Vapor-electric device

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Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2671954A (en) * 1951-06-29 1954-03-16 Westinghouse Electric Corp Vapor electric device
US2727168A (en) * 1952-02-27 1955-12-13 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electronic rectifier tube and ignitor assembly
US2740911A (en) * 1952-11-28 1956-04-03 Machlett Lab Inc Conduction device
US2755199A (en) * 1951-02-19 1956-07-17 Kellogg M W Co Hard coated composite and method of forming
US2785332A (en) * 1952-06-27 1957-03-12 Westinghouse Electric Corp Cathode
US3002116A (en) * 1958-11-03 1961-09-26 Gen Electric Thermionic generator
US20250096704A1 (en) * 2023-09-15 2025-03-20 Nebulr Inc., LLC System and method to reduce friction between materials in contact

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2128861A (en) * 1936-07-16 1938-08-30 Gen Electric Vapor electric discharge device
US2169032A (en) * 1938-02-26 1939-08-08 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Vapor-electric converter
US2218386A (en) * 1938-06-17 1940-10-15 Gen Electric Discharge device
US2432513A (en) * 1946-05-24 1947-12-16 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Ionic discharge device
US2468037A (en) * 1947-03-14 1949-04-26 Dudley B Clark Power rectifier tube and method of starting the same

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2128861A (en) * 1936-07-16 1938-08-30 Gen Electric Vapor electric discharge device
US2169032A (en) * 1938-02-26 1939-08-08 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Vapor-electric converter
US2218386A (en) * 1938-06-17 1940-10-15 Gen Electric Discharge device
US2432513A (en) * 1946-05-24 1947-12-16 Bell Telephone Labor Inc Ionic discharge device
US2468037A (en) * 1947-03-14 1949-04-26 Dudley B Clark Power rectifier tube and method of starting the same

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2755199A (en) * 1951-02-19 1956-07-17 Kellogg M W Co Hard coated composite and method of forming
US2671954A (en) * 1951-06-29 1954-03-16 Westinghouse Electric Corp Vapor electric device
US2727168A (en) * 1952-02-27 1955-12-13 Westinghouse Electric Corp Electronic rectifier tube and ignitor assembly
US2785332A (en) * 1952-06-27 1957-03-12 Westinghouse Electric Corp Cathode
US2740911A (en) * 1952-11-28 1956-04-03 Machlett Lab Inc Conduction device
US3002116A (en) * 1958-11-03 1961-09-26 Gen Electric Thermionic generator
US20250096704A1 (en) * 2023-09-15 2025-03-20 Nebulr Inc., LLC System and method to reduce friction between materials in contact

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ES199876A2 (es) 1951-12-01

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