US2917649A - Ignitron - Google Patents

Ignitron Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2917649A
US2917649A US752262A US75226258A US2917649A US 2917649 A US2917649 A US 2917649A US 752262 A US752262 A US 752262A US 75226258 A US75226258 A US 75226258A US 2917649 A US2917649 A US 2917649A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
ignitor
liquid cathode
cathode
lower portion
ignitron
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
US752262A
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Donald E Marshall
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 US752262A priority Critical patent/US2917649A/en
Priority to CH7624459A priority patent/CH372762A/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2917649A publication Critical patent/US2917649A/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
    • H01J13/00—Discharge tubes with liquid-pool cathodes, e.g. metal-vapour rectifying tubes
    • H01J13/02—Details
    • H01J13/34—Igniting arrangements
    • 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
    • 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
    • H01J13/48—Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the tube and not otherwise provided for
    • 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
    • H01J2893/0087—Igniting means; Cathode spot maintaining or extinguishing means
    • 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
    • H01J2893/0088—Tubes with at least a solid principal cathode and solid anodes
    • H01J2893/0089—Electrode systems

Definitions

  • This invention relates to ignitrons and, more particularly, to ignitrons having ignitors which make contact with a liquid cathode.
  • ignitrons are rectifiers usually including three electrodes.
  • a liquid cathode which is usually made of a conductive material such as mercury.
  • an anode Spaced from the cathode is an anode which frequently is made of a block of graphite and, in addition, there is a special electrode called an ignitor, portions of which project into the liquid cathode.
  • the ignitor is usually made of a highly resistant or semiconductive material such as boron carbide, silicon carbide, graphite or other similar materials. The ignitor performs the function of a make-alive electrode which will initiate the formation of an are be tween the cathode and the anode under proper conditions.
  • ignitron for very high current pulse applications such as capacitor discharge, short circuit at power supplies to protect delicate apparatus, etc.
  • These high current pulse applications require that the lead and support assembly to which the ignitor is attached must be adequately shielded from the eroding effects of the arc plasma between the cathode and the anode.
  • Certain structures have been proposed in which the ignitor lead and support assembly have been shielded but they have the disadvantage that they require a very high firing current because of the use of a comparatively large contact area between the ignitor and the liquid cathode.
  • My invention provides an ignitor having an adequately shielded lead and support assembly in combination with a reasonable firing current.
  • Figure 1 is a partial sectional view of an ignitron in accordance with one embodiment of this invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the lines 11-41 of the ignitor and ignitor support assembly shown in Fig. 1.
  • ignitron 11 the upper portion of which is omitted for reasons of simplicity.
  • the ignitron 11 includes an envelope 13 having envelope side portions 41 and an envelope bottom portion 43.
  • This envelope may be made of a metallic material such as steel, or in some cases an insulative material such as glass or ceramic may be used.
  • an insulative material such as glass or ceramic
  • the ignitor 17 has a solid upper portion 19 and a lower portion 21 which has a tubular configuration and which is the portion of the ignitor 17 which is in actual contact with the liquid cathode 15.
  • the tubular lower portion has a cylindrical configuration but of course, other variations may be used if desired.
  • tubular lower portion 21 includes a reentrant inner surface 23 and an outer surface 25.
  • the ignitor 17 is supported by a conductive support member 27 which may be made of a material such as the iron, nickel, cobalt alloy known as Kovar described in U.S. Patent 2,062,335 by Howard Scott and assigned to the same assignee as the subject application.
  • Said conductive support member 27 passes through an opening 39 in the bottom portion 43 of the envelope 13.
  • the conductive support member 27 also passes through the liquid cathode 15, passes within the interior of the lower portion 21 and is .attached to the solid upper portion 19 of the ignitor 17.
  • the con ductive support member 27 isinsulated from the liquid cathode 15 by a suitable support member insulator 33 which in this particular embodiment, is shown as a sleeve of glass.
  • a suitable seal 35 is formed between the conductive support member 27 and a metal eyelet 37 which extends from the opening 37 in the bottom portion 43 of the envelope 13.
  • This seal 35 may be made of a suitable insulating material such as glass or porcelain. If desired, the seal 35 may be made of the same material as the support member insulator 33.
  • the electroconductive support member is electrically insulated from the liquid cathode 15 and is also spaced from the inner surface 23 of the tubular lower portion 21 to allow proper mechanical clearance.
  • the conductive support member 27 and other portions of the support assembly are shielded from the arc plasma which is generated between the cathode 15 and the anode (not shown) and from any erosion due to bombardment by positive ions or mercury drops.
  • the tubular lower portion has merely a smooth cylindrical configuration, extremely high firing currents are necessary to fire the ignitor, because of the large contact area be tween the ignitor 17 and the liquid cathode. 15. These firing currents may be on the order of 40 amperes which, practically speaking, is an unmanageable value for many commercial ignitrons.
  • this high firing current may be reduced to a reasonable and manageable value by reducing the contact area between the ignitor 17 and the liquid cathode 15. This may be accomplished by providing a number of indentations in the outer surface 25 of the tubular lower portion 21 of the ignitor 17. In the particular embodiment shown, these indentations are in the form of grooves 31.
  • the indentations or grooves 31 must of course extend below the top surface 29 of the liquid cathode which is the portion of the ignitor '17 which makes contact with the liquid cathode 15. Also, indentations having-other configurations than the grooves-shown may be used as long as they are at least partially below the top surface '29 of the liquid cathode 15.
  • An ignitron including a liquid cathode and an ignitor having a solid upper portion and a tubular lower portion, said tubular lower portion having a reentrant inner surface and 'an outer surface, said tubular lowerportion extending below the surface of said liquid cathode, said outer surface having a plurality of indentations therein. 7 2.
  • An ignitron including a liquid cathode and an ignitor havinga solid upper portion'and a tubular lower portion, said tubular lower portion having a reentrant inner surface and an outer surface, said tubular lower portion extending below the surface of said liquid cathode, said outer surface having a pluralityof grooves extending below the surface of said liquid cathode.
  • An ignitron including a mercury cathode and an ignitor having a solid .upper portion and a tubular lower lar lower portion extending below the surface of said liquid cathode, said ignitor supoprt assembly including a conductive support member extending upwards through said liquid cathode and within said tubular lower portion, said support member being attached to said upper portion thereby supporting said ignitor, said support member being insulated from said liquid cathode and being spaced from said inner surface of said lower portion of said ignitor, said outer surface of said lower portion having a plurality of indentations therein, at least portions of said indentations being located below the surface of said liquid cathode.
  • An ignitron including a liquid cathode, an ignitor and an ignitor support assembly, said ignitor having a solid upper portion and a tubular lower portion having a reentrant inner surface and an outer surface, said tubular lower portion extending below the surface of said liquid cathode, said ignitor support assembly including a conductive support member extending upwards through and an ignitor support assembly, said ignitor having-a portion, said tubular lower portion having a reentrant solid upper portion and a tubular lower portionhaving a reentrant inner surface and an outer surface, said tubu-.
  • said ignitor support assembly including a conductive support member extending upwards through said mercury cathode and within said tubular lower portion, said support member being attached to said upper portion thereby supporting saidignitor, said support member being insulated from said mercury cathode and being spaced from said inner surface of said lower portion of said ignitor, said outer surface of said lower portionha ing a plurality of grooves extending below the surface of said mercury cathode, said grooves having a width be tween inch and 3 inch and a depth from /2 to 1 times said width.

Landscapes

  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)
US752262A 1958-07-31 1958-07-31 Ignitron Expired - Lifetime US2917649A (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US752262A US2917649A (en) 1958-07-31 1958-07-31 Ignitron
CH7624459A CH372762A (de) 1958-07-31 1959-07-25 Zündeinrichtung für elektrische Entladungsgefässe mit einer in die Kathodenflüssigkeit eintauchenden Zündelektrode

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US752262A US2917649A (en) 1958-07-31 1958-07-31 Ignitron

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2917649A true US2917649A (en) 1959-12-15

Family

ID=25025574

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US752262A Expired - Lifetime US2917649A (en) 1958-07-31 1958-07-31 Ignitron

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US2917649A (de)
CH (1) CH372762A (de)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3202862A (en) * 1961-02-17 1965-08-24 Gen Electric Make-alive electrode for an arc discharge device
US20060027539A1 (en) * 2003-05-02 2006-02-09 Czeslaw Golkowski Non-thermal plasma generator device
WO2014205528A1 (pt) * 2013-06-24 2014-12-31 Giovani Sabino Sistema de ignição por microondas

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2159770A (en) * 1936-04-16 1939-05-23 Gen Electric Starting electrode for pool tubes
US2246326A (en) * 1939-03-31 1941-06-17 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Vapor-electric device
US2253402A (en) * 1939-06-13 1941-08-19 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Make-alive electrode for vaporelectric converters
US2325718A (en) * 1941-07-15 1943-08-03 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Low current igniter

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2159770A (en) * 1936-04-16 1939-05-23 Gen Electric Starting electrode for pool tubes
US2246326A (en) * 1939-03-31 1941-06-17 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Vapor-electric device
US2253402A (en) * 1939-06-13 1941-08-19 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Make-alive electrode for vaporelectric converters
US2325718A (en) * 1941-07-15 1943-08-03 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Low current igniter

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3202862A (en) * 1961-02-17 1965-08-24 Gen Electric Make-alive electrode for an arc discharge device
US20060027539A1 (en) * 2003-05-02 2006-02-09 Czeslaw Golkowski Non-thermal plasma generator device
WO2014205528A1 (pt) * 2013-06-24 2014-12-31 Giovani Sabino Sistema de ignição por microondas

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH372762A (de) 1963-10-31

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US3679474A (en) Periodic electrode structure for vacuum gap devices
US3670129A (en) Electrical contact members
US3369142A (en) Device for generating a strong electronic beam from a plasma emitting cathode
US2917649A (en) Ignitron
US2416661A (en) Dispenser type cathode electric discharge device
US3230410A (en) Arc discharge device with triggering electrode
US2433755A (en) Spark gap electrical apparatus
US3344304A (en) Creepage spark type plug having low voltage igniter seal
US1932025A (en) Electrode positive column lamp
US2451556A (en) Electrode structure for gaseous discharge devices
US1760525A (en) Rectifier
US2152201A (en) Discharge device
US2148300A (en) Mercury arc discharge device
US2404413A (en) Electrical gaseous discharge device
US2179310A (en) Vapor electric device
US1842215A (en) Electrode for gaseous discharge devices
US2265608A (en) Vapor electric converter
US3480821A (en) Stabilized vacuum gap device with elementary electrode structure
US2253402A (en) Make-alive electrode for vaporelectric converters
US1933859A (en) Electric current rectifier control
US2859373A (en) Lightning arrester
US3190992A (en) Vacuum switch having channel in contacts to prevent migration of roots of an arc
US2473232A (en) Discharge tube having a fluid or solid cathode and a capacitative igniter
US1194140A (en) Lewis w
US2095768A (en) Anode construction