US2971136A - Method of and arrangement for operating a glow relay - Google Patents

Method of and arrangement for operating a glow relay Download PDF

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Publication number
US2971136A
US2971136A US640913A US64091357A US2971136A US 2971136 A US2971136 A US 2971136A US 640913 A US640913 A US 640913A US 64091357 A US64091357 A US 64091357A US 2971136 A US2971136 A US 2971136A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
tube
relay
voltage
glow
circuit
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Expired - Lifetime
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US640913A
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English (en)
Inventor
Meili Ernst
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.)
Cerberus G M B H
CERBERUS GmbH
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CERBERUS GmbH
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H03—ELECTRONIC CIRCUITRY
    • H03K—PULSE TECHNIQUE
    • H03K5/00—Manipulating of pulses not covered by one of the other main groups of this subclass
    • H03K5/01—Shaping pulses
    • H03K5/04—Shaping pulses by increasing duration; by decreasing duration

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a method of delaying extinction of a glow relay tube supplied with an alternating voltage and more particularly to a circuit comprising a glow relay tube which remains glowing for at least a few periods of an alternating current supplied thereto.
  • the simplest design of a glow relay tube comprises a closed container filled with an inert gas into which at least two main electrodes are introduced. If a voltage between the ignition voltage and the sustained-glow potential of the main discharge gap formed by the said two electrodes is applied to such a tube, no current will normally pass through the tube. The tube will become conducting only after being ignited by additional measures. Such ignition may be effected by introducing a third electrode, the ignition electrode, into the tube and by initiating an igniting discharge e.g. between the ignition electrode and one of the main electrodes. Such a tube is known as a glow relay tube. One of the properties of such tubes is that a tube once ignited will generally not extinguish automatically while the main discharge gap is supplied with direct voltage.
  • the instantaneous value of the voltage supplied must briefly be reduced below the sustained-glow voltage of the discharge gap.
  • the supply voltage In order to be able to ignite the tube again, the supply voltage must again be increased at least to the level of the sustained-glow potential; commonly a substantially higher voltage will be required.
  • a glow tube should ignite and then be extinguished again with the advent of a certain control voltage such as by supplying the glow tube with an alternating voltage or a pulsating direct voltage.
  • ignition must be effected when the voltage at the main electrodes possesses the required value (synchronization of ignition with supply voltage) while the tube will automatically extinguish as soon as the instantaneous value of the supply voltage drops below sustained-glow voltage.
  • a synchronized control pulse must be received in each cycle or a continuous control discharge must be present in the tube.
  • an electromechanical relay of suitable design is connected in series with a glow tube so operated, the relay will be energized as long as the tube is re-iguited in each cycle.
  • the delaying means useful therefor are: shortcircuited winding or a condenser or rectifier connected in parallel with the relay, or a mechanical release retarder. Release retardation is in such cases caused by the electrical, magnetic or mechanical energy stored.
  • the delay is proportional to the stored energy. This ignition between the main electrodes occurs.
  • a mechanical relay and a glow relay tube in serial connection said glow relay tube and said mechanical relay each being by-passed by an impedance and a capacitor in serial connection, said two relays being connected with a source of alternating voltage or pulsating direct voltage, so that the glow relay tube, when energized remains ignited until said capacitor connected in parallel thereto is discharged below a predetermined degree,
  • Fig. l is a wiring diagram of an embodiment of the invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a graph showing the voltages and currents of the circuit shown in Fig. l in dependency of time;
  • Fig. 3 is a wiring diagram of another embodiment of the invention.
  • G is a glow tube having two main electrodes A and K, and the igniting or control electrode S.
  • a mechanical relay R Connected in series with the main gap defined by the main electrodes A and K is a mechanical relay R having an energizing and a short-circuited winding (not shown), the latter defining a storage means.
  • An alternating volt-- age source is applied across the two input terminals 1 and 2.
  • the rectifier G1 also connected to input terminal 2.
  • the electrode K is connected to input terminal 1.
  • Connected in parallel with the gap A-K are the series-connected condenser C and impedance W.
  • the control electrode S is connected to any controlling device which is supposed to control a large current, for example, a photoelectric cell, a thermoelernent, a piezoelectric crystal or some other sensitive device.
  • a photoelectric cell P is shown in Fig. 1.
  • a condenser Z which is supposed to be charged by the voltage supplied by the cell P to thereby enable the control electrode S to ignite the glow relay tube.
  • the arrangement operates as follows. condition the voltage at the condenser C and thus between electrodes A and K is equal to the peak value of the alternating supply voltage. When the tube is ignited by the cell P, the voltage between A and K decreases to the operation voltage of the tube G. Assuming that the cause of said ignition is no more effective, an auxiliary DC. current flows from the charged condenser C to the main electrodes A and K for an extended time, i.e. for several cycles of the supply voltage if the resistance and the capacity are sufficiently large. Whenever the supply voltage passes the positive half-cycle, an additional strong current will pass to the tube through the relay R to energize the relay circuit. Energization of the relay circuit will last while the storage circuit maintains a sustained discharge of the glow tube in the negative half-cycles of the supply voltage.
  • the glow tube will extinguish when the charge of the condenser through the main gap is exhausted sufiiciently for the auxiliary current to be interrupted in a negative half-cycle.
  • the electro-mechanical relay was energized for a comparatively extended period and thereby oou-ld store the necessary energy, e.g. in the short circuit winding thereof, so that the relay remains energized for another predetermined time.
  • the condenser On extinction of the glow tube, the condenser is again charged towards the peak value of the supply voltage. If a further ignition impulse is received while the tube is extinguished and the relay is still energized, the process described is repeated and the relay stays energized. Accordingly, the relay is permanently energized as long as the control impulses occur Within the prescribed intervals.
  • the current for the glow relay tube is supplied with the electric energy charged in the capacitor C so that a DC. current J is flowing to the main electrode A of the glow relay tube.
  • a current 1 is flowing to the electrode A and through the tube.
  • a particular advantage of this arrangement is that ignition of the arrangement can be obtained at any moment since a sufficiently positive direct voltage is present at electrode A owing to the storage circuit. It is therefore not necessary to synchronize the moment of ignition with the outer supply voltage.
  • Fig. 3 showing a. wiring diagram similar to that shown in Fig. l.
  • the corresponding circuit elements are denoted with the same reference symbols. Also the operation is identical so that only these elements will be described in which the daigram differs from that of Fig. 1.
  • the relay R is not pro vided with a short circuit winding but with a capacitor U and a resistor M being arranged as a serial connection in parallel to the mechanical relay R.
  • the capacitor U and the resistor M also define a storage means for the relay so that the relay remains energized after the energizing current is switched oif.
  • a rectifier Re which serves the purpose'to provide a quick recharging of the capacitor C when the glow relay tube was extinguished as outlined above.
  • the release delay can normally be extended to approximately 1 second. If a condenser connected in parallel is selected for retardation in place of a short-circuited winding (Fig. 3), the release retardation time may also be increased almost at will.
  • the problem involved is essentially to connect a suitable storage circuit to an electrode introduced into a tube, which electrode need not be identical with one of the main electrodes.
  • a circuit comprising an alternating voltage source, a rectifier in series connection with said source to provide a pulsating DC. voltage, the lowest momentary voltage thereof being below a predetermined value, an ignitable glow relay tube having two main electrodes and a control electrode, controllable by a small pulsating DC.
  • said glow relay tube when ignited by a second voltage supplied to said control electrode being conductive as long as a voltage above said predetermined value is applied to said main electrodes, a mechanical relay in series connection with the main electrodes of said glow relay tube, said two relays being connected to said first voltage source through said rectifier so that the glow relay tube will become conductive and said mechanical relay energized when said second voltage is supplied to said control electrode of said glow relay tube, storage means operatively connected with said mechanical relay to efiect a continuous energizing of said mechanical relay for a first predeten mined time after the glow relay tube has been extinguished due to a diminution of the voltage supplied to the electrodes thereof below said predetermined value, a series connection of a resistor and a capacitor arranged in parallel to said glow relay tube to provide a voltage above said predetermined value for a second predetermined time for said glow relay tube to maintain said glow relay tube conductive for said second predetermined time irrespecitve of the voltage applied to the control electrode thereof until the
  • a circuit as claimed in claim 1, said storage means having the form of a capacitor and a resistance in series connection arranged in parallel with said mechanical relay.
  • a circuit comprising alternating voltage source means, a rectifier in series connection with said alternat- 6 ing voltage source means for providing a pulsating DC. voltage with the lowest momentary voltage thereof being below a predetermined value, an ignitable blow relay tube having two main electrodes and a control electrode, said tube being controllable by a small pulsating DC.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Nonlinear Science (AREA)
  • Lasers (AREA)
US640913A 1956-02-23 1957-02-18 Method of and arrangement for operating a glow relay Expired - Lifetime US2971136A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CH2971136X 1956-02-23

Publications (1)

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US2971136A true US2971136A (en) 1961-02-07

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US640913A Expired - Lifetime US2971136A (en) 1956-02-23 1957-02-18 Method of and arrangement for operating a glow relay

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US (1) US2971136A (de)
CH (1) CH339987A (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3091724A (en) * 1960-03-08 1963-05-28 Electronics Corp America Flame detection circuit

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1736993A (en) * 1928-11-09 1929-11-26 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Light-relay system
US1762811A (en) * 1925-08-10 1930-06-10 Gen Electric Electric timing device
US1917418A (en) * 1931-06-18 1933-07-11 American Telephone & Telegraph Electric delay circuits
US2096865A (en) * 1936-04-16 1937-10-26 American Telephone & Telegraph Resetting circuits for gas-filled tubes
US2157690A (en) * 1936-10-26 1939-05-09 Rca Corp Control apparatus for radiobeacon systems
US2352240A (en) * 1941-05-19 1944-06-27 Photoswitch Inc Electronic apparatus
US2844781A (en) * 1954-09-24 1958-07-22 Rca Corp Thyratron circuit
US2848659A (en) * 1955-03-28 1958-08-19 Gen Electric Electronic control switch

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1762811A (en) * 1925-08-10 1930-06-10 Gen Electric Electric timing device
US1736993A (en) * 1928-11-09 1929-11-26 Westinghouse Electric & Mfg Co Light-relay system
US1917418A (en) * 1931-06-18 1933-07-11 American Telephone & Telegraph Electric delay circuits
US2096865A (en) * 1936-04-16 1937-10-26 American Telephone & Telegraph Resetting circuits for gas-filled tubes
US2157690A (en) * 1936-10-26 1939-05-09 Rca Corp Control apparatus for radiobeacon systems
US2352240A (en) * 1941-05-19 1944-06-27 Photoswitch Inc Electronic apparatus
US2844781A (en) * 1954-09-24 1958-07-22 Rca Corp Thyratron circuit
US2848659A (en) * 1955-03-28 1958-08-19 Gen Electric Electronic control switch

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3091724A (en) * 1960-03-08 1963-05-28 Electronics Corp America Flame detection circuit

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CH339987A (de) 1959-07-31

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