US2214596A - Vapor electric device - Google Patents

Description

Sept l0, 1940- H. A. ROSE l 2,214,596

VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICE www' Ff- ATTORNEY sept. ro, 1s40. H. A. Rose 2,214,596

VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICE ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 10,1940

PATENT OFFICE VAPOR ELECTRIC DEVICE Herbert A. Rose, Leonia, N. J., assigner to Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Penn- Sylvania Application April 14:, 1938, Serial No.- 201,955

2 Claims.

operation of the device has in part been responsible for these disturbances.

According to my invention, I have provided a shield interposed between the anode and the cooled condensing surfaces so that the anode will not be directly exposed to a cooled surface, and further the shield is so positioned that any material thrown off or evaporated from the condensing surface will be separated lfrom the im- 20 mediate anode chamber. I have accomplished this by providing a shield intermediate the anode and the condensing surface. The shield, being in partial vacuum, is thermally insulated so that in `operation of the device it assumes a temperature intermediate between that of the anode and the condensing surface, but nearer that of the anode. As vapor electric devices operatel in a-highly evacuated state, substantially all of the heat transferred from the anode must be transferred by radiation. Consequently, the heat received by the shield must be received by radiation and likewise disposed of by radiation. The shield therefore increases to a temperature determined by the radiant energy falling upon it and the area of its own radiating envelope exposed to other external energy absorbing surfaces, the cooled Walls of the tube constituting the principal energy absorbing elem-ent. Positive ions also raise the temperature of this shield by continually depositing their charges upon it. By proportioning the shield so that its radiating envelope is comparable to that of the anode, account being taken of the positive ion heating effects, the shield can be made to operate at a 45 temperature which is high in relation to that corresponding to the vapor pressure as determined by the cooled cathode and other condensing surfaces, at a temperature near that of the anode. By this arrangement, no condensa- 59 tion in the form of vapor droplets occurs on the shield.

In order to prevent accumulation of non-condensable gases within the anode shield, I prefer to construct the shield with openings adjacent 55 the top thereof and to permit the Working vapor (Cl. Z50-27.5)

of the device to sweep through the shield to clear the anode space of any such foreign gases. -In order to prevent condensed mercury dropping through these openings into the vicinity of the anode, suitable shields are provided over the aforementioned openings.

It is accordingly an object of my invention to provide an electric valve having a hot shield interposed between the anode surfaces and the condensing surfaces.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a shield structure maintaining clean surfaces adjacent the anode space.

It is a further object of my invention to provide an electronic valve of the ignitron type having a metallic shield between the anode and the cooled side walls of the tube, said shield being maintained at high temperature during operation of the valve by the heat losses of the valve.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a shield structure which maintains the cooled vapors in a compartment separate from the anode space.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a shield structure in which the foreign gases will be eliminated from the anode space.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

y Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a make- 30 alive type valve according to my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modification according to my invention.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention according to Fig. l, the vapor electric device or valve comprises a container I, preferably of metal, having a suitable means such as a cooling coil 2 applied to the outside thereof so that the surface of the container acts as a condenser for the operating vapor of the device.

In the bottom of the container I is a suitable vaporizable reconstructing cathode 3, that is, the cathode 3 is comprised of a material which will evaporate to provide the working vapor of the device and which is condensed and returned to the cathode to maintain its volume substantially constant.

Cooperating with the cathode 3 is a suitable anode 4, preferably constructed of graphite, although any suitable material may be utilized, the anode being supported by a suitable conducting stem 5 which is sealed to the container I by means of a suitable insulating bushing, herein illustrated as a porcelain bushing 6.

Q pendent upon its radiating surface.

A suitable make-alive type electrode 'l is supported in permanent contact with the cathode 3.

Interposed between the anode 4 and the condensing surface is a suitable shield ill preferably of metal. The shield IE! may be supported in any desired manner, but I prefer to support the shield ill on the insulating bushing 6 surrounding the anode stem and to provide openings Il adjacent the upper portion of the shield Il) so that vapor from the cathode 3 may pass through the anode space and out through the openings Il to the condensing surface.

To prevent condensed mercury or other material from entering the anode space through these openings Il, a suitable shield I2 is interposed in spaced relation to these openings Il and so positioned that any material falling or projected toward the openings will be deected into the space between the shield i0 and the condensing surface.

Preferably, l0 is projected into the shield proximity with or even. into contact with the vapor flow will carry the non-condensing gases.

Preferably, the shield lil is cut away to provide an opening l for the insertion of the makealive electrode 'l so that the device may be assembled or disassembled without disturbing the make-alive connection.

However, as shown in Fig. 2, the make-alive electrode 'l may be permanently connected to a portion of the shield structure, and connection made thereto by a suitable conductor l1 having a spring contact i8 on the shield surface. When the make-alive electrode'l is connected to the shield structure, it is necessary to provide sufcient distance between the bottom of the shield l] and the cathode surface to prevent accidental grounding of the shield HJ by the agitation of the mercury surface during operation of the device.

In the operation of my device, the anode d will operate at an elevated temperature, since substantially the entire heat energy generated at the anode surface must be dissipated by radiation. A portion of the energy will be radiated tothe shield l0 and will raise it to a temperature approaching that of the anode surface. Since the shield if! too must lose its energy substantially by radiation because of the thermal heat insulation provided by the porcelain support B, the temperature of the shield i0 is substantially de- Therefore, the shield lll having a larger radiating area than the anode ll and receiving energy substantially only from the anode 4 will in'most designs nrmally operate at an elevated temperature nearer that of the anode 4 and intermediate between that of the anode 4 and the condensing surface. Since the shield lll is constantly in a heated condition during operation, the working vapor sweeps through the anode space carrying with it any foreign gases that may be present. In this way, the surfaces exposed to the anode 4 during operation will remain substantially clean and free of condensed material. Any condensed material will tend to be maintained in the space between the shield I0 and the condensing surface.

In the modification according to Fig. 2, the

openings 20 are shielded by straps 2| spaced from and secured across the openings 20 instead of by a sloping annular shield l2 as in Fig. 1. The make-alive electrode 1 is shown supported directly fromA the shield structure Ill and a conductor having a suitable resilient connection I8 contacting with a portion of the shield surface. v

While for purposes of illustration I have shown and described specific embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from thetrue spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A single anode vapor-electric device comprising an anode, a cooperating vaporizing cathode, an evacuated metallic chamber enclosing said anode and cathode, the side Walls of said chamber being in close proximity to the anode, a shield substantially enclosing the anode and extending adjacent the cathode, a makealive electrode for initiating a cathode spot on said cathode within the confines of the shield,

vapor passages in said shield adjacent the topv of the anode and means for supporting said shield in thermal and electrical insulated relation to said anode and said chamber. v

2. A vapor-electric device comprising an evacuated metallic container, a vaporizable cathode in said container, a single anode cooperating with said cathode, means for cooling the side walls of said container, a shield intery HERBERT A. ROSE.

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