Abstract:
A directly-heated cathode having a very short warm-up time comprising a tubular sheet of refractory metal having an array of apertures therein defined by a grid of intersecting filaments. The filament grid may be integral with spaced end sections of the sheet, the end sections serving as heat-dam and top-cap sections of the cathode. Also included is a method of making such a cathode comprising etching the apertures in a refractory metal sheet.
Abstract:
The tangling of helically coiled wire articles during bulk handling and shipment is prevented by providing integral beads of fused metal at each end of the articles which enclose the severed ends of the wire. In the case of tungsten wire coils that are designed for use in fluorescent or incandescent lamps and similar devices and are wound on iron mandrels, the fused beads are composed of tungsten-iron alloy and are formed in situ during coil manufacture by melting the ends of the mandrel with a concentrated heat source such as a focused laser beam. The tungsten-iron alloy beads remain on the end turns of the coil during the subsequent mandrel-dissolving operation, are ductile and are formed without embrittling the tungsten wire. Various methods and apparatus embodiments for manufacturing such beaded-end coils on a mass production basis using a CO2 laser are disclosed. Since the beads can readily be made larger than the diameter of the coil and be spaced a predetermined distance apart, they provide built-in guides or ''''reference points'''' for mounting incandescent lamp type filament coils on their lead wires and thus accurately controlling the lighted-length of the mounted coils.
Abstract:
A cavity is provided in a wire of a directly-heated cathode so that the temperature at the area of the cavity will be higher when a current is passed through the wire than on either side of the cavity. As a result, the cavity acts as a limited emissive surface and the cathode obtains a longer service life and a more stable construction.
Abstract:
The coiled tungstem filament of an electric incandescent lamp is provided with a fused bead of tungsten-iron alloy at each end and is so fastened to the lead wires of the mount assembly that the beads are located outboard from and in contiguous relationship with the respective lead wires. The beads are larger than the diameter of the filament coil and spaced a predetermined distance apart and thus serve as built-in guides or ''''reference points'''' during the filament-mounting operation which accurately control the lighted-length of the mounted coils.
Abstract:
Self-protected electrodes which inherently limit field-emitted currents to a safe value and also stabilize such currents are disclosed. The electrodes are characterized by a plurality of columnar conductors connected at one end to a common potential source. The electrodes are insulated from one another along their lengths whereby the effective or exposed surfaces thereof are subdivided into a mosaic of conducting patches which are insulated from one another.
Abstract:
A cathode structure of substantially uniform thickness exhibiting reduced heating time in an electron tube having a mesh grid, the cathode comprising a mesh portion consisting of substantially flat cross-strips and a number of depressed portions formed between the cross-strips, the depressed portions being coated with an electronic emissive material.
Abstract:
The present invention comprises new and useful cathode and heater constructions and assemblies for electron discharge devices, particularly vacuum tubes. The cathode or heater is mounted at both ends to the interior structure of the electron discharge device and, in a preferred form of the invention, is pressed over a pair of bosses which are integral with heat sinks comprising opposite ends of the device. The materials of these bosses and the cathode or heater are so chosen that the coefficient of thermal expansion of the bosses is greater than that of the material of the cathode or heater. In this way, operating temperatures do not reduce, but rather, increase the securement of opposite ends of the cathode or heater to the respective mounting bosses.