US1119420A - Vapor electric apparatus. - Google Patents

Description

L. E. FROST. VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED FIIBAIJ, 1914 1,1 1 9,4520. Patented Dec. 1, 1914.

I VENTUR fiw y c ww IZ- Q/L ATTORNEY LESLIE E. FROST, OF PITTSBURGH,

VAPOR ELECTRIC APPARATUS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnsmn E. Fnos'r, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Penns lvania, have invented a new and useful mprovement in Vapor Electric Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vapor electric apparatus, and it has particular reference to metal-case rectifiers of large capacity.

The object of my invention is to provide apparatus of the class described with means for avoiding short circuiting within the apparatus and consequent interruptions in its operation.

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is a diagrammatic view showing a portion of a metal-case rectifier equipped with my device.

The drawing shows a rectifier having a casing 1, an anode 2, an auxiliary keep-alive anode 3 and a vaporizable cathode 4, which may be of mercury. A circular ring or partition 5, of quartz or other insulating material, supports two baffle plates or shields 6 and 7 which may be of either conducting or non-conducting material, the plate 6 having a central opening and the plate 7 being disposed above this opening. An indirect path for the arc is thereby established between the anode 2 and the cathode 4.

The structure thus far described is well known in this art. Rectifiers so constructed are, however, subject to the danger of short circuiting by reason ofthe accumulation of static charges upon the baffle plates or shields, which accumulation proceeds until the potential is sufficient to cause a discharge. 'If the walls of the metal tank receive this discharge, it will break down the negative resistance of the tank at that point, and the main arc will wander from the mercury cathode to the tank, thus causing an interruption in the operation of the rectifier. In order to avoid such interruptions. I provide means for discharging the static .charges which accumulate on the baflie plates or shields. and, in the embodiment of-my invention discharging means comprises a thin metal rod 8 secured to the under side of the bafiie plate 7 and extending nearly to the surface of the mercury cathode 4. This rod termi- Specification of Letters Patent.

Appllcatlonflled February 19, 1914. Serial No. 819,780.

which plate and extending shown in the drawing, such Patented Dec. 1., with nates in a point, and a spark gap is thus established, across which the static charges accumulating on the baffle plates will always be discharged. Two or more of the rods 8 may be provided if necessary. This may be especially advantageous if the bafile plates are formed of non'conducting material.

It is to be understood that my invention is not restricted to the structural details which I have shown and described, since it is applicable to any vapor-electric device in baffle plates or shields are interposed in the path of the are.

I claim as my invention:

1. A vapor electric device comprising a. casing, a plurality of electrodes within the casing, a shield interposed between the electrodes, and a spark gap electrode connected to the said shield. v

2. A vapor electric device comprising a casing, a plurality of electrodes within the casing, an insulated shield between the electrodes and a discharging terminal connected to the shield to form a spark gap between it and one of the said electrodes.

3. A vapor electric device comprising a casing, an anode and a vaporizable cathode within the casing, an insulated baiile plate between the anode and the cathode and a discharging terminal secured to the baffle to a point near the said vaporizable cathode.

4. A vapor electric device comprising a casing, an anode and a vanorizable cathode within the casing, shielding means interposed between the anode and the cathode and a pluralitv of discharging terminals secured to the shielding means and extending to a point near the said vaporizable cathode.

5. A vapor electric device comprising a casing, a plurality of electrodes within the casing. a shield of conducting material interposed between the electrodes. and a discharging terminal connected to the said shield.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 13th day of Feb, 1914.

B. B. Hines.

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSE

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