US1942317A - Metal vapor rectifier for heavy currents - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 2, 1934- F. B. VON KLEIST 1,942,317

METAL VAPOR RECTIFIER FOR HEAVY CURRENTS Filed Sept. 22. 1931 WITNESSES: INVENTOR 55 tral cathode 2.

Patented Jan. 2, 1934 PATEN OFFICE METAL VAPOR RECTIFIER FOR HEAVY CURRENTS Felix Baron von Klcist, Berlin-Siemensstadt, Germany, assignor to Westinghcuse Electric &

Manufacturing Company,

Pennsylvania Application September 22,

a corporation of 1931, Serial No.

564,312, and in Germany September 25, 1930 3 Claims.

My invention relates to metal-vapor rectifiers for heavy currents and particularly to polyphase rectifiers having a plurality of anodes per phase.

Certain difficulties are usually encountered in 5 designing large rectifiers of the type just mentioned, in connection with the fact that the anodes must be so arranged that during operation of the rectifier, they will not interfere with each other. For this reason large rectifiers of standard construction provide large distances between the anodes, also it has been proposed to arrange the anodes not in just one circle, but in several circles, in order to prevent an excessive diameter of the rectifier tank.

But an arrangement providing several anode circles has also certain disadvantages. And even from an electrical standpoint trouble will be experienced, because of the fact that the arcs cannot develop uniformly between the individual anodes and the cathode; the arcs will be of different lengths and consequently will not have the same voltage drop.

This invention constitutes a solution of the problem of how to properly arrange a large number of anodes in a rectifier tank; this solution consists in placing the anodes, belonging to the same phase, closely together. It is very desirable to arrange all anodes on one common circle, and to place the anodes belonging to the same phase closely together.

According to my invention all the anodes belonging to one phase are grouped'as closely together as is mechanically possible, while the phase groups are widely separated from each other. Since there is no diiierence of potential between the anode of the same phase, in fact if desirable, the anodes may be on a common anode stern, there is no danger of breakdown between the closely spaced anodes while the phase groups 40 are spaced sufliciently to prevent breakdown between phases.

The closely spaced anodes according to my invention are enclosed in a common shield so that the anodes of each phase are shielded as a unit.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a schematic plan view of a rectifier embodying my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of an anode group with its accompanying shield.

The apparatus, as disclosed, comprises a container 1 preferably of metal in which is a cen- Arranged in a single circle in the rectifier tank are a plurality of anodes 3. These anodes are connected to any suitable polyphase source of supply, each phase of the supply being connected to a plurality of parallel connected anodes All of the parallel connected anodes of one phase, may, if desired, be placed on a single anode stem or, if desirable, for reasons of current distribution, between the anode heads, each individual head may have a separate stem extending outside of the tank for connection with a suitable current divider. In either case the anodes 3 connected to the same phase are placed as close together as is mechanically convenient. However, the groups of anodes belonging to the individual phases are widely spaced from each other.

Each phase group of anodes is provided with a shield 4 adapted to substantially enclose all of the anodes 3 of the group and being common to all the said anodes.

Preferably each of the shields 4 is provided with a grid 6 common to all of the anodes'of the phase group enclosed in the shield. Although any type of grid may be used, I prefer to use a grid substantially closed except for are passages 7 substantially opposite the anode faces.

In order to more completely shield the anodes, I have provided the shield 4 with transverse partitions 8 for separating the arc streams proceeding from the individual anode heads. While these partitions may be of any desired length, I have found it sufiicient to place these partitions 8 only in the open end of the shield extending up to the vicinity of the grid 6.

In operation the rectifier of my invention is substantially similar to the operation of other plural anodes, and rectifiers, except that all of the active anodes are grouped together and enclosed in a common shield. These active anodes being at a common potential there is no danger of breakdown between the active anodes. Furthermore, by placing the anodes active at any one time in closely spaced relation, it is possible to secure a maximum spacing between the anode groups with minimum spacing between the anodes, thus securing the advantage of a multiplicity of active anodes as well as the advantage of small tank size.

While I have shown and described the specific modifications of my invention, it is apparent that many changes and modifications could be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention. I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be imposed as 110 each phase being closely grouped but spaced from the anode of every other phase, a shield surrounding each phase group, a grid in each of said shields, and partitions in the shields.

3. A vapor-electric device-comprising a metal tank, a cathode in the tank, a plurality of anodes in the tank, said anodes being arranged in groups having the anodes of a group closely spaced to each other, said groups having greater spacing than the anodes; of the group, a shield for each group of anodes and a grid in the shield, said shield being common to all anodes of the group.

FELIX BARON VON KLEIST.

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