Fixed position filament

A cathode filament device for an indirectly heated cathode, the cathode filament device comprising:

• a first filament rod having a first end and a second end along a first axis, wherein the first filament rod comprises a first engagement portion proximate to the first end thereof, wherein the first engagement portion comprises a first engagement body and a first positioning feature extending from the first engagement body;
• a second filament rod having a third end and a fourth end along a second axis, wherein the second filament rod comprises a second engagement portion proximate to the third end and having a second engagement body;
• a first clamping member having a first clamping surface configured to selectively engage the first engagement body, and wherein the first positioning feature is configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod with respect to the first clamping member in at least a first direction along the first axis;
• a second clamping member configured to selectively engage the second engagement body;
• and
• a filament operably coupled to the first filament rod proximate to the second end of the first filament rod and to the second filament rod proximate to the fourth end of the second filament rod.

A cathode filament device for an indirectly heated cathode, the cathode filament device comprising:

• a first filament rod having a first end and a second end along a first axis, wherein the first filament rod comprises a first engagement portion proximate to the first end thereof, wherein the first engagement portion comprises a first engagement body and a first positioning feature and a second positioning feature extending from the first engagement body;
• a second filament rod having a third end and a fourth end along a second axis, wherein the second filament rod comprises a second engagement portion proximate to the third end, wherein the second engagement portion comprises a second engagement body and a third positioning feature and a fourth positioning feature extending from the second engagement body;
• a first clamping member having a first clamping surface configured to selectively engage the first engagement body, and wherein the first positioning feature and second positioning feature are configured to limit a translation of the first filament rod with respect to the first clamping member along the first axis;
• a second clamping member configured to selectively engage the second engagement body, wherein the third positioning feature and fourth engagement feature are configured to limit a translation of the second filament rod with respect to the second clamping member along the second axis;
• and
• a filament operably coupled to the first filament rod proximate to the second end of the first filament rod and to the second filament rod proximate to the fourth end of the second filament rod.

An indirectly heated cathode apparatus, comprising:

• a cathode having a blind hole defined therein, wherein the blind hole extends along a cathode axis;
• a filament rod extending from a first end to a second end thereof, wherein the filament rod comprises:
• a first engagement portion proximate to the first end;
• and
• one or more positioning features extending outwardly from the first engagement portion;
• a filament operably coupled to the filament rod proximate to the second end of the filament rod;
• and
• a clamping member having a clamping surface, wherein the clamping member is configured to selectively clamp the first engagement portion of the filament rod to the clamping surface, and wherein the one or more positioning features are further configured to selectively mate with the clamping member, thereby selectively positioning the filament with respect to the cathode axis within the blind hole.