US 5,331,249 A · Discharge tube

Abstract

A discharge tube of the type wherein a voltage is applied across a pair of electrodes to cause a discharge between the anode side electrode and the cathode side electrode. In the new discharge tube, opposing end portions of the pair of electrodes are formed into a non-acute configuration, and a large number of concave or convex portions are formed on a surface at least of the cathode side electrode. A stabilized high discharge voltage can be obtained from an initial stage of discharging with a comparatively small distance between the electrodes. Further, since the surface area of the electrodes is great, exhaustion of the electrodes are dispersed, and the electrodes are superior in durability. Further, since the distance between the electrodes is small, the discharge maintaining voltage is low and the energy loss is decreased.

Claims8

Dependent claims

A discharge tube comprising:

a casing;
and
a pair of electrode means including anode side electrode means and cathode side electrode means provided opposite each other within said casing to cause a discharge therebetween, said anode side electrode means and said cathode side electrode means having opposing end portions formed in a generally non-acute contour, the opposing end portions of at least said cathode side electrode means includes a planar face substantially opposing the other electrode means and a curved peripheral portion around said planar face, said planar face being formed with a multiplicity of cutouts therein wherein said curved peripheral portion around said planar face is also formed with cutouts such that a density of cutouts in said planar face is larger than that in said curved peripheral portion.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Discharge tube

Life of this patent

Discharge tube

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims8