US 5,552,669 A · Deuterium gas discharge tube

Abstract

A gas discharge tube of the present invention has an envelope for accommodating an anode for receiving thermoelectrons emitted from a thermionic cathode, a focusing electrode for focusing a path of the thermoelectrons from the thermionic cathode to the anode, and a discharge shielding plate consisting of a material having electrical insulating properties, the anode being arranged in contact with one side of the discharge plate, and the focusing electrode being arranged in contact with the other side of the discharge shielding plate. Since the anode and the focusing electrode are arranged in contact with both the sides of the discharge shielding plate consisting of an insulating material such as a ceramic, the positions of these electrodes are held at high accuracy, and the electrical insulating properties therebetween are maintained even at a high temperature during long-time continuous light emission. For this reason, a short circuit between the electrodes and variations in length of a discharge path can be prevented. Therefore, a gas discharge tube having a long service life and a high operational stability during long-time continuous light emission can be provided.

Claims24

Dependent claims

A deuterium gas discharge tube comprising:

an envelope in which deuterium gas is filled;
an anode accommodated in said envelope, for receiving thermoelectrons emitted from a thermionic cathode;
a focusing electrode accommodated in said envelope, for focusing a path of the thermoelectrons from said thermionic cathode to said anode;
a discharge shielding plate consisting of a material having electrical insulating properties, said anode being arranged in contact with one side of said discharge shielding plate, and said focusing electrode being arranged in contact with an other side opposing said one side of said discharge shielding plate;
a support plate consisting of a material having electrical insulating properties, fixed to the one side of said discharge shielding plate to have said anode therebetween;
and
a front cover consisting of a conductive material and having a window for projecting light, fixed to the other side of said discharge shielding plate to oppose said focusing electrode.

4 more elements

A deuterium gas discharge tube comprising:

an envelope in which deuterium gas is filled;
a thermionic cathode accommodated in said envelope, for emitting thermoelectrons;
an anode accommodated in said envelope, for receiving the thermoelectrons emitted from said thermionic cathode;
a focusing electrode accommodated in said envelope and having a focusing opening for focusing a path of the thermoelectrons emitted from said thermionic cathode and moving toward said anode;
a discharge shielding plate consisting of a material having electrical insulating properties and having a through-hole formed with a larger inner diameter than that of said focusing opening as a passage of the thermoelectrons emitted from said thermionic cathode and moving toward said anode, said anode being arranged in contact with one opening side of said through-hole, and said focusing electrode being arranged in contact with an other opening side opposing said one opening side of said through-hole;
a support plate consisting of a material having electrical insulating properties, fixed to the one opening side of said through-hole of said discharge shielding plate to have said anode therebetween;
and
a front cover consisting of a conductive material and having a window for projecting light, fixed to the other opening side of said through-hole of said discharge shielding plate to oppose said focusing electrode.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Deuterium gas discharge tube

Life of this patent

Deuterium gas discharge tube

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims24