US2559604A - Electron discharge device - Google Patents

Description

J. 5. DONAL, JR,, ET AL 2,559,604

July 10, 1951 ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed March 29, 1944 3nventors .4 Je. fieomv Gttorncu Z sw M 1 .m mfiw 501W W J. S. DONAL, JR, ET AL July 10, 1951 ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Original Filed March 29, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 12. l? g V Zmventors c/OH/V 53 00/1/44 Je. 5420544025 5. ieon/A/ 8 Una/we lay/.9 67/0044 M attorney Patented July 10, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE Original application March 29, 1944,; Serial No.

528,538. Divided and this application November 10, 1947, Serial No. 785,062

8 Claims. (Cl. 250-275) Our invention relates to electron discharge devices useful at ultra high frequencies, more particularly to devices of the magnetron type employing cavity resonators.

This application is a division of our copending application Serial No. 528,538, flled March 29, 1944, now Patent No. 2,443,445, dated June 15, 1948, assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

Magnetrons utilized at ultra high frequencies and employing cavity resonators may be of several types. Those formed from a solid anode block have slots extending radially from the central cathode chamber and forming anode seg-:

ments, the slots providing the cavity resonators between adjacent anode segments. The slots may be enlarged at their inner ends to provide resonators having a circular transverse section. In another type a plurality of slats or fins are supported within a central space and extend radially inwardly toward and define a cathode space, the inner edges of the slats serving as the anode segments and the slats and their supporting base providing cavity resonators between the anode resonators.

In magnetrons of this type, that is multisegment type utilizing resonators, it is desirable to have the magnetron operate in only one mode, several modes being possible. In order to do this,alternate segments are connected or strapped together by means of conductors to insure operation in the desired mode. Magnetrons utilized at very high frequencies are of small size and it is difiicult to strap the anode segments together. Thus, accurate and reproducible results in strapping are diflicult to accomplish, causing variations in dimensions in the spacing which not only affects the Wavelength at which the magnetrons operate, but also the efficiency of operation.

It is an object of our invention to provide magnetrons having improved methods of strapping, promoting'ease of construction, accuracy and reproducibility as to dimensions and spacings, thus insuring that magnetrons of the same size-will operate at the same frequencies and at high efiiciencies.

The novel features which we believe to be characteristic of our invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims, but the invention itself will best be understood by" reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a top view with parts removed to show details of construction-of an electron discharge device made according to our invention, Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken along the line II-II-of Figure 1, Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken along the line III-11]: of Figure 1, Figgure 4 is an enlarged view of the anode segments and; showing details of the strapping members employed in the device shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, Figurefi is a perspective showing details of construction'of a strapping member made according to our invention, Figure 6 is a section taken alongv theline VI-VI of Figure 4,- Figure 7 is a sectional view of a modification of the construction shown in Figure 6, Figures 8 to 13, inclusive, illustrate thesteps in the construction of another form of strapping arrangement according to our invention, Figures 14 and 15 show details of construction of an element utilized in Figures 8 to 13, inclusive, Figure 16 is a partial top View of a modification of the strapping arrangement shown, in Figure 4;, Figure 17 is a section taken along the line XVIIXVII of Figure 16, Figure 18 is a partial section showing a modification of the construction shown in Figure 17, Figure 19 is a further modification of a strapping arrangement shown in Figure 16, and Figure 20 is a sectiontaken along: the, line XX'XX of Figure 19.

Referring toFigure 1, an electron discharge device employing our invention is of themagnetron type and comprises an anode block 2! supporting: a plurality of. radially directed slats or fins 22 which extend inwardly from said block, the inner ends of the slats providing the anode segments and defining. the cathode space in which the cathode 23 is axially positioned, this cathode being supported by the magnetic insert member M having oppositely disposed thereto a second magnetic insert member 25 which formsv part of the-magnetic circuit completed by a magnet having polesi d and The cathode and inserts are supported by means of conducting bridging members-26 and El which are inturn insulatingly supported from the anode block by means of the bolts 28 and 29 insulated by means of insulating tubular members 39, 3!, 32 and 33', these bolts also beinginsulated from the block by means of the inserts 30' and 32".

This electrode assembly is mounted on header member 35 to which is sealed an envelope 36, the header and envelope being made of non-magnetic material, for example, stainless steel. The cathode and heater leads 3'! and 38 extend through the header and are sealed therein by means of the elongated insulating cup-shaped members 3'! -and- 38-. One of the cavity resonators formedbetween the slats 22 has coupled thereto coupling I r 7 2,559,604 r.

slats or anode elements 22 is provided with a slot or recess 55 for receiving a strapping ring made according to our invention and shown in greater detail in Figure 5. This strapping ring 46 is provided with a plurality of deformations or extensions t8 normal to the plane of the ring which are positioned so that they contact alternate slats as shown in Figure 4. Two such rings are provided, one of which, $1, is of smaller diameter than the outer ring 46 and also'being provided with extensions 48 normal to the plane of the strapping ring, these deformations engaging and being electrically connected to the other group of alternate anode slats. Thus during operation the voltage on adjacent anode segments are in phase opposition. As shown in Figure 6, the ring it is connected to the slat which is spaced from the ring 41 and likewise the ring ll is electrically connected at 58' to one of the slats while the other ring 4% is positioned in space with respect thereto;

In the arrangement shown in Figure 7 the slot or recess is in the slats 22 is stepped so that the rings are positively positioned with respect to each other, the smaller strapping ring il engaging the inner step and the outer ring 48 engaging the outer step, lateral movement between the rings thereby being prevented.

The embodiments of our invention illustrated in Figs. 1 through 7 are claimed in our co-pending application referred to above.

In the case of magnetrons formed from a block by means of slots extending radially from a central chamber, a diiierent approach to the problem is provided. Referring to Figures 8 to 15, the slots result in the provision of a plurality of anode segments 5%, the inner ends of which define the cathode space in which is axially mounted the cathode 52. In the first step in providing the strapping arrangement, the anode segments are recessed as indicated at 53. The element 54 shown in Figures 14 and 15 is then positioned as indicated in Figures 19 and 11. This element or spider 54 is in the form of a ring provided with three projections or legs 55, the outer portions of which legs are formed to provide steps 56. Likewise a ring 5! provided with a step 58 is positioned within the recess 53 in contact with the vertical outer wall of the recess. After being secured in position the ring 51 is out along the slots 5! and the portions of the ring 51 on alternate segments only are left as indicated in Figure 10, to provide step elements on alternate segments. To provide alternate stepped portions at the inner ends of the anode segments 50, the spider 5c is also cut along said slots so that separate steps 56 are left on alternate segments 59. mounted at the ends of the segments 50 in between those segments in which the step elements of the ring 5'! are left. The portions of spider 54 left between the legs 55 after the spider is cut provide the inner walls 54' as shown in Figures 11 and 12. It is now possible to position two concentric strapping rings 59 and 60 within the recess 53, the outer ring 59 being mounted on the step elements of the ring 51 and connecting It is noted that the stepped legs 55 are 4 alternate anode segments and the inner ring Bl being mounted on the stepped legs 55 of the spider 54, the relationship of the inner and outer strapping rings being shown in Figures 12 and 13. Thus a most accurate positioning of the rings results.

Another way of providing the steps 58 is to utilize the laminated construction shown in Figure 20, the first and second laminations 80 adjacent the -recess being extended one beyond the other to provide steps on which to place the outer ring 59.

A still further method would be to use a ring having step portions and intermediate portions of less width and then cutting along the slots in the same manner as is done with the central spider.

A further modification of the strapp n arrangement is shown in Figure 16. Here a pair of spiders are utilized, one of the spiders 14 being provided with radial extensions or legs l5 so that alternate segments 10 between the slots H are connected by this spider. The second spider 12 is positioned over the first spider it and the radial legs i3 engage the anode segments in between the first mentioned group of segments. The relationship of the two spiders is shown in Figure 1'7, the concentric ring portions of the spiders being positioned within the recesses Ed in the anode segments 78.

In the modification shown in Figure 18 the inner spider 52' may have its legs 13' deformed or depressed as indicated so that they pass under the ring portions of the outer spider T4.

In Figures 19 and 20 a still further form of strapping arrangement is disclosed. The anode block may be made of a plurality of radially slotted sheet elements or laminations 80 as shown in Figure 20. Some of the sheet elements may be formed to provide recesses for receiving the radial legs 82 of the strapping member 8| which is in the form of a spider and the radial legs as of a similar spider 83, other sheet elements being formed to provide a recess 85 for the coaxial ring parts of the spiders as shown. Figure 19 shows the anode block with the top lamination of Figure 20 removed.

While we have indicated the preferred embodiments of our invention of which we are now aware and have also indicated only one specific application for which our invention may be employed, it will be apparent that our invention is by no means limited to the exact forms illustrated or the use indicated, but that many variations may be made in the particular structure used and the purpose for which it is employed without departing from the scope of our invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What we claim as new is:

1. An electron discharge device including an anode block having a central space and a plurality of radially directed slots extending outwardly from said central space and providing anode segments between adjacent slots, and a ring of conducting material having legs extending inwardly therefrom to said central space and contacting alternate anode segments, the inner ends of said legs forming continuations of the wall of said central space at said alternate segments.

2. An electron discharge device including an anode block having a central space and a plurality of radially directed slots extending from said space and providing a plurality of anode segments therebetween, and a pair of concentric spider elements of conducting material each comprising a ring having radially directed legs extending outwardly therefrom, the legs of one of said spider elements contacting alternate anode segments, the other spider element having depressed portions to clear said one spider element, the legs of said other spider element contacting the remaining alternate anode segments.

3. An electron discharge device having an anode block, said anode block having a central space and a plurality'of radially directed slots extending therefrom and providing a plurality of anode segments surrounding said space, a cathode for supplying electrons within said space, said anode block having a recess at one end of and surrounding said central space, step members mounted on alternate anode segments in said recess and adjacent said space, and a conducting ring mounted on said step members and connecting said alternate anode segments together.

4. An electron discharge device having an anode block, said anode block having a central space and a plurality of radially directed slots extending therefrom and providing a plurality of anode segments surrounding said space, a cathode for supplying electrons within said space, said anode block having a recess in one surface surrounding said central space, step members mounted on alternate segments in said recess and adjacent said central space, step elements mounted on the other alternate segments in said recess adjacent the outer periphery thereof, and a pair of concentric conducting rings, one of said conduct-ing rings being mounted on and electrically connected to said step members adjacent said central space, and the other conducting ring being mounted on and electrically connected to said step elements adjacent the outer periphery of said recess.

5. The method of strapping the anode segments of a multi-segment anode comprising the steps of forming an anode block with a central opening and a plurality of radially directed slots extending therefrom and providing anode segments, re-

cessing one face of said block adjacent said central opening, positioning an annular spider having stepped legs registering with alternate segments within said recess adjacent said opening and on said segments, severing said spider along the sides of said slots and positioning a conducting strapping ring on said stepped legs.

6. The method of strapping the anode segments of a multi-segment anode comprising the steps of forming an anode block with a central opening and a plurality of radially directed slots extending therefrom and providing anode segments, recessing one face of said block adjacent said central opening and providing stepped elements on alternate segments adjacent the outer periphery of said recess, positioning an annular spider having stepped legs registering with the other alternate segments within said recess adjacent said opening and on said segments, severing said spider along the sides of said slots, and positioning a first conducting strapping ring on said stepped legs and a second conducting strapping ring on said stepped elements for electrically connecting alternate anode segments together.

7. An electron discharge device including an anode block having a central space and a plurality of radially directed slots extending from said space and forming anode segments therebetween, said anode block having a recess adjacent one end of and surrounding said central space, and a pair of concentric elements of conducting material mounted within said recess, at least one of said elements comprising a ring having radially directed legs extending therefrom and to alternate anode segments, and means connecting the other element contacting the remaining alternate anode segments, said elements being supported out of contact with each other.

8. The method of strapping the anode segments of a multi-segment anode comprising the steps of forming an anode block with a central opening and a plurality of radially directed slots extending therefrom and providing anode segments, recessing one face of said block adjacent said central opening, positioning an annular step member within said recess adjacent the outer periphery thereof and on said segments, removing the portions of said step member extending between alternate segments to provide step elements on said alternate segments, positioning an annular spider having stepped legs registering with the other alternate segments within said recess adjacent said opening and on said other alternate segments, severing said spider along the sides of said slots, and positioning a first conducting strapping ring on said step elements and a second conducting strapping ring on said stepped legs for electrically connecting alternate anode segments together.

JOHN S. DONAL, JR. CARMEN L. CUCCIA. BARREMORE B. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS record in the

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