US3213318A - Bimetallic filament positioning device - Google Patents

Description

1965 w. E. GLENN, JR

BIMETALLIC FILAMENT POSITIONING DEVICE Filed Oct. 19, 1962 in van tor-a- I/V/V/Ia m E. 6/2 rm we,

/ Attorney United States Patent 3,213,318 BIMETALLIC FlLAMENT POSITIONING DEVICE William E. Glenn, Jr., Scotia, N.Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Oct. 19, 1962, Ser. No. 231,637 3 Claims. (Cl. 31594) This invention relates to an electrical element positioning device and particularly to an electrically controlled filament centering device for electron discharge devices and the like.

It is frequently desirable to physically alter the position of a filament or other electrode inside an electron discharge device from outside the device. For example, in cathode ray tubes employing small hairpin filaments for generating extremely small diameter electron beams, it is frequently necessary to provide mechanical adjustment externally operated in order to adjust the centering of the emitting end of the filament. While the results of mechanical adjustment linkages of this type are satisfactory, the mechanism involved is expensive and cumbersome and moreover does not lend itself to automatic or remote control centering.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to 'provide a simple and economical means for centering and positioning filaments or other electrodes electrically or from a point remote from the electrode.

Briefly stated in accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the filament or electrode device is physically supported by means of curvilinear bimetallic means which carry current to the electrode. By adjusting the current flow through the bimetallic means, its temperature may be altered and therefore its physical configuration.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present in- .vention, an electron discharge device filament including two support leads is further supported by two pairs of curvilinear bimetallic members, disposed substantially orthogonally to one another. A first pair carries the filament current to one of the. filament support leads while another pair carries the filament current to the second filament support lead. The proportion of the filament current carried by each bimetallic member of a pair is remotely adjustable with a potentiometer so a temperature differential exists between the bimetallic strips connected to one of the support leads. The bimetallic member carrying a larger current tends to distort the most and acts to cause movement of the filament in a predetermined direction.

The subject matter which I regard as my invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. The invention, however, both as to organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompany drawings wherein like reference characters refer to like elements and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention, and

FIG. 2 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present invention further including circuitry for its operation.

Referring to the drawing, a filament or element to be positioned or centered, 1, is provided with twosupport conductors 2 and 3 which are parallel to one another and held in spaced relation by brace members 4 and 5.Support member 2 is joined to two curvilinear currenttemperature sensitive or bimetallic members 6 and 7 positioned approximately in line withsupport conductors 2 and 3. These bimetallic members 6 and 7 are conveniently formed of a strip of steel at their outside radius riveted or otherwise joined to a strip of brass or copper at their inside radius. The bimetallic members are attached 3,213,318 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 ice to conducting posts 8 and 9, arranged substantially in line with thesupport conductors 2 and 3 on either side of the filament and extended through aninsulating base 10 to provide externally accessible terminals.

A second pair of curvilinear current-temperature sensitive orbimetallic members 11 and 12 are joined to the support conductor 3, this support conductor being foreshortened to allowbimetallic members 11 and 12 to be attached thereto while passing over bimetallic member 7.Bimetallic members 11 and 12 are joined respectively to conductingposts 13 and 14, also embedded in commoninsulating base 10 on either side of the filament. Conductingposts 13 and 14 as well asbimetallic members 11 and 12 in general form a configuration substantially orthogonal to that of bimetallic members 6 and 7 and their respective conducting posts 8 and 9.

Member 10 is part of an envelope of an electron discharge type device, for example, of the cathode-ray beam type, wherein it is desirable to position theelectron beam 19 produced by filament 1 and accelerated through an apertured focusing electrode indicated at 20. Filament 1 is centered with respect to electrode aperture.

In order to control electrically the position of filament 1, the current is varied through the bimetallic members. Referring particularly to FIG. 2, afirst potentiometer 15 is coupled between conducting posts 8 and 9 and is provided with aslidable contact 16 operable to control the filament movement. Similarly, thepotentiometer 17 havingslidable contact 18 is disposed between conductingposts 13 and 14.Slidable contacts 16 and 18 are conveniently coupled to a source offilament power 19.

In operation the device according to the present invention, provides for the remote electrical centering or positioning of the filament electrodes. Positioning ofslidable contacts 16 and 18 onpotentiometers 15 and 17 act to adjust the proportion of filament current flowing in the bimetallic members which current acts to energize the filament 1 to an electron emitting tempera- Theslidable contact 16 when moved towards the a larger proportion of the filament current to flow through bimetallic member 7 than bimetallic member 6. Under such circumstances, bimetallic member 7 becomes heated and becomes more heated than bimetallic member 6; since the brass strip is on the outside radius of the bimetallic member, the bimetallic member 7 will bend or curl more than bimetallic member 6. Member 6, carrying less current, bends less. This causessupport conductor 2 to move generally in the direction X in FIG. 2, that is towards conducting post 9, the same direction in whichslidable contact 16 was moved. Likewise movement ofslidable contact 16 in direction W will causesupport conductor 2 to move in direction W, designated in FIG. 2.

Similarly movement ofslidable contact 18 ofpotentiometer 17 in the direction Y will cause movement of support conductor 3 in the Y direction, and movement ofslidable contact 18 in the direction W causes movement of support conductor 3 in the direction W. Of course, since the filament together with its support conductors and brace members is a unitary device, movement of one of the support conductors will have the same directional effect upon the positioning of the filament electrode. For example, movement ofsupport conductor 2 in the direction X by movement ofslide contact 16 in that direction will move the whole filament assembly in that direction and will also cause movement ofbimetallic members 11 and 12 in the same direction. Since this is in a direction substantially orthogonal to the general configuration ofbimetallic members 11 and 12, no undue strain is imparted tomembers 11 and 12. Also movement of the electrode structure in a Y direction has a limited mechanical effect upon bimetallic members 6 and 7. The electrode structure tends to turn or hinge atsupport conductor 2.

While illustrated primarily with respect to the physical positioning of a filament electrode, it is apparent the present invention in its broader aspects is applicable to other electrode elements and the like to provide effective remote positioning thereof electrically, and, for example, from outside the evacuated electron discharge device.

While I have shown and described several embodiments of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes and modifications may be made without departing from my invention in its broader aspects; and I therefore intend the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an electron discharge device, an apparatus for positioning the filament thereof comprising first and second terminals for said filament, a first pair of posts electrically conductive disposed on either side of said filament, a pair of curvilinear bimetallic strips extending one from each of said first pair of posts and joined in common to the first terminal of said filament to mechanically support said first terminal while carrying current thereto, a second pair of electrically conductive posts disposed in a line substantially perpendicular to a line between said first pair of posts, a second pair of curvilinear bimetallic elements extending one from each of said second pair of posts and joined to the second terminal of said filament to support said second terminal while carrying current thereto, and means supplying a proportionately variable current through said posts to said bimetallic elements to heat said elements while at the same time energizing said filament.

2. In an electron discharge device, an apparatus for centering the filament thereof comprising first and second terminals for said filament, a first pair of conductive posts disposed on either side of said filament, a pair of curvilinear bimetallic strips extending one from each of said first pair of posts and joined in common to the first terminal of said filament to mechanically support said first terminal and carry current thereto, a second pair of conductive posts also disposed on either side of said filament and between said first pair of posts in a line substantially perpendicular to a line between said first pair of posts, a second pair of curvilinear bimetallic elements extending one from each of said second pair of posts and joined to the second terminal of said filament to support said filament and carry current thereto, a first potentiometer means connected between said first pair of posts and including a first adjustable tap, a second potentiometer means extending between said second pair of posts and including a second adjustable tap, and means providing a current between said first and second adjustable taps flowing proportionately through said potentiometers and through said posts to energize said filament.

3. In an electron discharge device a filament centering device comprising a pair of support conductors for said filament with bracing means therebetween, a first pair of electrically conducting posts substantially in line with and parallel to said supporting conductors one on either side of said filament, a first pair of bimetallic members each joined at one end thereof to one of said first conducting posts and in common to one of said support conductors for supporting said filament while supplying current thereto, a second pair of conducting posts one on either side of said filament in a line substantially orthogonal to a plane containing said support conductors, a second pair of bimetallic members each joined at one end thereof to said second conducting posts and in common to the second support conductor for supporting said filament while supplying current thereto, and means supplying a varying current through said posts to said bimetallic members to adjust the filament in position while energizing said filament.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,782,682 2/57 Browning et al.

2,840,743 6/58 Marton et al 31315l 2,880,333 3/59 Dranetz 3108.5 X 3,146,367 8/64 McNaney 313-86 GEORGE N. WESTBY, Primary Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. IN AN ELECTRON DISCHARGE DEVICE, AN APPARATUS FOR POSITIONING THE FILAMENT THEREOF COMPRISING FIRST AND SECOND TERMINALS FOR SAID FILAMENT, A FIRST PAIR OF POSTS ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE DISPOSED ON EITHER SIDE OF SAID FILAMENT, A PAIR OF CURVILINEAR BIMETALLIC STRIPS EXTENDING ONE FROM EACH OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF POSTS AND JOINED IN COMMON TO THE FIRST TERMINAL OF SAID FILAMENT TO MECHANICALLY SUPPORT SAID FIRST TERMINAL WHILE CARRYING CURRENT THERETO, A SECOND PAIR OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE POSTS DISPOSED IN A LINE SUBSTANTIALLY PERPENDICULAR TO A LINE BETWEEN SAID FIRST PAIR OF POSTS, A SECOND PAIR OF CURVILINEAR BIMETALLIC ELEMENTS EXTENDING ONE FROM EACH OF SAID SECOND PAIR OF POSTS AND JOINED TO THE SECOND TERMINAL OF SAID FILAMENT TO SUPPORT SAID SECOND TERMINAL WHILE CARRYING CURRENT THERETO, AND MEANS SUPPLYING A PROPORTIONATELY VARIABLE CURRENT THROUGH SAID POSTS TO SAID BIMETALLIC ELEMENTS TO HEAT SAID ELEMENTS WHILE AT THE SAME TIME ENERGIZING SAID FILAMENT.

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