Patent GB-190416257-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Operating Electric Rectifiers, Vapour Lamps and the like in Systems of Electrical Distribution.
Inventor: WEINTRAUB EZECHIEL
Filed: 1904-07-22
Granted: 1905-07-22
Abstract: 16,257. Weintraub, E. July 23, A.D. 1903, [date applied for under Patents Act, A.D. 1901]. Vacuum tubes.-Relates to operating electric rectifiers, vapour lamps, or the like, in systems of electrical distribution, and consists of means for starting any number of vapour devices. Fig. 1 shows one arrangement, in which 6, 3, 4, 5 are vapour rectifiers, 1, 2 are the alternating-current mains, and 24, 26 the direct-current work mains. The rectifier 6 is employed primarily as the source of starting-current, but can be afterwards employed to supply current to the common load. Each of the similar rectifiers 3, 4, 5 consists of a pearshaped exhausted envelope 7 with a mercury or like cathode and two anodes 8, 9, formed of titanium carbide, nickel, &c., and supported by g!ass-covered iron rods or wires 10, 11 connected to platinum leading-in wires 12, 13. At one side is a tubular extension 14, within which is an armature 51, consisting of a glass tube containing axially a bundle of iron wires. The armature is of nearly the same diameter as the tube 14, and floats normally in the mercury. To increase the displacement of the armature, the open spaces in the tube may, before the tube is sealed, be filled with mercury or other heavy material, such as lead. The anodes 8, 9 are connected across the supply mains by leads 18, 19, which are connected by inductance coils 20, 21, the junction 22 between which is joined to a lead 23 extending to the work main 24. The cathode is connected by a switch 25 either to the other work main 26 or to a starting- resistance 27. A storage battery or other suitable device may be employed to start the rectifiers 3, 4, 5, but preferably a separate rectifier 6 is used. This has two starting-electrodes 34, 35 arranged on either side of the main cathode 37, and two solid anodes 38, 39 connected to the mains 1, 2 by leads 40, 41 and to the starting-electrodes by resistances or inductances 42, 43 and switches 47, 48. The rectifier 6 is first shaken or tipped to cause the mercury to move, after which current flows through the switch 44 and resistance 27 to the main 24 and thence by the lead 23 through the coils 45, 46. The main arcs then form. The other rectifiers are then started in succession, as follows :-The switch 44 is moved into connection with the lead 49, when current flows through the solenoid 50 whereby the armature 51 is attracted, and thence to the leading-in conductor 52. The direct current then passes to the cathode, switch 25, starting-resistance 27, and back to the coils 45, 46 of the rectifier 6. The raising of the armature 51 causes the mercury to separate across the bridge 17, when an arc springs across. Arcs then strike across from the anodes 8, 9 to the cathode, thus setting the rectifier into operation. The switch 25 is then turned so that current flows from the supply leads 18, 19 through the rectifier and to the mains 24, 26 of the work circuit. The starting-arc may then be disconnected, either by closing the short-circuiting switch 53 or by moving the switch 44. The rectifiers 4, 5 are similarly brought into use. The inductance coils 59, 60, 61, 62 are employed so that the rectifiers may be run together in multiple and not interfere with each other in supplying current to a common load. In a modification, each rectifier is similar to 6 in Fig. 1. In this case, it is necessary to tilt or shake each rectifier before the arc is formed. Fig. 3 shows another modification, in which a neutral conductor 92 is arranged from a middle point 91 on a winding 88, which may be the secondary winding of a transformer and connected to the alternating- current mains 89, 90. The rectifiers 93, 94 are globular, with lower pockets containing mercury. The outer electrodes 95, 97, 105, 106 are connected across the supply mains 89, 90, and the middle electrodes or cathodes 96, 103 through the load to the neutral conductor 92. Starting-resistances 98, 108 are used, together with switches 99, to substitute for these starting-resistances the load between the mains 100, 101. The arc is first formed by tipping the rectifier. Inductance coils 102; 107 are used. At starting, the electrode 104 is connected by the switch 109 to the rectifier 93, the rectifier 91 is tilted, and an arc then strikes. The switch 109 may then be opened. After having been started, the rectifiers may be switched from the starting-resistances 98, 108 to the circuit 100, 101. Additional rectifiers may be added.