Patent GB-370967-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to electric discharge devices for the control of energyin electrical circuits
IPC: G05B11/01
Filed: 1930-12-10
Abstract: 370,967. Discharge apparatus. PATIN, A., 28, Burgstrasse, Berlin. Dec. 10, 1930, No. 37263. [Classes 39 (i) and 40 (v).] An electron stream from an incandescent or photo - electric cathode is deflected along at least one electrode in the form of a wire or strip so that the deflection varies a resistance, inductance, 'or capacity, within the tube, forming part of the circuit to be controlled, the electron stream being included in this circuit. The device may be used in wireless distant control, picture telegraphy, and television apparatus. As shown in Fig. 1, the anode 6 consists of an arc-shaped resistance wire or strip and the electron stream from an incandescent cathode 2 is deflected by windings 4, so that the resistance of the output circuit, including a battery 7 and loud-speaker 8, varies according to the length of the anode between the end h and the point of impact, say b, of the electron stream. The resistance of the anode should be of the order of the resistance of the discharge path ; the anode may consist of a thin metal deposit on a quartz thread. In another arrangement, Fig. 3, the resistance consists of an electrode 5 in the form of a wire or strip arranged near the anode 6 without screening it from the discharge. The output circuit consists of a part of the battery 7, a loud-speaker 8, the electron path between the anode and electrode 5, and the resistance of the electrode between the end h<1> and the variable point of impact of electrons ; this arrangement may be used with a bridge circuit, the balanco being restored automatically. In other arrangements the resistance consists of a variable length of discharge path included in the circuit. For example in the gas-filled photo-electric cell shown in Fig. 2, the cathode 103 and anode 6 consist of divergent wires or strips, and the resistance of the discharge path depends on the point, for example a, a<1>, or a<11>, at which the light strikes the cathode ; or the electrodes may be parallel and the anode of high resistance. In another photo-electric cell, Fig. 6, an electrode 13 arranged at an angle with the anode 14 and cathode 11, is connected through the receiver 18 with a bridge circuit of which two arms are formed by the discharge paths between (a) the electrode 13 and the anode and (b) the electrode 13 and the cathode, the other arms being formed by a variable resistance 16; in similar arrangements two electrodes are disposed at angles, or two parallel electrodes, one of high resistance, are arranged between a parallel anode and cathode. In the cell shown in Fig. 8, a wedge-shaped cathode 135 is disposed between two anodes 141, 143 so as to provide a variable emission surface and a variable discharge path, as the light beam is moved along the cathode. Two receivers 26, 27 are connected between the cathode and the anodes. In another cell, Fig. 11, the cathode 2, which may be a resistance, is bent so as to provide a variable discharge path. The anode 3 is of high resistance. The mid-point h of the anode is connected through batteries 43, 44 and primaries 45, 46 with the ends of the cathode, and the secondaries 47, 48 are connected with receivers 49, 50. The current is varied according to the amplitude of the light beam about the centre point g of the cathode. In a cell, Fig. 9, for varying the capacity of a condenser, the plates 4, 5, 6 are mounted between a cathode 2 and an anode 3, and parts of the condenser are short-circuited as the beam of light travels over the cathode. The anode 6, Fig. 1, or auxiliary electrode 5, Fig. 3, may consist of an inductance. Specifications 341,056, [Group XXXVI], and 366,053 are referred to.