The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 27, 1994
Filed:
Mar. 14, 1994
Edward J Seibert, Chalfont, PA (US);
Gerald D Ferguson, Yardley, PA (US);
Marie E Taylor, Chalfont, PA (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
An electrode assembly for a gas or metal vapor discharge device is disclosed. A pair of electrode assemblies each comprising thoriated tungsten with an alloy composition of tungsten (W) and from about 2% to about 3% of thorium dioxide ThO2 are located at opposite ends of the discharge chamber of the discharge device. The tip of the electrode preferably has four slots equally spaced around its circumference and a groove at its outermost edge. The tip of the electrode provides mechanical flexibility that inhibits the cracking of the thoriated tungsten electrode when it is mounted in the discharge device. Each electrode assembly further comprises a copper spacer, preferably I-shaped in cross-section, brazed against the base of the electrode and against a vacuum flange. The pair of electrode assemblies confines the discharge of the discharge device between the tips of the electrodes and inhibits the arc condition from finding its way to delicate vacuum seals. The electrode assembly provides a clear optical aperture to allow light or laser radiation to exit the discharge cell.