Method of regulating an electric glow discharge and discharge vessel therefor

Claim 1

IN A PROCESS FOR ESTABLISHING AND MAINTAINING A HIGH CURRENT, LOW VOLTAGE GLOW DISCHARGE AT A METAL SURFACE WHEREIN SAID METAL SURFACE IS POSITIONED IN A CLOSED VESSEL CONTAINING A GASEOUS ATMOSPHERE HAVING A PRESSURE BELOW ATMOSPHERIC BUT EQUAL TO AT LEAST 1 MM. HG, THE CONSTRUCTIONAL PARTS OF SAID VESSEL INCLUDING A LEAD-IN TO SAID METAL SURFACE WHICH IS INSULATED FROM THE VESSEL WALL, AND AN ELECTRODE, SAID METAL SURFACE AND SAID ELECTRODE BEING CONNECTED WITH OPPOSITE POLES OF A SOURCE OF ELECTRICAL POTENTIAL, AND WHEREIN A GLOW DISCHARGE IS PRODUCED BY AN ELECTRIC CURRENT BETWEEN SAID ELECTRODE AND SAID METAL SURFACE AT A POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE A GLOW DISCHARGE WITHOUT ARCING; THE STEPS OF; ARRANGING SAID METAL SURFACE IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID CONSTRUCTIONAL PARTS OF SAID VESSEL SO THAT THE RESISTANCE TO CURRENT FLOW IN SAID ATMOSPHERE, WHEN IONIZED, IN THE REGION OF SAID METAL SURFACE, IS LESS THAN THE CORRESPONDING RESISTANCE IN ALL OTHER REGIONS IN SAID VESSEL; INITIATING GLOW DISCHARGE WITHIN SAID VESSEL TO HEAT SAID METAL SURFACE TO A TEMPERATURE OF AT LEAST 100*C., SAID GLOW DISCHARGE COVERING PORTIONS OF SAID CONSTRUCTIONAL PARTS WHICH ARE NEGATIVE RELATIVE TO SAID ELECTRODE; AND AFTER HEATING SAID METAL SURFACE TO SAID TEMPERATURE, ADJUSTING AT LEAST ONE OF THE FACTORS OF VOLTAGE AND GAS PRESSURE TO CAUSE CURRENT FLOW TO INCREASE IN THE REGION OF SAID METAL SURFACE AND TO DIMINISH IN OTHER REGIONS.