US3562575A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electron beam tube containing a multiple cathode array employing indexing means for cathode substitution
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1969-09-09
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Granted: 1971-02-09
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Expires: 1989-09-09
Abstract
Abstract An indexing mechanism for an electron beam tube having many electron guns arranged on a turret, which rotates the turret to replace the gun being used when it fails, and to rotate the turret to serially activate the cathodes of the guns during construction of the tube. One indexing apparatus employs an indexing wheel fixed to the turret, a stack of bimetallic washers, and a heater for making the washers buckle to move a pawl member toward the indexing wheel to advance it. Another indexing apparatus includes an indexing wheel fixed to the turret, a thermal motor that can rotate a shaft, a latch arm on the shaft that pivots out of engagement with the indexing wheel during the first few degrees of shaft rotation, and a pair of driving members that rotate the wheel after the latch arm disengages from it.
Inventors
- 👤 Lloyd J Derr
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 08:29
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J3/00; H01J3/02; H01J3/028
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
92 words
An electron tube device comprising: a housing; a holding wheel rotatably mounted within said housing; a plurality of cathode means mounted on said holding wheel; indexing wheel means coupled to said holding wheel; pawl means mounted for reciprocation to advance said indexing wheel means; heat-responsive washer means for deformation when heated, mounted adjacent to said pawl means to move it in a first direction to advance said indexing wheel means; spring means for urging said pawl means in a direction opposite to said first direction; and means for heating said washer means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
92 words
An electron tube device comprising: a housing; a holding wheel rotatably mounted within said housing; a plurality of cathode means mounted on said holding wheel; indexing wheel means coupled to said holding wheel; pawl means mounted for reciprocation to advance said indexing wheel means; heat-responsive washer means for deformation when heated, mounted adjacent to said pawl means to move it in a first direction to advance said indexing wheel means; spring means for urging said pawl means in a direction opposite to said first direction; and means for heating said washer means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
The electron tube device described in claim 1 including: heat-responsive means mounted adjacent to said means for heating, for changing between a first configuration wherein it interferes with the movement of said pawl means in said first direction, and a second configuration wherein it is clear of interference with said movement of said pawl means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
The electron tube device described in claim 1 wherein said pawl means comprises a ring-shaped portion disposed against a face of said washer means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electron tube device described in claim 1 wherein: said washer means comprises a stack of bimetallic washers; and said heating means comprises a heating element disposed within the holes of said washers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The electron tube device described in claim 1 including: means for carrying current to one of said cathode means which is in a predetermined position; and means responsive to the operation of said cathode means in said predetermined position for energizing said means for heating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
128 words
An electron tube device comprising: a housing; a holding wheel rotatably mounted within said housing; a plurality of cathode means mounted on said holding wheel; an indexing wheel coupled to said holding wheel; a thermal motor including a shaft for rotation in first and second directions when said motor is heated and cooled, respectively; a latching member coupled to said shaft for rotation between a position in engagement with said indexing wheel when said thermal motor is cool, and a pOsition out of engagement with said indexing wheel when said motor is heated; and driving means coupled to said shaft for engaging said indexing wheel and rotating it after said shaft has moved past a position out of engagement with said indexing wheel as said motor is heated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
128 words
An electron tube device comprising: a housing; a holding wheel rotatably mounted within said housing; a plurality of cathode means mounted on said holding wheel; an indexing wheel coupled to said holding wheel; a thermal motor including a shaft for rotation in first and second directions when said motor is heated and cooled, respectively; a latching member coupled to said shaft for rotation between a position in engagement with said indexing wheel when said thermal motor is cool, and a pOsition out of engagement with said indexing wheel when said motor is heated; and driving means coupled to said shaft for engaging said indexing wheel and rotating it after said shaft has moved past a position out of engagement with said indexing wheel as said motor is heated.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
57 words
The electron tube device described in claim 6 including: a detector for sensing the rotation of said indexing wheel by a predetermined amount; and a sensing circuit for heating said thermal motor, including means responsive to said detector for terminating the heating of said thermal motor when said indexing wheel has been rotated by said predetermined amount.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
The electron tube device described in claim 6 wherein: said indexing wheel includes a plurality of indexing members spaced about its axis of rotation; and said driving means includes a wheel with first and second driving members arranged to engage said indexing members in sequence as said shaft rotates during heating of said thermal motor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
120 words
An electron tube comprising: a housing; means defining an input region in said housing for receiving a stream of electrons; a holding wheel rotatably mounted within said housing; a plurality of activatable cathode means mounted on said wheel for sequential positioning adjacent to said input region; means for advancing said holding wheel; activation means spaced from said input region, for activating said cathode means; means for coupling currents to a cathode means in front of said input region; and means for coupling currents to a cathode means adjacent to said activation means, whereby to enable the activation of all of said cathode means by sequentially activating said cathode means as they move to a position adjacent to said activation means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
120 words
An electron tube comprising: a housing; means defining an input region in said housing for receiving a stream of electrons; a holding wheel rotatably mounted within said housing; a plurality of activatable cathode means mounted on said wheel for sequential positioning adjacent to said input region; means for advancing said holding wheel; activation means spaced from said input region, for activating said cathode means; means for coupling currents to a cathode means in front of said input region; and means for coupling currents to a cathode means adjacent to said activation means, whereby to enable the activation of all of said cathode means by sequentially activating said cathode means as they move to a position adjacent to said activation means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
97 words
The apparatus described in claim 9 wherein said means for advancing said holding wheel comprises: an indexing wheel fixed to said holding wheel, said indexing wheel having recesses spaced thereabout; means for driving said indexing wheel; a latching arm for movement into said recesses to hold said indexing wheel at each of a plurality of positions wherein one of said cathode means is opposite said input region; and detector means for sensing the position of said indexing wheel, for controlling the operation of said means for driving said indexing wheel and the movement of said latching arm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3109953A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-08 | 1974-08-10 | 1975-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-08 | 1978-08-10 | 1979-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-08 | 1982-08-10 | 1983-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |