Ceramic ball insulated depressed collector for a microwave tube

Claim 2

In a traveling wave tube containing an electron gun, a slow wave structure and a collector assembly, the improvement wherein said collector assembly comprises: a first metal cylinder having an inner surface; a second metal cylinder having an outer surface, said second metal cylinder being concentric with and spaced from said first cylinder to define a cylindrical annular-like space therebetween; a plurality of discreet ball-like spacer means located within and all about and all along the space between said cylinders, each said spacer means comprising a relatively incompressible electrically insulative thermally conductive ceramic material, and each of said plurality of spacer means extending across said space and being seated between a corresponding pair of opposed indentations formed in the respective inner and outer surfaces of said first and second metal cylinders; and wherein said cylinders provide a compressive force on said plurality of spacer means.

Claim 3

In a traveling wave tube which contains an electron gun, a slow wave structure and an electrically isolated collector electrode assembly for operation as a depressed collector, the improved collector assembly therein comprising: a first cylindrical metal sleeve containing a plurality of individual spaced sphere-segment shaped indentations about and along the inner surface thereof; a second cylindrical metal sleeve containing a like plurality of individual spaced sphere-segment shaped indentations about and along the outer surface thereof; a plurality of solid ceramic spheres of substantially a uniform predetermined radius, R; and wherein said indentations are of a depth less than one-half said radius, R; said first sleeve ensleeving said second sleeve and said indentations in said first sleeve being aligned radially and axially with corresponding ones of said indentations within said second sleeve; and corresponding ones of said ceramic spheres being fitted within each said aligned pair of indentations and being maintained under compression between said sleeves to maintain said sleeves electrically insulated from one another and to maintain a relatively temperature independent heat transfer characteristic therebetween.

Claim 4

In a traveling wave tube which contains an electron gun, a slow wave structure and an electrically isolated collector electrode assembly for operation as a depressed collector, the improved collector assembly therein comprising: a first cylindrical metal sleeve containing a plurality of individual spaced sphere-segment shaped indentations about and along the inner surface thereof; a second cylindrical metal sleeve containing a like plurality of individual spaced sphere-segment shaped indentations about and along the outer surface thereof; a plurality of solid ceramic spheres of substantially a uniform predetermined radius, R; and wherein said indentations are of a depth less than one-half said radius, R; said first sleeve ensleeving said second sleeve and said indentations in said first sleeve being aligned radially and axially with corresponding ones of said indentations within said second sleeve; and corresponding ones of said ceramic spheres being fitted within each said aligned pair of indentations and being maintained under compression between said sleeves to maintain said sleeves electrically insulated from one another and to maintain a relatively temperature independent heat transfer characteristic therebetween.

Claim 5

A collector-shield assembly for a microwave tube which includes in combination: a first outer hollow metal cylinder; a second inner hollow metal cylinder; said second cylinder being located within and concentric with said first cylinder and with the outer wall of said second cylinder spaced from an inner wall of said first cylinder to define therebetween a cylindrical annular space; said outer cylinder having a plurality of spaced separate indentations in and all about and along an inner cylindrical wall; said inner cylinder having a corresponding plurality of spaced separate indentations in and all about and along an outer cylindrical wall; each of said indentation in said inner cylinder being radially and axially aligned and spaced opposed from a corresponding one of said plurality of indentations in said outer cylinder to form a plurality of pairs of opposed indentations; a plurality of individual spacer means for maintaining said inner and outer cylinders in a spaced concentric electrically insulated and thermally conductive relationship, said plurality corresponding in number to said plurality of pairs of opposed indentations; and wherein each one of said plurality of individual spacer means is seated within and extends through said annular space between the opposed indentations of a corresPonding one of said pairs of opposed indentations; and each of said spacer means comprising a relatively hard body of electrically insulative, thermally conductive material.

Claim 6

A collector-shield assembly for a microwave tube which includes in combination: a first outer hollow metal cylinder; a second inner hollow metal cylinder; said second cylinder being located within and concentric with said first cylinder and with the outer wall of said second cylinder spaced from an inner wall of said first cylinder to define therebetween a cylindrical annular space; said outer cylinder having a plurality of spaced separate indentations in and all about and along an inner cylindrical wall; said inner cylinder having a corresponding plurality of spaced separate indentations in and all about and along an outer cylindrical wall; each of said indentation in said inner cylinder being radially and axially aligned and spaced opposed from a corresponding one of said plurality of indentations in said outer cylinder to form a plurality of pairs of opposed indentations; a plurality of individual spacer means for maintaining said inner and outer cylinders in a spaced concentric electrically insulated and thermally conductive relationship, said plurality corresponding in number to said plurality of pairs of opposed indentations; and wherein each one of said plurality of individual spacer means is seated within and extends through said annular space between the opposed indentations of a corresPonding one of said pairs of opposed indentations; and each of said spacer means comprising a relatively hard body of electrically insulative, thermally conductive material.

Claim 7

The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein each of said indentations possess the geometry and size of and mate with the portion of the corresponding spacer means seated therewithin to ensure maximum physical contact area between the surfaces of the respective cylinder and said spacer means.

Claim 8

The invention as defined in claim 4 wherein all said indentations in said outer cylinder are substantially identical in geometry and size and wherein all said indentations in said inner cylinder are substantially identical in geometry and size and wherein each of said plurality spacer means are alike in geometry and size.

Claim 9

The invention as defined in claim 5 wherein each said spacer means comprises a ceramic material.

Claim 10

The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said ceramic material comprises aluminum oxide.

Claim 11

The invention as defined in claim 6 wherein said ceramic material comprises beryllium oxide.

Claim 12

The invention as defined in claim 7 wherein the geometry of said spacer means is a sphere, and wherein the geometry of said indentations is a spheroidal segment.

Claim 13

A collector-shield assembly for a microwave tube comprising: a pair of metal cylinders arranged concentrically one within the other and defining therebetween an annular cylindrical-like space; a plurality of balls of dielectric ceramic material, said material being electrically nonconductive and thermally a conductor; said balls being located within and about and all along said annular space between said cylinders to maintain separation between said cylinders and wherein said balls are seated and maintained therein in compression by forces exerted by and between said cylinders.

Claim 14

A collector-shield assembly for a microwave tube comprising: a pair of metal cylinders arranged concentrically one within the other and defining therebetween an annular cylindrical-like space; a plurality of balls of dielectric ceramic material, said material being electrically nonconductive and thermally a conductor; said balls being located within and about and all along said annular space between said cylinders to maintain separation between said cylinders and wherein said balls are seated and maintained therein in compression by forces exerted by and between said cylinders.

Claim 15

A microwave tube collector-shield assembly of the type which comprises a collector electrode for collecting electrons, a shield surrounding said collector electrode, and dielectric spacer means for maintaining said collector electrode electrically insulated from said shield and providing a heat conductive path therebetween the improvement thereto wherein: a. said spacer means comprises a plurality of relatively incompressible dielectric ceramic balls located all along and about the space between said shield and said collector; b. said shield contains a plurality of indentations; and c. said collector electrode contains a corresponding plurality of indentations opposed to corresponding ones of said indentations in said shield for seating between opposed indentations each of said plurality of ceramic balls; and d. each of said indentations is of a sphere segment geometry to mate with and embed to a predetermined depth a portion of each of said ceramic balls; whereby said balls are fixed in location without the necessity of brazing material and whereby any outward expansion of said collector electrode due to the heating resulting from electron bombardment in tube operation causes increased physical pressure between said balls and said shield and collector ensuring a good heat transfer path therebetween during tube operation.

Claim 16

A microwave tube collector-shield assembly of the type which comprises a collector electrode for collecting electrons, a shield surrounding said collector electrode, and dielectric spacer means for maintaining said collector electrode electrically insulated from said shield and providing a heat conductive path therebetween the improvement thereto wherein: a. said spacer means comprises a plurality of relatively incompressible dielectric ceramic balls located all along and about the space between said shield and said collector; b. said shield contains a plurality of indentations; and c. said collector electrode contains a corresponding plurality of indentations opposed to corresponding ones of said indentations in said shield for seating between opposed indentations each of said plurality of ceramic balls; and d. each of said indentations is of a sphere segment geometry to mate with and embed to a predetermined depth a portion of each of said ceramic balls; whereby said balls are fixed in location without the necessity of brazing material and whereby any outward expansion of said collector electrode due to the heating resulting from electron bombardment in tube operation causes increased physical pressure between said balls and said shield and collector ensuring a good heat transfer path therebetween during tube operation.

Claim 17

A collector assembly for a microwave tube comprising: a first metal cylinder; a second metal cylinder; said second cylinder being located within said first metal cylinder concentric with and spaced from said first metal cylinder to define therebetween a cylindrical annular space; a plurality of substantially identical relatively hard dielectric ceramic balls, said balls being arranged in a plurality of rows each extending the length of said annular space parallel to a cylindrical axis with said rows located all around said annular space, a corresponding plurality of indentations within each of the inner surface of said first metal cylinder and a plurality of indentations in the outer surface of said second metal cylinder adjoining said annular space for seating therebetween corresponding opposed pairs of indentations a corresponding one of said ceramic balls, whereby said ceramic balls maintain the cylinders electrically insulated from one another while providing a heat conducting path therebetween, without the necessity of brazing material, and wherein radial expansion of said second metal cylinder due to heating increases the compression of the physical contact between said surfaces and said balls to enhance thermal conductivity therebetween without subjecting said balls to any destructive tensile forces.

Claim 18

A collector assembly for a microwave tube comprising: a first metal cylinder; a second metal cylinder; said second cylinder being located within said first metal cylinder concentric with and spaced from said first metal cylinder to define therebetween a cylindrical annular space; a plurality of substantially identical relatively hard dielectric ceramic balls, said balls being arranged in a plurality of rows each extending the length of said annular space parallel to a cylindrical axis with said rows located all around said annular space, a corresponding plurality of indentations within each of the inner surface of said first metal cylinder and a plurality of indentations in the outer surface of said second metal cylinder adjoining said annular space for seating therebetween corresponding opposed pairs of indentations a corresponding one of said ceramic balls, whereby said ceramic balls maintain the cylinders electrically insulated from one another while providing a heat conducting path therebetween, without the necessity of brazing material, and wherein radial expansion of said second metal cylinder due to heating increases the compression of the physical contact between said surfaces and said balls to enhance thermal conductivity therebetween without subjecting said balls to any destructive tensile forces.

Claim 19

A microwave tube collector-shield assembly of the type which comprises a collector electrode for collecting electrons, a metal shield, and dielectric spacer means for maintaining said collector electrode electrically insulated from said shield and for providing a heat conductive path between said collector and shield, the improvement thereto wherein: a. said spacer means comprises a plurality of relatively incompressible dielectric ceramic balls, said balls being located all around and along the space between said collector and said shield; b. said shield contains a plurality of indentations all about and along its inner surface, said plurality corresponding in number to said plurality of balls, and c. said collector electrode contains a plurality of indentations all about and along its outer surface, said plurality of indentations corresponding in number to said plurality of balls, opposed to said indentations in said shield for seating between corresponding ones of said opposed indentations corresponding ones of said ceramic balls, and d. electrical conductor means accessible from external of said shield means and connected to said collector electrode for applying a high voltage to said collector.

Claim 20

A microwave tube collector-shield assembly of the type which comprises a collector electrode for collecting electrons, a metal shield, and dielectric spacer means for maintaining said collector electrode electrically insulated from said shield and for providing a heat conductive path between said collector and shield, the improvement thereto wherein: a. said spacer means comprises a plurality of relatively incompressible dielectric ceramic balls, said balls being located all around and along the space between said collector and said shield; b. said shield contains a plurality of indentations all about and along its inner surface, said plurality corresponding in number to said plurality of balls, and c. said collector electrode contains a plurality of indentations all about and along its outer surface, said plurality of indentations corresponding in number to said plurality of balls, opposed to said indentations in said shield for seating between corresponding ones of said opposed indentations corresponding ones of said ceramic balls, and d. electrical conductor means accessible from external of said shield means and connected to said collector electrode for applying a high voltage to said collector.

Claim 21

A collector shield assembly for a microwave tube which includes in combination: a first metal cylinder; a second metal cylinder of a smaller diameter than said first cylinder; said second cylinder being located within and concentric with said first cylinder with the outer surface of said second cylinder spaced from the inner surface of said first cylinder to define therebetween an annular space; said outer cylinder having a plurality of separate spaced indentations within said inner surface located all about and along said inner cylindrical surface bordering said annular space; each of said indentations comprising in geometry substantially a spheroidal segment of a sphere of substantially a predetermined radius, R; said inner cylinder having a plurality of separate spaced indentations within said outer surface located all about and along said outer cylindrical surface bordering said annular space, each of said indentations comprising in geometry substantially a spheroidal segment of a sphere substantially of said predetermined radius, R; each of said indentations in said inner cylinder being radially and angularly aligned and spaced across said annular space opposed from a corresponding one of said plurality of indentations in said outer cylinder to form a plurality of pairs of opposed indentations; a plurality of electrically nonconductive thermally conductive relatively incompressible ceramic spheres of said predetermined radius, R, said plurality of spheres corresponding in number to said plurality of pairs of opposed indentations, and each one of said ceramic spheres being seated within and extending across said annular space between said opposed indentations of a corresponding one of said pairs of opposed indentations to thereby maintain said cylinders in a spaced electrically insulated relationship and providing a thermally conductive path therebetween without the necessity for brazing material and wherein radial expansion of said inner cylinder increases compression between said cylinders and said ceramic balls to thereby ensure and enhance the physical contact between said ceramic balls and said metal cylinders to positively ensurE a good thermal heat conducting path therebetween without subjecting said balls to any destructive tensile forces.

Claim 22

A collector shield assembly for a microwave tube which includes in combination: a first metal cylinder; a second metal cylinder of a smaller diameter than said first cylinder; said second cylinder being located within and concentric with said first cylinder with the outer surface of said second cylinder spaced from the inner surface of said first cylinder to define therebetween an annular space; said outer cylinder having a plurality of separate spaced indentations within said inner surface located all about and along said inner cylindrical surface bordering said annular space; each of said indentations comprising in geometry substantially a spheroidal segment of a sphere of substantially a predetermined radius, R; said inner cylinder having a plurality of separate spaced indentations within said outer surface located all about and along said outer cylindrical surface bordering said annular space, each of said indentations comprising in geometry substantially a spheroidal segment of a sphere substantially of said predetermined radius, R; each of said indentations in said inner cylinder being radially and angularly aligned and spaced across said annular space opposed from a corresponding one of said plurality of indentations in said outer cylinder to form a plurality of pairs of opposed indentations; a plurality of electrically nonconductive thermally conductive relatively incompressible ceramic spheres of said predetermined radius, R, said plurality of spheres corresponding in number to said plurality of pairs of opposed indentations, and each one of said ceramic spheres being seated within and extending across said annular space between said opposed indentations of a corresponding one of said pairs of opposed indentations to thereby maintain said cylinders in a spaced electrically insulated relationship and providing a thermally conductive path therebetween without the necessity for brazing material and wherein radial expansion of said inner cylinder increases compression between said cylinders and said ceramic balls to thereby ensure and enhance the physical contact between said ceramic balls and said metal cylinders to positively ensurE a good thermal heat conducting path therebetween without subjecting said balls to any destructive tensile forces.

Claim 23

In an electron discharge device of the type which contains an electron gun, a collector electrode, a shield surrounding said collector electrode, and dielectric spacer means therebetween for maintaining in electrically insulated relationship and in good thermal heat conducting relationship said collector and shield, the improvement wherein said spacer means comprises a plurality of relatively incompressible dielectric ceramic balls; said shield contains a plurality of separate spaced seating means along the inner surface thereof for seating with good physical contact a portion of each of said plurality of balls; and wherein said collector electrode contains in an outer surface thereon a plurality of corresponding separate spaced seating means for seating with good physical contact an opposed portion of each of said plurality of ceramic balls; whereby said balls are fixed in location between said collector and shield within and between said seats, avoiding any necessity for attachment with brazing material and whereby any outward expansion of said collector electrode increases compression on said balls and thereby enhances the physical contact between said ceramic balls, said collector, and said shield, to ensure the integrity of the heat conducting path therebetween without the creation of destructive tensile forces on the ceramic balls.

Claim 24

In an electron discharge device of the type which contains an electron gun, a collector electrode, a shield surrounding said collector electrode, and dielectric spacer means therebetween for maintaining in electrically insulated relationship and in good thermal heat conducting relationship said collector and shield, the improvement wherein said spacer means comprises a plurality of relatively incompressible dielectric ceramic balls; said shield contains a plurality of separate spaced seating means along the inner surface thereof for seating with good physical contact a portion of each of said plurality of balls; and wherein said collector electrode contains in an outer surface thereon a plurality of corresponding separate spaced seating means for seating with good physical contact an opposed portion of each of said plurality of ceramic balls; whereby said balls are fixed in location between said collector and shield within and between said seats, avoiding any necessity for attachment with brazing material and whereby any outward expansion of said collector electrode increases compression on said balls and thereby enhances the physical contact between said ceramic balls, said collector, and said shield, to ensure the integrity of the heat conducting path therebetween without the creation of destructive tensile forces on the ceramic balls.

Claim 25

The collector assembly as defined in claim 1 which comprises further: dielectric window means having a ''''pass-through'''' electrical terminal therethrough, said dielectric window means being sealed in vacuum tight relationship to said first cylinder proximate an end thereof; metal plug means having a cylindrical outer shape located within the hollow of said second cylinder at an end thereof adjacent said dielectric window means to plug the end of said second cylinder; and electrical lead means connected between said metal plug means and said pass-through terminal.

Claim 26

The collector assembly as defined in claim 16 which comprises further: metal nose plug means having a cylindrical outer shaped portion and a passage therethrough, said nose plug means being located at the front end with said cylindrical portion fitted within said second cylinder; and metal flange means of a generally disc like shape having a centrally located passage therethrough, said flange means being attached to said first cylinder at the front end thereof and spaced from said nose plug, said flange means having a hub portion surrounding said passage projecting away from said cylinder and extending beyond said nose plug means.

Claim 27

The invention as defined in claim 17 wherein said spacer means comprises further a spherical shape and said spacer means material comprises aluminum oxide.