This is a restricted class which includes assembled patents on the special types of electric lamp and electric space discharge device systems set forth in the following sections:
A. Structural Combinations With Circuit Elements;
B. Structural Combinations With Heating And/Or Cooling Means;
C. Cathode-Ray Tubes;
D. Lamps and/or Discharge Devices as Sole Load Devices;
E. Lamps;
F. Electric Space Discharge Devices
G. Gas or Vapor Discharge Devices;
H. High Vacuum-Type Discharge Devices, and Gas or Vapor-type Discharge Devices Claimed Broadly; I. Plural Load Device Systems;
J. Art Uses and Combinations With Art Devices;
K. Testing Electric Lamps and Discharge Devices; and
L. Operating a Lamp or a Gas or Vapor Discharge Device.
LINES WITH OTHER CLASSES
A. STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS WITH CIRCUIT ELEMENTS:
Electric lamps and electric space discharge devices of any type (including cathode-ray tubes) with or without a discharge control device, combined with other circuit elements all of which (other than a mere source of current and/or potential supply if claimed) are structurally combined therewith to form a unitary device. Such structurally combined circuit elements may be in either or both the input
or output circuit of a discharge device, or in neither circuit, and may be used for any purpose. Such means appear in this class (see Subclass References to the Current Class, below). If any circuit element is not structurally combined as stated above, the patent is treated as stated in the following sections. See the sections F-4; and G; and H, especially.
B. STRUCTURAL COMBINATIONS WITH HEATING AND/OR COOLINGMEANS:
The subject matter of section A, combined with means for heating and/or cooling the lamp or discharge device structure, which heating and/or cooling means is either structurally combined with the lamp or discharge device, or with an electrical circuit element, or forms an electrical circuit element. All electrical circuit elements (except a mere source of current and/or potential supply, if claimed) which are not structurally combined with the lamp or discharge device must be structurally combined with the heating and/or cooling means; see Subclass References to the Current Class, below. If any circuit element is not structurally combined as stated in this and the preceding section (A), the patent is treated as stated in the following sections (see section H-2-d for other temperature-modifying combinations).
C. CATHODE-RAY TUBES:
Combined with an electric system for the supply and control of current and/or potential thereto as the ultimate load on the system. Sections A and B, above, deal with other special cathode-ray tube systems in this class. Such means appear in this class (315). See Subclass References to the Current Class, below. D. LAMPS AND/OR DISCHARGE DEVICES AS SOLE LOAD DEVICES:
1. With an electric system for supplying current and/or potential thereto. If there is any other type of electric load device, as either the sole ultimate load device or in addition to the lamp and/or discharge device load, the patent is in some other appropriate class. The load may be constituted by one or more lamps alone, by one or more discharge devices alone, or by any combination therebetween subject to the limitations noted below in this section and in the following sections. Discharge devices having a claimed output circuit are in this class only in the special cases set forth in paragraphs A, B, and F.
2. Where systems are provided with an impedance in the supply circuit of the lamp or discharge device, and the sole function of the impedance is to regulate current flow to the lamp or discharge device, the impedance is not considered a load device.
3. Systems wherein an impedance is substituted in the circuit
when a lamp or discharge device is removed therefrom so that the impedance provides a substitute load on the system are included in this class, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below.
E. LAMPS:
With an electric system for supply and control of current and/or potential thereto as the ultimate load on the system.
F. ELECTRIC SPACE DISCHARGE DEVICES:
1. Combined with an electric system for the supply and/or control of current and/or potential supplied thereto, the discharge device being the ultimate load in the system, where the system of supply and/or control is to result as its sole function in either or both: a. causing a discharge to take place or b. mere regulation of the discharge.
2. In this type of system, the output circuit may be claimed if it is claimed so broadly as to be in effect the mere completion of the circuit so that a discharge may take place.
3. This type of system is included even though the type of current flowing in the anode-cathode circuit is specified as being different from the supply current (as, for example, d.c. and a.c., respectively, as in the mercury arc type of discharge device).
4. Due to differences in operating characteristics between: a. gas or vapor discharge devices, and b. high vacuum discharge devices. Systems limited to these two different types have been treated differently, see sections G and H, below. 5. The preceding limitations cause exclusion from this class of: a. The regulation and/or control of the current and/or potential in a circuit by means of a discharge device, even though no load device in the regulated and/or controlled circuit is claimed, and the discharge device is under the terms of the claim the ultimate load device; b. Those systems having one or more discharge devices constituting the ultimate load on the system, where the system includes means which limit the system to use for purposes other than, or in addition to, section F, Electric Space Discharge Devices, 1 (a) or (b) above (e.g., to amplify, modulate, etc.).
G. GAS OR VAPOR DISCHARGE DEVICES:
1. combined with an electric system as defined in section F are included in this class when the claims are restricted to discharge devices of the gas or vapor type, and: a. where they are only principal electrodes, b. where there are one or more discharge control electrodes in addition to the principal electrodes which do not function to retain control of the discharge after it is initiated to regulate the same,
c. where there is an electromagnetic discharge control device (other than or in addition to electrodes as in (a) or (b) even though it controls the discharge after it is initiated.
2. Where there is a discharge control electrode of any kind, or a nonelectrode discharge control device other than electromagnetic, and the system is so designed that the discharge control device or electrode retains control of the discharge after it is initiated to regulate the same (continuous control type), the patent is excluded from this class.
3. Where the discharge device in the system is disclosed as being of the gas or vapor type, but the claims are not so limited (the device being claimed broadly as a discharge device), the patent is not classified in this class, but in some other class appropriate to the subject matter claimed, except in the particular instances set forth in section H.
H. HIGH VACUUM-TYPE DISCHARGE DEVICES, AND GAS OR VAPOR-TYPEDISCHARGE DEVICES CLAIMED BROADLY:
Combined with an electric system as defined in section F, Electric Space Discharge Devices, above, are included in this class only in the following particular situations (being in all other instances excluded):
1. Structural combinations as defined in sections A and B, above, with or without discharge control means;
2. Where the only electrodes claimed are the principal electrodes (no discharge control device of any kind being claimed) and the patent is classifiable in one of the following art areas: a. having means to automatically substitute a second source of current and/or potential supply, b. having means to automatically substitute a second discharge device for an operating discharge device when it fails to operate properly, c. having means to supply current to the cathode or cathode heater of the discharge device, d. having means to modify the temperature of the discharge device, either the temperature modifying medium being automatically controlled or the discharge device supply circuit being controlled by the temperature modifying medium (see section B. on other temperature modifying combinations). (See Subclass References to the Current Class, below, for a map of these art areas.)
I. PLURAL LOAD DEVICE SYSTEMS:
Circuits are classified in this class as being plural load device systems where they have any one or any combination of the following, and in any circuit relationship, including where one is in a control circuit of another: a. where the circuit claimed includes two or more lamps; b. where the circuit claimed includes two or more discharge devices, at least two being limited in the claims to the gas or vapor type; c. where the circuit claimed includes at least one lamp and at least one discharge device limited in the claims to the gas or vapor-type.
J. ART USES AND COMBINATIONS WITH ART DEVICES:
Only to the following limited extent, the lamp and/or discharge device system claimed is subject to all of the limitations of parts A through J of this definition. The must be no classification in any other class on the basis of the art use or combination with the particular article, device or apparatus claimed. There mere designation of a lamp by an art name (as an ultraviolet or other special ray generator) or the mere designation of a discharge device or one or more of the principal electrodes thereof by an art name (as a spark plug, igniter, naming a principal electrode as work to be heated or welded) will not exclude the patent from this class in the absence of further art limitations. For further details of the lines with particular arts, see the notes appended to the main class definition and to the definitions of the subclasses for combinations with particular articles, devices, or apparatus. See Subclass References to the Current Class, below.
K. TESTING ELECTRIC LAMPS AND DISCHARGE DEVICES:
Where the system is designed to operate the lamp or discharge device as a load device and the system includes means to indicate some condition thereof, the system is classified with the systems of operation in this class. This Class provides for such operating systems combined with signal, indicator, or alarm (see Subclass References to the Current Class, below). Electrical circuits, apparatus, and methods which are limited in their use to testing the operativeness or determining the characteristics of electric lamps or electric discharge devices of any type and which are limited in their use to the sole purpose of such testing are classified elsewhere, even though the system includes an electric lamp or discharge device as the means for indicating the operativeness or characteristics of the device under test. (See References to Other Classes, below.)
L. OPERATING A LAMP OR A GAS OR VAPOR DISCHARGE DEVICE:
Patents which claim a method of operating a lamp or a gas or vapor discharge device are classified in this class (315). The patent is classified in the subclass which provides for the system which is required to operate the device. For example, a claim which recites a method of operating a lamp by first passing a current of one magnitude through the lamp and in then increasing the current flow through the lamp would be classified in this class as a system having regulating means in the system (see Subclass References to the Current Class, below).
FURTHER NOTES:
Lamp And Discharge Device Structure:
Patents claiming an electric lamp or discharge device structure and means broadly to supply electric energy or potentials thereto are classified elsewhere as a lamp or discharge device structure. If the relative magnitude or relationship of the electric energy or potential is specified in the claims, the patent is classified as an electrical system and cross-referenced for the lamp or discharge device structure. Where two or more lamps and/or discharge devices are structurally combined to form a unitary device (there being no circuit element in addition to such structure), the structural combination is classified in the classes noted below even though the electrodes thereof are interconnected, except in the following particular instances: the combination of an incandescent filament lamp and a discharge device structurally combined to form a unitary structure, the filament connected to form a circuit impedance or heater for the discharge device load. (For these, see Subclass References to the Current Class, below.)
For other structures and structural combinations, see References to Other Classes, below. Space Discharge Igniters:
This class provides for systems for supplying electric energy to one or more discharge devices of the "spark plug" or "ignition" type when the claims are limited to a discharge device. Where the claims are not so limited, being drawn to an ignition device broadly (not limited to a discharge device, spark plug, or spark gap), the patent is placed in the appropriate igniter classification and cross-referenced to this class. Also ignition systems, even though limited to a discharge device, when claimed in combination with fuel burning apparatus, are classified with the type of fuel burning apparatus, (see also main class definition, section J).
For such ignition device systems and combinations, see References to Other Classes, below.
Load Devices Other Than or in Addition to Lamps and/or Discharge Devices:
See section D, above. Where the system claimed includes a load device other than a lamp and/or discharge device, even though lamps and/or discharge devices constitute a part of the system, either as additional load devices or as part of the system of regulation and/or control of such other load device, the patent is excluded from this class, and will be found in the class appropriate to the type of load device or combined load devices.
Class 315 provides for electrical systems limited to supplying electric current and/or potential to one or more electronic tubes of of the gas or vapor type. Many of these systems inherently convert A.C. to D.C. or D.C. to A.C. Some
are inherently oscillation generators. Where the system is limited by claimed subject matter to supplying a load circuit, it is excluded from Class 315. Merely claiming the circuit necessary to connect the anode to the cathode as a load circuit is not sufficient to exclude the system from Class 315. Claiming a load device, either specifically or broadly in the output circuit will exclude the system from Class 315. Claiming subject matter which would not be provided unless the system were to be used for supplying a load device is sufficient to exclude the system from Class 315. For example, reciting means in the output circuit responsive to overload conditions in output circuit to control the system will exclude the system from Class 315. See References to Other Classes, below.
SEE OR SEARCH THIS CLASS, SUBCLASS:
1+, for supplying electric current and/or potential to cathode-ray tubes, and/or cathode-ray tubes combined with a circuit element which is structurally combined with the cathode-ray tube so as to form a unitary device.
3+, for subject matter in which cathode-ray tubes are combined with circuit elements, all of which are structurally combined therewith to form a unitary device, see main class definition, sections (A) and (B).
32, and indented subclasses for electrical circuit elements (except a mere source of current and/or potential supply, if claimed) which are not structurally combined with the lamp or discharge device must be structurally combined with the heating and/or cooling means.
32+, for subject matter under the class definition, sections (A) and (B), Structural Combinations With Circuit Elements and Structural Combinations With Heating And/Or Cooling Means. 46, and indented subclasses and subclass 49 for the combination of an incandescent filament lamp and a discharge device structurally combined to form a unitary structure, the filament connected to form a circuit impedance or heater for the discharge device load.
76, and indented subclasses for combinations with particular articles, devices, or apparatus.
86+, for means to automatically substitute a second source of current and/or potential supply
88+, for means to automatically substitute a second discharge device for an operating discharge device when it fails to operate properly,
94+, for means to supply current to the cathode or cathode heater of the discharge device,
112+, for means to modify the temperature of the discharge device, either the temperature modifying medium being automatically controlled or the discharge device supply circuit being controlled by the temperature modifying medium, (see Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, section B, above, on other temperature modifying combinations).
119, and indented subclasses for systems wherein an impedance is substituted in the circuit when a lamp or discharge device is removed therefrom so that the impedance provides a substitute load on the system.
120+, for operating systems combined with signaling means, or indicator means, or alarm means operated by some part of the load device or the electrical circuits therefor to indicate some condition in the load device or the circuits therefor.
120, and 129+ provides for supply systems for lamps and gas or vapor discharge devices which include a signal to indicate the condition of the load device or the circuit.
291, a claim which recites a method of operating a lamp by first passing a current of one magnitude through the lamp and then increasing the current flow through the lamp would be classified in this subclass as a system having regulating means in the system.
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSESSEE OR SEARCH CLASS
40, Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting,
541+, for illuminated signs in combination with the systems for supplying electric current to the lamps.
84, Music,
464, for electric lamp systems combined with musical instruments for providing color or light effect.
96, Gas Separation: Apparatus,
80+, for electrostatic precipitators having voltage supply means or circuitry for applying electrical potential thereto.
99, Foods and Beverages: Apparatus,
483, for methods and apparatus for subjecting foods and beverages to an electric space discharge.
123, Internal-Combustion Engines,
147, and 594+. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Space Discharge Igniters.") 200, Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers, appropriate subclasses for electric switches. Some types of electric switches are closely analogous in structure to some types of electric space discharge devices. This is especially true with respect to the type of electric space discharge device where the electrodes of the discharge device are normally in contact under open circuit conditions, the electrodes being separated from each other when the current is applied to the circuit, the space discharge being established by separating or drawing apart the electrodes. An electric switch of the thermostatic type where the contacts of the switch are normally open when no current is applied to the circuit which includes the switch, the switch including means to establish an electric space discharge between the contacts, the space discharge heating the thermostat so that the thermostat moves the switch contacts into circuit closing position to establish a conductive path for the current through the contacts and to short-circuit or extinguish the space discharge, is closely analogous in structure to space discharge devices of the type which is classified in this class (315) in
56+, as a combined switch and discharge device. The distinction between electric switches and space discharge devices, therefore, depends in some cases principally upon the disclosed purpose of the structure claimed by the patent. Where the space discharge is only an incident to the separating of the switch contacts and the purpose of the structure is to open or close a circuit, the device will be considered an electric switch for the purpose of classification. Where the purpose of the claimed structure is to establish an electric space discharge by contacting the electrodes with each other, the device is considered to be an electric space discharge device. This class (315) includes, in subclasses 56+, combined space discharge devices and electric switch structures where the device claimed includes electrodes other than the switch electrodes, their supports, or lead-in means for establishing an electric space discharge. To be classified in Class 315, the device claimed must include at least one electrode which has no purpose other than to operate as an electric space discharge electrode. Where the only discharge electrodes are also switch means, the patent will be classified in Class 200. For switches which are somewhat analogous in structure to space discharge devices, see subclass 144, where the switch is provided with means to separate the switch contacts from each other to open the circuit, the switch structure including means to extinguish the space discharge formed when the switch contacts are opened; subclasses 182+, for mercury and other liquid contact switches which are closely analogous in structure to mercury vapor and other liquid electrode lamps and discharge devices.
204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy,
155+, 164+, 192.1+, and 298.01+ for methods for subjecting materials to electric space discharges for performing
chemical changes and analogous purposes. See Class 422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting, Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing, subclasses 186+ for apparatus for subjecting reactants to electromagnetic wave energy (other than visible light) or corpuscular radiation; e.g. radioactive particles, for initiating or perfecting a reaction.
219, Electric Heating,
50+, especially indented subclasses 121.11+ for systems for supplying electrical energy to arc welding and/or heating apparatus. Class 315 provides electric systems for supplying electric current to an electric arc where the arc is specified by name only as a welding and/or heating arc. The patent will not be excluded from Class 315 even though one of the electrodes is named as the material or object broadly defined, such as "the work to be welded and/or heated". Where the claimed subject matter is limited to the welding and/or heating art, such as, for example, by claiming the means for holding, handling, feeding, and/or moving the work to be welded and/or heated, the patent is classified in Class 219.
250, Radiant Energy, is the generic class for electric discharge systems. In this class,
200+, is the generic place for photoelectric device circuits. Class 315 provides for systems wherein the ultimate load device in the system is either a lamp or gas or vapor discharge device, and the system includes means for controlling the operation of the load device by means of radiant energy. In Class 315, the load device may be a radiant energy sensitive device; that is a lamp or discharge device whose operation is altered when subjected to radiant energy, or the system may include a radiant energy sensitive device such as a photocell which controls the operation of the load device. Subclass 251 provides for devices for producing and propagating a unidirectional stream of neutral molecules or atoms through a vacuum, usually with thermal velocity. Subclasses 281+ provides for methods and apparatus for the ionic separation or analysis of a material utilizing the mass to electric charge ratio of ionic particles of the material. Subclasses 324+ has methods and apparatus of irradiating material by corona radiation. Subclasses 432+ is the place for irradiating fluent material which is contained, supported, or transferred from one place to another. Subclasses 440.11+ is for a supported object subjected to charged particles used to inspect the object for a radiant source, and subclasses 454.11+ in addition to an irradiated object support, includes a support for a radiation source. Subclasses 458.1+, is the generic place for methods and apparatus to irradiate fluorescent or phosphorescent devices including self-luminous articles particularly those used as signalling alignment or indicating devices. Subclasses 492.1+ is the generic place for the irradiation of material or objects by wave or particles of energy of the nuclear or
electromagnetic wave type. Where not elsewhere classified, Class 315 includes systems provided with a load device of the con-fined gas or vapor type with means regulating the gas or vapor pressure in the confined space, or systems having a discharge device load with means to supply fluent material to the outer electrode discharge space, or systems having a load device and provided with means to supply fluent material to the load device to modify the temperature of the discharge device, only when the disclosed or claimed purpose of the fluent material supply is to modify the operation of the discharge device. Where the purpose of the claimed subject matter is to treat the fluent material either with rays generated by the discharge, or to subject the material to the influence of the discharge, the patent is classified in Class 250 or other appropriate class which provides for the particular art.
290, Prime-Mover Dynamo Plants,
13, 26, 33, 35, 37, and 41 for such plants having an internal combustion engine provided with ignition means of the discharge device type (spark plugs). (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Space Discharge Igniters.") 307, Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems,
11+, for plural load circuit systems; 43+ for plural supply circuits or sources, particularly subclasses 48+ and 66+ in which one of the sources of electrical current is a storage battery (see the class of Electricity: Battery or Capacitor Charging or Discharging, below, for battery charging and/or discharging systems); and 154+ for systems for supplying one or more particular load devices not elsewhere classifiable but particularly subclass 157 in which the load is a lamp or discharge device. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Load Devices Other Than or in Addition to Lamps, and/or Discharge Devices.")
313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices, appropriate subclasses for the structure of electric lamps and discharge devices, per se. See
1+, for a plurality of discharge devices (including discharge device lamps) or a discharge device and an incandescent lamp which are structurally combined to form a unitary device. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Lamp and Discharge Device Structure.")
314, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Consumable Electrodes,
7, provides for systems for supplying such type discharge device and another type discharge device or lamp. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Load Devices Other Than or in Addition to Lamps, and/or Discharge Devices.")
314, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Consumable
Electrodes, appropriate subclasses for electric lamps and discharge devices of the consumable electrode type, and such devices in combination with the electric system for supplying current or potential to the device.
314, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Consumable Electrodes, which class takes such structures, even though combined with lamp and/or discharge devices of other types. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Lamp and Discharge Device Structure.")
320, Electricity: Battery or Capacitor Charging or Discharging, appropriate subclass for a battery or capacitor charging or discharging system. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Load Devices Other Than or in Addition to Lamps, and/or Discharge Devices.")
323, Electricity: Power Supply or Regulation Systems,
227, and 291 and the subclasses specified in the notes to the definitions of those subclasses for systems for controlling the magnitude of the current and/or voltage in a single circuit having a discharge device as the control means. The discharge device may be either a vacuum tube or a gas or vapor tube. The systems in Class 323 include more than the mere circuit for supplying electric current or potential to the discharge device for merely causing a discharge to take place within the tube or for regulating the discharge within the tube. Many of the systems in Class 323 are closely analogous to the systems in this class. See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, in the class definition of Class 323 for the line between this class (315) and Class 323. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Load Devices Other Than or in Addition to Lamps, and/or Discharge Devices.") 324, Electricity: Measuring and Testing,
403+, for electrical circuits, apparatus, and methods which are limited in their use to testing the operativeness or determining the characteristics of electric lamps or electric discharge devices of any type and which are limited in their use to the sole purpose of such testing. (See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Testing Electric Lamps and Discharge Devices," above.)
327, Miscellaneous Active Electrical Nonlinear Devices, Circuits, and Systems, for miscellaneous electron discharge device circuits.
329, Demodulators, for amplitude, frequency, phase, or pulse demodulator which may include an electron discharge device as a demodulating element (315).
330, Amplifiers, appropriate subclasses for amplifier systems including gas tubes, cathode-ray tubes, traveling wave tubes, magnetrons, etc., which are of the type of tubes in circuits
classified in this class.
331, Oscillators, is the generic class for electrical oscillators. Many systems using electric lamps of the gaseous or vapor discharge type inherently generate oscillations during operation. Class 315, therefore, provides for all systems for merely supplying electric current or potential to gaseous or vapor discharge devices whether the system is claimed as an oscillation generator or merely as a lamp circuit provided that the system is not limited by claimed subject matter to use as an oscillation generator, such as, for example, means to transfer the oscillating electric energy to another circuit or means to use the oscillating energy.
337, Electricity: Electrothermally or Thermally Actuated Switches, appropriate subclasses for thermal switches which are combined with space discharge devices.
340, Communications: Electrical, appropriate subclasses for electric signals and signaling systems wherein an electric lamp is used as the signal means, and for miscellaneous signaling systems which include discharge devices as a part thereof. Merely defining the lamp as a signal will not exclude the patent from Class 315, even though the circuit of the lamp is controlled in accordance with the operated or nonoperated condition of some device. Class 315 provides for supply systems for lamps and gas or vapor discharge devices which include a signal to indicate the condition of the load device or the circuit (see Subclass References to the Current Class, above).
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems, appropriate subclasses for selective control of data presentation on a display device.
361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices,
247+, for the detonation of an explosive charge. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Space Discharge Igniters.") 362, Illumination, generic class for illuminating devices provided with means to modify and/or distribute the illumination, and/or with protective means, such as casings, globes, or guards, and for the supports and holders for lamps (other than mere sockets) and such electric lamp illuminating devices when claimed in combination with the source of supply for the lamp.
363, Electric Power Conversion Systems, appropriate subclasses for various conversion systems including electronic tubes and their control. The systems of Class 363 are closely analogous to the systems of this class (315). In many cases, the distinction between a Class 363 system and a Class 315 system will be significant claiming of a load
circuit or load device. Many of the systems of Class 315 will inherently operate as a current convertor because of the basic property of many electronic tubes to conduct current in one direction only. In such cases, the inclusion of the load circuit or load device may be determinative as to whether the system as claimed relates to a conversion system. The following subclasses of Class 363 are of particular interest. See
50+, for protective systems for electronic tube current convertors; subclasses 74+ for current conversion systems with automatic voltage and/or current magnitude control which may include electronic tube control; subclasses 83, 94, and 99 for current conversion systems with electronic tube line circuit control means; subclasses 111+ for electronic tube current conversion systems; subclass 151 for electronic tube phase conversion systems; subclasses 166+ for electronic tube frequency conversion systems. For the line between this class (315) and Class 363, see Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class in the class definition of Class 363.
363, Electric Power Conversion Systems,
74+, for rectifying and derectifying systems with automatic voltage and/or current magnitude control wherein the control means may be an electronic tube having a discharge control means. Many of the systems in Class 363 are closely analogous to the systems in this class (315). See Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class in the class definition of Class 363 for the line between this class (315) and Class 363. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Load Devices Other Than or in Addition to Lamps, and/or Discharge Devices.")
373, Industrial Electric Heating Furnaces,
60+, for electric arc furnaces. Class 315 provides for systems for supplying electric current to arc furnaces provided that the arc furnace is included by name only. Where the claims include significant furnaces structure, or are otherwise limited to the furnaces art, the patent is classified in Class 373.
378, X-Ray or Gamma Ray Systems or Devices, appropriate subclasses, particularly
91+, for circuits for energizing or controlling X-ray tubes. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Load Devices Other Than or in Addition to Lamps, and/or Discharge Devices.")
417, Pumps,
48+, for pumps utilizing a space discharge. See Class 417, subclass 49 for a statement of the line. 422, Chemical Apparatus and Process Disinfecting,
Deodorizing, Preserving, or Sterilizing,
22+, for processes of disinfecting, deodorizing, preserving, or sterilizing using an electric space charge device.
431, Combustion,
264+, for a spark electrode in front of or adjacent the fuel discharge of a burner. (Lines With Other Classes and Within This Class, "Space Discharge Igniters.")
708, Electrical Computers: Arithmetic Processing and Calculating,
540, for the use of a CRT in digital arithmetical operations, and subclass 849 for the use of CRT in function generation.
GLOSSARY:
AUXILIARY DISCHARGE ELECTRODE
An electrode which is connected in the circuit so that the discharge is initiated between it and one of the principal electrodes, the auxiliary discharge conditioning the discharge space between the principal electrodes so that a discharge between the principal electrodes can be established.
DISCHARGE CONTROL DEVICE
Any means associated with the discharge device (for example only, an electromagnet, a control grid or an auxiliary discharge electrode) intended to be used to control or influence the discharge between the principal electrodes of the discharge device. DISCHARGE CONTROL ELECTRODE
Any electrode which is designed to influence or control the discharge between the principal electrodes. It may be a control grid or an auxiliary discharge electrode. It may depend for its effect on either its electro-static effect or on the current flow thereto.
ELECTRIC SPACE DISCHARGE DEVICES
The shorter expression "DISCHARGE DEVICES" is used in these definitions, are defined for the purpose of classification in this class as including any device which is intended to have an electrical current flow between two spaced electrodes, at least part of the path followed by the discharge being constituted by a gas, vapor, or vacuum.
GAS OR VAPOR DISCHARGE DEVICE
Any type of electric space discharge which, as claimed, depends upon ionization of a gas or vapor for its operation.
Discharge devices which have their discharge electrodes in an unconfined (non-enclosed) atmosphere as well as those having their discharge electrodes in a confined (enclosed) atmosphere are included in this definition.
HIGH-VACUUM TUBE
A vacuum tube evacuated to such a degree that its electrical characteristics are essentially unaffected by gaseous ionization.
LAMPS
Are defined for the purpose of classification in this class as including a device designed for converting electrical energy into ray energy, regardless of whether the ray energy is within the visible or invisible part of the spectrum, but excluding (1) generators of X-rays, and (2) generators designed primarily to generate infrared rays. Lamps may be in the form of electric space discharge devices, for which see the next paragraph.
LOAD DEVICE The device to which the system supplies electrical energy and which, as claimed, constitutes the final or ultimate device for utilizing the electrical energy of the system.
PRINCIPAL ELECTRODES
The "two spaced electrodes" referred to in the definition of electric space discharge devices, between which the discharge current is primarily intended to flow.