high-power water-cooled vacuum tube diode
Date: circa 1930
Inventory Number: 2008-1-0080
Classification: Rectifier
Subject:
Maker: Western Electric Company (1881 - 1995)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
11 x 64 x 9.5 cm (4 5/16 x 25 3/16 x 3 3/4 in.)
Description:
Water-cooled vacuum tube diode, commercially manufactured by Western Electric (model #243-A.) It has a steel collar for cooling which hides the central portion of the tube, and includes two short lengths of threaded metal pipe welded to the collar for circulating water through it.
The socket on the side of the cathode base has two connectors, and inside the visible portion has two braided copper cables leading from those connectors to the cathode. The side of the anode has a single connector and one can see the base of a very fat copper anode.
The socket on the side of the cathode base has two connectors, and inside the visible portion has two braided copper cables leading from those connectors to the cathode. The side of the anode has a single connector and one can see the base of a very fat copper anode.
Signedon side of bulb: 4091 / WESTERN ELECTRIC / MADE IN U.S.A. / 243-A / PATENT
Inscribedstamped into cathode side: 243-A
sticker with old series number: #A002
sticker with old series number: #A002
FunctionThis is a rectifier. It allows electrical current to circulate in one direction only, from the cathode to the anode. Electrons are produced at the heated cathode, and these travel across the vacuum to the anode when the anode's voltage is higher than the cathode's. When the anode's voltage is lower than the cathode's, very little current circulates as the anode is not heated and is not made of a material that easily gives off electrons.
Can be used for converting AC current into DC, and was also necessary for operating some of the early Coolidge x-ray tubes.
Can be used for converting AC current into DC, and was also necessary for operating some of the early Coolidge x-ray tubes.
Curatorial RemarksThere are ten patent numbers listed, from 1,294,466 to 1,640,503. The latter can be read at the following website.