voltage regulator tube
Date1930-1940
Inventory NumberVT1192
ClassificationVoltage Regulator
Subject
Maker
Radio Corporation of America
1919-present
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions9.1 × 3.8 × 3.8 cm (3 9/16 × 1 1/2 × 1 1/2 in.)
Material
DescriptionA vacuum tube with a black painted base and a glass bulb that contains a sealed metallic cylinder inside held in place by a glass column and some metal rods. The inside of the metal cylinder cannot be seen.
The tube is on a wooden board with several other vacuum tubes.
The tube is on a wooden board with several other vacuum tubes.
Signedon tube: RCA
FunctionThis is a vacuum tube that is designed to keep a voltage constant. As other tubes, this one must have a filament cathode at the center of the metallic cylinder, with the cylinder itself acting as the anode. In voltage regulators like this one there would be an amount of gas present that permits the passage of an amount of electric current by migration of the gas ions. This process self-regulates the voltage at its extremes since a larger voltage creates more ionization, which increases the current and hence diminishes the voltage. Similarly, a lower voltage diminishes ionization and hence current, making the voltage increase.
The gas between cathode and anode would glow during its operation, which is probably why this part has been covered completely by the anode.
The gas between cathode and anode would glow during its operation, which is probably why this part has been covered completely by the anode.
Westinghouse Electric & Manufacturing Company
Date: circa 1944
Object number: 1997-1-0820
Sylvania
Date: late 19th-early 20th Century
Object number: RS0368
E. Ducretet & Cie
Date: circa 1879
Accessories: None
Object number: 1999-1-0018
Carl Zeiss Jena
Date: circa 1926
Accessories: wooden box with two hook-and-eye latches to fasten front opening; in instrument file: instruction book (photocopy); Geissler tube labeled "H2"; carboard tube containing German thermometer C in stainless steel holder that screws into instrument; glass bottle with cork stopper labeled "Monobromnaphthalin, Germany nD=1 658"; small round cardboard box labeled "For Pulfrich Refractometer" containing one tubulure
Object number: 1996-1-0229
Edison Manufacturing Company
Date: late 19th-early 20th Century
Accessories: 12 light bulbs in a shoe box
Object number: 1997-1-0778
Sylvania
Date: late 19th-early 20th Century
Accessories: brown cardboard box, with handwritten note, "345 on 35"
Object number: RS0369
Edison Manufacturing Company
Date: late 19th-early 20th Century
Object number: RS0370
Zeiss-Aerotopograph
Date: circa 1950
Accessories: in wooden storage case with metal handles; documentation booklet is now kept in the instrument's file; all other accessories are kept in the box and are included in the description.
Object number: 2009-1-0002b
