TRANSMITTING TUBES - americanradiohistory.com

1 TRANSMITTING TUBES TECHNICAL MANUAL TT3 PRICE 35 CENTS :: : TRANSMITTING TUBES NOTED FOR PERFORMANCE RELIABILITY ECONOMY RECOMMENDED AND DISTRIBUTED BY TRANSMITTING TUBES TECHNICAL MANUAL TT3 PRICE 35 CENTS .Ff Pkv, ~: ; -- . jr. : This Manual Is Dedicated To You The User of Fine Radio TUBES ONE of the earliest landmarks in "Wireless" was the RCA Tube and Equipment Manual released in November, 1921. Through the years, the name "RCA" has stood for leadership in promoting the progress of the Radio Art. The technical information contained in the following pages reflects continued advancement in engi- neering and manufacture.

2 In the design of TRANSMITTING TUBES the RCA Labor- atory has been governed by the principle that RCA TUBES must be capable of achieving optimum results in well engineered circuits. The intensive application of this principle is exemplified by the advanced design, skillful manufacture, conservative ratings, uniform characteristics, and guaranteed performance of RCA TUBES . Your acceptance of RCA TUBES means something more than an approval of the technical excellence of our product. It is an endorsement, we feel, of RCA service -built on the bulwark of permanence, reliability, and fair dealing.

3 RCA TUBES will save you money through uniform- ity, efficient operation, and long life. The air -cooled TUBES described in this Manual are suitable for practically any TRANSMITTING application and are readily available through your RCA Power Tube Distributor. RCA Guarantees Its Products - Go RCA All the Way TUBE DEPARTMENT RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA RCA TUBES In addition to the Air -Cooled TRANSMITTING types described in this book the TUBE DEPARTMENT of RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA supplies WATER- COOLED TRANSMITTING TUBES CATHODE -RAY TUBES RECEIVING TUBES PHOTOTUBES THYRATRONS IGNITRONS GAS RECTIFIERS ETC.

4 For sales information on RCA TUBES , write to Sales Division, TUBE DEPARTMENT, RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA, Harrison, N. J. For technical information on RCA TUBES , write to Commercial Engineering, TUBE DEPARTMENT, RADIO CORPORATION OF AMERICA, Harrison, N. J. Copyright, 1938 by RCA MANUFACTURING CO., Inc. The sale of TUBES described in this book carries a license under patent claims on the TUBES themselves but only for (1) radio amateur uses. (2) radio experimental uses. (3) radio telephone broadcast reception, (4) oneway radio telephone broadcast transmission of entertainment or educational programs or police information, (S) electric phonograph uses, and (6) for use in connection with talking picture apparatus for the electrical reproduction of sound from records thereof, to be beard in the immediate vicinity of the reproducing apparatus.

5 The sale does not carry a license under patent claims on combinations of the TUBES with other devices or elements, as for example in various circuits and hookups, except only for legitimate renewals and repairs in apparatus and systems already licensed for use under such patent claims on combinations. These TUBES are licensed for no other use except by written contract of sale and /or lease between Radio Corporation of America or any of its subsidiaries and the purchaser and /or lessee. Information contained in this book is furnished without assuming any obligations.

6 The license extended to the purchaser of TUBES appears in the License Notice accompanying them. Information con- tained herein is furnished without assuming any obligations. 1 -47 Printed in CONTENTS INTRODUCTION GENERAL VACUUM -TUBE CONSIDERATIONS Cathodes, Anodes, Grids, Bulbs, Bases GENERIC TUBE types Diodes, Triodes, Tetrodes, Pentodes PACE S 6 12 TRANSMITTING -TUBE INSTALLATION 15 Filament and Heater Operation; Grid Voltage, Screen Voltage, and Suppressor Voltage Supply; Shielding; Precautions TRANSMITTING -TUBE APPLICATION 19 Amplifier Definitions; Amplifiers -Class A, Class AB, Class B a -f and r -f, Class C; Frequency Multipliers.

7 Crystal -Controlled Oscillators TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION BY TUBE types . 32 Tabulated Data, Curves, Outline Drawings, Socket Connections TRANSMITTING -TUBE RATINGS .. 141 Determination of Ratings, Considerations Influencing Ratings, Inter- pretation of Ratings, Effect of Frequency on Ratings TRANSMITTER DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS . 145 Choice of Tube types , Grid -Bias Considerations, Inductance and Capacitance for Tuned Circuits, Interstage Coupling, Neutralization, Tuning an R -F Amplifier, Output Coupling, Parasitic Oscillations, Protective Devices USEFUL FORMULAS TRANSMITTING -TUBE CHARTS RECTIFIERS AND FILTERS CIRCUIT SECTION.

8 INDEX . READING LIST 163 164 170 . 178 . 189 192 FILAMENT SUPPORT SPRINGS MOUNT CUSHION CERAMIC MOUNT SUPPORT INTERNAL SHIELD CERAMIC SPACER CONTROL GRID SUPPRESSOR CAP SHORT RIBBON PLATE LEADS MOUNT CUSHIONS GRID EXPANSION SLOT HEAVY -DUTY THORIATED- TUNGSTEN FILAMENT LARGE GRAPHITE PLATE INTERNAL SHIELD GRID EXPANSION SLOT CERAMIC MOUNT SUPPORT EXHAUST OUTLET STEM COLLAR (AT LOW POTENTIAL) SUPPRESSOR SEAL SCREEN SCREEN LEAD DOUBLE GETTER TUNGSTEN SEAL WIRES HARD GLASS BULB CERAMIC BASE STRUCTURE OF TRANSMITTING PENTODE RCA -803 s 410.

9 -11 TRANSMITTING TUBE MANUAL ON AIR -COOLED TUBES VACUUM TUBES ! The magic in these two words is best appreciated by the "old timers" -the amateur, commercial, and government operators who have followed the rapid progress of radio communication from its beginning. They remember those days not so long ago when spark transmitters, galena crystals, and loose- couplers exemplified the "state of the art" But the progress which had been made was to seem insignificant compared with the progress following the invention of the three -electrode vacuum tube by Dr.

10 Lee DeForest. The vacuum tube proved to be extraordinarily versatile. It could not only detect or amplify radio signals, but it could also be used as a generator of contin- uous-wave oscillations for TRANSMITTING purposes. Vacuum -tube transmitters con- sistently covered enormous distances with relatively little power. In addition, many stations could operate on the frequency channel previously occupied by a single spark transmitter. And then, as if these accomplishments were not enough, the vacuum tube made radio telephony feasible. From this time on, radio progress was practically parallel to the development of larger, better TRANSMITTING TUBES and more sensitive, more reliable receiving TUBES .