Definition

Electric space discharge devices having at least one electrode formed of and/or containing a solid material which is consumed during the operation of the discharge device, and such devices in combination with a current supply system therefor.

(1) Note. Most of the discharge devices in this class are provided with means to feed the electrodes of the discharge device together so as to compensate for the consumption of the consumable electrode and to maintain the proper distance for the space discharge between the electrode, the feeding being intermittent or continuous.

Lines with other classes and within this class

Patents claiming an "arc discharge device" or an "arc lamp", or arc discharge device circuits, or arc lamp circuits, are not classified in this class unless the claims are limited by claimed subject matter to discharge devices of the consumable electrode type. For arc lamps, arc discharge devices, and methods and apparatus for utilizing arc discharge devices for treating materials, objects or spaces, see "SEARCH CLASS" below.

This class does not provide for electric space discharge devices with mechanisms for bringing together and separating the electrodes of a discharge device merely to initiate the discharge unless the claims are limited by claimed subject matter to discharge device of the consumable electrode type. For discharge devices, per se, electrodes together and then separating them so as to initiate the discharge, search Class 313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices, subclasses 146+. Search Class 315, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices: Systems, subclasses 327+ for systems where the discharge device is not a consumable electrode discharge device and the system includes means to bring the electrodes together and then to separate them to initiate the discharge.

This class does not provide for electrical systems including a consumable electrode discharge device and another device which is not a discharge device or lamp, such systems being classified in Class 307, Electrical Transmission or Interconnection Systems, subclasses 155+, or in the class which provides for the particular art to which they relate, except that this class does provide in subclasses 13 and 14 for systems wherein an impedance is substituted in the circuit for the consumable electrode device when the consumable electrode device is removed from the circuit, and provides in subclasses 115 and 135 for systems wherein an impedance is included in the circuit of the discharge device when the sole function of the impedance is to regulate the current flow to the consumable electrode discharge device.

This class does not take methods or apparatus for utilizing consumable electrode space discharge devices for treating materials or objects, or for apparatus or methods where the consumable electrode discharge device is utilized to generate ray energy, such as ultra violet light, for treating materials or objects. For such methods and apparatus, see "SEARCH CLASS" below. This class does take all patents claiming merely means for feeding the consumable electrode to compensate for the consumption of the electrode even though the electrode is disclosed as being for a particular art device, such as an electric furnace or arc welding or heating device. Merely naming one of the electrodes as a particular material or object broadly defined, such as "the work to be welded and/or heated," will not exclude the patent from this class provided the claims are directly only to the feeding means for the consumable electrode.

This class does not take electrical systems which are provided with a consumable electrode discharge device for controlling and/or modifying the current and/or potential supplied to a load device other than a consumable electrode discharge device. For such systems search the appropriate electrical system class.

This class does not include illumination devices provided with consumable electrode discharge device lamps. Such illumination devices are classified in Class 362, Illumination; see "search class" below for the subclasses in Class 362 which provide for such illumination devices.

This class, except in subclass 60, does not provide for electrodes, per se, for consumable electrode discharge devices nor for the electrode holders, clamps, or electrodes where the structure claimed is not limited by claimed subject matter to use with consumable electrode discharge devices provided with means for feeding the electrodes to compensate for the consumption of the electrode. Class 373, Industrial Electric Heating Furnaces, subclasses 67+ and 88+, provides for arc furnace electrodes, Class 219, Electric Heating, subclasses 121.11+, for arc welding electrodes, and Class 313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices, subclasses 326+ for miscellaneous discharge devices electrode structure. See subclass 357 for rod-like electrodes of the type usually used with consumable electrode discharge devices. Note that Class 252, subclass 500, and the classes specified in the Notes thereto, provides for the materials for use for making discharge device electrodes and for discharge device electrodes which are defined only by the material of which they are composed. See section XI, 3 of the class definition of Class 313 for the classification of electrodes for discharge devices which are provided with electrical connector structure.

For electric systems for supplying electric current and/or potential to electric lamps and discharge devices other than consumable electrode discharge devices, search the classes in References to Other Classes, below.