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US 3,944,887 AGranted
Crowbar switch
AssigneeNissin Electric Co., Ltd.
InventorYasuo Suzuki
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crowbar switch having a start and a crowbar gap each having a trigger electrode therein. The two gaps are disposed close to each other so that the photons and thermoelectrons emitted from the arc produced by a discharge in the start gap ionize the ambient gas about the crowbar gap for easier occurrence of a discharge in the crowbar gap.
Claims10
A crowbar switch comprising:
- a first central electrode;
- a second hollow cylindrical electrode encircling said central electrode so that a start gap is formed between said electrodes;
- a first trigger electrode for said start gap encircling said central electrode and disposed between said central electrode and said hollow cylindrical electrode;
- a third electrode disposed inside said second electrode and facing said first electrode so that a crowbar gap is formed between said first and third electrodes;
- a second trigger electrode for said crowbar gap disposed in said crowbar gap, whereby the gas in said crowbar gap is ionized by the photons and thermoelectrons induced by the arc produced by discharge in said start gap.
2 more elements
A crowbar switch circuit, comprising:
- electrical energy storage means;
- electrical load means;
- a start switch gap connected between energy storage means and said electrical load means for conducting energy stored in said storage means to said electrical load means when said start switch gap is fired and assumes a condition of discharge therein;
- a crowbar switch gap, said crowbar switch gap being connected across said electrical load means for short circuiting said load means when said crowbar switch gap is fired, said start switch gap and said crowbar switch gap being positioned close to one another such that said condition of discharge in said start switch gap ionizes ambient gas about said crowbar switch gap thereby reducing the time and energy necessary to fire said crowbar switch gap;
- and
- means for firing said start switch gap and said crowbar switch gap.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.