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US 4,604,554 AGranted
Triggered spark gap discharger
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air Force
InventorRoy E. Wootton
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A triggered spark gap discharger having a small auxiliary gap in the trigger pulse path. The auxiliary gap provides ultraviolet radiation to liberate electrons at the trigger probe and allow prompt firing of the trigger gap and primary gap, particularly in aged discharger units.
Claims8
A triggered spark gap discharger comprising:
- means forming a chamber;
- first and second primary electrodes having opposed electrode surfaces and defining a primary arc gap within said chamber;
- an ionizable gaseous medium in said chamber;
- a trigger electrode assembly having a trigger probe defining a trigger gap between itself and said first primary electrode, said trigger gap being smaller than said primary gap;
- said trigger electrode assembly having a metallic member insulated from said trigger probe defining an auxiliary gap between itself and said trigger probe, said auxiliary gap being shorter than said trigger gap;
- means for applying a high voltage between said primary electrodes;
- and
- means for connecting a trigger pulse source between said metallic member and said first primary electrode.
5 more elements
A triggered spark gap device comprising:
- means forming a chamber;
- a pair of primary electrodes having opposed electrode surfaces and defining a primary arc gap within said chamber;
- an ionizable gaseous medium in said chamber;
- a trigger electrode assembly having a trigger probe defining a trigger gap between itself and one of said primary electrodes, said trigger gap being smaller than said primary gap;
- an auxiliary electrode assembly defining an auxiliary gap within said chamber, said auxiliary gap being smaller than said trigger gap;
- said auxiliary gap being in series with said trigger gap;
- means for applying a high voltage between said primary electrodes;
- and
- means for applying a trigger pulse through said auxiliary gap and said trigger gap.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.