US 5,854,732 A · High voltage arcing switch initiated by a disruption of the electric field

Abstract

A high voltage switch, including: first and second electrodes having electrode surfaces; an electrically non conductive tube having an outer surface connecting the electrode surfaces; an electrically non conductive wall surrounding the tube and forming an enclosure in which the electrode surfaces and the outer tube surface are sealed; an ionizable material in the enclosure, an electric field being created in the enclosure responsive to application of a high voltage potential across the electrodes; and, an electrically conductive member adapted for movement in the tube between a first position substantially inside the enclosure and a second position substantially outside the enclosure, the electrically conductive member distorting the electric field when moved into the first position and causing an ionized current flow path between the electrode surfaces. A plurality of such switches can be ganged for simultaneous and/or sequential operation.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A high voltage switch, comprising:

first and second electrodes having electrode surfaces;
an electrically non conductive tube having an outer surface connecting said electrode surfaces;
an electrically non conductive wall surrounding said tube and forming an enclosure in which said electrode surfaces and said outer surface of said tube are sealed;
an ionizable material in said enclosure, an electric field being created in said enclosure responsive to application of a high voltage potential across said electrodes;
and,
an electrically conductive member adapted for movement in said tube between a first position substantially inside said enclosure and a second position substantially outside said enclosure, said electrically conductive member distorting said electric field when moved into said first position and causing an ionized current flow path between said electrode surfaces.

3 more elements

A high voltage ganged switch, comprising:

at least two pairs of electrodes, each of said electrode pairs having respective pairs of electrode surfaces;
respective electrically non conductive tube portions having respective outer surfaces connecting said respective pairs of electrode surfaces;
an electrically non conductive wall portion surrounding each of said respective tube portions and forming respective enclosures in which said respective pairs of electrode surfaces and said respective outer surfaces of said respective tube portions are sealed;
an ionizable material in each of said enclosures, respective electric fields being created in said enclosures responsive to application of a high voltage potential across each of said pairs of electrodes;
and,
respective electrically conductive members adapted for movement in said respective tube portions between respective first positions substantially inside each of said respective enclosures and respective second positions substantially outside each of said respective enclosures, said electrically conductive members distorting said respective electric fields when moved into said respective first positions and causing respective ionized current flow paths between said respective pairs of electrode surfaces.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

High voltage arcing switch initiated by a disruption of the electric field

Life of this patent

High voltage arcing switch initiated by a disruption of the electric field

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20