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US 5,994,850 AGranted
Switching arrangements wherein a cylindrical trigger electrode is arranged around a gap between an anode and cathode for establishing a discharge therebetween
AssigneeEEV Limited
InventorsRichard John Seddon, Kenneth George Cook
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A switch for switching large currents and large charges includes an anode separated from a cathode with a cylindrical trigger electrode located around the anode and the gap. The cathode is of a metal such as zinc, cadmium, tin or magnesium. During operation, a suitable potential applied to the trigger electrode causes a main discharge to occur between the anode and the cathode.
Claims18
A switch arrangement comprising:
- an evacuated envelope;
- a cathode and an anode separated by a gap and contained within said envelope;
- a substantially cylindrical trigger electrode arranged around and completely external to said gap;
- and
- means for applying a trigger voltage to said trigger electrode when switching is desired whereby a main discharge is established between said anode and said cathode.
2 more elements
A switch arrangement comprising:
- an evacuated envelope;
- a cathode and an anode separated by a gap and contained within said envelope;
- and
- a trigger electrode arranged to trigger, when switching is desired, a discharge between said cathode and anode by application of a trigger voltage to said trigger electrode, wherein substantially all of said cathode is composed of an easily vaporizable metal or metallic alloy which produces a plasma that reduces an arc voltage within said envelope and which is solid at room temperature.
1 more element
A switch for selectively switching an electric current comprising:
- an evacuated envelope having a longitudinal axis;
- a cathode and an anode separated by a gap extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis, said cathode and anode being contained within said envelope;
- an anode stem supporting said anode and extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis;
- and
- a substantially cylindrical trigger electrode arranged around said anode stem, said anode and said gap extending in the direction of said longitudinal axis, the portion of said trigger electrode arranged around said gap being thicker than the portion thereof arranged around said anode stem, a discharge being established between said anode and cathode when a trigger voltage is selectively applied to said trigger electrode.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.