Spark gap device for precise switching
Abstract
A spark gap device for precise switching of an energy storage capacitor into an exploding bridge wire load is disclosed. Niobium electrodes having a melting point of 2,415 degrees centrigrade are spaced apart by an insulating cylinder to define a spark gap. The electrodes are supported by conductive end caps which, together with the insulating cylinder, form a hermetically sealed chamber filled with an inert, ionizable gas, such as pure xenon. A quantity of solid radioactive carbon-14 within the chamber adjacent the spark gap serves as a radiation stabilizer. The sides of the electrodes and the inner wall of the insulating cylinder are spaced apart a sufficient distance to prevent unwanted breakdown initiation. A conductive sleeve may envelop the outside of the insulating member from the midpoint of the spark gap to the cap adjacent the cathode. The outer metallic surfaces of the device may be coated with a hydrogen-impermeable coating to lengthen the shelf life and operating life of the device. The device breaks down at about 1,700 volts for input voltage rates up to 570 volts/millisecond and allows peak discharge currents of up to 3,000 amperes from a 0.3 microfarad energy storage capacitor for more than 1,000 operations.
- Inventors:
-
- Albuquerque, NM
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- AT&T
- OSTI Identifier:
- 865176
- Patent Number(s):
- 4475055
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
H - ELECTRICITY H01 - BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS H01T - SPARK GAPS
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DP00789
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- spark; gap; device; precise; switching; energy; storage; capacitor; exploding; bridge; wire; load; disclosed; niobium; electrodes; melting; 415; degrees; centrigrade; spaced; apart; insulating; cylinder; define; supported; conductive; caps; form; hermetically; sealed; chamber; filled; inert; ionizable; gas; pure; xenon; quantity; solid; radioactive; carbon-14; adjacent; serves; radiation; stabilizer; inner; wall; sufficient; distance; prevent; unwanted; breakdown; initiation; sleeve; envelop; outside; midpoint; cap; cathode; outer; metallic; surfaces; coated; hydrogen-impermeable; coating; lengthen; shelf; life; operating; breaks; 700; volts; input; voltage; rates; 570; millisecond; allows; peak; discharge; currents; 000; amperes; microfarad; operations; ionizable gas; operating life; chamber filled; input voltage; discharge current; storage capacitor; inner wall; hermetically sealed; energy storage; spaced apart; spark gap; outer metal; shelf life; sealed chamber; solid radioactive; metallic surfaces; sufficient distance; active carbon; charge current; chamber adjacent; gap device; hermetically seal; metallic surface; precise switching; conductive sleeve; degrees centrigrade; discharge currents; /313/
Citation Formats
Boettcher, Gordon E. Spark gap device for precise switching. United States: N. p., 1984.
Web.
Boettcher, Gordon E. Spark gap device for precise switching. United States.
Boettcher, Gordon E. Sun .
"Spark gap device for precise switching". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/865176.
@article{osti_865176,
title = {Spark gap device for precise switching},
author = {Boettcher, Gordon E},
abstractNote = {A spark gap device for precise switching of an energy storage capacitor into an exploding bridge wire load is disclosed. Niobium electrodes having a melting point of 2,415 degrees centrigrade are spaced apart by an insulating cylinder to define a spark gap. The electrodes are supported by conductive end caps which, together with the insulating cylinder, form a hermetically sealed chamber filled with an inert, ionizable gas, such as pure xenon. A quantity of solid radioactive carbon-14 within the chamber adjacent the spark gap serves as a radiation stabilizer. The sides of the electrodes and the inner wall of the insulating cylinder are spaced apart a sufficient distance to prevent unwanted breakdown initiation. A conductive sleeve may envelop the outside of the insulating member from the midpoint of the spark gap to the cap adjacent the cathode. The outer metallic surfaces of the device may be coated with a hydrogen-impermeable coating to lengthen the shelf life and operating life of the device. The device breaks down at about 1,700 volts for input voltage rates up to 570 volts/millisecond and allows peak discharge currents of up to 3,000 amperes from a 0.3 microfarad energy storage capacitor for more than 1,000 operations.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1984}
}