High-voltage crowbar circuit with cascade-triggered series ignitrons

Patent · Tue Nov 04 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:863712

Baker, William R. ^[1]

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1. Orinda, CA

A series string of ignitrons for switching a large current at high voltage to ground. Switching is initiated by means of a negative trigger pulse applied to the cathode of the lowest voltage level ignitron next to ground to draw ground current through diodes in the ignitor circuit. The trigger pulse is applied thereby to the next higher ignitron cathode and sequentially to the remainder of the ignitrons in the string through diodes in respective ignitor circuits. Full line voltage is held off of nonconducting diodes and ignitrons by means of varistors.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): 4,232,351
• OSTI ID: 863712
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

42 ENGINEERING
high-voltage
crowbar
circuit
cascade-triggered
series
ignitrons
string
switching
current
voltage
ground
initiated
means
negative
trigger
pulse
applied
cathode
lowest
level
ignitron
draw
diodes
ignitor
sequentially
remainder
respective
circuits
line
held
nonconducting
varistors
trigger pulse
series string
line voltage
voltage level
TRIGGER CIRCUITS
ELECTRIC GROUNDS
SEMICONDUCTOR RESISTORS
SWITCHES
ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT
ELECTRON TUBES
ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS
EQUIPMENT
GAS DISCHARGE TUBES
PULSE CIRCUITS
RECTIFIER TUBES
RESISTORS
SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES
/361/315/