GB1274196A - Improvements in or relating to triggered arc discharge electrical switches - Google Patents

Abstract

1,274,196. Spark gaps. UNITED KINGDOM ATOMIC ENERGY AUTHORITY. 17 June, 1969 [17 June, 1968], No. 28836/68. Heading H1X. An arc discharge switch has a trigger electrode 24 located between spaced main electrodes 12a and 13a having their operative surfaces disposed substantially parallel to each other and provided with peripheral current connectors 16 and 17. The electrodes 12a, 13a are flat rectangular brass plates with central apertures 21, 22 for the trigger electrode support rod 23 and each having four transmission line connectors 16, 17 at the corners. The trigger electrode 24 is a disc of annealed mild steel, and the connectors 16, 17 are brass strips separated by insulation 18. The edges of the electrodes 12a, 13a between the connector strips are bent away from each other (Fig. 3, not shown) to reduce the electric field stress at these edges. The switch is designed to operate in air at atmospheric pressure, but is enclosed in a felt-lined wooden box 31 to reduce operating noise and is subjected to forced air cooling. The switch is connected in a circuit (Fig. 6, not shown) for discharging a bank of capacitors into an inductive load in shock heated plasma experiments, or may be used in diverting or clamping circuits.