US2078110A

US2078110A - Igniting system

Info

Publication number: US2078110A
Application number: US714517A
Authority: US
Inventors: Troger Richard
Original assignee: General Electric Co
Current assignee: General Electric Co
Priority date: 1933-03-31
Filing date: 1934-03-07
Publication date: 1937-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1954-04-20

Description

5 6 2 ii 16 7'0 14.62 SOURCE 4- T W April 20, 1937. R Rb R 2,078,110

IGNITING SYSTEM Filed March 7, 1934 7 0 44- 0- SOURCE g 9 Fig.5.

I PH/MAR) Inventor: Richard T 6T? H is Attorngg Patented Apr. 20, 1937 NET STATS PATET IGNITIN G SYSTEM Application March 7,

In Germany 2 Claims.

My invention relates to igniting systems for current rectifiers of the arc discharge type, particularly for igniting systems in which a high tension discharge apparatus is employed, and its object is the provision of an improved and simplified igniting apparatus of this type.

A considerable disadvantage of current rectifiers of the arc discharge type employing high tension igniting means is the complexity of the ignition apparatus. The apparatus is rendered especially complex by reason of the fact that, in the case of polyphase rectifiers, a special Tesla type transformer is required for each discharge receptacle.

In accordance with my invention this disadvantage is obviated in that the closing of the ignition circuit takes place directly at the arc discharge device and not, as was hitherto the case, when individual Tesla transformers were employed, at the primary side of the transformers.

My invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagram of a polyphase rectifier circuit in which my invention has been embodied; Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating the use of arc discharge devices as switching means in the circuit arrangement of 3 Fig. 1; Fig, 3 is a diagram showing an embodiment of the invention similar to that of Fig. 1

but incorporating transformer means for high ignition discharge voltages; and Fig. 4 is a dia gram illustrating the use of arc discharge devices 35 2 s svitching means in the circuit arrangement of In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 1 the numerals Ill designate a plurality of arc discharge devices, which may be current rectifiers having cathodes II and anodes l2 connected to the secondary windings l3 of a rectifier transformer.

The ignition means for the discharge devices It in the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 comprises 45 a condenser M arranged to be charged through a rectifier or electric valve H) by means of a transformer Hi from any suitable alternating currentsupply. One side I! or set of plates of the condenser I4 is connected to those electrodes ll, 50 of the discharge devices Ill, which operate as cathodes and the other side l8 or coating of the condenser is connected, in desired phase, with the electrodes [2 which operate as anodes.

The alternating connection, in desired phase, of

55 the condenser M to a given anode to provide the 1934, Serial No. 714,517 March 31, 1933 high tension discharge is accomplished by means of switching devices indicated by the numeral I 9, the devices is representing broadly any suitable switching device for the purpose, for example rotating contact arms or members. The resistance 28 serves to limit the condenser discharge current if necessary. The numerals 2i designate protecting choke coils for limiting the high frequency oscillations. Instead of switching means of the rotating arm type it is more advantageous to employ auxiliary discharge devices 22, as shown in Fig. 2, having anodes 23, cathodes 24, and control grids 25 associated with any suitable circuit (not shown) to control the initiation of current flow, in the desired phase, between anodes and cathodes 24.

In the operation of the apparatus shown in Fig. l and incorporating the preferred switching means including the auxiliary discharge devices 22 as shown in Fig. 2, potentials are impressed in the usual manner from transformer windings E3 on the anodes H. of the main discharge devices Ill. The condenser M, being in a state of charge through rectifier l5 from the transformer 25, potentials are impressed on the anodes 23 of the auxiliary or switching discharge devices 22. As soon as a given one of the auxiliary discharge devices 22 is released, or triggered, in desired phase by the grid control means including the control grids 25, the circuit including the given one of the discharge devices 22 and the condenser I4 is closed to the corresponding anode of the main discharge devices ill, the condenser current then flowing through the auxiliary discharge device and producing an igniting discharge in the corresponding one of the main discharge devices Ill.

The whole control apparatus incorporated in the embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is extremely simple both as regards the apparatus employed and the operation thereof. The shifting or change of phase in the initiation of the ignition discharge, as required for the regulation of voltage in the main circuit, may be accomplished in known manner by suitable arrangements of the contact or switching means which are represented broadly by the numeral H]. For example, in case the switching means It is of the rotating contact arm type, the stationary contact portion of the switch apparatus may be arranged to be rotated through a partial revolution to secure the desired time of initiation of the ignition discharge. In case auxiliary discharge devices are employed as switching means, as illustrated in Fig. 2, the desired phase sulated from each other.

shift may be obtained by the provision of any suitable means associated with the control grids 25 for controlling the initiation of current through the auxiliary discharge devices 22.

In some cases, with higher voltages, the employment of a special transformer in the igniting circuits is unavoidable. The arrangement suitable in such cases is, then, that illustrated in Fig. 3. In this latter arrangement the condenser M supplies the ignition voltage, not directly at the anodes 12 of the main discharge devices Iii, but through the intermediary of a transformer 26 which includes, besides a primary winding 2'1, three high potential secondary windings 28 in- Each of the windings 28 is connected at one of its terminals to the cathodes I i of the main discharge devices I!) and is arranged to be connected at its other terminal to a corresponding one of the anodes l2 through the switch means l9.

Further, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated in Fig. 3, another switch means is required, i. e., a switch means 29, for the primary side 2'? of the transformer 26. Each time that a secondary winding 28 is connected, through switch means I9, to a corresponding anode l2 of the main discharge devices it! the switch means 29 must be closed, in addition to the corresponding part of the switch means [9. The switch means indicated broadly in Fig. 3 by the numerals l9 and 29 may be constituted by auxiliary discharge devices 3? and SI similar to auxiliary discharge devices 22, shown in Fig. 2, and arranged in any suitable manner for grid controlled operation.

In the embodiments of the invention illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 incorporating the single trans former 26 in the ignition system the control means is considerably simpler than the control means of the igniting arrangements known heretofore, in which separate transformers for each one of the main discharge devices were necessary.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination with an igniting system for a current translating apparatus comprising a plurality of main arc discharge devices, of a source of igniting current, a transformer having a primary winding and having a plurality of secondary windings insulated from each other, an arc discharge device adapted periodically to connect said source to said primary winding and to disconnect said source therefrom, and a plurality of arc discharge devices adapted to conduct igniting current from each of said secondary windings sequentially directly to a different one of said main arc discharge devices, said secondary windings each being connected to the corresponding main arc discharge device simultaneously with the connection of said source to said primary winding.

2. The combination with an igniting system for a current translating apparatus comprising a plurality of arc discharge devices, of a source of igniting current, a capacitance means directly connected to said source to receive continually a charging current therefrom, a transformer having a primary winding and having a plurality of secondary windings insulated from each other, switch means adapted periodically to connect said capacitance means to said primary to discharge said capacitance means therethrough, and switch means adapted to conduct igniting current from each of said secondary windings sequentially directly to a difierent one of said are discharge devices, said secondary windings each being connected to the corresponding main arc discharge device simultaneously with the connection of said capacitance means to said primary winding.

RICHARD TROGER.