US2686887A - Electric spark gap - Google Patents

Electric spark gap Download PDF

Info

Publication number
US2686887A
US2686887A US205000A US20500051A US2686887A US 2686887 A US2686887 A US 2686887A US 205000 A US205000 A US 205000A US 20500051 A US20500051 A US 20500051A US 2686887 A US2686887 A US 2686887A
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
electrode
gap
electric spark
spark gap
main
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US205000A
Inventor
Robinson Eric Ernest
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Lucas Support Services Ltd
Original Assignee
Rotax Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Rotax Ltd filed Critical Rotax Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US2686887A publication Critical patent/US2686887A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Images

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T2/00—Spark gaps comprising auxiliary triggering means
    • H01T2/02—Spark gaps comprising auxiliary triggering means comprising a trigger electrode or an auxiliary spark gap

Definitions

  • This invention relates to electric spark gaps of the three-electrode type, and adapted for use more particularly in engine ignition systems, where a control gap is required to be arranged in series with an ignition gap.
  • the object of the invention is to provide an improved three-point gap the break-down voltage of which is constant and reliable.
  • the invention comprises the combination of a pair of main electrodes the adjacent faces of which are substantially flat and parallel with each other, the peripheral configuration of one of them being such as exposes a portion of the face of the other, a needle-like third electrode having one end situated adjacent to the exposed face portion of the one main electrode and sufiiciently far from the other to avoid short-circuiting of the main gap by the third electrode, and an enclosure containing an inert gas at an appropriate pressure.
  • Figure 1 is a sectional plan and Figure 2 is a sectional end View of a spark gap embodying the invention.
  • Figure 3 is a front elevation and Figure 4 an end view showing one mode of mounting the gap on a supporting base.
  • a pair of metal stems b arranged coaxially with each other, and on the adjacent ends of these stems are formed or secured a pair of main electrodes c, d of flat disc-like form made from tungsten or other suitable metal and of about 0.3 inch diameter.
  • the electrode c is made of segmental form so that the circular part of its periphery subtends about 240, and leaves a portion of the face of the other electrode :7. exposed.
  • Form one side of the enclosure a extends at right angles a branch e through which is inserted the thirdelectrode having a pointed or relatively sharp operative end. This end is located adjacent to the exposed face portion of the electrode d and sufiiciently far from the straight edge of the electrode c to obviate short circuiting of the main gap by discharge across the third electrode instead of between the faces of the main electrodes.
  • a high resistance 9 (conveniently made from carbon) and in contact at one end with the third electrode 1''. The other end of the resistance is connected to a point at substantially the same potential as the stem carrying the segmental electrode 0.
  • the adjacent flat faces of the main electrodes are spaced at any convenient distance Great Britain 0 apart, and the enclosure a is filled with carbon -monoxide or other suitable inert gas at a pressure corresponding to the desired breakdown voltage of the gap between the main electrodes.
  • the device above described may be mounted on any convenient support, and preferably this includes a pair of flexible or soft pillars made from rubber or like material which at one end are provided with clips for attachment thereto of the outer ends of the main electrode stems.
  • each clip is bonded to one end of a rubber block 2.
  • the other end of the rubber block is bonded to a metal piece 7' adapted to be secured to a base It.
  • a spring blade m which bears on the outer end of the resistance g and serves also as a terminal through which the third electrode 1 can be electrically connected to the stem of the electrode 0. Any convenient provision is made for connecting the high tension conductors to the clips h or stems b.
  • a gap of the three-electrode type can be provided in a form which ensures the desired reliability of action when in use.
  • An electric spark gap of the type specified comprising in combination a pair of main electrodes having substantially flat faces arranged adjacent to and parallel with each other, and having their peripheries differently shaped so that a portion of one of the said faces is exposed, a needle-like third electrode having one end situated between the planes of the main electrode faces and adjacent to the exposed face portion of the one main electrode and sufficiently far from the other main electrode to avoid short-circuiting of the gap between the main electrode by the third electrode, and a sealed enclosure containing the three electrodes and an inert gas.

Landscapes

  • Ignition Installations For Internal Combustion Engines (AREA)

Description

1954 E. E. ROBINSON 2,686,887
ELECTRIC SPARK GAP Filed Jan. 8, 1951 Patented Aug. 17, 1954 ELECTRIC SPARK GAP North Wembley, England, mited, London, England Application January 8, 1951, Serial No. 205,000
Eric Ernest Robinson,
assignor to Rotax Li Claims priority, application January 11, 195
1 Claim. 1
This invention relates to electric spark gaps of the three-electrode type, and adapted for use more particularly in engine ignition systems, where a control gap is required to be arranged in series with an ignition gap.
The object of the invention is to provide an improved three-point gap the break-down voltage of which is constant and reliable.
The invention comprises the combination of a pair of main electrodes the adjacent faces of which are substantially flat and parallel with each other, the peripheral configuration of one of them being such as exposes a portion of the face of the other, a needle-like third electrode having one end situated adjacent to the exposed face portion of the one main electrode and sufiiciently far from the other to avoid short-circuiting of the main gap by the third electrode, and an enclosure containing an inert gas at an appropriate pressure.
In the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a sectional plan and Figure 2 is a sectional end View of a spark gap embodying the invention.
Figure 3 is a front elevation and Figure 4 an end view showing one mode of mounting the gap on a supporting base.
Referring to the drawings, there are sealed into opposite ends of a glass or other enclosure a a pair of metal stems b arranged coaxially with each other, and on the adjacent ends of these stems are formed or secured a pair of main electrodes c, d of flat disc-like form made from tungsten or other suitable metal and of about 0.3 inch diameter. The electrode c is made of segmental form so that the circular part of its periphery subtends about 240, and leaves a portion of the face of the other electrode :7. exposed.
Form one side of the enclosure a extends at right angles a branch e through which is inserted the thirdelectrode having a pointed or relatively sharp operative end. This end is located adjacent to the exposed face portion of the electrode d and sufiiciently far from the straight edge of the electrode c to obviate short circuiting of the main gap by discharge across the third electrode instead of between the faces of the main electrodes. In the said branch is also contained a high resistance 9 (conveniently made from carbon) and in contact at one end with the third electrode 1''. The other end of the resistance is connected to a point at substantially the same potential as the stem carrying the segmental electrode 0. The adjacent flat faces of the main electrodes are spaced at any convenient distance Great Britain 0 apart, and the enclosure a is filled with carbon -monoxide or other suitable inert gas at a pressure corresponding to the desired breakdown voltage of the gap between the main electrodes.
The device above described may be mounted on any convenient support, and preferably this includes a pair of flexible or soft pillars made from rubber or like material which at one end are provided with clips for attachment thereto of the outer ends of the main electrode stems.
In the example shown at Figures 3 and 4, there are provided a pair of metal clips it between which are clamped the stems b. At one end each clip is bonded to one end of a rubber block 2. The other end of the rubber block is bonded to a metal piece 7' adapted to be secured to a base It. On the base is secured a spring blade m which bears on the outer end of the resistance g and serves also as a terminal through which the third electrode 1 can be electrically connected to the stem of the electrode 0. Any convenient provision is made for connecting the high tension conductors to the clips h or stems b.
By this invention a gap of the three-electrode type can be provided in a form which ensures the desired reliability of action when in use.
Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:
An electric spark gap of the type specified, comprising in combination a pair of main electrodes having substantially flat faces arranged adjacent to and parallel with each other, and having their peripheries differently shaped so that a portion of one of the said faces is exposed, a needle-like third electrode having one end situated between the planes of the main electrode faces and adjacent to the exposed face portion of the one main electrode and sufficiently far from the other main electrode to avoid short-circuiting of the gap between the main electrode by the third electrode, and a sealed enclosure containing the three electrodes and an inert gas.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,888,068 Brown Nov. 15, 1932 2,438,191 Slack Mar. 23, 1948 2,447,377 Tognola Aug. 17, 1948 2,456,854 Arnott et al Dec. 21, 1948 2,472,115 Mayer June 7, 1949 2,491,979 Hendry Dec. 20, 1949
US205000A 1950-01-11 1951-01-08 Electric spark gap Expired - Lifetime US2686887A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB2686887X 1950-01-11

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US2686887A true US2686887A (en) 1954-08-17

Family

ID=10913470

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US205000A Expired - Lifetime US2686887A (en) 1950-01-11 1951-01-08 Electric spark gap

Country Status (1)

Country Link
US (1) US2686887A (en)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2866119A (en) * 1957-03-11 1958-12-23 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Adjustable discharge tube
US2936389A (en) * 1956-06-22 1960-05-10 Philips Corp Glow-discharge tube
US3123734A (en) * 1964-03-03 Hermetically sealed high energy spark gap
US3363132A (en) * 1965-12-30 1968-01-09 Sylvania Electric Prod High pressure electric discharge lamp having an auxiliary starting device affixed to at least one electrode

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1888068A (en) * 1928-07-20 1932-11-15 Gen Electric Electrical discharge device
US2438191A (en) * 1943-06-19 1948-03-23 Westinghouse Electric Corp High-pressure modulator tube
US2447377A (en) * 1945-12-10 1948-08-17 Bendix Aviat Corp Device for regulating electrical discharge
US2456854A (en) * 1943-06-19 1948-12-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp High-pressure modulator tube
US2472115A (en) * 1943-06-25 1949-06-07 William G Mayer Triggered spark gap
US2491979A (en) * 1944-06-19 1949-12-20 Rotax Ltd Electric spark gap

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1888068A (en) * 1928-07-20 1932-11-15 Gen Electric Electrical discharge device
US2438191A (en) * 1943-06-19 1948-03-23 Westinghouse Electric Corp High-pressure modulator tube
US2456854A (en) * 1943-06-19 1948-12-21 Westinghouse Electric Corp High-pressure modulator tube
US2472115A (en) * 1943-06-25 1949-06-07 William G Mayer Triggered spark gap
US2491979A (en) * 1944-06-19 1949-12-20 Rotax Ltd Electric spark gap
US2447377A (en) * 1945-12-10 1948-08-17 Bendix Aviat Corp Device for regulating electrical discharge

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3123734A (en) * 1964-03-03 Hermetically sealed high energy spark gap
US2936389A (en) * 1956-06-22 1960-05-10 Philips Corp Glow-discharge tube
US2866119A (en) * 1957-03-11 1958-12-23 Jennings Radio Mfg Corp Adjustable discharge tube
US3363132A (en) * 1965-12-30 1968-01-09 Sylvania Electric Prod High pressure electric discharge lamp having an auxiliary starting device affixed to at least one electrode

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
GB1458738A (en) Line protectors for communications circuits
GB1487059A (en) Line protectors for communication circuit
US2686887A (en) Electric spark gap
SE7906562L (en) GAS EMISSIONS, Separate overvoltage arresters
GB1120361A (en) Over-voltage protection techniques
US2696575A (en) Transistor unit
ES439672A1 (en) Semiconductor component with pressure contact
GB777103A (en) Improvements in electric discharge lamps
ES463949A1 (en) Voltage surge protector
US2914695A (en) Devices for regulating electrical discharges
US484466A (en) Lightning-arrester
US1458611A (en) Lightning arrester
US1111453A (en) Lightning-arrester.
GB1314597A (en) Lightning arrester
US1878230A (en) Luminescent sign
MX172972B (en) GAS TUBE SELF-ADJUSTMENT DEVICE FOR TELEPHONE PROTECTOR MODULES
GB1036197A (en) Electrical assembly
US1984333A (en) Lightning arrester
US1948701A (en) Lightning arrester
US1210568A (en) Protective apparatus for electric circuits.
GB679861A (en) Improvements relating to electric spark gaps
US1820839A (en) Tube support
US1691275A (en) Protective device
GB844343A (en) Improvements in or relating to piezoelectric crystal units
GB919788A (en) Circuit interrupter