US3791298A - Electrical switching device employing a vaporizable conductive element - Google Patents

Electrical switching device employing a vaporizable conductive element Download PDF

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Publication number
US3791298A
US3791298A US00218847A US3791298DA US3791298A US 3791298 A US3791298 A US 3791298A US 00218847 A US00218847 A US 00218847A US 3791298D A US3791298D A US 3791298DA US 3791298 A US3791298 A US 3791298A
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United States
Prior art keywords
cavity
electrodes
electrical conductors
device defined
leads
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Expired - Lifetime
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US00218847A
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English (en)
Inventor
P Amberny
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Etat Francais
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Etat Francais
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H39/00—Switching devices actuated by an explosion produced within the device and initiated by an electric current
    • H01H39/004—Closing switches
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01J—ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS
    • H01J37/00—Discharge tubes with provision for introducing objects or material to be exposed to the discharge, e.g. for the purpose of examination or processing thereof
    • H01J37/32—Gas-filled discharge tubes

Definitions

  • Known devices of this type include the spherical spark gap wherein one sphere is moved toward the other manually or by the'use of an electromagnet.
  • Such systems are disadvantageous in that they are bulky and difficult to synchronize.
  • Switches are also known which employ a gas under pressure; however, these devices tend to be unduly sensitive and the gas can become accidentally conductive due to the passage of ionized radiation. Also, control is accomplished by the application of a relatively high voltage and operation cannot be accomplished unless the voltage between the two principal electrodes is reduced to a relatively low value.
  • Pyrotechnique switches using the conductivity of a jet of a hollow charge are also known. These devices function but once and create a shock wave which is sometimes damaging to the system.
  • the present invention overcomes these disadvantages in that a relatively large amount of power can be switched by a low voltage impulse. This switching occurs within a partial vacuum and over a wide range of voltages, the partial vacuum permitting the volume and mass of the switch to be considerably reduced.
  • the switch of the subject invention comprises a cavity defined by the surfaces of two spaced electrodes and an insulating means. Within the cavity, and electrically insulated from the electrodes, is mounted a conductive means or element arrangedto receive a voltage pulse from an external source. When a pulse is applied to the conductive element, the element vaporizes to form a higher ionized gas within the cavity. Consequently, if a voltage has been applied across the electrodes, current will flow within the cavity between the electrodes.
  • the conductive element can be formed of a fine metallic wire or a metallic ribbon which vaporizes when the relatively intense electric current produced by the voltage pulse flows therethrough. This results in the formation of a volume of highly ionized gas, or plasma, which permits the establishment of an electric current between the electrodes.
  • an object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for switching electric power wherein a conductive element is vaporized by a low voltage impulse to produce a strongly ionized gas.
  • the device can be enclosed in a protective case which is put under partial or total vacuum and contains a gas that is readily ioniz-. able.
  • the invention is also connected with an arrangement including a plurality of conductive elements which can be independently energized to permit a number of control functions to be obtained. These conductors can be mounted on an interchangeable support.
  • FIG. 2 is'a plan view of a second embodiment of the invention.
  • FIG. 3 is aschematic diagram showing a circuit fo I energizingthe device of FIG. 2.
  • Electrode 12 is in the form of an annulus having at its center an insulating plug 14.
  • Two conductors, or leads, 15 pass through plug 14 and are connected to the ends of a fine wire 16 located within cavity 11.
  • Wire 16 may be formed of a pure metal, such as platinum, or an alloy such as iron-nickel.
  • a voltage impulse of 50 volts furnished by a 32 [.LF capacitor connected across the conductors l5 permit the switching of a voltage in the range 0.1 to 10 KV through a resistance of 5 ohms taken across the leads of a 50 nF capacitor.
  • FIG. 2 shows a plan view of a device similar to FIG. 1 wherein three leads 15', 15", and 15" are mounted within a plug 14. A wire 16 is connected between leads 15' and 15" and a wire 16" is connected between 15" and 15".
  • FIG. 3 A circuit for energizing wires 16' and 16" is shown in FIG. 3 comprising a voltage source 17 connected in series with a resistor 18 across a capacitor. 19. Controlled rectifiers 20' and 21" are connected in series with wires 16' and 16" respectively across capacitor 19, the gates of rectifiers 20' and 20" being sequentially energized by suitable control voltages E and E which cause the rectifiers to conduct and sequentially vaporize wires 16' and 16".
  • voltage source 17 has a magnitude of volts
  • resistor 18 is 100 kilohms
  • capacitor 9 is 0.1 P.
  • the signals applied to the gates of rectifiers 20' and 20 should be spaced by an interval of at least 50 milliseconds when this circuit is employed.
  • a larger number of conductive elements may also be used and energized sequentially to provide a rapid electrical switching system.
  • a commutator may be employed in such an arrangement wherein, after a wire had been vaporized by the application of a voltage pulse, the commutator is rotated and a new wire placed between the leads.
  • An electrical switching device comprising a. first and second electrodes spaced apart along a longitudinal axis of said device, said second electrode being in the form of an annulus having its axis coincident with said longitudinal axis;
  • an insulating hollow member affixed to said electrodes to form a cavity defined by the opposite surfaces of said electrodes and the inner surface of said hollow member;
  • a plurality of electrical conductors positioned within said insulating plug and electrically connected within said cavity, said electrical conductors being vaporized when a relatively low voltage impulse is applied thereacross to form a highly ionized gas within said cavity, the ionization of said gas permitting an electric current'to flow within said cavity between said first and second electrodes.
  • said insulating hollow-member comprises a cylinder and said first and second electrodesare mounted at each end of ond and third leads within said cavity.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Analytical Chemistry (AREA)
  • High-Tension Arc-Extinguishing Switches Without Spraying Means (AREA)
  • Electron Sources, Ion Sources (AREA)
US00218847A 1971-01-18 1972-01-18 Electrical switching device employing a vaporizable conductive element Expired - Lifetime US3791298A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR7101517A FR2130783A5 (ko) 1971-01-18 1971-01-18

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3791298A true US3791298A (en) 1974-02-12

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US00218847A Expired - Lifetime US3791298A (en) 1971-01-18 1972-01-18 Electrical switching device employing a vaporizable conductive element

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US (1) US3791298A (ko)
DE (1) DE2145315A1 (ko)
FR (1) FR2130783A5 (ko)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4747998A (en) * 1982-09-30 1988-05-31 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Thermally actuated thermionic switch

Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2723324A (en) * 1953-04-09 1955-11-08 Hughes Aircraft Co Single-action switch
US3100447A (en) * 1960-08-31 1963-08-13 Robert E Betts Igniter squib
US3134329A (en) * 1962-05-10 1964-05-26 Thiokol Chemical Corp Exploding bridgewire coating
US3158098A (en) * 1963-08-09 1964-11-24 Robert J Reithel Low voltage detonator system
US3181464A (en) * 1961-06-21 1965-05-04 Gen Precision Inc Low conductance exploding bridge
US3198678A (en) * 1960-10-03 1965-08-03 Thiokol Chemical Corp Pyrotechnic compositions
US3264991A (en) * 1965-04-13 1966-08-09 Robert E Betts Focused exploding bridge wire assembly for electric igniters
US3277824A (en) * 1964-07-15 1966-10-11 Hi Shear Corp Exploding bridgewire device
US3409804A (en) * 1966-08-25 1968-11-05 Hi Shear Corp Ordnance control circuit
US3462633A (en) * 1967-01-03 1969-08-19 Marcus A Mccoy Energy burst generating element

Patent Citations (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2723324A (en) * 1953-04-09 1955-11-08 Hughes Aircraft Co Single-action switch
US3100447A (en) * 1960-08-31 1963-08-13 Robert E Betts Igniter squib
US3198678A (en) * 1960-10-03 1965-08-03 Thiokol Chemical Corp Pyrotechnic compositions
US3181464A (en) * 1961-06-21 1965-05-04 Gen Precision Inc Low conductance exploding bridge
US3134329A (en) * 1962-05-10 1964-05-26 Thiokol Chemical Corp Exploding bridgewire coating
US3158098A (en) * 1963-08-09 1964-11-24 Robert J Reithel Low voltage detonator system
US3277824A (en) * 1964-07-15 1966-10-11 Hi Shear Corp Exploding bridgewire device
US3264991A (en) * 1965-04-13 1966-08-09 Robert E Betts Focused exploding bridge wire assembly for electric igniters
US3409804A (en) * 1966-08-25 1968-11-05 Hi Shear Corp Ordnance control circuit
US3462633A (en) * 1967-01-03 1969-08-19 Marcus A Mccoy Energy burst generating element

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4747998A (en) * 1982-09-30 1988-05-31 The United States Of America As Represented By The United States Department Of Energy Thermally actuated thermionic switch

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2145315A1 (de) 1972-09-21
FR2130783A5 (ko) 1972-11-10

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