Arc initiator for plasma generator

Claim 1

IN A PLASMATRON, A BACK ELECTRODE, A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING ELECTRODE HOLDER, A HOLLOW CYLINDRICAL BAFFLE WITHIN THE HOLDER HAVING AN END ADJACENT THE BACK ELECTRODE SPACED FROM THE ELECTRODE SO AS TO PROVIDE AN OPENING AND HAVING A SECOND END SEALED TO THE ELECTRODE HOLDER, THE BAFFLE HAVING A REDUCED DIAMETER SEALED END PORTION AND HAVING A COOLANT OUTLET OPPOSITE THE INLET WHEREBY COOLANT DIRECTED INTO THE INLET IS CAUSED TO PASS LONGITUDINALLY AROUND THE OPEN END OF THE BAFFLE AGAINST THE ELECTRODE AND IN THE OPPOSITE LONGITUDINAL DIRECTION THROUGH THE OUTLET, THE CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BAFFLE AND THE INNER SURFACE OF THE ELECTRODE HOLDER BEING SUBSTANTIALLY GREATER THAN THE THICKNESS OF THE BAFFLE, AN AUXILIARY ELECTRODE MOUNTED IN THE BACK ELECTRODE, INSULATED THEREFROM, AND AN AUXILIARY ELECTRODE LEAD SHEATH EXTENDING FROM THE BACK ELECTRODE THROUGH THE REDUCED DIAMETER PORTION OF THE BAFFLE WHEREBY A SPARKING VOLTAGE CONNECTION MAY BE MADE AT THE END OF THE SHEATH AWAY FROM THE BACK ELECTRODE WHERE RELATIVELY LOW TEMPERATURES ARE ENCOUNTERED.