Means for and method of stabilizing a plurality of gaseous electric arc discharge devices

Claim 2

In apparatus for stabilizing a gaseous electric arc device comprising a gas inlet and outlet means through which gas may be passed through a gas chamber and electrode means for maintaining an electric arc in said chamber and heating said gas passing through said chamber, the combination comprising: means including valve means to effect variation of gas flow through said gas chamber as a function of electric arc current.

Claim 3

In apparatus for stabilizing a gaseous electric arc device comprising gas inlet and outlet means through which gas may be passed through a gas chamber and electrode means for maintaining an electric arc in said chamber and heating said gas passing through said chamber, the combination comprising: a. means for providing a control signal that varies as a function of the arc current; and b. means including valve means actuated by said control signal to effect variation of gas flow through said gas chamber as a function of said arc current.

Claim 4

In apparatus for stabilizing a gaseous electric arc device comprising gas inlet and outlet means through which gas may be passed through a gas chamber and electrode means for maintaining an electric arc in said chamber and heating said gas passing through said chamber, the combination comprising: a. means for providing a control signal that varies as a function of the arc current; and b. means including valve means actuated by said control signal to effect variation of gas flow through said gas chamber as a function of said arc current.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 2 and additionally including means connected in series with electrode means for preventing a change in arc current at a rate greater than the rate at which said gas flow is varied.

Claim 6

In apparatus for stabilizing a gaseous electric arc device comprising gas inlet and outlet means through which gas may be passed through a gas chamber and electrode means for maintaining an electric arc in said chamber and heating said gas passing through said chamber, the combination comprising: a. means for deriving from the arc current flowing between said electrodes an electrical control signal that varies linearly with said arc current; b. valve means for varying the rate of gas flow through said chamber; and c. feedback means actuated by said control signal and coupled to said valve means to effect control of said valve means and cause gas flow through said chamber to vary linearly with said control signal.

Claim 7

In apparatus for stabilizing a gaseous electric arc device comprising gas inlet and outlet means through which gas may be passed through a gas chamber and electrode means for maintaining an electric arc in said chamber and heating said gas passing through said chamber, the combination comprising: a. means for deriving from the arc current flowing between said electrodes an electrical control signal that varies linearly with said arc current; b. valve means for varying the rate of gas flow through said chamber; and c. feedback means actuated by said control signal and coupled to said valve means to effect control of said valve means and cause gas flow through said chamber to vary linearly with said control signal.

Claim 8

The combination as defined in claim 4 and additionally including inductance means connected in series with said electrode means.

Claim 9

The combination as defined in claim 4 and additionally including means for preventing a change in said arc current at a rate greater than the rate at which said gas flow through said chamber can be varied.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein said feedback means additionally includes filter means to remove noise from said control signal.

Claim 11

In apparatus for simultaneously increasing the enthalpy of a gas at two or more spaced points, the combination comprising: a. a gaseous electric arc device disposed at each said point, each said device comprising electrode means for maintaining an electric arc and means for flowing a gas past said electrode means whereby said gas is heated at each said point be by said electric arc; b. a source of electrical current; c. means coupling the electrode means of each said device to said source of current; d. means coupled to respectively at least all but one of said devices for deriving from the arc current thereof a control signal that varies linearly as a function of said arc current; and e. feedback means including gas control means coupled to and actuated by each said control signal and effecting variation of gas flow to each of said devices as a linear function of the arc current flowing in each said device.

Claim 12

In apparatus for simultaneously increasing the enthalpy of a gas at two or more spaced points, the combination comprising: a. a gaseous electric arc device disposed at each said point, each said device comprising electrode means for maintaining an electric arc and means for flowing a gas past said electrode means whereby said gas is heated at each said point be by said electric arc; b. a source of electrical current; c. means coupling the electrode means of each said device to said source of current; d. means coupled to respectively at least all but one of said devices for deriving from the arc current thereof a control signal that varies linearly as a function of said arc current; and e. feedback means including gas control means coupled to and actuated by each said control signal and effecting variation of gas flow to each of said devices as a linear function of the arc current flowing in each said device.

Claim 13

In apparatus for simultaneously increasing the enthalpy of a gas at two or more spaced points, the combination comprising: a. a gaseous electric arc device disposed at each said point, each said device comprising electrode means for maintaining an electric arc and means for flowing a gas past said electrode means whereby said gas is heated at each said point by said electric arc; b. a source of electrical current; c. means coupling the electrode means of each said device in series and to said source of current; d. means coupled to respectively at least all but one of said devices for deriving from the arc current thereof a control signal that varies linearly as a function of said arc current; and e. feedback means including gas control means coupled to and actuated by each said control signal and effecting variation of gas flow to each of said devices as a linear function of the arc current flowing in each said device.

Claim 14

In apparatus for simultaneously increasing the enthalpy of a gas at two or more spaced points, the combination comprising: a. a gaseous electric arc device disposed at each said point, each said device comprising electrode means for maintaining an electric arc and means for flowing a gas past said electrode means whereby said gas is heated at each said point by said electric arc; b. a source of electrical current; c. means coupling the electrode means of each said device in series and to said source of current; d. means coupled to respectively at least all but one of said devices for deriving from the arc current thereof a control signal that varies linearly as a function of said arc current; and e. feedback means including gas control means coupled to and actuated by each said control signal and effecting variation of gas flow to each of said devices as a linear function of the arc current flowing in each said device.

Claim 15

In apparatus for simultaneously increasing the enthalpy of a gas at two or more spaced points, the combination comprising: a. a gaseous electric arc device disposed at each said point, each said device comprising electrode means for maintaining an electric arc and means for flowing a gas past said electrode means whereby said gas is heated at each said point by said electric arc; b. a source of electrical current; c. means coupling the electrode means of each said device in parallel and to said source of current; d. means coupled to each said device for deriving from the arc current thereof a control signal that varies linearly as a function of said arc current; and e. feedback means including gas control means coupled to and actuated by each said control signal and effecting variation of gas flow to each of said devices as a linear function of the arc current flowing in each said device.

Claim 16

In apparatus for simultaneously increasing the enthalpy of a gas at two or more spaced points, the combination comprising: a. a gaseous electric arc device disposed at each said point, each said device comprising electrode means for maintaining an electric arc and means for flowing a gas past said electrode means whereby said gas is heated at each said point by said electric arc; b. a source of electrical current; c. means coupling the electrode means of each said device in parallel and to said source of current; d. means coupled to each said device for deriving from the arc current thereof a control signal that varies linearly as a function of said arc current; and e. feedback means including gas control means coupled to and actuated by each said control signal and effecting variation of gas flow to each of said devices as a linear function of the arc current flowing in each said device.

Claim 17

The combination as defined in claim 10 and additionally including inductance means connected in series with each of said electrode means for preventing a change in arc current at a rate greater than the rate at which said gas flow to each said device is varied, and said feedback means additionally includes filter means to remove noise from said control signal.

Claim 18

In the method of stabilizing a gaseous electric arc device, the steps comprising: a. striking an electric arc between two electrodes and establishing a flow of arc current; b. passing a gas through said electric arc; c. deriving from said arc current a control signal that varies substantially linearly with said arc current; and d. causing the flow of said gas through said arc to vary substantially linearly with said control signal and maintain the operation operating point of said arc substantially constant.

Claim 19

In the method of stabilizing a gaseous electric arc device, the steps comprising: a. striking an electric arc between two electrodes and establishing a flow of arc current; b. passing a gas through said electric arc; c. deriving from said arc current a control signal that varies substantially linearly with said arc current; and d. causing the flow of said gas through said arc to vary substantially linearly with said control signal and maintain the operation operating point of said arc substantially constant.

Claim 20

The method as defined in claim 12 additionally including supplying said control signal to and actuating a feedback circuit including valve means; and preventing the arc current from changing at a rate faster than said valve means changes the rate of gas flow.

Claim 21

The method as defined in claim 13 and additionally including the step of filtering said control signal before it is supplied to said feedback circuit.

Claim 22

In the method of simultaneously providing stable operation of a plurality of gaseous electric arc devices each having spaced electrodes for providing an electric arc and means for passing a gas through said arc, the steps comprising: a. connecting the electrodes of said device in a parallel to a source of electrical power; b. providing a control signal that varies substantially linearly as a function of respectively the arc current of each said device; c. supplying the control signal of each device to feedback and gas control means associated with each said device to regulate the gas flow thereto as a linear function of each said control signal; and d. preventing a change in arc current in each device from changing at a rate faster than the said gas control means of said device changes the rate of gas flow thereto.

Claim 23

In the method of simultaneously providing stable operation of a plurality of gaseous electric arc devices each having spaced electrodes for providing an electric arc and means for passing a gas through said arc, the steps comprising: a. connecting the electrodes of said device in a parallel to a source of electrical power; b. providing a control signal that varies substantially linearly as a function of respectively the arc current of each said device; c. supplying the control signal of each device to feedback and gas control means associated with each said device to regulate the gas flow thereto as a linear function of each said control signal; and d. preventing a change in arc current in each device from changing at a rate faster than the said gas control means of said device changes the rate of gas flow thereto.