Electromagnetic pulse suppressor

Abstract

Abstract Apparatus is disclosed for protecting electronic circuitry against the damaging and destructive effects of fast rise time electromagnetic pulses. The apparatus is inserted between two coaxial cables, where the coaxial cables are used to interconnect electronic equipment. The housing of the apparatus electrically interconnects the sheaths of the coaxial cables and includes a central cavity having a solid conductor extending therethrough. The solid conductor provides an electrical path between the central conductors of the two coaxial cables. Protective devices, of the silicon junction avalanche type, fit within the cavity. These protective devices, or suppressors, are characterized by their small size, usually small discs, and their short duration, large current handling capability. One side of these discs is physically and electrically secured to the solid conductor while the other side is physically and electrically secured to the housing by a threaded element, such as a bolt. A plurality of serially connected discs may be used by stacking the discs within the cavity so that one side of the stack is adjacent the solid conductor with the bolt engaging the other side of the stack. The absence of leads in the above-described structure minimizes the inductive effects of the apparatus. In operation, a rapid potential increase on the central conductor, such as might occur due to an induced electromagnetic pulse, is dissipated through the one or more discs and thereby the discs suppress the damaging or destructive effect of the accompanying large current increase on the central conductor within the coaxial cables.

Inventors

• 👤 R Winters

Bibliographic Details