High voltage pulse generating apparatus

Claim 1

A high voltage pulse generating device for producing high voltage pulses for generating arcs in discharge type loads said device comprising: a. input terminals connected to an a.c. source; b. output terminals connected to said load; c. first capacitor means connected to one of said input terminals; d. first transformer means having its primary connected to said first capacitor means and having its secondary connected to said load; e. first switch means, having a gate electrode and main electrodes, connected between said primary and one of said input terminals wherein said capacitor means, said primary and said first switch means form a series circuit; f. control means, connected to said gate electrode of said first switch means, for periodically turning ON said first switch means and thereby providing a discharge path for said first capacitor means through said series circuit, whereby the current through said primary causes a pulse to be produced in said secondary said pulse being of a very high voltage relative to the input voltage; said control means comprising: g. low voltage pulse generating means coupled to said input terminals; and h. second switch means connected between the said low voltage pulse generating means and the gate electrode of said first switch means wherein a pulse from said low voltage pulse generating means turns ON said second switch means thereby energizing the gate electrode of said first switch means thus turning ON said first switch means; said low voltage pulse geNerating means comprising: i. second transformer means coupled to said input terminals; j. full wave rectifier means connected to the secondary of said second transformer means for producing a full wave rectifier d.c. signal; k. trigger means, connected to said full wave rectifier means and comprising a second capacitor means and a constant voltage switching device, for producing a trigger pulse when said rectified d.c. signal reaches a predetermined phase; l. monostable multivibrator means, having its trigger terminal connected to said trigger means and its output connected to said second switch means, wherein said multivibrator means produces a pulse of a predetermined width for turning ON said second switch means in response to receiving a trigger pulse; m. resistor means for applying said rectified d.c. signal to an input terminal of said monostable multivibrator means; and said second switch means comprising: n. a transistor having its base connected to said multivibrator and having its collector connected to said gate electrode of said first switch means.