Shielded spark gap device

Claim 2

A spark gap device having a pair of electrodes, spacer means for maintaining the electrodes in fixed spaced relation and enClosing the space between them, and shielding means for protecting the electric field distribution in the gap from external influences comprising a metallic enclosure surrounding the gap, the electrodes and the spacer means, said enclosure being in electrical contact with electrodes at opposite ends of the gap and being discontinuous between opposite ends of the gap.

Claim 3

A spark gap device as defined in claim 1 in which the shielding means comprises metallic members in contact with the electrodes at each end of the gap, said metallic members surrounding the gap and extending toward each other with a space between them.

Claim 4

A spark gap as defined in claim 2 in which the length of said space is such that it will not spark over before the gap sparks over.

Claim 5

A spark gap device as defined in claim 1 having a plurality of electrodes forming a plurality of series-related gaps.

Claim 6

A spark gap device as defined in claim 1 in which the shielding means comprises cup-shaped metallic members in contact with the electrodes at opposite ends of the gap, said metallic members extending toward each other but being spaced apart to form a discontinuous enclosure for the gap.

Claim 7

A spark gap device as defined in claim 1 in which the shielding means comprises at least one cup-shaped metallic member extending from one end of the gap toward the other end to form an enclosure incorporating a predetermined capacitance in parallel with the gap.

Claim 8

A spark gap device comprising: a pair of electrodes; spacer means for maintaining said electrodes in a fixed spaced relationship to form a spark gap therebetween, said spacer means enclosing the space between said electrodes; a first electrically conductive member electrically contacting a first one of said electrodes and enclosing said first electrode and a first portion of said spacer means; and a second electrically conductive member electrically contacting a second one of said electrodes and enclosing said second electrode and a second portion of said spacer means, said first and second electrically conductive members extending toward each other with a space therebetween that has a length sufficiently great to preclude sparking over at this space prior to spark over of the spark gap, while providing a predetermined capacitance in parallel with the spark gap.

Claim 9

A spark gap device comprising: a pair of electrodes; spacer means for maintaining said electrodes in a fixed spaced relationship to form a spark gap therebetween, said spacer means enclosing the space between said electrodes; a first electrically conductive member electrically contacting a first one of said electrodes and enclosing said first electrode and a first portion of said spacer means; and a second electrically conductive member electrically contacting a second one of said electrodes and enclosing said second electrode and a second portion of said spacer means, said first and second electrically conductive members extending toward each other with a space therebetween that has a length sufficiently great to preclude sparking over at this space prior to spark over of the spark gap, while providing a predetermined capacitance in parallel with the spark gap.

Claim 10

A spark gap device as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first and second electrically conductive members are metallic and cup-shaped, with the bottom of the cup engaging the respective electrode and the sides thereof extending toward each other, the space between said metallic members being defined by the outermost ends of the extending sides.

Claim 11

A shielding arrangement for a spark gap device having a pair of electrodes and spacer means for maintaining the electrodes in a fixed space relationship to form a spark gap therebetween, the spacer means enclosing the space between the electrodes, comprising: a first electrically conductive member electrically contacting one of the electrodes and enclosing a first portion of the spark gap device comprising a first one of the electrodes and a first portion of the spacer means; and a second electrically conductive member electrically contacting the other electrode and enclosing a second portion of the spark gap device comprising the other electrode and a second portion of the spacer means, said first and second electrically conductive members extending toward each other with a space therebetween that has a length sufficiently great to preclude sparking over at this space prior to spark over of the spark gap, while providing a predetermined capacitance in parallel with the spark gap.

Claim 12

A shielding arrangement for a spark gap device having a pair of electrodes and spacer means for maintaining the electrodes in a fixed space relationship to form a spark gap therebetween, the spacer means enclosing the space between the electrodes, comprising: a first electrically conductive member electrically contacting one of the electrodes and enclosing a first portion of the spark gap device comprising a first one of the electrodes and a first portion of the spacer means; and a second electrically conductive member electrically contacting the other electrode and enclosing a second portion of the spark gap device comprising the other electrode and a second portion of the spacer means, said first and second electrically conductive members extending toward each other with a space therebetween that has a length sufficiently great to preclude sparking over at this space prior to spark over of the spark gap, while providing a predetermined capacitance in parallel with the spark gap.

Claim 13

A shielding arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said first and second electrically conductive members are metallic and cup-shaped, with the bottom of the cup engaging the respective electrode and the sides thereof extending toward each other, the space between said metallic members being defined by the outermost ends of the extending sides.