Series multiple break vacuum arc discharge devices

Claim 1

An improved vacuum arc discharge device for carrying high currents at increased voltage levels without the formation of anode spots, comprising: a. an hermetically sealed evacuated envelope; b. first and second end base plates disposed in opposed ends of said envelope; c. a third base plate disposed in said envelope intermediate the ends thereof to subdivide said envelope into adjacent first and second regions; d. first and second primary arc-electrode assemblies disposed in respective ones of said first and second regions and supported by said respective first and second end base plates; e. each of said primary arc-electrode assemblies comprising a spaced circular array of cylindrical primary electrode members having smooth cylindrical arcing surfaces, said primary electrode members being oriented generally parallel to each other and normal to their respective supporting base plate and extending therefrom into respective ones of said adjacent first and second regions, said primary electrode members of said first primary arc-electrode assembly being substantially coaxially aligned with said primary electrode members of said second primary arc-electrode assembly; f. an intermediate arc-electrode assembly supported by said third base plate; g. said intermediate arc-electrode assembly comprising a spaced circular array of cylindrical intermediate electrode members having smooth cylindrical arcing surfaces, said intermediate electrode members being oriented generally parallel to each other and normal to said third base plate while extendig therefrom into both said first and second regions, said intermediate electrode interleaved in alternating sequence with said primary electrode members to form, in each region, a joint circular array of spaced-apart, oppositely extending electrode members oriented parallel to each other; h. adjacent ones of said oppositely extending electrode members in each said joint circular array alternating in polarity, thus causing the vector product J X B to be insignificantly small in the spaces between said adjacent electrode members in said joint circular array where J current density in the arc discharges between any given pair of oppositely extending electrode members and B magnetic field between any given pair of electrode members due to current paths within said electrode members when said device is in a current conduction condition; i. means for causing an electric arc break-down to be established between said adjacent electrode members in each said joint circular array; and j. means for connecting said primary arc-electrode assemblies in circuit with an electric load.