Pulse generator module and generator system

Claim 2

A two-stage, stackable module for assembly in a compact, low inductance pulse generator of the Marx type, comprising two capacitative electrical storage means each having a nonmetallic casing and each having both electrode terminals located at one end thereof and separated by a dielectric corona shield, two normally open, hermetically sealed, three electrode spark gap switching means for controlled series electrical connection of said storage means, said switching means comprising two outer switching electrodes and a central triggering electrode, means for supplying dielectric gas through each of said hermetically sealed switching means, insulated, straplike conducting means connecting the terminals of said switching means and said storage means in alternating series relationship, resistance charging means and resistance triggering means for the resistance charging network and the resistance triggering network of two stages of the pulse generator, electrical insulating means for mounting the components of the module and for providing intermodule insulation upon stacking said module with other modules, said storage means, switching means, conducting means, resistance charging means and resistance triggering means being mounted in flat, radially symmetrical array on said mounting means, with said two capacitative storage means being centrally mounted thereon with said electrode terminals thereof being centrally positioned, corona control means for equilibration of the space charge surrounding the module, said corona control means lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the stacking axis of the module and surrounding said storage means, switching means, conducting means, resistance charging means, and resistance triggering means, interconnecting means for providing external connection of said switch gas supply means across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis, interconnecting means for providing external electrical connection in series relationship with the series-connected switching means and storage means circuit across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis, interconnecting means for providing external electrical connection in series relationship with said resistance charging means across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis, and interconnecting means for providing external electrical connection with said resistance triggering means across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis.

Claim 3

A Marx generator comprising a stacked array of a plurality of two-stage modules, each of said modules comprising two capacitative electrical storage means each having a nonmetallic casing and each having both electrode terminals located at one end thereof and separated by a dielectric corona shield, two normally open, hermetically sealed, three electrode spark gap switching means for controlled series electrical connection of said storage means, Said switching means comprising two outer switching electrodes and a central triggering electrode, means for supplying dielectric gas through each of said hermetically sealed switching means, insulated, straplike conducting means connecting the terminals of said switching means and said storage means in alternating series relationship, resistance charging means and resistance triggering means for the resistance charging network and the resistance triggering network of two stages of the pulse generator, electrical insulating means for mounting the components of the module and for providing intermodule insulation upon stacking said module with other modules, said storage means, switching means, conducting means, resistance charging means and resistance triggering means being mounted in flat, radially symmetrical array on said mounting means, with said two capacitative storage means being centrally mounted thereon with said electrode terminals thereof being centrally positioned, corona control means for equilibration of the space charge surrounding the module, said corona control means lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the stacking axis of the module and surrounding said storage means, switching means, conducting means, resistance charging means, and resistance triggering means, interconnecting means for providing external connection of said switch gas supply means across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis, interconnecting means for providing external electrical connection in series relationship with the series-connected switching means and storage means circuit across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis, interconnecting means for providing external electrical connection in series relationship with said resistance charging means across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis, and interconnecting means for providing external electrical connection with said resistance triggering means across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis, said modules, upon stacking and interconnection, providing series connection of the stages of the array, a suitable continuous resistance charging network connecting the capacitor stages of the array in parallel with a charging power supply and a suitable continuous resistance triggering network through said array for triggering said spark gap switching means of the stages of the array, and a continuous manifold gas supply system for circulating dielectric gas through said hermetically sealed switching means throughout the length of said stacked module array, and further comprising a hermetically sealed zone surrounding said stacked array and containing a high dielectric strength gas hermetically isolated from said manifold gas supply system for said switching means, means for supplying a charging potential to the resistance charging network, means for supplying a triggering signal to the resistance triggering network, and terminal means for the discharge output of the generator.

Claim 4

A Marx generator comprising a stacked array of a plurality of two-stage modules, each of said modules comprising two capacitative electrical storage means each having a nonmetallic casing and each having both electrode terminals located at one end thereof and separated by a dielectric corona shield, two normally open, hermetically sealed, three electrode spark gap switching means for controlled series electrical connection of said storage means, Said switching means comprising two outer switching electrodes and a central triggering electrode, means for supplying dielectric gas through each of said hermetically sealed switching means, insulated, straplike conducting means connecting the terminals of said switching means and said storage means in alternating series relationship, resistance charging means and resistance triggering means for the resistance charging network and the resistance triggering network of two stages of the pulse generator, electrical insulating means for mounting the components of the module and for providing intermodule insulation upon stacking said module with other modules, said storage means, switching means, conducting means, resistance charging means and resistance triggering means being mounted in flat, radially symmetrical array on said mounting means, with said two capacitative storage means being centrally mounted thereon with said electrode terminals thereof being centrally positioned, corona control means for equilibration of the space charge surrounding the module, said corona control means lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the stacking axis of the module and surrounding said storage means, switching means, conducting means, resistance charging means, and resistance triggering means, interconnecting means for providing external connection of said switch gas supply means across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis, interconnecting means for providing external electrical connection in series relationship with the series-connected switching means and storage means circuit across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis, interconnecting means for providing external electrical connection in series relationship with said resistance charging means across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis, and interconnecting means for providing external electrical connection with said resistance triggering means across opposite sides of the module along its stacking axis, said modules, upon stacking and interconnection, providing series connection of the stages of the array, a suitable continuous resistance charging network connecting the capacitor stages of the array in parallel with a charging power supply and a suitable continuous resistance triggering network through said array for triggering said spark gap switching means of the stages of the array, and a continuous manifold gas supply system for circulating dielectric gas through said hermetically sealed switching means throughout the length of said stacked module array, and further comprising a hermetically sealed zone surrounding said stacked array and containing a high dielectric strength gas hermetically isolated from said manifold gas supply system for said switching means, means for supplying a charging potential to the resistance charging network, means for supplying a triggering signal to the resistance triggering network, and terminal means for the discharge output of the generator.

Claim 5

A pulse generator in accordance with claim 2, further comprising means for circulating dielectric gas through said manifold gas supply system for said switching means, and wherein said gas in said manifold gas supply system differs from that of said hermetically sealed zone surrounding said stacked array of modules.

Claim 6

A fast-risetime, high voltage pulse generator system comprising at least one pulse generator of the Marx type as set forth in claim 2, and further including low inductance peaking capacitance means in electrical connection with the pulse generator output and having an energy storage capability of from about 10 to about 50 percent of the nominal discharge rating of said pulse generators and an inductance of less than about 25 percent of said pulse generators, and a field enhanced, multichannel low inductance, high voltage output discharge switch means in electrical connection with the pulse generator output and across the Peaking capacitance means.

Claim 7

A pulse generator in accordance with claim 4 wherein gas manifold supply system contains air and wherein said hermetically sealed zone surrounding said stacked array of modules contains SF6.