Unitary series spark gap with aligned apertures

Claim 2

A spark-gap device suitable for providing transient protection to a line above a predetermined voltage level, said device comprising: a first pair of conductive electrodes, insulating spacer means positioning said first pair of electrodes with opposed portions thereof in facing relation for defining a first gap therebetween adapted to break down and support an arc discharge, a second pair of conductive electrodes, insulating spacer means positioning said second pair of electrodes with opposed portions thereof in facing relation for defining a second gap therebetween adapted to break down and support an arc discharge, one of said second pair of electrodes being electrically connected to one of said first pair of electrodes for providing a series circuit including said gaps, said device being constructed so that an arc discharge across one gap causes illumination of the other gap, and a first enclosed chamber substantially separate from the region of said gaps and communicating with the region of said gaps to promote extinguishing of an arc discharge across the said gaps after the cessation of an over-voltage condition across said gaps in series, wherein said insulating spacer means cooperate with said electrodes to enclose the first and second gaps in second and third separate chambers respectively, said insulating spacer means being joined to the respective pairs of electrodes with which they form chambers to hermetically seal said second and third chambers except for communication with said first chamber.

Claim 3

The device according to claim 1 wherein the connected electrodes are hollow and are joined to provide said first enclosed chamber which is hermetically sealed except for communication with said second and third chambers, said connected electrodes being provided with apertures through portions thereof adjacent said gaps to communicate with said gaps.

Claim 4

The device according to claim 2 wherein said electrodes are longitudinally aligned so that said apertures in said connected electrodes provide a line-of-sight path between opposed portions of the remaining electrodes.

Claim 5

A spark-gap device suitable for providing transient protection to a line above a predetermined voltage level, said device comprising: a first hollow enclosure means provided with a first pair of aligned conductive electrodes extending into said first hollow enclosure means and completing a first chamber therewith, said first pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a first gap therebetween within said first chamber, and a second hollow enclosure means provided with a second pair of aligned conductive electrodes extending into said second enclosure means and completing a second chamber therewith, said second pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a second gap therebetween within said second chamber, one electrode of said first pair and one electrode of said second pair being connected to provide a series electrical circuit including said gaps, said connected electrodes being provided with a direct passage between said first and second gaps for providing illumination of at least a portion of one of said gaps by an arc discharge occurring across the other Of said gaps, said passage comprising a third chamber communicating with the region of the gaps in said first and second chambers, said hollow enclosure means being joined to the respective electrodes they enclose the hermetically seal said first and second chambers except for communication with said third chamber.

Claim 6

A spark-gap device suitable for providing transient protection to a line above a predetermined voltage level, said device comprising: a first hollow enclosure means provided with a first pair of aligned conductive electrodes extending into said first hollow enclosure means and completing a first chamber therewith, said first pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a first gap therebetween within said first chamber, and a second hollow enclosure means provided with a second pair of aligned conductive electrodes extending into said second enclosure means and completing a second chamber therewith, said second pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a second gap therebetween within said second chamber, one electrode of said first pair and one electrode of said second pair being connected to provide a series electrical circuit including said gaps, said connected electrodes being provided with a direct passage between said first and second gaps for providing illumination of at least a portion of one of said gaps by an arc discharge occurring across the other Of said gaps, said passage comprising a third chamber communicating with the region of the gaps in said first and second chambers, said hollow enclosure means being joined to the respective electrodes they enclose the hermetically seal said first and second chambers except for communication with said third chamber.

Claim 7

The device according to claim 4 wherein said connected electrodes are hollow and are sealed back-to-back to hermetically seal said third chamber except for communication with said first and second chambers, said connected electrodes being centrally apertured at said gaps to complete said direct passage.

Claim 8

The device according to claim 4 wherein said enclosure means comprise spacer means and wherein said spacer means and said electrodes are substantially cylindrical, hollow, and aligned, each electrode having an end portion adjacent and forming an arc-supporting surface of one of said gaps within a respective spacer means, a first length of each such electrode next to the end portion having a first diameter, a second length of such electrode having a second and larger diameter where such electrode is provided with an annular flange joined to an end of a respective spacer member, and a third length of changing diameter joining said first and second lengths, said connected electrodes being joined at their annular flanges in substantial alignment to form said third chamber therewithin and being centrally apertured at said gaps to complete said direct passage.

Claim 9

The device according to claim 6 wherein said spacer members are formed of ceramic, with said annular flange of each said electrode being brazed to an end of a spacer member, and wherein the annular flanges of said connected electrodes are brazed together.

Claim 10

The device according to claim 4 wherein said connected electrodes are substantially aligned and hollow, extending longitudinally within the respective enclosure means to form said third chamber, and are provided with apertures where they face the remaining electrodes to complete said passage, said apertures providing a line-of-sight path between facing portions of the remaining electrodes and communication with said third chamber.

Claim 11

The device according to claim 1 wherein said connected electrodes protrude within the respective spacer means while being joined to provide said first enclosed chamber, said connected electrodes being provided with aligned apertures adjacent said gaps.

Claim 12

A spark gap device suitable for providing transient protection to a line above a predetermined voltage level, said device comprising: a first hollow enclosure means provided with a first pair of aligned conductive electrodes extending into said first hollow enclosure means and completing a first chamber therewith, said first pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a first gap therebetween within said first chamber. and a second hollow enclosure means provided with a second pair of aligned conductive electrodes extending into said second enclosure means and completing a second chamber therewith, said second pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a second gap therebetween within said second chamber, one electrode of said first pair and one electrode of said second pair being unitary to provide a series electrical circuit including said gaps, said one electrode of said first pair and said one electrode of said second pair being provided with a direct passage between said first and second gaps for providing illumination of at least a portion of one of said gaps by an arc discharge occurring across the other of said gaps, said hollow enclosure means being joined to the respective electrodes extending therewithin to hermetically seal said first and second chambers except for said direct passage.

Claim 13

A spark gap device suitable for providing transient protection to a line above a predetermined voltage level, said device comprising: a first hollow enclosure means provided with a first pair of aligned conductive electrodes extending into said first hollow enclosure means and completing a first chamber therewith, said first pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a first gap therebetween within said first chamber. and a second hollow enclosure means provided with a second pair of aligned conductive electrodes extending into said second enclosure means and completing a second chamber therewith, said second pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a second gap therebetween within said second chamber, one electrode of said first pair and one electrode of said second pair being unitary to provide a series electrical circuit including said gaps, said one electrode of said first pair and said one electrode of said second pair being provided with a direct passage between said first and second gaps for providing illumination of at least a portion of one of said gaps by an arc discharge occurring across the other of said gaps, said hollow enclosure means being joined to the respective electrodes extending therewithin to hermetically seal said first and second chambers except for said direct passage.

Claim 14

A spark gap device suitable for providing transient protection to a line above a predetermined voltage level, said device comprising: a first hollow enclosure means provided with a first pair Of aligned conductive electrode means completing a first chamber therewith, said first pair of electrode means having adjacent opposed portions defining a first gap therebetween within said first chamber, and a second hollow enclosure means provided with a second pair of aligned conductive electrode means completing a second chamber with said second hollow enclosure means, said second pair of electrode means having adjacent opposed portions defining a second gap therebetween within said second chamber, one electrode means of said first pair being unitary with one electrode means of said second pair, the remaining electrode means of said pairs extending into the respective hollow enclosure means, said unitary electrode means being provided with a direct passage between said first and second gaps for providing illumination of at least a portion of one of said gaps by an arc discharge occurring across the other of said gaps, said hollow enclosure means being joined to the respective electrode means with which they commplete a chamber to hermetically seal said first and second chambers except for said direct passage.

Claim 15

A spark gap device suitable for providing transient protection to a line above a predetermined voltage level, said device comprising: a first hollow enclosure means provided with a first pair Of aligned conductive electrode means completing a first chamber therewith, said first pair of electrode means having adjacent opposed portions defining a first gap therebetween within said first chamber, and a second hollow enclosure means provided with a second pair of aligned conductive electrode means completing a second chamber with said second hollow enclosure means, said second pair of electrode means having adjacent opposed portions defining a second gap therebetween within said second chamber, one electrode means of said first pair being unitary with one electrode means of said second pair, the remaining electrode means of said pairs extending into the respective hollow enclosure means, said unitary electrode means being provided with a direct passage between said first and second gaps for providing illumination of at least a portion of one of said gaps by an arc discharge occurring across the other of said gaps, said hollow enclosure means being joined to the respective electrode means with which they commplete a chamber to hermetically seal said first and second chambers except for said direct passage.

Claim 16

A spark gap device suitable for providing transient protection to a line above a predetermined voltage level, said device comprising: first and second aligned conductive electrode means, and a first hollow enclosure means therebetween completing a first chamber with said first and second electrode means, said first and second electrode means having adjacent opposed portions defining a first gap therebetween within said first chamber, said first conductive electrode means extending into said first hollow enclosure means, a third electrode means aligned with the first and second electrode means, and a second hollow enclosure means between the second and third electrode means completing a second chamber with the second and third electrode means, said second and third electrode means having adjacent opposed portions defining a second gap therebetween within said second chamber, said third conductive electrode means extending into said second hollow enclosure means, said second electrode means being provided with a direct passage between said first and second gaps for providing illumination of at least a portion of one of said gaps by the arc discharge occurring across the other of said gaps, said hollow enclosure means being joined to the respective electrode means with which they complete a chamber to hermetically seal said first and second chambers except for said direct passage.

Claim 17

A spark gap device suitable for providing transient protection to a line above a predetermined voltage level, said device comprising: first and second aligned conductive electrode means, and a first hollow enclosure means therebetween completing a first chamber with said first and second electrode means, said first and second electrode means having adjacent opposed portions defining a first gap therebetween within said first chamber, said first conductive electrode means extending into said first hollow enclosure means, a third electrode means aligned with the first and second electrode means, and a second hollow enclosure means between the second and third electrode means completing a second chamber with the second and third electrode means, said second and third electrode means having adjacent opposed portions defining a second gap therebetween within said second chamber, said third conductive electrode means extending into said second hollow enclosure means, said second electrode means being provided with a direct passage between said first and second gaps for providing illumination of at least a portion of one of said gaps by the arc discharge occurring across the other of said gaps, said hollow enclosure means being joined to the respective electrode means with which they complete a chamber to hermetically seal said first and second chambers except for said direct passage.

Claim 18

The device according to claim 12 wherein said first and third electrode means are disposed in juxtaposed facing spaced relation in the longitudinal direction of said device, with the second electrode means forming a barrier therebetween except for said direct passage, said first and second gaps being formed between lateral exposed faces of said second electrode means and the said first and third electrode means respectively.

Claim 19

The device according to claim 12 wherein said enclosure means comprise spacer means and are substantially cylindrical, hollow, and aligned, said electrode means extending within said enclosure means also being substantially hollow and aligned, each having an end portion adjacent and forming an arc supporting surface of one of said gaps within a respective enclosure means, and each being provided with an annular flange joined to an end of the respective enclosure means.

Claim 20

A spark-gap device suitable for providing transient protection to a line above a predetermined voltage level, said device comprising: a first hollow enclosure means provided with a first pair of aligned conductive electrodes extending into said first hollow enclosure means and completing a first chamber therewith, said first pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a first gap therebetween within said first chamber, a second hollow enclosure means provided with a second pair of aligned conductive electrodes Extending into said second enclosure means and completing a second chamber therewith, said second pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a second gap therebetween within said second chamber, one electrode of said first pair and one electrode of said second pair being connected to provide a series electrical circuit including said gaps, said connected electrodes being substantially aligned and hollow, extending longitudinally within the respective enclosure means to form a third chamber, and further enclosure means and further electrodes extending therewithin in longitudinal alignment with said first and second enclosure means for providing further gaps in further chambers, each electrode being apertured except for end electrodes, and with the rearward portion of each electrode being joined to the next except for end electrodes, said apertures providing a direct line-of-sight passage between gaps for providing illumination therebetween when an arc discharge occurs across at least one of said gaps, said hollow enclosure means being joined to the respective electrodes they enclose to hermetically seal the chambers formed thereby except for communication between chambers provided by said apertures.

Claim 21

A spark-gap device suitable for providing transient protection to a line above a predetermined voltage level, said device comprising: a first hollow enclosure means provided with a first pair of aligned conductive electrodes extending into said first hollow enclosure means and completing a first chamber therewith, said first pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a first gap therebetween within said first chamber, a second hollow enclosure means provided with a second pair of aligned conductive electrodes Extending into said second enclosure means and completing a second chamber therewith, said second pair of electrodes having adjacent opposed portions defining a second gap therebetween within said second chamber, one electrode of said first pair and one electrode of said second pair being connected to provide a series electrical circuit including said gaps, said connected electrodes being substantially aligned and hollow, extending longitudinally within the respective enclosure means to form a third chamber, and further enclosure means and further electrodes extending therewithin in longitudinal alignment with said first and second enclosure means for providing further gaps in further chambers, each electrode being apertured except for end electrodes, and with the rearward portion of each electrode being joined to the next except for end electrodes, said apertures providing a direct line-of-sight passage between gaps for providing illumination therebetween when an arc discharge occurs across at least one of said gaps, said hollow enclosure means being joined to the respective electrodes they enclose to hermetically seal the chambers formed thereby except for communication between chambers provided by said apertures.