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Patent US4406952A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4406952A
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Opening switch for interrupting current using a plasma focus device
Assignee: Old Dominion University
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Filing: 1982-01-07
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Granted: 1983-09-27
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Expires: 2002-01-07
Abstract
Abstract An opening switch device for interrupting the flow of high amperage currents such as those which occur in inductive energy storage systems is disclosed. The opening switch includes a plasma focus device incorporating an auxiliary electrode through which the current to be interrupted flows. This current is interrupted due to the enhanced resistance which occurs in the plasma focus device. A second embodiment of the plasma focus switch includes the application of an external magnetic field which is compressed by the plasma focus effect along with the current flowing through the auxiliary electrode.
Inventors
- 👤 George M. Molen
- 👤 James L. Cox, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 22:36
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K3/00; H03K3/02; H03K3/53
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
271 words
A device for interrupting current flow in a circuit including a high-amperage current source, comprising: a cylindrical center electrode coupled to a first terminal of said circuit including said high-amperage current source; a cylindrical outer electrode surrounding said center electrode, said outer electrode being concentric with said center electrode and spaced a first distance thereform; an auxiliary electrode located a second distance from said center electrode, said auxiliary electrode being coupled to a second terminal of said circuit including said high-amperage current source; an envelope surrounding said center electrode, said outer electrode, and said auxiliary electrode; means for initiating an auxiliary arc discharge between said auxiliary electrode and said center electrode, said auxiliary arc discharge producing a flow of current from said circuit including said high-amperage current source through said current interrupting device; and pulse generating means coupled between said anode and said cathode for supplying a high voltage pulse between said center electrode and said outer electrode, said high voltage pulse initiating a plasma focus arc discharge between said center electrode and said outer electrode; whereby said plasma focus arc discharge occurring between said outer electrode and said center electrode moves toward the axis of said center anode at the surface of said center electrode adjacent to said auxiliary electrode due to magnetic forces and said plasma focus arc discharge produces an enhanced resistance effect between said center electrode and said outer electrode, said enhanced resistance effect producing a reduction in said plasma focus arc discharge and said auxiliary arc discharge; whereby said current flowing from said circuit including said high-amperage current source through said current interrupting device is interrupted.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
271 words
A device for interrupting current flow in a circuit including a high-amperage current source, comprising: a cylindrical center electrode coupled to a first terminal of said circuit including said high-amperage current source; a cylindrical outer electrode surrounding said center electrode, said outer electrode being concentric with said center electrode and spaced a first distance thereform; an auxiliary electrode located a second distance from said center electrode, said auxiliary electrode being coupled to a second terminal of said circuit including said high-amperage current source; an envelope surrounding said center electrode, said outer electrode, and said auxiliary electrode; means for initiating an auxiliary arc discharge between said auxiliary electrode and said center electrode, said auxiliary arc discharge producing a flow of current from said circuit including said high-amperage current source through said current interrupting device; and pulse generating means coupled between said anode and said cathode for supplying a high voltage pulse between said center electrode and said outer electrode, said high voltage pulse initiating a plasma focus arc discharge between said center electrode and said outer electrode; whereby said plasma focus arc discharge occurring between said outer electrode and said center electrode moves toward the axis of said center anode at the surface of said center electrode adjacent to said auxiliary electrode due to magnetic forces and said plasma focus arc discharge produces an enhanced resistance effect between said center electrode and said outer electrode, said enhanced resistance effect producing a reduction in said plasma focus arc discharge and said auxiliary arc discharge; whereby said current flowing from said circuit including said high-amperage current source through said current interrupting device is interrupted.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device for interrupting current as recited in claim 1, which further comprises: means for producing and axial magnetic field, said magnetic field having an axis which coincides with a central axis of said cylindrical center electrode.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device for interrupting current as recited in claim 2, wherein said means for producing an axial magnetic field comprises: a cylindrical electromagnet, said electromagnet being concentric with said cylindrical anode.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device for interrupting current as recited in claim 3, wherein: said cylindrical electromagnet surrounds said outer electrode and is spaced a third distance therefrom.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device for interrupting current as recited in claim 3, wherein: said cylindrical electromagnet is located within said cylindrical center electrode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device for interrupting current as recited in claim 1, wherein: said envelope is filled with a gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, helium, and argon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
A device for interrupting current as recited in claim 6, wherein: said gas is under a pressure lying in the range of 0.1 to 10 TORR.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
A device for interrupting current as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for initiating an auxiliary arc discharge comprises: a laser, said laser directing a pulse of coherent light in the vicinity of said auxiliary electrode and said center electrode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
A device for interrupting current as recited in claim 1, wherein said means for initiating an auxiliary arc discharge comprises: a trigger electrode located adjacent to said auxiliary electrode and said center electrode; and pulse transformer means coupled to said trigger electrode for supplying a high voltage pulse to said trigger electrode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
67 words
A device for interrupting current as recited in claim 1, wherein said pulse generating means comprises: a capacitor, said capacitor being charged to a high voltage; and switching means coupled in series with said capacitor for selectively coupling said capacitor between said center electrode and said outer electrode; whereby said electric charge stored in said capacitor is selectively applied across said center electrode and said outer electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device for switching current as recited in claim 1, wherein said high-amperage current source comprises: a homopolar generator.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
227 words
An inductive energy storage system for supplying a high-energy electrical pulse to a load, said system comprising: a high-amperage current source including first and second terminals; an inductor including first and second terminals, said first terminal of said inductor being coupled to a first terminal of said current source; plasma focus switch means including first and second terminals, a plasma focus device having a center and outer electrode with said center electrode connected to said second terminal of said plasma focus switch means, an auxiliary electrode connected to said first terminal of said plasma focus switch means for controlling the flow of current between said first and second terminals of said plasma focus switch means, said first terminal of said plasma focus switch means being coupled to said second terminal of said inductor, said second terminal of said plasma focus switch means being coupled to said second terminal of said current source and to a first terminal of said load with said first terminal of said plasma switch focus means being coupled to a second terminal of said load; means for closing said plasma focus switch means whereby when said plasma focus switch is closed a current flows from said current source through said inductor thereby storing energy in said inductor and whereby a current flowing through said auxiliary electrode is interrupted due to a plasma pinch.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
227 words
An inductive energy storage system for supplying a high-energy electrical pulse to a load, said system comprising: a high-amperage current source including first and second terminals; an inductor including first and second terminals, said first terminal of said inductor being coupled to a first terminal of said current source; plasma focus switch means including first and second terminals, a plasma focus device having a center and outer electrode with said center electrode connected to said second terminal of said plasma focus switch means, an auxiliary electrode connected to said first terminal of said plasma focus switch means for controlling the flow of current between said first and second terminals of said plasma focus switch means, said first terminal of said plasma focus switch means being coupled to said second terminal of said inductor, said second terminal of said plasma focus switch means being coupled to said second terminal of said current source and to a first terminal of said load with said first terminal of said plasma switch focus means being coupled to a second terminal of said load; means for closing said plasma focus switch means whereby when said plasma focus switch is closed a current flows from said current source through said inductor thereby storing energy in said inductor and whereby a current flowing through said auxiliary electrode is interrupted due to a plasma pinch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
258 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 12, wherein said plasma focus switch means comprises: a cylindrical center electrode coupled to said second terminal of said plasma focus switch means; a cylindrical outer electrode surrounding said center electrode, said outer electrode being concentric with said center electrode spaced a first distance therefrom; an auxiliary electrode located a second distance from said center electrode, said auxiliary electrode being coupled to said first terminal of said plasma focus switch means; an envelope surrounding said anode, said cathode, and said auxiliary electrode; means for initiating an auxiliary arc discharge between said auxiliary electrode and said center electrode, said auxiliary arc discharge producing a flow of current between said first and second terminals of said plasma focus switch means from said current source; pulse generating means coupled between said center electrode and said outer electrode for supplying a high voltage pulse between said center electrode and said outer electrode, said high voltge pulse initiating a plasma focus arc discharge between said center electrode and said outer electrode; whereby said plasma focus arc discharge occurring between said center electrode and said outer electrode moves toward said center electrode due to magnetic forces and said plasma focus arc discharge produces an enhanced resistance effect between said center electrode and said outer electrode, said enhanced resistance effect causing a reduction in said plasma focus arc discharge and said auxiliary arc discharge; whereby said current flowing from said current source through said first and second terminals of said plasma focus switch means is interrupted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 13, wherein said plasma focus switch means further comprises: means for producing and axial magnetic field, said magnetic field having an axis which coincides with a central axis of said cylindrical center electrode.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 14, wherein said means for producing and axial magnetic field comprises: a cylindrical electromagnet, said electromagnet being concentric with said cylindrical center electrode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 15, wherein: said cylindrical electromagnet surrounds said outer electrode and is spaced a third distance therefrom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 15, wherein: said electromagnet is located within said cylindrical center electrode.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 13, wherein: said envelope is filled with a gas selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, deuterium, helium, and argon.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 13, wherein: said gas is under a pressure lying in the range of 0.1 to 10 TORR.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 13, wherein said means for initiating an auxiliary arc discharge comprises: a laser, said laser directing a pulse of coherent light in the vicinity of said auxiliary electrode and said center electrode.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
51 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 13, wherein said means for initiating an auxiliary arc discharge comprises: a trigger electrode located adjacent to said auxiliary electrode and said center electrode; and pulse transformer means coupled to said trigger for supplying a high voltage pulse to said trigger electrode.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
68 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 13, wherein said pulse generating means comprises: a capacitor, said capacitor being charged to a high voltage; and capacitor switching means coupled in series with said capacitor for selectively coupling said capacitor between said center electrode and said outer electrode; whereby said electric charge stored in said capacitor is selectively applied across said center electrode and said outer electrode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 12, wherein said high-amperage current source comprises: a homopolar generator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
81 words
An inductive energy storage system as recited in claim 12 further comprising: second switch means coupled between said first terminal of said plasma focus switch means and and second terminal of said load for selectively coupling said load in parallel with said plasma focus switch means; whereby said plasma focus switch means is opened with the closing of said second switch means thereby transferring the magnetic energy stored in said conductor to said load in the form of a high-energy pulse.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-09-26 | 1987-03-28 | 1987-09-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-09-26 | 1991-03-28 | 1991-09-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-09-26 | 1995-03-28 | 1995-09-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |