Patent · US Expired

Laser triggered high voltage rail gap switch

US4401920A · kind A · utility

40Cited by
4References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 11, 1981
Grant dateAug 30, 1983
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 11, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01T2/00
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The laser-triggered high voltage rail gap switch includes two parallel electrodes in a high pressure environment of SF.sub.6 and Ar. A pulsed UV laser directs a coherent beam parallel to the electrodes to initiate multichannel breakdown in the gap between the electrodes. This breakdown occurs at a fixed time delay after the laser pulse. This breakdown is enhanced by including an organic additive such as fluorobenzene or tri-n-propylamine in the gas mixture.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.