Patent · US Expired

Electric discharge method and apparatus

US5777867A · kind A · utility

13Cited by
18References
22Claims
0Family size

Assignees

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 7, 1996
Grant dateJul 7, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 7, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF02P15/10
  • WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

Herein disclosed are a method and an apparatus for supplying an electrical energy to a pair of discharge electrodes spaced apart from each other to cause an electric discharge in a gap between the discharge electrodes. There are firstly provided an alternating voltage generator for generating, as the electrical energy, an alternating voltage having a frequency, and a capacitor connected to the discharge electrodes in series. The alternating voltage generator has a series resonant frequency. The alternating voltage of the alternating voltage generator is applied to the discharge electrodes through the capacitor. The frequency of the alternating voltage is set approximately to the series resonant frequency of the alternating voltage generator to cause a dielectric breakdown in and allow an electric discharge current to flow through the gap between the discharge electrodes. Alternatively, the frequency of the alternating voltage may be approximated to the series resonant frequency of the alternating voltage generator, for example, from a frequency higher than the series resonant frequency.

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