Arrangement for forced triggering a spark gap

• US 5,233,498 A
• Filed: 05/02/1991
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nokia Capacitors Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Capacitors Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Kansala, Tarmo
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Friedhofer, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US07/679,006
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 313/325, 315/36, 361/9, 361/10, 361/40, 361/58, 361/120, 361/129, 361/130
• US Class Current: 361/130
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 15/00 Circuits specially adapted for spark gaps, e.g. ignition circuits ignition circuits for internal-combustion engines F02P; electric spark ignition for combustion apparatus F23Q; protection circuits using spark gaps H02H9/06

Abstract

An arrangement for forced triggering a spark gap at a voltage below self-ignition voltage, which spark gap is divided into at least two sub spark gaps arranged in series, whereby voltage division components are connected in parallel with the sub spark gaps for effecting voltage division between the sub spark gaps. In order to obtain a forced triggering arrangement which is simple and reliable in operation, an element which is controlled to adopt a high-impedance or low-impedance state is arranged in series with the voltage division components, whereby the element, when adopting the high-impedance state, changes the voltage division between all the spark gaps so that one of the two series connected spark gaps arranged in parallel therewith is ignited.

Claims

1. A circuit for force triggering a spark gap at a voltage below a self-ignition voltage, comprising:

a voltage source;

at least two-series connected sub spark gaps connected across the voltage source;

a plurality of voltage division components;

a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding;

the primary winding and the plurality of voltage division components being connected to constitute a series circuit, the series circuit being connected across the voltage source;

a switching means connected across the secondary winding at times short circuiting the secondary winding for changing the impedance of the primary winding to adopt in the alternative one of a high impedance state and a low impedance state, said voltage division components being responsive to the high impedance state for igniting one of the at least two sub spark gaps.

2. The circuit of claim 1 further comprising a precision spark gap connected in series with an auxiliary spark gap, said precision and auxiliary spark gaps being connected in series with the primary winding and another of the at least two sub spark gasp.