KRYPTON-85-FREE SPARK GAP WITH A DISCHARGE PROBE

• Main Authors: SOMMERER, TIMOTHY JOHN, YOUNSI, KARIM, MICHAEL, JOSEPH DARRYL, TROTTER, JASON FREDRICK, RAHMANE, MOHAMED
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; French
• Published: 18.02.2018
• Subjects: AIR INTAKES FOR JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; BLASTING; COMBUSTION ENGINES; CONTROLLING FUEL SUPPLY IN AIR-BREATHING JET-PROPULSION PLANTS; CORONA DEVICES; ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS; ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; ELECTRICITY; GAS-TURBINE PLANTS; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES; HEATING; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS; LIGHTING; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; PLASMA TECHNIQUE; PRODUCTION OF ACCELERATED ELECTRICALLY-CHARGED PARTICLES OR OFNEUTRONS; PRODUCTION OR ACCELERATION OF NEUTRAL MOLECULAR OR ATOMICBEAMS; SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; WEAPONS

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a spark gap device that includes a first electrode having a first surface and a second electrode having a second surface offset from and facing the first surface. The spark gap device also includes a light source configured to emit light toward at least the first surface such that photons emitted by the light source when the spark gap is operated are incident on the first surface and cause electron emission from the first surface. The light source includes a discharge probe having a third electrode sealed in a tube filled with an inert gas. The spark gap device may not include a radioactive component.