Abstract: A high power generator for an ion discharge device used for the thermal treatment of metals in a rarified gaseous atmosphere. A variable width pulse generator is used to vary the input power to an inductance means. The frequency of the input pulses is held constant, while the pulse width is varied. An arc protection circuit is provided to sense and prevent an incipient arc across the secondary of the transformer. The arc protection circuit includes a voltage detector and a current detector with logic means to sense an under voltage-over current condition that presages the beginning of an arc. A second embodiment is disclosed which uses two circuits in parallel to drive the ion generator. One circuit is charged while the other is discharged. A third embodiment is disclosed which was a thyristor network for selectively loading the primary circuits of a pair of inductance circuits in response to an inductance-capacitance time constant.

Abstract: An auto-stabilized high power current generator which comprises a controllable frequency oscillator connected to a rectifier by means of a circuit including, in series, an induction coil, a measuring circuit developing a signal representing the current flowing between the oscillator and the rectifier, and a comparator for comparing the measuring circuit signal with a reference signal, and which controls the frequency of the oscillator to cause an increase therein when the measuring circuit signal exceeds the reference signal. The frequency of the oscillator is regulated by a switching circuit controlled, in the event the detected signal is less than the reference signal, by a timing device, and in the event the detected signal is higher than the reference signal, by the pulses delivered by the comparator. The invention is particularly applicable for supplying power to a process involving a discharge in a rarified gaseous atmosphere.