Abstract: For a low-pressure gas discharge switch, at least two main electrodes are arranged at least a distance d from each other, the electrodes in an arcing chamber forming a cathode and an anode of a discharge path for the low-pressure gas discharge. The gas discharge is triggered by increasing the electron density in a cathode cavity, at least the cathode in its disk-shaped area having at least one aperture, the cathode and anode apertures preferably being opposite and aligned with each other, for triggering the discharge. An arrangement generating a magnetic field superimposed on the discharge between the main electrodes (1, 1a, 2, 2a) are assigned to the main electrodes (1, 1a, 2, 2a), with which either a predominantly parallel magnetic field is generated or a predominantly perpendicular one, with regard to the direction of current in the discharge.

Abstract: Contact pieces for vacuum switches with axial magnetic field are designed e.g. as cup contacts with slotting in the same direction which support a diskshaped contact body and have means for the suppression of eddy currents. According to the invention, the contact bodies (10, 20, 30, 40, 50) have, at least on their backside, radial areas (15, 25, 35, 45, 55) of markedly lower electrical conductivity than the base material. Such radial areas may be, grooves (15 to 18) on the backside (12) of the contact body (10), diffusion zones (25, 35) of additives reducing the electrical conductivity of the base material, or combinations of the two. If the contact bodies (40,50) are made by powder metallurgical methods, it is also possible to provide the radial areas during production as fillings (45) or as molded parts (55) of a material of lower electrical conductivity than that of the base material.

Abstract: A contact arrangement for a vacuum switch or vacuum circuit breaker having coaxial switch contacts with a high breaking capacity in combination with a low current chopping and with an axial magnetic field with locally different field strength being generated in the region of the switch contacts characterized by each contact member of the contact arrangement having at least one contact surface and one arc-focusing surface with that the contact surface being in a region of low field strength of the axial magnetic field and the arc-focusing surface being in a region of high field strength of the magnetic field. The contact surface is formed in an element of a low-surge material while the arc-focusing surface is formed in an element having a high breaking capacity. Due to the structural design of the contact surfaces, the breaking arc is always ignited in the region of the contact surfaces and the contact arrangement is suitable for vacuum switches with high short-circuit breaking current values.

Abstract: For generating an axial magnetic field, conductor loops are disposed behind the contact members in vacuum switching tubes. The terminals of these conductor loops are supported in axial direction by supporting parts having poor electrical conductivity. In order to reduce the mass of these conductor loops, it is provided that the supporting part be dimensioned such that it represents an electrical shunt to the adjoining conductor loop the electrical conductance of this shunt amounting to at least 1/4 of the electrical conductance of the conductor loop, the invention is suitable for axial field contacts comprising at least one conductor loop disposed behind the contact member.

Abstract: A vacuum-switching tube for a vacuum switch having two poles and producing metal vapor during switching, includes a housing having a metal vessel partially defining a switching chamber and at least one high temperature-resistant insulator disposed axially of the metal vessel outside the switching chamber, the insulator having a side facing away from the switching chamber and the insulator having a relatively small axial height being at least sufficient for insulating the two poles of the vacuum switch at given voltages expected in the vacuum-switching tube during operation, fixed and movable coaxial switching contacts disposed in the switching chamber, a shaft connected to the movable contact for moving the movable contact in axial direction, a device for shielding the insulator from the metal vapor produced during switching, the shielding device defining a boundary of the switching chamber in axial direction, accordion bellows disposed outside the switching chamber and adjacent the side of the insulator faci

Abstract: Overvoltage arrester having a gas-filled housing, including two overvoltage arrester electrodes disposed across from each other in the housing, a tubular insulator body spacing the overvoltage arrester electrodes apart from each other, a ring-shaped flange integral with one of the overvoltage arrester electrodes forming a first spark gap electrode, a ring-shaped metal cap forming a second spark gap electrode being superimposed on the first spark gap electrode and pressed in on the tubular insulator body, the first and second spark gap electrodes forming a spark gap having a given clearance therebetween, and a contact spring connecting the second spark gap electrode to the other of the overvoltage arrester electrodes.

Abstract: An impulse discharge lamp comprising a gas-filled hollow-cylindrical discharge receptacle, whose ends are sealed, vacuum tight, by respective electrodes, which are of disc- or cup-shaped configuration, and have an external diameter which is slightly less than the initial internal diameter of the discharge receptacle, with the electrodes having their peripheral edges rigidly secured, at the outer ends of the discharge receptacle to the internal surfaces thereof, and method of making the same.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for igniting at least one gas discharge flash tube having two main electrodes includes a chargeable flash capacitor connected in parallel with the flash tube and an electronic switch. These elements are connected to a voltage generator which supplies ignition voltage pulses and the electronic switch constitutes a gas discharge path for the flash tube. The voltage generator has such a low impedance, in particular a low inductance, that the ignition voltage pulses supplied thereby at least approximately adiabatically heat the gas discharge paths.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for igniting a gas discharge flush tube in which the flash tube is arranged in the circuit of a voltage source in parallel to a flash capacitor and the flash tube is connected to an ignition voltage generator which emits high voltage pulses during operation of the circuit arrangement. The ignition voltage generator has a low impedance, in particular low inductance, and the high voltage pulses produced thereby initiate ignition of and at least approximately adiabatically head a plasma channel in the flash tube. The ignition voltage generator is fundamentally capacitive. In one embodiment of the invention it comprises a second voltage source for charging a second capacitor connected in parallel with the flash tube, whereas in another embodiment the ignition voltage generator contains a piezoelectric crystal or a pyro electric crystal.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for igniting flash tubes, without using an ignition electrode, and having two main electrodes which are supplied with an ignition pulse parallel to a flash capacitor and an electronic switch, employs an electronic switch which also constitutes a gas discharge path. In particular the electronic switch may be realized as a flash tube.