Patents by Inventor William R. Cravey

William R. Cravey has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6104022
    Abstract: The present invention is of a glow discharge switch operating in the low pressure regime where gas breakdown is limited by the distance between electron-gas particle collisions (pseudospark discharge). The invention utilizes linear discharge apertures (length greater than width) in the electrodes. The linear apertures provide significantly higher current conduction without discharge constriction than conventional round-hole pseudospark switches. A radial version of the linear pseudospark switch also is disclosed that provides for self-canceling of the magnetic fields induced by the discharge, and thus prevents discharge constriction and provides for very high current conduction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: TETRA Corporation
    Inventors: Christopher M. Young, William R. Cravey