Abstract: A low voltage arc flash switch includes a sealed housing and gas insulation within the sealed housing. A plurality of conductors include a number of gaps therebetween within the sealed housing. A triggering mechanism is structured to cause a breakdown of the number of gaps.

Abstract: A discharge tube is disclosed that includes: an airtight tube having first and second end surfaces each including a metallized surface; first and second discharge electrodes joined to the respective metallized surfaces; and multiple trigger lines formed on the inner wall surface of the airtight tube to extend along the axial directions of the airtight tube. The first and second discharge electrodes are joined to the metallized surfaces so that a discharge gap is formed between the first and second discharge electrodes and the airtight tube is hermetically sealed. The trigger lines include one or more first trigger lines connected to the metallized surfaces and multiple second trigger lines isolated from the metallized surfaces. The second trigger lines are formed at equal intervals on the inner wall surface of the airtight tube and each first trigger line is formed between a corresponding pair of the second trigger lines.

Abstract: A night-vision optical device of the invention with controlled life expectancy contains a time measuring device built into the housing of the aforementioned device for measuring the accumulated time of active work of the device. In application to a night scope for a firearm, the device also contains a sensor, which is interlocked with activation of the scope and reacts on the shots produced from the firearm in general and separately on those shots produced during active work of the night-vision optics at nighttime. The aforementioned shots of both types are counted and stored in separate memory units. The night-time shots affects the life expectancy of the night-vision optics because of muzzle flashes which cause such devices as an image intensifier to work with an increased light load. The information obtained from the time measuring device and the shot counter makes it possible to timely receive a warning signal about the fact that the night optics or the entire firearm must be replaced.

Abstract: An electrical discharge tube comprises a cylindrical body, made of insulating material, having an inner surface, and having end faces defining respective openings. Metallized layers are formed on the respective end faces of the cylindrical body and are substantially parallel to each other. Electrodes airtightly close the respective openings by means of the metallized layers and have respective electrical discharge faces, between which an electrical discharge gap is defined. At least one first electrical discharge trigger wire is formed as a loop on the inner surface of the cylindrical body and extends substantially in parallel to the metallized layers along a first surface located within a range of the electrical discharge gap.

Abstract: A switch for switching large currents and large charges includes an anode separated from a cathode with a cylindrical trigger electrode located around the anode and the gap. The cathode is of a metal such as zinc, cadmium, tin or magnesium. During operation, a suitable potential applied to the trigger electrode causes a main discharge to occur between the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: A cold cathode vacuum discharge tube, and method for making same, with an interior surface of the trigger probe coated with carbon deposited by carbon vapor deposition (CVD) or diamond-like carbon (DLC) deposition. Preferably a solid graphite insert is employed in the probe-cathode structure in place of an aluminum bushing employed in the prior art. The CVD or DLC probe face is laser scribed to allow resistance trimming to match available trigger voltage signals and to reduce electrical aging.

Abstract: According to the present invention there is provided a discharge cathode device comprising: a substrate, an Al layer formed on the substrate, and a layer of hexabonide of either lanthanum, a lanthanide or yttnium formed on the Al layer. There is also provided a method for manufacturing the same and a gas discharge display device having the same. This cathode device including a multilayer structure exhibits excellent conductivity, flexibility, and thermal oxidation resistance and also can be produced at low cost. The gas discharge display device achieves superior insulation and can be produced with a small number of steps.

Abstract: A gas tube protector includes a new coating for the electrodes. The coating, which eliminates the need for conditioning the electrodes prior to using or testing the protector, includes barium titanate and titanium.

Abstract: A surge voltage protector having a tubular ceramic part as an insulator, and having metal electrodes soldered onto the end faces thereof. Each electrode is electrically connected in each case to an ignition aid applied at least to the inside wall of the ceramic part. The inside edges of the surfaces joining the ceramic part to the electrodes are each provided with a chamfer whose chamfer angle is 15.degree. to 60.degree. relative to the plane of the joining surfaces. The width projected onto the plane of the joining surface is 0.05 to 0.4 mm.

Abstract: A triggerable switching spark gap has two main electrodes, which are insulated from each other, and a galvanically controllable trigger electrode, which is configured in the center of a circular opening of one main electrode. A clearance (a) between the two main electrodes is greater by the factor 1.1 to 2.3, preferably by the factor 1.4 to 1.7, than the width (b) of the ring gap between the trigger electrode and the corresponding main electrode. Furthermore, the circumferential edge of the trigger electrode (6) arranged to be flush with the discharge surface of the corresponding main electrode has a radius of curvature less than or equal to 0.1 mm and the trigger electrode and the corresponding main electrode are coated with a silver-containing activating mass. The delay time of the switching spark gap is able to be reduced to values less than or equal to 0.5 .mu.s.

Abstract: A gas-discharge switch with a cold-cathode low-pressure gas discharge between the cathode and the anode has a discharge gap in a central discharge region of a discharge chamber. The maximum inside height of the discharge chamber determines the length of the discharge gap. In the discharge region, the inner surface of the discharge chamber is closed. Outside of the discharge region, the cathode is provided with at least one opening. This results in a gas-discharge switch with a short delay, low jitter and little voltage dependence with constant pressure.

Abstract: In order to ensure that the ignition voltage does not depend on whether a sark gap component is shielded or unshielded, a ring-shaped control electrode that makes electrical contact with the electrode not at ground potential is mounted adjacent to or on to the outer circumference of the insulator at an axial level almost equal to that of the active surface of the electrode not at ground potential. The control electrode comprises of either a metallic coating, a band-shaped strip, or a metal cap.

Abstract: A gas discharge switch that has at least two coaxial electrodes which are provided with coaxial holes and form in a central discharge region, a gas discharge path, and an insulating region at their edges. The spacing D in an axial direction of the electrodes is larger than the spacing d.sub.1 of the electrodes at the inner edge of a washer-like insulator in the insulating region. The electrodes are respectively connected to one of the flat sides of the insulator, and the spacing d.sub.1 is at least as large as the spacing d.sub.2 of the electrodes in a shielding region that is formed between the insulating region and the discharge region. A shield that shields the insulator from the discharge region is provided.

Abstract: A discharge tube for an ignition apparatus is composed of a tube-shaped casing made of electrical insulating material which is closed at both end parts with end members, the end members have openings which are smaller in diameter than the inner diameter of the casing, both the openings are sealed by metallic sealing members, respectively, and a thickness of the wall of the casing, an inner diameter and an outer diameter of the casing and a distance between both the end members are restricted within predetermined ranges.

Abstract: A discharge lamp comprises an HPS discharge device within an outer envelope filled with inert gas. A normally nonconductive spark gap device within the outer envelope is connected across conductors used to apply a voltage to the HPS discharge device. The spark gap breaks down when the applied voltage exceeds a certain value to prevent breakdown through the inert gas within the outer envelope.

Abstract: A gas discharge switch that has at least two coaxial electrodes which are provided with coaxial holes and form in a central discharge region, a gas discharge path, and an insulating region at their edges. The spacing D in an axial direction of the electrodes is larger than the spacing d.sub.1 of the electrodes at the inner edge of a washer-like insulator in the insulating region. The electrodes are respectively connected to one of the flat sides of the insulator, and the spacing d.sub.1 is at least as large as the spacing d.sub.2 of the electrodes in a shielding region that is formed between the insulating region and the discharge region. A shield that shields the insulator from the discharge region is provided.

Abstract: A particular gas mixture (90% N.sub.2 +10% Xe) in a triggerable spark gap discharger is disclosed which allows the spark gap to be triggered with a low main-gap voltage over a much wider range of trigger voltages (e.g., 16-30 or more kV), than with nitrogen (e.g., 19-22 kV) or other commonly used gases and mixtures. The improvement is important where triggerable spark gaps are used in protective circuits.

Abstract: A monolithic microwave integrated circuit is enclosed within an ionizable gas filled housing having a terminal protection device integral with the circuit's substrate. A photon generating region extends within the substrate and along a portion of the surface area of the substrate for facilitating the ionizing of the gas. First and second electrodes, in contact with the substrate surface area and disposed on opposite sides of the photon generating region, have a plurality of cantilevered protrusions extending over the surface of the substrate and equally spaced from one another forming spark-gaps therebetween. One electrode is connected to an input to the device while the other is connected to ground.

Abstract: A cold-cathode ionization or Penning vacuum meter with an ignition system to increase the meter's usefulness at very low pressures. The ignition system comprises an additional anode and at least one additional cathode mounted adjacent to the primary, measuring, cathode and anode and within the same magnetic field as the primary cathode and anode. The at least one additional cathode and the anode are substantially smaller than the measuring cathode and the anode and serve to ignite or start the ionization of the atomosphere whose pressure needs to be measured.

Abstract: A self pumping spark gap that switches high voltage current in large amou and provides for a flow of gas by use of one way valves. The valves open and close in accordance with changes in pressure experienced during the sparking sequence.

Abstract: A vacuum switch with an isolated trigger probe which is not directly connected to the switching electrodes. The vacuum switch within the plasmatron is triggered by plasma expansion initiated by the trigger probe which travels through an opening to reach the vacuum switch elements. The plasma arc created is directed by the opening to the space between the anode and cathode of the vacuum switch to cause conduction.