Abstract:
A surge voltage arrester, such as a lightning arrester, is provided with a sparkgap assembly having a plurality of matched pairs of arc-confining chambers that are operable to regulate movement of arcs formed within the chambers of the assembly to prevent the assembly from developing undesirably high peak voltages when a surge voltage is discharged through it, and also to maintain the arc-quenching voltage rating of the assembly at a substantially constant value following repeated surge current discharges. A narrow passageway is provided between each of the matched pairs of arc-confining chambers in order to allow smallcurrent arcs to move between the two chambers while confining large-current arcs to a single one of the chambers, thus, one of the chambers is protected from exposure to destructive erosion and contamination by large-current arcs.
Abstract:
A current limiting spark gap that is normally operative to quickly lengthen and extinguish arcs formed therein is provided with a unique arrangement of its adjacent respective pairs of horn gap electrodes to afford an electromagnetic means for regulating the movement of arcs in the assembly. At least one electrode of a horn gapped spark gap is formed to have a sharply curved current conducting section that concentrates electromagnetic flux at a predetermined area in the arc-moving path of the current limiting spark gap adjacent thereto. The concentrated magnetic flux in this preselected area retards movement of an arc outward from said adjacent current limiting spark gap during the interval of time that a current in excess of a predetermined size is being discharged through the discharge circuit of the assembly.
Abstract:
A lightning arrester having a current limiting spark gap assembly with means therein for regulating the movement of arcs established within the assembly so that the arcs are prevented from building a high voltage when they are discharging a current in excess of a predetermined value. The regulating means are also effective to allow low current arcs to rapidly and consistently build high voltages.