US3576459A - Current limiting spark gap with means for regulating gap voltage - Google Patents

Current limiting spark gap with means for regulating gap voltage Download PDF

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Publication number
US3576459A
US3576459A US801552A US3576459DA US3576459A US 3576459 A US3576459 A US 3576459A US 801552 A US801552 A US 801552A US 3576459D A US3576459D A US 3576459DA US 3576459 A US3576459 A US 3576459A
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United States
Prior art keywords
arc
arcs
wall
movement
current
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Expired - Lifetime
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US801552A
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English (en)
Inventor
Eugene C Sakshaug
James S Kresge
Stanley A Miske Jr
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General Electric Co
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General Electric Co
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01T—SPARK GAPS; OVERVOLTAGE ARRESTERS USING SPARK GAPS; SPARKING PLUGS; CORONA DEVICES; GENERATING IONS TO BE INTRODUCED INTO NON-ENCLOSED GASES
    • H01T4/00—Overvoltage arresters using spark gaps
    • H01T4/16—Overvoltage arresters using spark gaps having a plurality of gaps arranged in series

Definitions

  • Neuhauser and Oscar B. Waddell 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.
  • this invention relates to electric current interrupters and more particularly to improvements in spark gaps for electric power s tem lightning arresters.
  • Conventional lightning arresters typically comprise a spark gap assembly unit series connected with a negative slope resistance voltage characteristic type of valve between ground potential and an electric conductor whose insulation is to be protected by the arrester against damage from overvoltage surges.
  • a lightning arrester at normal line voltage essentially no discharge current passes through the arrester and essentially full line voltage appears across the series connected spark gap assembly.
  • the spark gap assembly breaks down, or sparks over, and allows current to discharge through the arrester to ground.
  • the initial electrical resistance of an arc between the respective electrodes of the spark gap assembly is low, compared to the resistance of the gaps when there is no arc, most of the surge voltage then appears across the series connected valve resistance. Due to the negative sloped resistance voltage characteristic of this valve, the series resistance almost instantaneously drops to a very low value. Accordingly, the lightning arrester can discharge high current surges to ground while preventing'the line voltage from ex- ,ceeding a predetermined value at which damage to system insulation might occur.
  • the current limiting action of the gaps may be obtained by use of series connected magnetic coils and other means to force arcs formed in a spark gap assembly of the arrester to move rapidly into contact with the peripheral arccooling walls of the assembly and thereby rapidly increase the respective arc voltages or are resistance up to a relatively high value compared with the values attainable in similar gaps not provided with such are cooling means.
  • the advent of such current limiting gap action has made it possible to build arresters which will operate on DC circuits since such gaps can be made, by incorporating proper cooling means in them, to generate such a high are voltage that power follow current interruption in a DC circuit can be obtained.
  • a spark gap assembly constructed pursuant to the present invention is characterized by having arc containing chambers that are provided with means for regulating the movement of an are from horn gap electrodes in the chambers to contact with the arc-cooling peripheral walls of the chambers, in a manner such that high current arcs are prevented from contacting the arc-cooling surfaces of the walls. Furthermore at least some parts of the walls are shielded from the main arc chamber in a manner such that deterioration of the arc-cooling surfaces due to deposition and condensation of the erosion products in the arc chamber on them is prevented.
  • the arc movement regulating means comprises a block of insulating material disposed in each of the arc containing chambers between the horn gap electrodes and the arc-cooling wall surfaces of the chambers.
  • a primary object of the invention is to provide a new and improved spark gap unit.
  • Another object of the invention is to provide a lightning arrester having current limiting means therein, for maintaining relatively low but controlled arc voltages when arc current is high and for building high are voltages when are current is relatively lower.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a lightning arrester spark gap having improved durability and protective characteristics.
  • Yet another object of the invention is to provide a lightning arrester having a current limiting spark gap structure that prevents the lightning arrester from exhibiting excessive voltage due to development of high are voltages when high are current exists during the long-duration surge voltage discharge cycle of the arrester.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide a current limiting spark gap having means for preventing destruction of its arc-cooling surfaces by high current arcs discharged through the gap.
  • Still another object of the invention is to provide an arrester employing current limiting spark gaps in which the degree of current limitation is easily and accurately controlled for all levels of discharge current such that an optimum balance is maintained in the fraction of the total arrester energy absorbed by the gaps and by the arrestersnonlinear resistance valve.
  • a still further object of the invention is to provide an arrester for DC circuits employing current limiting spark gaps which are capable of discharging long duration, and/or high energy, surges while retaining its capability to clear current against the normal DC line voltage after the surge is dissipated.
  • FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of a current limiting spark gap assembly with its associated arc-driving electromagnetic coil and a block of negative-resistance valve material connected electrically in series therewith, and incorporating arc movement regulating means of the present invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a top view of one of the arc chamber defining plates of the spark gap assembly shown in FIG. 1, illustrating an arc in the initial stages of its contact with are movement regulating means constructed pursuant to the present invention.
  • FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the same spark gap plate shown in FIG. 2 illustrating the position assumed by an arc approaching the later stages of its contact with the arc-movement regulating means of the invention.
  • FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the same gap plate shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrating the position of an arc after it has moved into contact with the peripheral arc-cooling inner wall of the arcing chamber.
  • FIG. 5 is a top plan view of an insulating plate defining an arcing chamber similar to that utilized in the assembly of FIG. 1 but illustrating a second embodiment of the invention and also showing the position of an arc in contact with this form of arc-movement regulating means during the relatively early stages of an arc discharge cycle.
  • FIG. 6 is a side elevation view taken in cross section along the plane 6-6 in FIG. 3 and also showing an arc chamber cover plate of insulating material in its normal assembled position, wherein an arcing chamber is defined between the two illustrated plate members.
  • a spark gap assembly 1 comprising a plurality of insulating plate members 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.
  • the insulating plates 27 may be of any conventional form and they may be made of any suitable insulating material, such as that described more fully in U.S. Pat. No. 3,151,273 to Stetson et al., filed Dec. 27, l96l.
  • a pair of electrically conductive end plates 8 and 9 are disposed on the top and bottom surfaces of the spark gap assembly 1.
  • a block of nonlinear resistance valve material 10 is placed in electrical contact with terminal plate 9 and rests on a third terminal plate 11, which is adapted to be connected to ground potential.
  • each adjacent pair of insulating plates 27 are formed to define the wall means for arcing chambers therebetween in any suitable manner, such as that disclosed in greater detail in the above mentioned Stetson et al. patent.
  • each of the arcing chambers contains a pair of horn gap electrodes that operate to move arcs initiated between the respective electrodes outward therefrom into contact with the peripheral inner walls of the arcing chambers to increase the back voltage of the arcs and thus cause extinction of the arcs.
  • electrodes I2, 13, 14 and 15 electrically connected in series between plates 8 and 9 by a plurality ofcopper pins 16, 17, 18, 19, and 21 in a manner well known in the lightning arrester art.
  • the ends of coil 22 are connected, respectively, to pins 18 and 19 so that coil 22 is electrically connected in series with the discharge path formed by the electrodes l215 through the spark gap assembly 1.
  • FIG. 2 of the drawing there is shown the top surface of insulating plate member 3, which has a pair of horn gap electrodes 12 and 12a mounted thereon.
  • a preionizer device 24- which may conveniently, but not necessarily be constructed pursuant to the teaching of U.S. Pat. No. 3,223,874 to Carpenter, is shown electrically connected in parallel with a grading resistor 25 and in parallel with the gap 12b defined by electrodes 12 and 12a.
  • the preionizer device 24 is connected to pins 16 and 17 by any suitable electroconductive metallic means such as conductive straps 26 and 27, respectively.
  • the upper surface of plate member 3 comprises a generally flat recessed area 28 surrounded by a raised peripheral area 29.
  • the electrodes 12 and are mounted, and arc-stretching teeth 30, 31, 32, 33 are disposed around the periphery of the arc chamber in a manner more fully described in the above referenced Stetson et al. patent. It will be understood that any conventional means of defining an arc-cooling and stretching surface on the inner peripheral wall of an arcing chamber may be utilized in conjunction with the present invention without departing from its true scope. However, the castellated form of teeth 30-33 illustrated in the preferred embodiment of the invention has been found to produce optimum arc clearing results at high voltage levels.
  • FIG. 6 of the drawing depicts, in cross section, the arcing chamber defined in part by plate member 3.
  • the upper wall of this arcing chamber is defined by wall means comprising plate member 2, which is formed to fit in interlocking fashion with the raised peripheral portion 29 on plate member 3 and which is also provided with a plurality of castellated teeth, one of which is shown in cross section in the area designated by the numeral 34.
  • the teeth portions on plate member 2 are arranged to fit in interlocking engagement in the areas between the respective teeth 30-33 on plate member 3.
  • wall means 35 illustrated in FIG. 2 and in cross section in FIG. 6, are disposed in the arcing chamber defined by the wall means of plates 2 and 3 between the arc initiating electrodes 12 and 12a and the arccooling surface defined by the castellated teeth 30-33.
  • the wall means 35 comprises a boss integrally molded on the upper surface of plate member 3 and formed to extend substantially the entire vertical distance between the surface of depressed portion 28 and the bottom wall surface of plate member 2, as shown more particularly in FIG. 6.
  • the wall means 35 may be formed of either insulating or electrically conductive material, but in the preferred embodiment of the invention the plate members 2 and 3 are formed of porous insulating material and, since the wall means 35 is integrally molded as a portion of plate member 3 in this embodiment of the invention, it also is a porous insulating member.
  • the purpose of wall means 35 is to arrest the movement of a relatively high current arc outward from the arc establishing electrodes 12-12a under the in-

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  • Arc-Extinguishing Devices That Are Switches (AREA)
  • Thermistors And Varistors (AREA)
US801552A 1969-02-24 1969-02-24 Current limiting spark gap with means for regulating gap voltage Expired - Lifetime US3576459A (en)

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US80155269A 1969-02-24 1969-02-24

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US3576459A true US3576459A (en) 1971-04-27

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Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US3576459A (fr)
JP (1) JPS4923653B1 (fr)
BE (1) BE746281A (fr)
CH (1) CH498498A (fr)
DE (1) DE2005988C3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2033009A5 (fr)
GB (1) GB1283516A (fr)
SE (1) SE379896B (fr)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3663856A (en) * 1970-08-17 1972-05-16 Gen Electric Current limiting sparkgap with means for regulating gap voltage
US3968393A (en) * 1975-03-27 1976-07-06 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd. Spark gap device for a lightning arrestor
US4052639A (en) * 1976-01-13 1977-10-04 Joslyn Mfg. And Supply Co. Spark gap for achieving arc elongation and compression without the use of supplementary magnetic means

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2904893B1 (fr) † 2006-08-11 2008-10-10 Soule Prot Surtensions Sa Dispositif d'amorcage a deux electrodes pour eclateur et procedes correspondants

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2807751A (en) * 1955-02-18 1957-09-24 Asea Ab Spark gap stack, preferably for valve type lightining arresters
US3151273A (en) * 1961-12-27 1964-09-29 Gen Electric Current limiting lightning arrester with porous gap structure
US3223874A (en) * 1963-12-13 1965-12-14 Gen Electric Preionizer for use in overvoltage protective devices
US3361923A (en) * 1964-10-23 1968-01-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp Lightning arrestor magnetic blowout gap having radially positioned arc splitter electrodes
US3378722A (en) * 1965-10-13 1968-04-16 Westinghouse Electric Corp Series spark gaps arranged to produce a magnetic field
US3489949A (en) * 1967-11-13 1970-01-13 Gen Electric Lightning arrester with main and preionizing gaps

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2807751A (en) * 1955-02-18 1957-09-24 Asea Ab Spark gap stack, preferably for valve type lightining arresters
US3151273A (en) * 1961-12-27 1964-09-29 Gen Electric Current limiting lightning arrester with porous gap structure
US3223874A (en) * 1963-12-13 1965-12-14 Gen Electric Preionizer for use in overvoltage protective devices
US3361923A (en) * 1964-10-23 1968-01-02 Westinghouse Electric Corp Lightning arrestor magnetic blowout gap having radially positioned arc splitter electrodes
US3378722A (en) * 1965-10-13 1968-04-16 Westinghouse Electric Corp Series spark gaps arranged to produce a magnetic field
US3489949A (en) * 1967-11-13 1970-01-13 Gen Electric Lightning arrester with main and preionizing gaps

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3663856A (en) * 1970-08-17 1972-05-16 Gen Electric Current limiting sparkgap with means for regulating gap voltage
US3968393A (en) * 1975-03-27 1976-07-06 Tokyo Shibaura Electric Co., Ltd. Spark gap device for a lightning arrestor
US4052639A (en) * 1976-01-13 1977-10-04 Joslyn Mfg. And Supply Co. Spark gap for achieving arc elongation and compression without the use of supplementary magnetic means

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2033009A5 (fr) 1970-11-27
CH498498A (de) 1970-10-31
BE746281A (fr) 1970-07-31
SE379896B (fr) 1975-10-20
DE2005988B2 (de) 1979-09-27
DE2005988A1 (de) 1971-09-02
DE2005988C3 (de) 1980-06-12
JPS4923653B1 (fr) 1974-06-18
GB1283516A (en) 1972-07-26

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