IP Library Granted Patent US 9,627,859
Granted Patent B2
US 9,627,859 · App. 14/381,559 · Granted Apr 18, 2017

Spark gap arrangement

Inventor: Peter Bobert (Falkensee, DE)
Assignee: EPCOS AG
H01T15/00H01T2/00H01T2/02H02H9/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,627,859
App. No.
14/381,559
Granted
Apr 18, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A spark gap arrangement comprises a triggerable spark gap (TF) and a trigger circuit (TRG), which comprises a first and a second charge store (C 1 , C 2 ), a first resistor (R 1 ), a triggerable dissipation element (SF, SF 3 , TD, TH) and a transformer (T 1 ). The trigger circuit is set up to intermediately store the energy of an input pulse supplied to the input side of the trigger circuit (TRG), wherein storage takes place at least by means of the first charge store (C 1 ). A part of the stored energy is transferred to the second charge store (C 2 ) via the first resistor (R 1 ). The triggerable dissipation element (SF, TD, TH) is set up to turn on on the basis of a voltage across the second charge store (C 2 ) and to discharge the first charge store (C 1 ) via a primary side (T 11 ) of the transformer (T 1 ). In this case, a secondary side (T 12 ) of the transformer (T 1 ) is connected to a main electrode (HE) of the triggerable spark gap (TF) and to a trigger electrode (TE) of the triggerable spark gap (TF).

Claims (28)

1. A spark gap arrangement having a triggerable spark gap (TF) and a trigger circuit (TRG), which comprises a first and a second charge store (C 1 , C 2 ), a first resistor (R 1 ), a triggerable dissipation element (SF, SF 3 , TD, TH) and a transformer (T 1 ), the trigger circuit (TRG) being set up

to intermediately store the energy of an input pulse supplied to the input side of the trigger circuit (TRG), wherein storage takes place at least by means of the first charge store (C 1 ); and

to transfer a part of the stored energy to the second charge store (C 2 ) via the first resistor (R 1 );

wherein the triggerable dissipation element (SF, SF 3 , TD, TH) is set up to turn on on the basis of a voltage across the second charge store (C 2 ) and to discharge the first charge store (C 1 ) via a primary side (T 11 ) of the transformer (T 1 ); and

wherein a secondary side (T 12 ) of the transformer (T 1 ) is connected to a main electrode (HE) of the triggerable spark gap (TF) and to a trigger electrode (TE) of the triggerable spark gap (TF).

2. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 1 ,

in which the storage of the energy of the input pulse takes place exclusively by means of the first charge store (C 1 ), wherein the trigger circuit (TRG) is set up to partially discharge the first charge store (C 1 ) via the first resistor (R 1 ) in order to charge the second charge store (C 2 ).

3. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 2 ,

in which the triggerable dissipation element (TD, TH) comprises a trigger diode (TD) and a thyristor (TH), wherein the trigger diode (TD) is set up to switch the thyristor (TH) so as to conduct on the basis of the voltage across the second charge store (C 2 ).

4. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 1 ,

in which the trigger circuit (TRG) also comprises a third charge store (C 3 ), wherein the storage of the energy of the input pulse takes place via the first charge store (C 1 ) and the third charge store (C 3 ), and wherein the trigger circuit (TRG) is set up to discharge the third charge store (C 3 ) via the first resistor (R 1 ) in order to charge the second charge store (C 2 ).

5. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 4 ,

in which the trigger circuit (TRG) is set up to charge the first charge store (C 1 ) and the third charge store (C 3 ) directly by means of the input pulse.

6. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 5 ,

in which the triggerable dissipation element (SF 3 ) comprises a three-electrode arrester (SF 3 ), in which a central electrode is set up to turn on the three-electrode arrester (SF 3 ) on the basis of the voltage across the second charge store (C 2 ).

7. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 4 ,

in which the trigger circuit (TRG) also comprises a fourth charge store (C 4 ) and a second resistor (R 3 ), wherein the trigger circuit (TRG) is set up to charge the third and the fourth charge stores (C 3 , C 4 ) directly by means of the input pulse, and to discharge the fourth charge store (C 4 ) via the second resistor (R 3 ) in order to charge the first charge store (C 1 ).

8. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 7 ,

in which the triggerable dissipation element (SF) comprises a switching spark gap (SF) which is set up to turn on on the basis of the voltage across the second charge store (C 2 ).

9. The spark gap arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 8 ,

in which the trigger circuit (TRG) has a rectifier circuit (D 3 , D 31 , D 32 , D 33 , D 34 ) which is set up to enable the storage of the energy of the input pulse on the basis of a positive half-cycle and/or a negative half-cycle of the input pulse.

10. The spark gap arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 9 ,

in which a further resistor (R 2 ) is connected in parallel with the second charge store (C 2 ).

11. The spark gap arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 10 , in which the trigger circuit (TRG) is integrated into a housing of the triggerable spark gap (TF).

12. The spark gap arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 11 , in which the transformer (T 1 ) is embodied as a high-voltage transformer.

13. The spark gap arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 12 , also comprising a further transformer (T 2 ) which is set up to generate the input pulse from a pulse present at a primary side of the further transformer (T 2 ).

14. The spark gap arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 13 , in which the triggerable spark gap (TF) is a gas-discharge spark gap or a gas-filled electrical surge arrester.

15. The spark gap arrangement according to any of claims 1 to 14 , in which the trigger circuit (TRG) is dimensioned such that a time interval between the appearance of the input pulse and the turning-on of the triggerable dissipation element (SF, SF 3 , TD, TH) is always greater than a predefined value, in particular is greater than 15 μs.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Mar 17, 2023
From: EPCOS AG
To: TDK ELECTRONICS AG
Reel/Frame 063117/0209 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 28, 2015
From: BOBERT, PETER
To: EPCOS AG
Reel/Frame 035737/0834 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2012 101 558 · Feb 27, 2012 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150130362A1 · May 14, 2015