Stacked Spark Gap with Integrated Insulating Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing spark gap technologies face issues with follow-current flow during surge current loads, leading to thermal and mechanical stress, uncontrollable voltage distribution, and increased risk of external flashovers due to mechanical and thermal loads, which limits their reliability and adaptability in low-voltage systems.
Innovation Solution
A spark gap design featuring a stack arrangement of individual spark gaps connected in series with integrated control elements and insulating discs, using spring contacts and film hinges for secure and isolated connections, ensuring follow-current-free operation and controlled voltage distribution, thereby minimizing external flashovers and enhancing reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If additional control elements are connected in parallel to homogenize voltage distribution, then voltage distribution uniformity improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the control element and insulating spacer into a single integrated component. The control element is embedded within the insulating spacer, eliminating the need for separate control elements connected in parallel. This merging reduces device complexity while maintaining voltage distribution uniformity through the inherent capacitive effect of the integrated structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating spacer serves multiple functions: it provides electrical insulation between electrodes, maintains mechanical spacing, and incorporates the control element for voltage distribution control. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for additional dedicated control components, reducing overall device complexity while achieving homogeneous voltage distribution.
2Reliability
If ribs made of material with higher specific resistance are applied to electrodes, then spark transfer control improves, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the voltage control function from the electrode structure itself and places it in the insulating spacer. Instead of modifying electrodes with high-resistance ribs, the control element within the insulating spacer provides the necessary voltage distribution control, simplifying electrode manufacturing while maintaining spark transfer reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulating spacer with embedded control element acts as an intermediary between electrodes, providing voltage distribution control without requiring modification of the electrode structure. This mediator approach maintains spark transfer control while using standard, cost-effective electrode manufacturing processes.
3Reliability
If the number of partial spark gaps is increased to reduce residual voltage, then protection level improves, but space requirement increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the control element within the insulating spacer, and stacks multiple electrode-spacer assemblies vertically. This nested and stacked arrangement allows multiple partial spark gaps to be compactly arranged in a vertical stack, increasing the number of gaps without proportionally increasing the horizontal space requirement.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from horizontal arrangement to vertical stacking of partial spark gaps. By arranging electrodes and insulating spacers in a vertical stack configuration, the system accommodates multiple partial spark gaps in the vertical dimension, reducing the horizontal footprint while maintaining the desired protection level.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves reliable and stable operation with reduced thermal and mechanical stress, improved voltage control, and increased adaptability, allowing for more partial spark gaps within the same space, while maintaining a favorable ratio of residual to response voltage.
Implementation Method 1
each provided with spring contacts
Implementation Method 2
individual spark gaps having ring-shaped or disc-shaped electrodes
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2b
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a spark gap having a plurality of series-connected individual spark gaps which are in a stack arrangement, are separated from one another by dielectric discs (14) and are provided with a spring contact (13), wherein the individual spark gaps have annular or disc-type electrodes (12), and furthermore having control elements (11) for influencing the voltage distribution over the stack arrangement. According to the invention, the annular or disc-type electrodes (12) which are required to form one of the respective individual spark gaps are each inserted into one insulation body (19) and are held centred by it. The respective dielectric discs (14) are located between the insulation bodies (19), and are fixed by them. A recess is provided in the insulation body (19) in order to hold and centre the electrodes (12), and its shape is complementary to the contour of the respective electrode (12), with the recess having sprung centring projections (10) or centring tabs, which are at least partially flexible, on the internal circumference side.