A cross field switching device with a slotted electrode

Claim 2

A switching device, said switching device comprising: an envelope arranged to maintain a reduced pressure within said envelope; a cathode electrode within said envelope, said cathode electrode having an active cathode face; an anode electrode positioned within said envelope, said anode electrode having an active anode face facing said active cathode face, and positioned substantially equidistant therefrom; magnet means positioned with respect to said envelope, said magnet means being adapted to supply a magnetic field in the interelectrode space at an angle with respect to the interelectrode distance; electrical connections on said anode electrode and on said cathode electrode; a gas at reduced pressure within the interelectrode space so that upon application of a voltage to said electrical connections and ionization of the gas in the interelectrode space, electric current is conducted between said electrodes and ionizing collisions take place in the interelectrode space to maintain ionization; one of said electrodes being slotted so as to form a coil of at least one turn, leads connected to said slotted electrode on the opposite sides of said slot so that upon application of an electric pulse to said leads the magnetic field in the interelectrode space is affected.

Claim 3

The switching device of claim 1 wherein pulse means is connected to said leads from said slotted electrode, said pulse means being connected to cause an electric current through said electrode in such a direction that the magnetic field in the interelectrode space resulting therefrom is in opposition to the magnetic field resulting from said magnet means so that operation of said pulse means causes the magnetic field in the interelectrode space to decrease below a value where self-sustained ionization occurs.

Claim 4

The switching device of claim 2 wherein said electrode is substantially axially slotted so that said slotted electrode forms a substantially one turn coil.

Claim 5

The switching device of claim 2 wherein said slot in said slotted electrode is a spiral slot so that said slotted electrode forms a coil of more than one turn.

Claim 6

The switching device of claim 4 wherein said anode electrode and said cathode electrode are substantially cylindrical, and one of said electrodes is positioned inside the other of said electrodes.

Claim 7

The switching device of claim 5 wherein said slotted electrode is said cathode electrode and said cathode electrode is substantially a cyLindrical tube positioned exteriorly of said anode electrode.

Claim 8

An electric power supply system, said electric power supply system comprising: energy conversion means, said energy conversion means being for converting energy to direct current electric energy; an electric load; a direct current electric energy transmission line connected between said energy conversion means and said load to transmit energy from said conversion means to said load; a switching device connected to said transmission line to control transmission of energy from said conversion means to said load, said switching device comprising: an envelope arranged to maintain a reduced pressure within said envelope; a cathode electrode within said envelope, said cathode electrode having an active cathode face; an anode electrode positioned within said envelope, said anode electrode having an active anode face facing said active cathode face; and positioned substantially equidistant therefrom; magnet means positioned with respect to said envelope, said magnet means being adapted to supply a magnetic field in the interelectrode space at an angle with respect to the interelectrode distance; electrical connections on said anode electrode and on said cathode electrode; a gas at reduced pressure within the interelectrode space so that upon application of a voltage to said electrical connections and ionization of the gas in the interelectrode space, electric current is conducted between said electrodes and ionizing collisions take place in the interelectrode space to maintain ionization; ; one of said electrodes being slotted so as to form a coil of at least one turn, leads connected to said slotted electrode on the opposite sides of said slot so that upon application of an electric pulse to said leads the magnetic field in the interelectrode space is affected.

Claim 9

An electric power supply system, said electric power supply system comprising: energy conversion means, said energy conversion means being for converting energy to direct current electric energy; an electric load; a direct current electric energy transmission line connected between said energy conversion means and said load to transmit energy from said conversion means to said load; a switching device connected to said transmission line to control transmission of energy from said conversion means to said load, said switching device comprising: an envelope arranged to maintain a reduced pressure within said envelope; a cathode electrode within said envelope, said cathode electrode having an active cathode face; an anode electrode positioned within said envelope, said anode electrode having an active anode face facing said active cathode face; and positioned substantially equidistant therefrom; magnet means positioned with respect to said envelope, said magnet means being adapted to supply a magnetic field in the interelectrode space at an angle with respect to the interelectrode distance; electrical connections on said anode electrode and on said cathode electrode; a gas at reduced pressure within the interelectrode space so that upon application of a voltage to said electrical connections and ionization of the gas in the interelectrode space, electric current is conducted between said electrodes and ionizing collisions take place in the interelectrode space to maintain ionization; ; one of said electrodes being slotted so as to form a coil of at least one turn, leads connected to said slotted electrode on the opposite sides of said slot so that upon application of an electric pulse to said leads the magnetic field in the interelectrode space is affected.

Claim 10

The electric power supply system of claim 7 wherein said switching device is connected between said energy conversion means and said transmission line.

Claim 11

The electric power supply system of claim 7 wherein said switch is connected between said transmission line and said load.