[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]

gaps'n'caps



Just a thought here...

In using a rotary gap, in moving the rotating electrodes past and away
from the stationary electrodes, quench ought to be acheived when enough
distance has separated the points.  I'm considering construction using
the same RPM motor as has shown good results, using the same number of
rotating electrodes, but by using simple geometry to come to this
conclusion, increase the diameter of the wheel that these parts are
integral to, in order to move each orbiting electrode a greater distance
per number of degrees that the motor has turned.  This should give me
less contact time, and a quicker quench as the electrodes move farther
in their travels (circumference) as the radius increases.

Also it seems that a larger disk should be steadier in its motion,
considering gyroscopic effects.

Any thoughts on this?

Also, I've considered using a porous (absorbent) material between cap
foils, which when it soaks up the dial-x oil should provide adequate
insulation (dielectric) between layers.  (thinking: if a pinhole in the
polyethylene {original cap design} were filled with the oil, would it
not maintain the integrity of the capacitor?)  Unless I'm overlooking
something brutally obvious, it seems that something like cotton fabric,
which by its nature is full of holes, could even be used as long as the
oil completely soaked into it.  

This may be a "ridiculable" idea, (as was the hand-held calculator, 30
years ago), and I am open to ridicule and suggestions as to whether or
not this line of thought bears further investigation.  I can see a
number of advantages to working with a fabric, over polyethylene...

doug