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Re: [TCML] Spark gap quandary



On 2/9/12 4:47 PM, Weinhold Shannon L wrote:
Hello all.
So I was doodling some ideas for a rotary spark gap I am thinking of
building and an idea came to me.
I envisioned a rotary spark gap utilizing a electrode-less spinning disk
equipped with slots...fashioned in such a way so that the gap could only
fire when the stationary electrodes were aligned with one of the slots.
I'm thinking it could be pretty thin so that the stationary electrodes
would be in close enough proximity that they would naturally arc if
there was no barrier, and that the slots would be inset enough from the
edges of the disc so that the arc could not wrap around the edge of the
disk and make a connection during the break.
Seems like it would make for faster quenching (immediate) and the slots
could perhaps even be variable so that they could be tuned, allowing for
a specific duration of connectedness. (I believe you folks refer to this
as dwell?)
No flying electrodes to worry about cleaning or machining into a form.
Is it too good to be true?
(I get it named after me if it works...lol)



Yep.. it's been done. As the reference I recall said, "erosion of the edges of the gap is a significant problem"...

Howeer, that reference is from the 30s or 40s (probably RadLab series) and materials that weren't available back then are now available.

On the other hand, a burning arc is a pretty good approximation of a plasma cutter. (my favorite hand tool!)
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