SPARK GAP MANUFACTURING PROCESS Russian patent published in 2007 - IPC H01J17/20 

FIELD: gas-discharge engineering; development of hydrogen-filled high-voltage spark gaps.

SUBSTANCE: high electric strength of hydrogen-filled high-voltage spark gap is ensured due to its cycling in sulfur hexafluoride or its mixtures with inert gas and/or nitrogen in the course of its manufacture prior to introducing working gas. Cycling is conducted within 10⁵ breakdowns which is sufficient to attain uniform microstructure of electrode surface effective part. Spent gas is exhausted into atmosphere upon cycling, spark gap is flushed with hydrogen, this being followed by its filling with hydrogen to pressure affording desired dynamic stress.

EFFECT: enhanced electric strength and extended service life of spark gap.

2 cl, 1 ex