David W Sanders

US Patent:

63311941, Dec 18, 2001

Filed:

Jul 8, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/889587

Inventors:

Stephen E. Sampayan - Manteca CA
Michael L. Krogh - Lee's Summit MO
Steven C. Davis - Lee's Summit MO
Derek E. Decker - Discovery Bay CA
Ben Z. Rosenblum - Overland Park KS
David M. Sanders - Livermore CA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department
of Energy - Washington DC

International Classification:

H01G 900

US Classification:

29 2503

Abstract:

A method for building hollow insulator cylinders that can have each end closed off with a high voltage electrode to contain a vacuum. A series of fused-silica round flat plates are fabricated with a large central hole and equal inside and outside diameters. The thickness of each is related to the electron orbit diameter of electrons that escape the material surface, loop, and return back. Electrons in such electron orbits can support avalanche mechanisms that result in surface flashover. For example, the thickness of each of the fused-silica round flat plates is about 0. 5 millimeter. In general, the thinner the better. Metal, such as gold, is deposited onto each top and bottom surface of the fused-silica round flat plates using chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Eutectic metals can also be used with one alloy constituent on the top and the other on the bottom. The CVD, or a separate diffusion step, can be used to defuse the deposited metal deep into each fused-silica round flat plate.