Info needed: probably old military High Voltage Multiplier?

[HighVoltageRulezz]

Dear all-

I found something on eBay what seems to be a multi stage high voltage multiplier (military surplus).

Housing is airtight and made of plastic, inside from what it seems a capsule with silica gel and on the right and left side rows of white parts (doorknob capacitors?) with metal balls in-between, connection between these towers with black plastic tubes (HV diodes?).

Hard to take pictures of the inside setup...

It seems to be made for pretty high voltages and low currents (?). I have no idea at all what could its purpose might have been.

Any information on this unit would be really appreciated- especially when it comes to voltage /current ratings because I really do not want to destroy it! I will check tomorrow how many stages it has with a function generator and scope.

Thanks!
Roman

[Zipdox]

Searching for the part number reveals it's made by Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation.
https://www.asap-aerospace.com/rfq/sikorsky-aircraft-corp/5920001345713/65600-06033-041/
https://www.asapaerosupplies.com/rfq/sikorsky-aircraft-corporation/5920001345713/65600-06033-041/

[johnnyzoo]

Hm, for what purpose is high voltage needed in a helicopter...? The part name is just "multiplier assembly".

Turbine ignition?

Radio transmitter? Sounds unlikely, I think.

Flight instrument of some sort?

Or is it for some other purpose, not aircraft at all?

[Zipdox]

Maybe consider emailing the manufacturer?

[Alberto]

Hm, for what purpose is high voltage needed in a helicopter...? The part name is just "multiplier assembly".

Maybe electronic countermeasures

[T3sl4co1l]

Corona generator?  Outline looks like it's meant to be in the air stream.  Most aircraft bleed charge with passive emitters though.

Tim

[johnnyzoo]

Corona generator?  Outline looks like it's meant to be in the air stream.  Most aircraft bleed charge with passive emitters though.

Tim

Might be... I found this patent which indeed involves using a cascade multiplier to neutralize static charge in an aircraft:

https://patents.google.com/patent/US3260893A/en

Claims (1)

    8. AN AUTOMATIC ELECTROSTATIC DISCHARGING SYSTEM FOR AIRCRAFT COMPRISING SENSING MEANS FOR CONTINUOUSLY MEASURING WITH RESPECT TO THE AIRCRAFT FRAME THE POLARITY AND ELECTROSTATIC POTENTIAL OF THE ELECTROSTATIC FIELD IMMEDIATELY SURROUNDING THE AIRCRAFT AND PROVIDING AN ELECTRICAL OUTPUT SIGNAL WHICH IS A FUNCTION OF THE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE BEING MEASURED, D.C. HIGH VOLTAGE GENERATOR MEANS ADAPTED TO DELIVER AN OUTPUT OF EACH POLARITY, PROBE DISCHARING MEANS SUPPORTED EXTERIORLY ON THE AIRCRAFT, ELECTRICALLY INSULATED THEREFROM, AND HAVING DISCHARGING PORTIONS REMOTELY LOCATED WITH RESPECT THERETO, SAID PROBE MEANS BEING COUPLED TO THE HIGH SIDE OF SAID HIGH VOLTAGE