(under subclass 1) Subject matter having (a) two or more consumable electrode discharge devices, or (b) a consumable electrode discharge device having a plurality of cathodes and/or anodes included in the same circuit, wherein the separating mechanism for the movable electrodes operates to separate the movable electrodes from the other electrodes either (a) simultaneously, or (b) one of the movable electrodes is separated from its other electrode an instant before the other movable electrode is separated from its other electrode, so that the discharge is maintained only between one of the movable electrodes and the other electrode due to the difference in impedance in the two branch circuits containing the respective discharge devices or electrodes.
