Plug-type transient surge suppressor

• US 4,089,032 A
• Filed: 09/08/1976
• Issued: 05/09/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: William Dell Orfano
• Original Assignee: William Dell Orfano
• Inventors: Dell Orfano, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Moose, Jr., Harry E.
• Application Number:
  US05/721,196
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 361/54, 361/55, 361/56, 361/111, 338/20, 338/21, 338/220, 340/248 C, 340/250, 340/252 R, 339/14 P, 339/147 P
• US Class Current: 361/56
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 7/12 Overvoltage protection resistors series resistors structurally associated with spark gaps H01T1/16
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6666 with built-in overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/00 Coupling parts supported only by co-operation with counterpart
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/042 comprising means to limit the absorbed power or indicate damaged over-voltage protection device

Abstract

A compact molded case containing an epoxied surge suppressor circuit with extending male prongs and female sockets for interconnection between a wall outlet and a power cord for electronic equipment. The suppressor circuit has a varistor network and associated pico fuses for transient surge suppression. An indicator connected to the suppressor circuit provides an indication of circuit status.

Claims

1. A transient surge suppressor comprising:

(a) transient surge suppressor circuitry means;

(b) a potted body containing at least portions of said transient surge suppressor circuitry;

(c) a pair of male contact means connected to said transient surge supperssor and fixed to said potted body;

(d) a pair of female contact means connected to said transient surge suppressor and fixed to said potted body, one of each said female contact means connected to one of each said male contact means;

(e) ground means connected to said transient surge suppressor circuitry;

(f) a casing molded about said potted body, said male contact means extending from said casing, said female contact means and said ground means accessible at a face of said casing;

(g) said transient surge suppressor circuitry including a pair of non-linear resistive elements having symmetrical conductive properties, a pair of fuse elements and indicator means, one of said fuse elements connected between one of said male contact means and one side of one of said resistive elements, the other of said fuse elements connected between the other of said male contact means and the other side of said one resistive element, one side of the other resistive element connected to the other side of said one resistive element, the other side of said other resistive element connected to said ground means, said indicator means connected across said one resistive element.

2. The transient surge suppressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said potted body is composed of a room temperature cured epoxy having low thermal conductivity properties.

3. The transient surge suppressor as claimed in claim 1 wherein each said male contact means includes a pair of male prongs and said each female contact means includes a pair of female sockets, one of said male prongs connected to one of said female sockets, the other of said male prongs connected to the other of said female sockets.

4. The transient surge suppressor as claimed in claim 3 wherein said ground means includes a ground socket and a ground wire having a terminal at one end, said ground socket connected to said ground wire.

5. The transient surge suppressor as claimed in claim 3 wherein said ground means includes a ground socket, said male prongs extending from one face of said casing, said female sockets and said ground socket accessible to another face of said casing.

6. A transient surge suppressor device configured to be inserted into a wall outlet and interconnected with a line cord having a male plug, said device comprising:

(a) transient surge suppressor circuitry means including a pair of varistors, a pair of pico fuses, a resistor, a zener diode and a light emitting diode;

(b) a potted body encapsulating said varistors, said pico fuses, said resistor, said zener diode and at least a portion of said light emitting diode;

(c) first and second contact members fixed to said potted body, each said contact member having a first end portion constituting a male prong and a second end portion constituting a female socket, said male prongs configured to be received within said wall outlet, said female sockets configured to receive said male plug;

(d) a casing molded about said potted body, said male prongs extending from said casing, said female sockets accessible at a face of said casing; and

(e) ground means connected to said transient surge suppressore circuitry;

(f) one side of one of said pico fuses connected to said first contact member, one side of the other of said pico fuses connected to said second contact member, one side of one of said varistors connected to the other side of said one pico fuse, the other side of said one varistor connected to the other side of said other pico fuse and one side of the other of said varistors, the other side of said other varistor connected to said ground means, said resistor connected between said other side of said one pico fuse and the anode of said zener diode, the cathode of said zener diode connected to said other side of said one varistor, said light emitting diode connected across said zener diode.

7. The transient surge suppressor device as claimed in claim 6 wherein said potted body is composed of a room temperature cured epoxy having low thermal conductivity properties and said molded case is composed of polyvinyl chloride.

8. A transient surge suppressor comprising:

(a) transient surge suppressor circuitry means;

(b) a potted body containing at least portions of said transient surge suppressor circuitry;

(c) male contact means connected to said transient surge suppressor and fixed to said potted body;

(d) female contact means connected to said transient surge suppressor and fixed to said potted body, said female contact means connected to said male contact means;

(e) a casing molded about said potted body, said male contact means extending from said casing, said female contact means accessible at a face of said casing;

(f) said male contact means including a pair of male prongs and said female contact means includes a pair of female sockets, one of said male prongs connected to one of said female sockets, the other of said male prongs connected to the other of said female sockets; and

(g) a ground socket, said male prongs extending from one face of said casing, said female socket and said ground socket accessible at another face of said casing;

(h) said surge suppressor circuitry means including a pair of voltage dependent, non-linear resistive elements having symmetrical conductive properties, a pair of fuse elements and indicator means, said non-linear resistive element, said fuse elements and at least a portion of said indicating means contained within said potted body, one of said non-linear resistive elements connected between said one male prong, said one female socket and said other male prong, said other female socket, the other of said non-linear resistive elements connected between said other male prong, said other female socket and said ground socket, one of said fuse elements connected in series between said one male prong, said one female socket and one side of said one non-linear resistive element, the other of said fuse elements connected in series between said other male prong, said other female socket and another side of said one non-linear resistive element, said indicator means connected across said one non-linear resistive element.

9. A transient surge suppressor comprising:

(a) first and second contact means;

(b) ground means;

(c) first and second voltage dependent, non-linear resistive element means;

(d) first and second interruption means, said first interruption means connected between said first contact means and one side of said first resistive element means, said second interruption means connected between said second contact means and the other side of said first resistive element means, said second resistive element means connected between said other side of said first resistive element means and said ground means, each of said first and said second interruption means having closed and opened states, a first electrical path established between said first contact means and said one side of said first resistive element means when said first interruption means is in its closed state, a second electrical path established between said second contact means and said other side of said first resistive element means when said second interruption means is in its closed state, said first electrical path broken when said first interruption means is in its opened state, said second electrical path broken when said second interruption means is in its opened state; and

(e) indicator means connected across said first resistive element means.