Telecommunication protector unit with pivotal surge protector

• US 4,796,150 A
• Filed: 10/02/1987
• Issued: 01/03/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Original Assignee: American Telephone & Telegraph Company (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Rhines, Warren J., Dickey, Larry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Paschall, M. H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SALATA, ANTHONY J
• Application Number:
  US07/105,461
• Time in Patent Office: 459 Days
• Field of Search: 361/54, 361/56, 361/103, 361/104, 361/111, 361/117-119, 361/125, 361/331, 361/380, 361/386, 361/388, 361/427
• US Class Current: 361/119
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 1/14 Means structurally associated with spark gap for protecting it against overload or for disconnecting it in case of failure H01T1/15, H01T1/16, H01T1/18 take precedence; emergency protective circuit arrangements for spark gap arrestors H02H7/24
• CPC Class Codes: H01T 4/06 Mounting arrangements for a plurality of overvoltage arresters

Abstract

A solid state protector unit has a single voltage protection device shared by both tip and ring conductors to protect telephone equipment in a central office or other location from surges of voltages in either tip, ring, or both tip and ring conductors. The voltage device has a surge-suppressor sandwiched between two metal plates. Each of these pairs of metal spring clips retain a pair of diodes in contact with and on opposite sides of the two metal plates. When a voltage surge exceeds a predetermined threshold, the surge-suppressor turns on and permits a current to flow through it to a ground, thereby protecting the telephone equipment from voltage surges. Heat generated for a sustained period from the voltage device or from the current device will cause the current device to be grounded permanently.

Claims

1. Apparatus for protecting telephone equipment in a central office or other location against sneak currents or surge voltages by conducting said sneak currents or surge voltages or both to ground potential, said apparatus comprising

first and second sneak current protection devices, the devices being positioned along side one another,

a single surge voltage protection device extending between and being supported on and electrically connected to said first and second sneak current protection devices, and,

first and second springs positioned along side one another, said first spring urging one portion of said surge protection device against said first sneak current protection device and said second spring urging another portion of said surge voltage protection device against said second sneak current protection device, said surge voltage protection device being configured to be pivoted responsive to the operation of one of the said current protection devices and said spring urging said surge voltage protection device against said operated sneak current protection device.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said single surge voltage protection device is configured to maintain said electrical connection to both of said sneak current protection devices after being pivoted.

3. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein said surge voltage protection device comprises a dielectric shell within which is positioned a surge suppressor and first and second electrically conductive plates between which said surge suppressor is sandwiched, first and second diodes being positioned on opposite sides of said plates.

4. Appartaus as in claim 3 wherein said surge voltage protection device further comprises an electrically conductive spring clip having first and second arms that respectively make electrical connection with and press said first and second diodes into electrical engagement with said first and second plates, the plates in turn making electrical connection to said surge suppressor.

5. Apparatus for protecting telecommunications equipment from spurious voltages by dispersing a spurious voltage that appears on a telecommunications line to ground potential via grounding means, the apparatus comprising;

a dielectric enclosure,

solid state means located within the dielectric enclosure, the solid state means comprising a surge arrester and a plurality of steering diodes, the surge suppressor and the steering diodes being arranged to permit current to flow in a pre-determined direction to the grounding means for conveying the current to ground potential when the spurious voltage exceed a pre-determined threshold, the surge arrester having first and second surfaces,

first and second electrically conductive plates located within the dielectrical enclosure and making electrical contact respective to the first and second surfaces of the surge suppressor, and

an electrically conductive clip having first and second arms that respectively clamp a first of the steering diodes into electrical contact with the first plate and a second of the steering diodes into electrical contact with the second plate.

6. An electrical protector assembly for protecting a circuit against excessive current increases and voltage surges, the protector assembly comprising:

a grounding structure;

a dielectric base structure;

two input and two output conductive elements arranged in pairs and supported in the dielectric base structure;

first and second current responsive devices which sense excessive current increases and divert the excessive current increases to the grounding structure, the first and second current responsive devices being supported on the dielectric base structure;

a single surge voltage protection device which conducts voltage surges to the grounding structure, the surge voltage protection device extending between and being supported on the first and second current responsive devices; and

first and second springs respectively urging the surge protection device into electrical contact with the first and second current responsive devices, the surge voltage protection device being configured to be pivoted responsive to the operation of one of the current responsive devices and maintain electrical contact with both current responsive devices in its pivoted position.

7. An electrical protector assembly comprising:

a grounding structure;

first and second current responsive devices which sense excessive current increases and divert the excessive current increases to the grounding structure;

a single surge voltage protection device which conducts voltage surges to the grounding structure, the surge voltage protection device extending between and being supported on the first and second current responsive devices; and

means for urging the surge voltage protection device into electrical contact with the first and second current responsive devices, the surge voltage protection device being configured to be pivoted responsive to the operation of one of the current responsive devices and maintain electrical contact with both current responsive devices in its pivoted position.