Surge arrestor apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A device for grounding an electrical surge in a circuit used in a railroad application, comprising:
- a grounding member having a high surface to cross-sectional area ratio for facilitating the low impedance conductance of high frequency electrical energy;
a plurality of conductors for the conductance of electrical signals from a power source to a load; and
,a plurality of surge arrestors electrically connected to said conductors and said grounding member for grounding any of such electrical signals to said grounding member when any of such signals exceeds a predetermined voltage.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Surge arrestor assemblies for railroad and like circuits utilize a high surface area to cross-sectional area, broadband equal potential grounding plane which is in the form of a loop. Surges are electrically coupled to the broadband equipotential grounding plane through surge arrestors. The assembly ensures that each arrestor "see'"'"'s" the same impedance so that the voltage seen at the equipment is controlled. The grounding member is supported in recesses in mounting blocks which maintain its planar condition, and which also facilitate the connections to ground, lines, arresters and equipment.
15 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A device for grounding an electrical surge in a circuit used in a railroad application, comprising:
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a grounding member having a high surface to cross-sectional area ratio for facilitating the low impedance conductance of high frequency electrical energy; a plurality of conductors for the conductance of electrical signals from a power source to a load; and
,a plurality of surge arrestors electrically connected to said conductors and said grounding member for grounding any of such electrical signals to said grounding member when any of such signals exceeds a predetermined voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A device for grounding surges of electrical energy in circuits used in a railroad application, comprising:
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a continuous conductive loop having a substantially equal impedance to ground at all points on the loop a plurality of conductors for the conductance of electrical signals from at least one power source to a plurality of loads; and
,a plurality of surge arrestors electrically connected to said conductors and said continuous conductive loop for grounding any of such electrical signals to said loop when any of such signals exceeds a predetermined voltage. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of grounding a surge of electrical energy in railroad circuits, comprising the steps of:
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tapping such electrical signal conducted through a circuit; electrically coupling such electrical signal to a grounding path when the potential difference between such electrical signal and ground exceeds a predetermined voltage; and
,conducting such electrical signal to ground along a grounding path having a high surface to cross-sectional area ratio for facilitating the low impedance conductance of high frequency electrical energy. - View Dependent Claims (13)
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14. A mounting block assembly for conductive elements in a railroad circuit surge arrestor sub-assembly, comprising:
a plurality of highly insulative mounting blocks, each including a top surface having a flat recess for orienting a flat grounding member therein, a bottom surface having a cavity for containing conductive elements, and a plurality of additional recesses located in such top and bottom surfaces maintaining a sufficient air gap between conductive elements mounted therein to prevent electrical discharge between such elements. - View Dependent Claims (15)
- 16. A mounting block assembly as set forth in 15 wherein said flat recess is the same depth as the thickness of said flat grounding member.
- 19. In electrical circuits, a low impedance equipotential grounding plane supported in a recess in a plurality of mounting blocks with a surface exposed for mounting surge arrestors thereto each at a fixed distance with respect to said equipotential plane.
Specification