Module for protecting telecommunication devices against voltage surges

• US 6,172,865 B1
• Filed: 05/18/1999
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Epcos AG (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Boy, Juergen, Krost, Norbert, Völkner, Winfried
• Primary Examiner(s): Ballato, Josie
• Assistant Examiner(s): Deberadinis, Robert
• Application Number:
  US09/314,735
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 361/119, 361/120, 361/115, 361/103, 361/124, 361/91.1, 361/56, 361/57
• 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 module is provided which includes two gas-filled surge arresters arranged next to one another in a housing. An auxiliary discharge gap and a short-circuit device is associated with each surge arrester. One side of each surge arrester is in contact with a plate, which forms the ground, as well as the stationary electrode of the short-circuit device. On the other side, the plate is in contact with two varistors which form the auxiliary discharge gaps. A cap, forming the movable electrode of the spring-loaded short-circuit device is placed on each varistor with a meltable spacer between them.

Claims

1. A module for protecting telecommunication devices against voltage surges, comprising:

an insulated housing provided with a cover;

two gas-filled surge arresters arranged next to one another in the insulating housing, each of the surge arresters having a first electrode and a second electrode;

a respective auxiliary discharge gap connected in parallel to each of the surge arresters, each respective auxiliary discharge gap including a respective varistor having two contact surfaces;

a respective short-circuit device assigned to each of the surge arresters, each respective short-circuit device responding in an event of an overload, each respective short-circuit device having an axially movable electrode and a counter electrode, the movable electrode including a respective cap and being held at a distance from the counterelectrode by a meltable spacer, and

a plug-in contact part leading to an outside of the housing, the plug-in contact part being associated with the first electrode of each of the surge arresters;

a common contact device leading to the outside of the housing, the common contact device including a plate, the plate forming the counterelectrode of both of the short-circuit devices, a first side of the plate being directly contacted by the second electrode of both of the surge arresters, a first one of the contact surfaces of each respective varistor being in direct contact with a second side of the plate, the respective cap and the meltable spacer of each respective short-circuit device being placed on a second one of the contact surfaces of the respective varistor, the meltable spacer of each respective short-circuit device being positioned between the respective cap of the respective short-circuit device and the second one of the contact surfaces of the respective varistor; and

an elastic,clip, each cap being electrically connected to the first electrode of the respective surge arrester via the elastic clip, the elastic clip securing each cap.

2. The module according to claim 1, wherein the cover is metallic, and wherein the plate is acted upon by a spring which electrically connects the plate with the cover.

3. The module according to claim 1, wherein the cover is formed for an insulating material, and wherein the plate forms the common contact device and is acted upon by two helical springs, the helical springs being supported by the cover of the housing and by the cap of each respective short-circuit device.