Surge suppressor

• US 6,188,557 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1998
• Issued: 02/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TII Industries, Inc. (Kelta Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: TII Industries, Inc. (Kelta Incorporated)
• Inventors: Chaudhry, Nisar A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Application Number:
  US09/197,820
• Time in Patent Office: 813 Days
• Field of Search: 361/56, 361/58, 361/111, 361/113, 361/118, 361/120, 361/124, 361/127
• US Class Current: 361/111
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6666 with built-in overvoltage protection
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/105 responsive to deterioration or interruption of earth connection for preventing switching-on H02H11/001
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/042 comprising means to limit the absorbed power or indicate damaged over-voltage protection device
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/06 using spark-gap arresters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/18 with means for reducing interference or noise; with means for reducing effects due to line faults with means for protecting lines

Abstract

Surge suppressor apparatus comprising AC power line overvoltage protection, telephone voice line overvoltage and overcurrent protection, high speed data line overvoltage and overcurrent protection and coaxial transmission line overvoltage protection, all tied to a common ground.

Claims

1. AC overvoltage protection apparatus adapted to be connected to an AC power line, an AC neutral and a ground for protecting against overvoltage conditions appearing on the AC power line without the use of a trigger device, the apparatus comprising:

(a) at least one MOV directly connected between the AC power line and the AC neutral, the MOV being normally non-conducting but becoming conducting when the voltage across the MOV exceeds a predetermined level; and

(b) at least one gas discharge tube connected between the AC neutral and the ground, the gas discharge tube being normally non-conducting but becoming conducting when the voltage across the gas discharge tube exceeds a predetermined level, the gas discharge tube substantially eliminating leakage current through the MOV.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one temperture sensing fuse connected in series with the AC power line and located in physical proximity to the MOV and/or the gas discharge tube, the temperature sensing fuse being normally conducting, but becoming non-conducting when the temperature of the MOV and/or the gas discharge tube exceeds a predetermined level.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

(a) an AC power plug adapted to be plugged into an AC outlet, the AC power plug having a first conductor for connection to the AC power line, a second conductor for connection to the AC neutral and a third conductor for connection to the ground; and

(b) a plurality of female outlets, each outlet having first, second and third conductors connected, respectively, to the first, second and third conductors of the AC power plug.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising:

(a) an AC power plug adapted to be plugged into an AC outlet, the AC power plug having a first conductor for connection to the AC power line, a second conductor for connection to the AC neutral and a third conductor for connection to the ground; and

(b) a plurality of female outlets, each outlet having first, second and third conductors connected, respectively, to the first, second and third conductors of the AC power plug.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 or 4 further comprising an overvoltage and overcurrent protection circuit adapted to be connected in series with a telephone voice line and to the ground for protecting the telephone voice line from overvoltage and overcurrent conditions appearing thereon.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising second and third overvoltage and overcurrent protection circuits adapted to be connected in series with a high speed data line and to the ground for protecting the high speed data line from overvoltage and overcurrent conditions appearing thereon.

7. The apparatus of any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 further comprising a coaxial surge arrestor adapted to be connected in series with a coaxial transmission line and to the ground for protecting the coaxial transmission line from overvoltage conditions appearing thereon.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 or claim 4 further comprising:

(a) an overvoltage and overcurrent protection circuit adapted to be connected in series with a telephone voice line and to the ground for protecting the telephone voice line from overvoltage and overcurrent conditions appearing thereon; and

(b) a coaxial surge arrestor adapted to be connected in series with a coaxial transmission line and to the ground for protecting the coaxial transmission line from overvoltage conditions appearing thereon.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the coaxial surge arrestor comprises:

(a) a hollow conductive housing;

(b) insulating ends adapted to seal the housing;

(c) an inert gas sealed in the housing;

(d) a conductor extending through the housing, the conductor having a longitudinal axis oriented in a direction parallel to the direction of signal transmission; and

(e) the diameter of the conductor being varied along at least a portion of the length of the conductor within the housing for matching the impedance of the surge arrestor to that of the coaxial transmission line.

10. The apparatus of any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the gas discharge tube is a two electrode gas discharge tube.

11. The apparatus of any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the gas discharge tube is a three electrode gas discharge tube.

12. The apparatus of claim 2 or claim 4 wherein the gas discharge tube is a two electrode gas discharge tube and further comprising a second temperature sensing fuse connected in series with the gas discharge tube between the AC neutral and the ground.

13. The apparatus of any of claims 1, 2, 3 or 4 wherein the gas discharge tube is a three electrode gas discharge tube and further comprising a second MOV connected between the AC power line and the gas discharge tube and a third MOV connected between the AC neutral and the gas discharge tube.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a temperature sensing fuse connected in series with the AC neutral and the third MOV.