Surge suppressor

• US 6,252,754 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2000
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TZI Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: TZI Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Chaudhry, Nisar A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Application Number:
  US09/567,301
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 361/120, 361/115, 361/127, 361/56, 361/58, 361/117, 361/119, 361/111
• 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. 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;

(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;

(c) 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;

(d) 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; and

(e) first and second 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.

2. 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;

(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;

(c) at least one temperature 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;

(d) 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;

(e) 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; and

(f) first and second 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.

3. 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;

(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; and

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

4. 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;

(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;

(c) at least one temperature 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; and

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

5. 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 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;

(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;

(c) 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;

(d) 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; and

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

6. 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;

(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;

(c) at least one temperature 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;

(d) 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;

(e) 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; and

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