Failsafe surge protector having reduced part count
First Claim
1. A surge protector having a conductive line terminal and a conductive ground terminal, the surge protector comprising:
- a conductive first protection element electrically connected to the line terminal;
a conductive fusible element electrically connected to the line terminal, the fusible element having a predetermined melt temperature;
a conductive failsafe ground electrically connected to the first protection element and the fusible element; and
a conductive ground spring electrically connected to the failsafe ground and the ground terminal, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide at least a first electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts and to provide an electrical short-circuit path between the line terminal and the ground terminal once the fusible element melts, the ground spring comprising a first ground spring and a second ground spring, the first ground spring formed of a material having a greater electrical conductivity than the second ground spring and the second ground spring formed of a materiel having a greater biasing force than the first ground spring.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A failsafe surge protector having a reduced part count includes a line terminal, a gas tube assembly, at least one ground spring for biasing the gas tube assembly in the direction of the line terminal, and a ground terminal. The gas tube assembly includes a gas tube, a fusible solder pellet, a failsafe ground, an MOV, and an MOV spring. The surge protector provides a first electrical ground path from the line terminal to the ground terminal through the gas tube and the fusible solder pellet, and a second electrical ground path parallel to the first electrical ground path from the line terminal to the ground terminal through the MOV. When the fusible solder pellet melts, the ground spring biases the failsafe ground into electrical contact with the line terminal, thereby providing a short-circuit electrical path from the line terminal to the ground terminal through the failsafe ground.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A surge protector having a conductive line terminal and a conductive ground terminal, the surge protector comprising:
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a conductive first protection element electrically connected to the line terminal;
a conductive fusible element electrically connected to the line terminal, the fusible element having a predetermined melt temperature;
a conductive failsafe ground electrically connected to the first protection element and the fusible element; and
a conductive ground spring electrically connected to the failsafe ground and the ground terminal, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide at least a first electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts and to provide an electrical short-circuit path between the line terminal and the ground terminal once the fusible element melts, the ground spring comprising a first ground spring and a second ground spring, the first ground spring formed of a material having a greater electrical conductivity than the second ground spring and the second ground spring formed of a materiel having a greater biasing force than the first ground spring. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A surge protector having a conductive line terminal and a conductive ground terminal, the surge protector comprising:
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a conductive first protection element electrically connected to the line terminal;
a conductive fusible element electrically connected to the line terminal, the fusible element having a predetermined melt temperature;
a conductive failsafe ground electrically connected to the first protection element and the fusible element; and
a conductive ground spring electrically connected to the failsafe ground and the ground terminal, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide at least a first electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts and to provide an electrical short-circuit path between the line terminal and the ground terminal once the fusible element melts;
a conductive second protection element electrically connected to the line terminal and the failsafe ground, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide a second electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts; and
a spring having a first end electrically connected to the line terminal and a second end;
wherein the first protection element and the fusible element are disposed between the first end of the spring and the failsafe ground; and
wherein the second protection element is disposed between the failsafe ground and the second end of the spring. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A surge protector having a conductive line terminal and a conductive ground terminal, the surge protector comprising:
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a conductive first protection element electrically connected to the line terminal;
a conductive fusible element electrically connected to the line terminal, the fusible element having a predetermined melt temperature;
a conductive failsafe ground electrically connected to the first protection element and the fusible element; and
a conductive ground spring electrically connected to the failsafe ground and the ground terminal, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide at least a first electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts and to provide an electrical short-circuit path between the line terminal and the ground terminal once the fusible element melts;
a conductive second protection element electrically connected to the line terminal and the failsafe ground, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide a second electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts; and
a spring having a first end electrically connected to the line terminal and a second end;
wherein the first protection element is disposed between the first end of the spring and the failsafe ground; and
wherein the second protection element and the fusible element are disposed between the failsafe ground and the second end of the spring. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A surge protector having a conductive line terminal and a conductive ground terminal, the surge protector comprising:
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a conductive first protection element electrically connected to the line terminal;
a conductive fusible element electrically connected to the line terminal, the fusible element having a predetermined melt temperature;
a conductive failsafe ground electrically connected to the first protection element and the fusible element; and
a conductive ground spring electrically connected to the failsafe ground and the ground terminal, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide at least a first electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts and to provide an electrical short-circuit path between the line terminal and the ground terminal once the fusible element melts; and
a conductive second protection element electrically connected to the line terminal and the failsafe ground, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide a second electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts;
wherein the failsafe ground comprises a spring having a first end electrically connected to the line terminal and a second end; and
wherein the first protection element, the fusible element, and the second protection element are disposed between the first end of the spring and the second end of the spring. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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Specification