IP Library Granted Patent US 9,941,691
Granted Patent B2
US 9,941,691 · App. 14/778,899 · Granted Apr 10, 2018

Arrangement for overload protection for overvoltage protection equipment

Inventors: Uwe Strangfeld (Nürnberg, DE); Bernhard Krauss (Berg, DE); Michael Waffler (Neumarkt, DE); Stephan Hierl (Neumarkt, DE)
Assignee: DEHN + SÖHNE GMBH + CO. KG.
H02H9/04H01C7/126H01H37/767H01T1/14H02H3/205H02H9/043H02H9/06
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,941,691
App. No.
14/778,899
Granted
Apr 10, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for overload protection for overvoltage protection equipment that has at least one voltage-limiting element and at least one voltage-switching element, and optionally with a back-up fuse, wherein the voltage-limiting element is in the form of a varistor and the voltage-switching element is in the form of a spark gap and these elements are connected in series. According to the invention, to protect against inadmissible pulsed currents, the voltage-limiting element in the series circuit has a monitoring spark gap, forming a bypass, connected in parallel with it. Furthermore, a monitoring device, e.g. a thermal monitoring device, is provided that bypasses both the monitoring spark gap and the voltage-switching element in the event of ageing effects, inadmissibly high mains voltages and/or low-energy, periodic, high-frequency overvoltages.

Claims (27)

1. An arrangement for overload protection of overvoltage protection devices comprising at least one voltage-limiting element (H) and at least one voltage-switching element (B) as well as a series fuse (I), wherein the voltage-limiting element is designed as a varistor (H) and the voltage-switching element is designed as a spark gap (B) and these elements are connected in series,

characterized in that

to protect the voltage-limiting element (H), a monitoring spark gap or a monitoring gas arrester (A) forming a bypass is connected in parallel in the series connection and a monitoring device (C) is further provided which, upon the effects of aging, inadmissibly high main system voltages and/or low-energy, periodic, high-frequency pulses, bypasses either only the monitoring spark gap or monitoring gas arrester (A) respectively or the monitoring spark gap or monitoring gas arrester (A) and the voltage-switching element (B) subject to the counter-voltage of the voltage-switching element,

wherein the monitoring device or the monitoring gas arrester (C) is structurally connected to the spark gap (B) and has a contact (D) which short circuits the series connection of monitoring spark gap (A) and spark gap of the voltage-switching element (B).

2. The arrangement according to claim 1 ,

characterized in that

the series fuse (I) is connected in series with the voltage-switching element (B) and the voltage-limiting element (H).

3. The arrangement according to claim 2 ,

characterized in that

the series fuse (I) is triggered by the bypassing to protect the structural elements.

4. An arrangement for overload protection of overvoltage protection devices comprising at least one voltage-limiting element (H) and at least one voltage-switching element (B) as well as a series fuse (I), wherein the voltage-limiting element is designed as a varistor (H) and the voltage-switching element is designed as at least one of a spark gap (B) and a gas arrester and these elements are connected in series,

characterized in that

to protect the voltage-limiting element (H), a monitoring spark gap or a monitoring gas arrester (A) forming a bypass is connected in parallel in the series connection and a monitoring device (C) is further provided which, upon the effects of aging, inadmissibly high main system voltages and/or low-energy, periodic, high-frequency pulses, bypasses either only the monitoring spark gap or monitoring gas arrester (A) respectively or the monitoring spark gap or monitoring gas arrester (A) and the voltage-switching element (B) subject to the counter-voltage of the voltage-switching element,

wherein same is formed on a circuit board ( 1 ) which accommodates the voltage-limiting ( 2 ) as well as the voltage-switching element ( 3 ), the series fuse ( 4 ), the monitoring spark gap or monitoring gas arrester and the thermal monitoring device,

wherein the thermal monitoring device is a solder preform ( 5 ) disposed in heat-transferring proximity to the gas discharge arrester ( 3 ), wherein a spring-loaded clip which triggers or effects the monitoring function is released by the melting preform ( 5 ),

wherein a wrap spring ( 7 ) is provided which produces the desired preload force and simultaneously constitutes a conductive part of the bypass, and

wherein the wrap spring ( 7 ) comprises two spring ends ( 8 and 9 ), wherein a first spring end ( 8 ) rests and/or is supported on the circuit board and a second spring end ( 9 ) on the solder preform ( 5 ) and the wrap body ( 10 ) of the wrap spring ( 7 ) is fixed on the series fuse ( 4 ) and in electrical contact with same.

5. An arrangement for overload protection of overvoltage protection devices comprising at least one voltage-limiting element (H) and at least one voltage-switching element (B) as well as a series fuse (I), wherein the voltage-limiting element is designed as a varistor (H) and the voltage-switching element is designed as at least one of a spark gap (B) and a gas arrester and these elements are connected in series,

characterized in that

to protect the voltage-limiting element (H), a monitoring spark gap or a monitoring gas arrester (A) forming a bypass is connected in parallel in the series connection and a monitoring device (C) is further provided which, upon the effects of aging, inadmissibly high main system voltages and/or low-energy, periodic, high-frequency pulses, bypasses either only the monitoring spark gap or monitoring gas arrester (A) respectively or the monitoring spark gap or monitoring gas arrester (A) and the voltage-switching element (B) subject to the counter-voltage of the voltage-switching element,

wherein same is formed on a circuit board ( 1 ) which accommodates the voltage-limiting ( 2 ) as well as the voltage-switching element ( 3 ), the series fuse ( 4 ), the monitoring spark gap or monitoring gas arrester and the thermal monitoring device,

wherein a slider ( 6 ) strikes the gas discharge arrester ( 3 ) and its solder mounting on the circuit board which triggers or effects the monitoring function upon the melting of the solder mounting,

wherein a wrap spring ( 7 ) is provided which produces the desired preload force and simultaneously constitutes a conductive part of the bypass, and

wherein the wrap spring ( 7 ) comprises two spring ends ( 8 and 9 ), wherein a first spring end ( 8 ) rests and/or is supported on the circuit board and a second spring end ( 9 ) on the slider ( 6 ) and the wrap body ( 10 ) of the wrap spring ( 7 ) is fixed on the series fuse ( 4 ) and in electrical contact with same.

6. The arrangement according to claim 5 ,

characterized in that

the slider ( 6 ) is preloaded in the direction of the solder mounting.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 19, 2022
From: DEHN SE + CO KG
To: DEHN SE
Reel/Frame 060546/0572 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 21, 2020
From: DEHN + SÖHNE GMBH + CO. KG
To: DEHN SE + CO KG
Reel/Frame 051651/0078 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2016
From: STRANGFELD, UWE; KRAUSS, BERNHARD; WAFFLER, MICHAEL; HIERL, STEPHAN
To: DEHN + SOHNE GMBH + CO. KG
Reel/Frame 039158/0204 →
Priority Claims (2)
DE 10 2013 006 233 · Apr 11, 2013 · national
DE 10 2013 019 391 · Nov 18, 2013 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20160204599A1 · Jul 14, 2016