U.S. patent number 3,755,715 [Application Number 05/296,578] was granted by the patent office on 1973-08-28 for line protector having arrester and fail-safe circuit bypassing the arrester.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Reliable Electric Company. Invention is credited to Richard A. Greischar, Milton A. Klayum.
United States Patent |
3,755,715 |
Klayum , et al. |
August 28, 1973 |
LINE PROTECTOR HAVING ARRESTER AND FAIL-SAFE CIRCUIT BYPASSING THE
ARRESTER
Abstract
A line protector has an arrester through which overvoltages on
the line of short duration are grounded. The arrester may be of the
type having an arc gap sealed within a gas tube. For an overvoltage
of longer duration, a pellet is melted causing a spring to close a
circuit bypassing the gas tube and provide a direct metallic path
from the line to ground. A secondary arc gap between opposed
conductors separated by an insulating sleeve has an arc-over
voltage that is greater than the normal arc-over voltage of the
first-mentioned arc gap and provides a path to ground for short
duration overvoltage conditions in the event of failure of the
arrester. Excessive current across the secondary arc gap may melt
the insulator sleeve and engage the opposed conductors for
grounding purposes.
Inventors: |
Klayum; Milton A. (Itasca,
IL), Greischar; Richard A. (Addison, IL) |
Assignee: |
Reliable Electric Company
(Franklin Park, IL)
|
Family
ID: |
23142636 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/296,578 |
Filed: |
October 11, 1972 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
361/120; 361/124;
361/131 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01T
1/14 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H01T
1/00 (20060101); H01T 1/14 (20060101); H02h
009/06 () |
Field of
Search: |
;317/62,66,71 ;200/146AA
;315/125 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Trammell; James D.
Claims
The invention is claimed as follows:
1. A line protector comprising means forming a circuit that
comprises in series a fusible solder pellet, spaced electrodes
forming an arc gap, first conductor means for connection to a line
to be protected, and second conductor means for connection to
ground such that an overvoltage surge of short duration at said
line will pass current through said series circuit for discharge to
ground; said arc gap being sealed in a cold cathode gas tube of
which said electrodes form a part; means including said solder
pellet normally preventing said first and second conductor means
being in contact, and spring means for bringing said first and
second conductor means into contact exteriorly of said tube to
bypass said arc gap upon melting of said solder pellet due to an
overvoltage surge of longer duration across said series circuit and
thereby provide a direct metallic path from said line to
ground.
2. A line protector according to claim 1 further including means
forming a secondary arc gap between said first and second conductor
means exteriorly of said tube, said secondary arc gap being less
than the arc gap in said tube and having an arc-over voltage that
is greater than the arc-over voltage of the arc gap in said
tube.
3. A line protector according to claim 1 in which one of said
conductor means includes a cup, said solder pellet and said tube
are in said cup, an insulating sleeve surrounds said cup, and the
other conductor means surrounds said insulating sleeve.
4. A line protector according to claim 3 in which said insulating
sleeve is perforated to provide an air gap between said sleeve and
said other conductor means.
5. A line protector according to claim 4 in which said other
conductor means includes a shunt member that surrounds said
insulating sleeve and a cap that surrounds and engages said shunt
member.
6. A line protector according to claim 5 in which said other
conductor means further includes a disc within said shunt, said
spring means is in said cap and imposes pressure on said shunt and
disc, said disc engaging said cup upon melting of said solder
pellet.
7. A line protector comprising means forming a circuit that
comprises in series a surge arrester, first conductor means for
connection to a line to be protected, and second conductor means
for connection to ground such that an overvoltage surge of short
duration at the line will pass current through said series curcuit
for discharge to ground; fusible means normally preventing said
first and second conductor means from being in contact, spring
means for bringing said first and second conductor means into
contact exteriorly of said surge arrester upon melting of said
fusible means due to an overvoltage surge of longer duration across
said series circuit to provide a direct metallic path from said
line to ground bypassing said arrester, and means forming an arc
gap between said first and second conductor means for providing a
discharge path to ground in the event of failure of said surge
arrester.
8. A line protector comprising a cap, a metallic shunt member
within the cap and being slidable relative thereto, a tubular
insulating sleeve within the shunt member, a metallic disc member
within the shunt member, a metallic cup within the sleeve and being
slidable relative thereto, said sleeve being perforated to provide
an air gap between the cup and the shunt member, a meltable pellet
within the cup, a cold cathode surge arrester tube within the cup
and having spaced electrodes respectively in electrical contact
with the solder pellet and the disc, said electrodes providing a
sealed arc gap within the tube that is greater than said air gap,
the environment within said tube being such that the arc-over
voltage is less than the arc-over voltage at said air gap, and a
spring within said cap for moving an assembly comprising said
shunt, said disc, said arrester, and said sleeve upon melting of
said pellet to cause said disc to engage said cup.
9. A line protector comprising first conductive means that includes
a tubular cap and structure slidably telescoped within the cap
coaxial therewith, second conductive means coaxial with said cap, a
surge arrester having opposed conductor elements, said first and
second conductive means being respectively connected to said
conductor elements to provide a current path through said arrester
from one conductive means to the other conductive means upon an
overvoltage surge of short duration across said surge arrester,
spring means in said cap urging said slidable structure toward said
second conductive means, and a fusible element preventing
engagement of said movable structure with said second conductive
means except on melting of said fusible element due to an
overvoltage surge of longer duration across said arrester, the
engagement of said movable structure and said second conductive
means forming a metallic current path bypassing said arrester.
10. A line protector according to claim 9 in which said second
conductive means comprises a cup, said arrester and said fusible
element being in said cup, and said fusible element is disposed
between said arrester and the base of said cup.
11. A line protector according to claim 9 in which said conductor
elements form an arc gap.
12. A line protector according to claim 9 in which said fusible
element is a current-carrying pellet in conductive connection with
one of the conductor elements of the arrester.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to line protectors for communications
circuits, such as telephone lines and the like.
The type of line protector with which the present invention is
concerned is one that is intended primarily for protection of wire
conductors and equipment connected thereto from electrical
overvoltage conditions which may result from lightning, electrical
power faults, and the like. Protectors for this purpose may take
various forms. Frequently, they are of the type that contain an arc
gap across which the overvoltage will be applied whereby an
overvoltage of short duration will cause conduction across the arc
gap to ground. After the short duration overvoltage condition has
passed, the protector returns to its normal or non-conducting
state. The arc gap may be in an arrester comprised of spaced carbon
electrodes separated by air, or the arc gap may be in a sealed gas
tube. The sealed gas tube arrester is essentially a cold cathode
discharge tube. Gas tube arresters have a much greater useful life
than arresters embodying carbon electrode air gaps.
It has been recognized that overvoltage conditions of relative long
duration can cause breakdown of the ordinary type of arrester
whether of the arc gap type or otherwise. With reference to gas
tubes in particular, it is known to provide various fail-safe
methods internally of the gas tube to protect the line in the event
of failure of the gas tube due to an overvoltage condition of long
duration. Arrangements of this type generally require nearly
destructive conditions within the gas tube in order for the
fail-safe mechanism to become operative. Such conditions can
frequently result in loss of gas and consequent loss of protection
before the fail-safe mechanism comes into operation. This may allow
damaging overvoltage conditions to remain on the line. Furthermore,
gas tubes with internal fail-safe arrangements often require an
expensive construction and various compromises as to electrode
materials, gas mixture and pressure, and the like, in order to
allow for fail-safe operation while at the same time providing for
normal short duration overvoltage protection.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide a line protector of
the type and for the purpose stated which has a fail-safe circuit
external to the arrester whereby an overvoltage of such magnitude
and duration as would be destructive of the arrester causes the
external circuit to close and form a direct path to ground that
bypasses the arrester.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a line
protector of the type stated that does not require any special or
expensive construction for the arrester unit.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a line
protector of the type stated in which the fail-safe circuit is not
prevented from operation because of a malfunction of the
arrester.
It is a further and important object of this invention to provide a
protector that has a secondary arc gap for discharge of current to
ground in the event of failure of the arrester.
In accordance with the foregoing objects an embodiment of the
invention comprises an outer shell or cap that is adapted to be
threaded into the well of a protector block or base whereby one
side of the protector can be connected to the line and the other
side can be connected to a ground terminal. Within the outer shell
is a shunt that forms a low inductance, high current-carrying
connection with the shell. Within the shunt is a conducting disc
that conductively engages one of the electrodes of a gas tube surge
arrester. The opposite electrode of the gas tube rests on a solder
pellet, and the gas tube and the solder pellet are within a
conductive cup. An insulating sleeve with a series of holes therein
surrounds the cup and is, in turn, surrounded by the shunt. The cup
is adapted to rest on a contact in the protector block. A spring
within the cup applies pressure to the shunt, the disc, the
insulating sleeve, and the arrester so that one of the electrodes
of the arrester bears firmly against the disc. The other electrode
of the arrester bears firmly against the solder pellet, which is
supported by the base of the cup. The disc is prevented from
engaging the cup so long as the solder pellet remains solid. On the
other hand, if the solder pellet melts due to an overvoltage
condition on the line of long duration the spring will cause the
disc to engage the cup and form a metallic grounding circuit of
high current carrying capacity bypassing the arrester. The
perforated insulating sleeve provides a secondary arc gap between
the cup and the shunt that has a arc-over voltage that is greater
than the normal arc-over voltage of the arrester but less than the
probable arc-over voltage of the arrester if the latter is
defective.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
FIG. 1 shows a sectional view taken substantially through the
central axis of a line protector constructed in accordance with and
embodying the present invention, the protector being shown in its
normal condition and being mounted in position in a block or base
assembly;
FIG. 2 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the
condition of the protector after the latter has been subject to an
overvoltage condition of relatively long duration;
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the insulating sleeve that forms
part of the present invention; and
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shunt member that also forms
part of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring now in more detail to the drawing there is shown a line
protector 2 that comprises a sheet metal shell or cap 4 having an
annular radial flange 6 that is axially spaced from the end wall of
the cap. The cap 4 has a cylindrical wall that is formed with a
thread 8 and a depending cylindrical skirt 10 adjacent to the
thread 8. The skirt 10 terminates in the open end of the cap 4.
Telescoped within and coaxial with the annular skirt 10 is a
metallic shunt member 12. The shunt member 12 includes a side wall
14 and an end wall 16. As fabricated the side wall 14 is of
somewhat frusto-conical shape (see FIG. 4) and is formed with
longitudinal cut-away or slot 18 that extends into the end wall 16
and to a hole 20 therein, for purposes more presently fully
appearing.
Coaxially positioned within the shunt member 12 is a tubular
insulating sleeve 22 that is formed of an extruded plastic of
suitable type. This may be a polypropylene modified polyvinyl
cholride resin. The insulating sleeve 22 is formed with opposed
internal ribs 24, 24 that extend longitudinally of the tube wall.
The sleeve 22 is also formed with an array of holes 26 that are
disposed in a pattern extending around the sleeve and also
lengthwise thereof, as best seen in FIG. 3. The wall thickness of
the sleeve may be of the order of 0.30 mm.
Positioned within the upper end of the sleeve 22 and also coaxial
within the shunt member 12 is an annular conductive disc 28. The
disc 28 is in contact with the shunt member 12 at the end wall 16
thereof and is also in contact with one of the electrodes of a gas
tube surge arrester 30. More specifically, the disc 28 is flush
against the electrode 32 of the gas tube 30 while the other
electrode 34 seats on a fusiable solder pellet 35 of annular
ring-shaped configuration. The gas tube 30 and the solder pellet 35
are housed within a conductive cup 36, the bottom wall 37 of which
supports the pellet 35. The side wall of the cup 36 telescopes
coaxially within the insulating sleeve 22. The ribs 24, 24 assist
in maintaining the cup 36 in assembled relation with the sleeve
22.
The gas tube 30 is a cold cathode tube in which the metallic
electrodes 32, 34 are inwardly depressed toward each other to form
an arc gap 38 that is sealed within the gas tube 30. By way of
example, the gas tube 30 may have a cylindrical glass or ceramic
wall 40 to which the electrodes 32, 34 are sealed at the ends
thereof. The interior of the gas tube 30 may be filled with an
inert gas or a radioactive gas such as tritium. Alternatively, the
interior of the tube 30 may contain an inert gas and a spot or
deposit of material 42 that contains a radioactive substance that
prompts ionization of the tube. The radioactive substance may be,
for example, promethium 147 mixed with a suitable inert binding
agent.
A coil spring 44 is coaxially positioned within the cap 4 and has
one end that abuts the end wall of the cap and another end that
bears against the end wall 16 of the shunt member 12. When the
foregoing components of the protector are assembled, there is a
friction fit between the side wall of the cup 36 and the insulating
sleeve 22 as well as between the sleeve 22 and the side wall 14 of
the shunt member 12. There is likewise a friction fit between the
skirt 10 and the side wall 14 of the shunt member. When the cap 4,
with the spring 44 therein, is telescoped with the shunt member 12,
the skirt 10 radially collapses the side wall 14, this being
permitted by the slot 18, which tends to close. A modicum of
pressure is applied to the side wall 14 by the skirt 10. The side
wall 14 is pressed against the sleeve 22 which in turn presses
against the cup 36. The spring 44 is in its normal expanded
position; however, the fit between the various parts is sufficient
to hold them together for normal handling and installation
purposes.
The protector 2 is adapted to be mounted in the well 46 of a
dielectric block 48. At the upper end of the well 46 is a metallic
contact plate 50 having an internally threaded annular flange 52
for receiving the cap thread 8. The material of the block 48 below
the flange 52 is also threaded for some distance so that the cap 4
may be threaded into the well 46 until the flange 6 abuts the
contact plate 50. At the bottom of the well 46 is a metallic
contact 54 that engages the base 37 of the cup 36. The contact
plate 50 and the contact 54 are suitably connected to binding posts
(not shown) or other suitable terminals whereby the plate 50 may be
connected to ground and the contact 54 may be connected to the line
to be protected, or vice-versa. In any event, a partial threading
of the cap 4 into the well 46 causes the cup 36 to abut the contact
54. As the cap 4 is tightened down to its final position, the
spring 44 is placed in compression. The disc 28 is of a diameter
approximately the same as that of the cup 36 but is axially spaced
therefrom due to the presence of the solder pellet 35.
Assuming that the contact 54 is connected to the line to be
protected and that line is subjected to an ovevoltage of short
duration, it will be apparent that this voltage will be applied at
the conductive cup 36. If the voltage exceeds the firing voltage of
the gas tube 30, an arc will appear at the arc gap 38 for current
discharge to ground. Thus, the current will flow to ground in a
series circuit that includes the solder pellet 35, the electrodes
32, 34, the arc gap 38, the disc 28, the shunt 12, and the cap 8.
When the overvoltage condition has passed, the unit is
automatically restored to its normal operating condition.
On the other hand, if an overvoltage surge of long duration is
applied at the contact 54 and hence at the cup 36, the current will
be discharged to ground as aforesaid. However, the excessive
current produced by the prolonged overvoltage condition causes the
solder pellet 35 to be heated to the point where the solder pellet
melts. The melting temperature of the solder pellet may, for
example, occur within the range of 93.degree.C to 149.degree.C.
When the solder pellet melts, as shown in FIG. 2, the spring 44
urges the shunt 12, the insulating sleeve 26, the disc 28 and the
gas tube 30 toward the base 37 of the cup 36, thereby bringing the
disc 28 into contact with the upper edge of the cup 36. This
condition now provides a direct, metallic circuit path from the cup
36 to the grounded plate 50 through the disc 28, the shunt 12 and
the cap 4. The arc gap 38 is bypassed so that the line is grounded
regardless of the condition or operation of the gas tube 30.
Ordinarily, however, the melting point of the solder pellet is
sufficiently low that the gas tube 30 is saved from destruction
when an overvoltage condition of long duration is present on the
line. To restore the protector it is necessary to remove the same
from the well 46, and then disassemble and then reassemble the
protector with a new solder pellet 35.
When the solder pellet melts the material thereof tends to be
confined within the cup 36 so as not to interfere with the other
functioning parts of the protector. Of course, the solder pellet
solidifies when the line fault is removed so that it is a simple
matter to remove it when the protector is disassembled.
It should be noted that the gas tube arrester provides continuous
operation up to and including the time that the solder pellet melts
to shunt the current around the gas tube. The shunt path has high
current-carrying capacity and is of relatively low inductance.
Moreover, the shunt path does not include the coil spring. This has
several advantages. First, the spring is not subject to heat
fatigue as a result of current flowing therethrough. In addition,
arcing across coils of the spring is prevented so that the spring
does not become an inductor to add to the impedance of the shunt
circuit. Also, explosive arcs outside of the gas tube during high
peak current discharges are eliminated. Such explosive arcs may
compress the spring and blow the gas tube out of the circuit,
thereby causing loss of transient voltage protection.
It should also be noted that the holes 26 in the insulating sleeve
22 provide an arc gap between the cup 36 and the shunt 12. This arc
gap may be considered as a secondary arc gap that has an arc-over
voltage that is greater than the normal firing voltage across the
arc gap 38 in the gas tube 30. At the same time, however, it should
be noted that the gap 38 is many times greater than the aforesaid
secondary arc gap. Therefore, if the gas tube should become faulty
as by a leak, the arc-over voltage at the arc gap 38 will then
become much greater than the arc-over voltage of the secondary arc
gap. Thus, the arc-over voltage across the secondary arc gap will
limit the protector breakdown voltage. This latter voltage will be
higher than normal firing voltage of the tube 30 but will at least
serve to provide some line protection. Also, should an extreme over
current condition result from prolonged arcing across the secondary
arc gap, the thin insulating sleeve 22 may melt at least locally so
that the shunt 12 is pressed against the cup 36. This forms a
direct metallic path to ground.
While the present invention is primarily concerned with arc gap
arresters of the gas tube type, it will be apparent from the
foregoing description that other types of arresters may be used in
some forms of the invention. Also, the fusible solder pellet may be
a non-metallic member that is melted by any known means as a result
of the overvoltage condition of long duration. Such means could be
a heat coil in proximity to the pellet and in series with the
contact 54 and electrode 34.
* * * * *