Surge protective device modules and DIN rail device systems including same

US10734176B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Raycap, Surge Protective Devices, Ltd. · SI

Inventors

• Sebastjan Kamen{hacek over (s)}ek · Škofja Loka, SI
• Tadej Knez · Grosuplje, SI
• Igor Juri{hacek over (c)}ev · Izola / Isola, SI
• Milenko Vukotic · Ljubljana, SI
• Thomas Tsovilis · Ljubljana, SI
• Zafiris G. Politis · Athens, GR

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 25, 2019
• Grant date: Aug 4, 2020
• Expiry date: Apr 25, 2039

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01T4/06
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

A surge protective device (SPD) module includes a module housing, first and second module electrical terminals mounted on the module housing, a gas discharge tube (GDT) mounted in the module housing, and a fail-safe mechanism mounted in the module housing. The GDT includes a first GDT terminal electrically connected to the first module electrical terminal and a second GDT terminal electrically connected to the second module electrical terminal. The fail-safe mechanism includes: an electrically conductive shorting bar positioned in a ready position and repositionable to a shorting position; a biasing member applying a biasing load to the shorting bar to direct the shorting bar from the ready position to the shorting position; and a meltable member. The meltable member maintains the shorting bar in the ready position and melts in response to a prescribed temperature to permit the shorting bar to transition from the ready position to the shorting position under the biasing load of the biasing member. In the shorting position, the shorting bar forms an electrical short circuit between the first and second GDT terminals to bypass the GDT.