Patent · US Expired

Plug-in transient voltage suppressor module

US5010438A · kind A · utility

54Cited by
10References
20Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 16, 1989
Grant dateApr 23, 1991
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 16, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01H2071/088
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A plug-in surge suppressor module for insertion into a circuit breaker panel includes four stacks of metal oxide varistors (MOVs) arranged in a cloverleaf pattern on opposite sides of an elongated copper ground bus attached to one lead of each of the metal oxide varistors. The other leads of two of the stacks of metal oxide varistors are attached to a terminal of a U-shaped first resistive wire fuse, another terminal of which is connected to a first AC power line conductor. The other leads of the other two stacks of MOV's are attached to a terminal of a second U-shaped resistive wire fuse, another terminal of which is connected to a second AC power line conductor. A monitor circuit senses the presence of power and continuity of both fuses by pulsing a light emitting indicator diode every cycle of the AC line. A low frequency oscillator circuit produces slow blinking of the light emitting indicator diode which alerts an observer to replace te surge suppressor module if one of the fuses fails.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.