Surge arrester with overvoltage sensitive grounding switch
US5583734A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 10, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 10, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 10, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01C7/12
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A surge arrester for protecting power distribution equipment from overvoltages has a varistor as the active surge-arresting element. In the event of a persistent overvoltage, an amorphous conductor electrically in series with the varistor heats up to or above a critical temperature at which its tensile strength substantially decreases. The amorphous metal conductor breaks, triggering a series of events including the closing of a switch creating a permanent short to ground, operating the network overcurrent protection to de-energize the arrester and associated protected equipment, and protecting the electrical network equipment from insulation damage and/or failure because of a sustained or permanent power frequency overvoltage condition.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.