Patent · US Active

Overvoltage protection device with a measuring device for monitoring overvoltage protection elements

US9312679B2 · kind B2 · utility

0Cited by

6References

21Claims

0Family size

Assignee

PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG · DE

Inventors

Thomas Meyer · Ottenstein, DE
Steffen Pfortner · Springe, DE
Andrei Siegel · Paderborn, DE
Friedrich-Eckhard Brand · Barntrup, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Aug 10, 2012
Grant date	Apr 12, 2016
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Oct 11, 2032

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH02H9/042
WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Systems and methods for overvoltage protection are disclosed. According to one illustrative implementation, an overvoltage protection device is provided having one or more overvoltage protection elements and a measuring device for monitoring the overvoltage protection elements. Further, the measuring device may include an evaluation device, which is designed to count pulse-like overvoltage events which are arrested by the overvoltage protection element, wherein the evaluation device is connected to the overvoltage protection element via a light-measuring device and/or a device for identifying a current flow. In further implementations, overvoltage protection devices may comprise an evaluation device which, on the basis of the counted pulses and/or an identified current flow, may determine whether the overvoltage protection element is still operational, is previously damaged, or is unusable, and/or an alarm device, which indicates whether the overvoltage protection element is still operational, is previously damaged, or is unusable.

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