Overvoltage protection element

US9748063B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG · DE

Inventors

• Christian Depping · Lemgo, DE
• Rainer Durth · Niederheesten, DE
• Gernot Finis · Kassel, DE
• Thomas Meyer · Ottenstein, DE
• Andreas Christ · Marl, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 18, 2015
• Grant date: Aug 29, 2017
• Expiry date: Jun 19, 2035

Classification

• Technology area (CPC H): Electricity
• CPC primary: H01H2037/769
• WIPO field: Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

An overvoltage protection element with a housing, an overvoltage-limiting component arranged in the housing, and with two connection elements for electrically connecting the overvoltage protection element to the current or signal path to be protected, wherein, normally, the connection elements are each in electrical contact with a pole of the overvoltage-limiting component. Reliable and effective electrical connection in the normal state and reliable isolation of a defective overvoltage-limiting component are ensured by the fact that a thermally expandable material is arranged within the housing in a way that, in the event of thermal overloading of the overvoltage-limiting component, the position of the overvoltage-limiting component is changed by expansion of the thermally expandable material relative to the position of the connection elements in a way that causes at least one pole of the overvoltage-limiting component to be out of electrical contact with the corresponding connection element.