Abstract: An overvoltage protection circuit for directing a surge current on an input/output line, in particular, a telephone line, to a ground terminal when the surge current exceeds a predetermined level.

Abstract: A weighting circuit operates to process a torque signal which may be produced by a strain gauge located within the handle of a drilling machine. The circuit includes a first sensor device for receiving the torque signal, and an integrator which integrates the torque signal when the amplitude of the torque signal exceeds a certain level as determined by the first sensor device. The output of the integrator is applied to a second sensor device which operates to switch off the machine when a predetermined integration value produced by the integrator is exceeded. The torque signal thus can be evaluated very thoroughly with the present circuit, so that improved control over the response of a drilling machine during blocking, jamming or twisting conditions, can be obtained.