Abstract: A surge arrester assembly includes an electrically conductive container having disposed therein a surge arrester and a meltable element. The surge arrester has a first electrode in electrical contact with the container and a second electrode not in electrical contact with the container. The meltable element is an electrically conductive element in thermal contact with the surge arrester. The meltable element is located and configured so as to melt in response to a selectable level of thermal energy generated by the surge arrester, in such a manner as to create an electrical short circuit between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Abstract: A module for quickly and easily connecting and disconnecting electrical wires comprises a nonconductive housing having a first connector compartment for housing a first plurality of wire connectors and a second connector compartment for housing a second plurality of wire connectors. A plurality of actuators are independently and slidably mounted in the first and second connector compartments. Each of the actuators is associated with one of the wire connectors and is movable between a first position wherein a wire may be received in or removed from the actuator, and a second position wherein a received wire is electrically connected to the associated wire connector, whereby both incoming and outgoing wires may be quickly and easily connected to each other.

Abstract: A processor controlled test set is disclosed for testing special service circuits of a telecommunication system. A microprocessor controls the overall operation of the test set, while a digital signal processor provides high speed timing signals to the various test circuits for generating the wave forms used in testing, as well as analyzes the test result signals that are converted into digital signals. A calibration of the test generator signals as well as the signal measuring path is carried out prior to the test sequence. The digital signal processor also provides gain control over a talking path to maintain stability thereof. An I/O circuit of the test set provides plural communication paths between remote equipment and the test set to initiate and carry out various tests. Processors in the I/O module are effective to convert the various protocols of the serial data, by way of software, to digital bit streams usable by the test set.

Abstract: A terminal block mounts a plurality of insulation displacement connector type terminal clips formed of an electrically conductive material, each terminal clip having a base portion, an insulation displacing wire-engaging portions projecting outwardly from the base portion and a wire wrap post projecting outwardly from the base portion in a direction opposite to the wire-engaging portion. A block body formed of an electrical insulator material has an upper block section and a lower block section configured for releasably lockingly interengaging the upper block section. The upper block section and the lower block section each have a plurality of generally parallel spaced apart walls defining therebetween a plurality of open-ended cavities.

Abstract: A flood protection pedestal protects telecommunications equipment and the like retained therein from water damage during flood conditions in the surrounding environment. The flood protection pedestal includes a base assembly, a structural cover assembly removably attached to the base assembly for covering the telecommunications equipment, and an air entrapping arrangement inside the cover assembly over the telecommunications equipment. The air entrapping arrangement may be either a thin walled unitary dome member integrally formed of a plastics material or a coating applied to the interior of the cover assembly. A downwardly oriented opening is formed in the dome member for receiving telecommunications equipment. A body of air is entrapped within the cover assembly when flood waters rise above a given level for protecting the telecommunications equipment from exposure to the flood waters.

Abstract: An arrester assembly for arresting over-voltage conditions in electric circuits and for isolating an arrester element from possibly harmful effects of external forces applied to the arrester assembly comprises a hollow cup and an arrester element located within the cup for arresting over-voltage conditions. A plastic sleeve is disposed within the cup surrounding the arrester element for isolating the arrester element from the possibly harmful effects of external forces applied to the assembly. A spring may also be provided within the cup for further isolating the arrester element from such effects.

Abstract: A terminal block mounts a plurality of bi-ended insulation displacement connector type terminal clips formed of an electrically conductive material, each terminal clip having a base portion and a pair of similar insulation displacing wire-engaging portions projecting oppositely outwardly from the base portion. A plurality of activators are configured for selectively electrically coupling wires to the terminal clips. A block body formed of an electrical insulator material has an upper block section and a lower block section configured for releasably lockingly interengaging the upper block section. Alignment structures are formed respectively on the upper and lower block sections for coaxially aligning respective ones of the walls and cavities.

Abstract: A maintenance termination unit module for housing electronic equipment including a maintenance termination unit electronic circuit for use in a telecommunications network, comprises a housing portion and a base portion. The electronic equipment is located within the housing portion, and presents external circuit connection points at electrically conducting elements which are disposed through a base to form a plug portion. The electrically conducting elements are arranged in the plug portion in a configuration which matches a predetermined socket configuration of a type used in telecommunications networks so that the plug portion can be inserted into such a pin socket configuration. The base portion is mountable on the housing portion so that the electrically conducting elements can be electrically connected to the electronic equipment.

Abstract: An electronic ringing generator circuit with provision for power efficient current limiting and preservation of sinusoidal or near sinusoidal output waveform under overload conditions. A pulsewidth modulated DC-DC power convertor produces supply voltages for a linear class B power amplifier which has a low frequency low level sinusoidal signal applied to its input through a first controllable attenuator. The DC-DC convertor's reference input is also driven through a second controllable attenuator which is coordinated with the first controllable attenuator. The attenuators are operated in such a way that if the amplifier's output current exceeds a predetermined value, both the input signal and amplifier supply voltages are reduced in a coordinated manner so that simultaneously the output AC waveshape is preserved and the amplifier continues to operate at or very near optimum efficiency. The amplifier may be operated to produce a sinusoidal output (crest factor =1.

Abstract: A protector system is provided for use in a low voltage power feed arrangement including a device requiring a low voltage power feed, and a power source. The power source is capable of supplying the device with electrical power. The device is electrically connected to the power source by means of a power transmission line. A line protector set is electrically connected to the power transmission line between the device and the power source so that all power in the power transmission line must encounter the line protector before the power reaches the device. The line protector set comprises an over-voltage arrester and an over-current arrester. The over-voltage arrester is coupled in circuit for grounding the transmission line in the presence of an over-voltage condition. The over-current arrester comprises a positive temperature coefficient resistor electrically connected in series with the device for preventing over-currents on the transmission line from reaching the device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sealing a splice enclosure to protect cable splice connections retained therein. A sealing member is a single piece body integrally formed of a suitable material which resists detrimental environmental effects and is resiliently compressible in an axial direction to seal the splice enclosure. Axial compression of the sealing member is employed to create sealing forces both about the outer periphery of the sealing member and between the sealing member and cables projecting therethrough. The axial compression is applied to the sealing member by a seal neck member which presses the sealing member into a shell member. A retainer plate may optionally be interposed between the sealing member and a retaining edge part of the shell member. A buffer ring may optionally be interposed between the sealing member and a compressing surface portion of the seal neck member.

Abstract: An assembly for defining a sealed back-up air gap, for use with a line protector comprising an over-voltage arrester housed within a canister and defining a back-up air gap therebetween, comprises an electrical contact and a sealing member. A mounting arrangement is disposed on the electrical contact for positively positioning and retaining the sealing member on the electrical contact. The sealing member is engagable with the canister to form a seal for the back-up air gap, and with the contact while also mounting the contact for electrically conductive engagement with one electrode of the arrester. In one embodiment, the sealing member is an elastomeric O-ring. In another embodiment, the O-ring mount is formed by deformation of the electrical contact. In yet another embodiment, the O-ring is replaced by a flat, annular washer-shaped insulator, which is positively retained on the electrical contact.

Abstract: An optical fiber splice element useful for effecting a splice connection between at least two optical fibers comprises a pair of joinable splice halves. Fiber channels are provided on the splice halves extending through the element for accepting an optical fiber. Recess portions are provided on the splice halves to one side of the fiber channel for accepting a tool for applying a force for variably separating the halves to allow for fiber insertion in the fiber channel. Welds for joining the halves are disposed to a side of the fiber channel opposite to the recess portion. The welds are capable of holding the halves together along a side adjacent thereto while allowing the halves to variably separate along a side adjacent the recess portion so that the halves are at an angle to each other when separated by application of a force to the recess portion, with the welds being generally adjacent an apex of an angle so formed by the halves.

Abstract: A fiber optic patch panel module for accepting an optical fiber cable, and for use with telecommunications transmission networks mountable in an existing network bay frame designed for mounting electrically conductive wire patch panels comprises a housing having at least a top panel and a bottom panel. A mounting tang is disposed on the top panel, and a mounting notch is located on the bottom panel. The mounting notch is capable of accepting rail tangs of a shelf which in turn mounts to on the network bay frame. The patch panel is capable of pivotal movement about the rail tangs when the rail tangs are disposed in the mounting notch, and the mounting tang is capable of releasably engaging a rack rail on the shelf.

Abstract: A retractable battery tray includes a supporting structure, a tray assembly, and a heating device. The support structure of the battery tray generally spans and attaches to two spaced apart supporting base structures of a telecommunications equipment cabinet and supports the tray assembly therebetween. One or more batteries are supported and carried on a tray member of the tray assembly and vertically ganged heavy-duty horizontally extending slide rails movably attach the tray member to the support structure. A closure panel attaches to the spaced apart supporting base structures to retainably conceal the tray in a retracted position. Positioned in the tray underneath the battery, the heating device includes a thin sheet-like heating pad sandwiched between a protective plate therebelow and an insulating sheet thereabove. The insulating sheet retains heat from the heating pad within the tray. The protective plate prevents the batteries from damaging the heating pad.

Abstract: A line protector for a communications circuit comprises a housing, an over-voltage arrester received in said housing and having axially opposite electrodes and a ground strip for coupling one of the electrodes to electrical ground. An over-current arrester has at least one line contact for electrically contacting a communications line. A conductive sleeve electrically contacts a second communications line to be joined with the first communications line, the sleeve also being assembled with the over-current arrester and with the over-voltage arrester, such that the over-voltage arrester is held within the housing. The sleeve has projecting fingers for completing an electrical circuit between the second communications line and the other of the electrodes of the over-voltage arrester.

Abstract: An apparatus including a circuit which causes the float voltage of one or more battery chargers to change so as to compensate for changes in the ambient temperature of the batteries connected to the chargers. The circuit does not regulate the charge voltage to the battery but rather provides a battery temperature dependent variable voltage drop in the sense load of the charger(s). The circuit includes a thermistor which is used to sense the temperature of the battery. The temperature dependent resistance of the thermistor is used in a resistive divider for a reference voltage. Selection of the values for the divider components allows the battery temperature dependent variable reference voltage to be a linear approximation of the temperature compensation curve of the battery.