Abstract: A station interface and protector apparatus for use on a telephone line pair includes a protector device having terminals connected from each line to a round terminal, via a gas discharged tube and/or a protective air gap and includes an insulated cover which covers the protector device and is provided with a telephone receptacle (jack) to which the incoming telephone line pair is connected. A cable having a plurality of wires therein is terminated on one end with a cooperating telephone line plug disposed within the receptacle with the other end of the cable wires being connected to a plurality of terminals provided in the cover which is additionally adapted to receive the subscribers telephone line pairs.

Abstract: An overvoltage surge arrester having an auxiliary breakdown path includes an elongated conductive electrode extension device received by one terminal of a gas tube arrester which has disposed thereon a pair of graphite washers with a mica washer sandwiched therebetween and a resilient insulating washer disposed between the extension device retaining head and one of the conductive washers. The other conductive washer is in intimate electrically conductive contact with the gas tube electrode that receives the electrode extension device. The assembly forms a creepage path in parallel with the surge arrester spark gap, when inserted into a conventional conductive cage and its associated tubular cap utilized with a station protector housing.

Abstract: A power supply system for providing uninterruptible DC output power with momentary failure of the primary or AC mains supply utilizing a DC power source for back-up includes a power transformer having two primary windings, rectifying means, a serially-connected high voltage switching device coupling one primary winding to the AC primary mains supply, and a low voltage switching device coupling the second primary winding to the back-up DC supply. An output winding on the power transformer is coupled to a rectifying device for providing a DC output voltage. A transition circuit arrangement senses the DC output voltage and the resulting DC voltage generated by rectifying the AC mains supply and controls the duty cycle of the high voltage and low voltage switching devices by gradually increasing the duty cycle of the low voltage switching device to supply additional power when the AC mains voltage and resulting DC voltage decreases, thereby providing a virtually transient-free DC output voltage.

Abstract: A shorting cage is provided in a telephone terminal housing having a protector well so that when the protector cartridge is removed from its cooperating well, the shorting mechanism in the form of a cage will cause the line to remain shorted until a replacement protector cartridge, with the protective device included therein, is reinserted into the terminal well. Replacing the protector cartridge into the well without a protective device disposed therein will not remove the line short.

Abstract: A self-retaining electrically conductive contact suitable for use in insulated terminal blocks and connectors requiring a minimum of spaces between the conductive elements includes a first section which may be formed as a male or female element, a middle section provided with semi-circularly shaped ears which are sloped in a manner to guide the retaining ears around a retaining surface provided in an insulating member when inserted therein and retaining the contact therein once the contact is inserted in the insulated member. The other end section is formed to receive an electrical conductor thereon as required.

Abstract: A universal station identification circuit arrangement for use with central office equipment that utilizes either differential or longitudinal detection methods is adapted to be connected to the tip party's subscriber drop in a two-party line without requiring access to or rewiring of the tip party's telephone. The circuit arrangement may be fabricated in a single unit which may include a ringer isolator together with ANI mark circuits.

Abstract: An overvoltage surge protector and housing for telephone communication lines to protect equipment connected thereto includes an insulated housing having one terminal disposed therein which is adapted to be connected to earth ground and a second terminal disposed in a removable assembly which includes the means for connection to the communication line as an integral part thereof. The overvoltage surge protector device is adapted to be retained within the second terminal and, when removed for replacement by a service technician, requires that the communication line affixed to the terminal be removed from the terminal in order to remove the protector device, thus requiring the communication lines to be reconnected when the defective protective device is removed and/or replaced.

Abstract: A combination power and communication line protection apparatus includes a housing which contains a power line plug adapted to be received by a conventional wall power receptacle and a receptacle suitable for receiving a male line plug from equipment to be protected in addition to a pair of communication line or modular phone jacks into which an outgoing communication line may be received together with a data link communication line in parallel therewith. The apparatus provides an overvoltage protection for a pair of communication lines and an overvoltage surge protector for the power lines and utilizes the power line ground connection to provide the necesssary ground to protect the communication lines from overvoltages thereon.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a gas-filled discharge tube, designed, e.g., as transient protector, containing tube components comprised of at least two electrodes and an insulating body holding the electrodes joined vacuum-tight, with the electrodes and the insulating body dimensioned and arranged in such a way that at least one discharge gap is present in the tube, is disclosed.

Abstract: A furnace system adapted to perform various manufacturing phases in the production of gas-filled discharge tubes designed as transient protectors includes at least two vertically spaced treatment tube sections separated from each other by a sealing tube. Treatment trays pass through the sealing tube in a vertical direction; the inside of the sealing tube and the outside of the treatment trays are adjusted to each other in terms of dimensions and materials so that there is obtained adequate sealing between the treatment sections while maintaining a sufficiently low coefficient of friction to permit the treatment trays to readily pass therethrough.

Abstract: A miniature surge protector for use in telephone central offices, or the like which are provided with terminal blocks for communication lines includes an in-line over-current coil arrangement which grounds each communication line if an overcurrent flows therethrough and is additionally provided with a gas tube surge protector and an auxiliary air gap disposed across a pair of communication lines and a common ground terminal, thus providing overvoltage and overcurrent protection to a pair of telephone communication lines.

Abstract: An equipment protector and energy saving apparatus includes transient protection as well as under voltage protection by preventing the reduced voltage from being applied to motors and other apparatuses that may be damaged because of insufficient voltage being applied thereto. Provision is incorporated to protect for momentary low voltage transients and turn-on prevention, if the line voltage should be reduced below a predetermined value. Provision is also made for correcting for a small increase in line voltage which may occur when the operating equipment is removed from the line. A timing device may be incorporated therein in order to remove the protected equipment from the line for predetermined intervals of time.

Abstract: A universal station identification circuit arrangement for use with central office equipment that utilizes either differential or longitudinal detection methods is adapted to be connected to the tip party's subscribers drop in a two-party line without requiring access to or rewiring of the tip party's telephone. The circuit arrangement may be fabricated in a single unit which includes a ringer isolator and ANI mark circuits. The ringer isolator and the ANI mark circuits may also be used individually.

Abstract: An overvoltage surge arrester which has a reduced turn on time and is suitable for use at low voltage levels to protect electronic equipment, such as telephone repeaters and the like; this protective device includes a core of semiconductor material provided with a predetermined surface creepage path thereacross and electrically conductive terminals (electrodes) disposed on each end thereof. The conductive terminals or electrodes may extend towards each other to provide a secondary, backup discharge gap. The surge arrester may be used as an integral part of a gas filled device with the conductive electrodes connected between a line electrode and ground electrode thereof.

Abstract: An audio-visual line test termination device for providing a characteristic signature to the telephone central office and a visual and an audible signal to the customer when a continuity test is made on a subscriber line having a pair of electrically conductive paths includes a miniature audio indicator, a light source and a minimum of associated electrical components to indicate to the central office test operator and the customer that the telephone subscriber line is in operating order. The instant invention may be utilized together with a housing that may be permanently installed across the subscriber line.

Abstract: Gas-filled discharge tube for use as transient protection, with at least two electrodes separated by a discharge gap and an insulating body which is joined to the electrodes and, jointly with them, forms a discharge chamber. The sealing of the tube occurs at atmospheric pressure and a suitable temperature, in a mixture of a light and a heavy gas suitable for the purpose, after which the tube is enveloped in a suitable heavy gas at atmospheric pressure, while the temperature is adjusted in such a manner that the light gas enclosed in the tube, through diffusion and a partial pressure difference, exits through the insulating body, whereas the heavy gases can only to an insignificant degree diffuse through the insulating body. The gas diffusion brings about a reduction in the total gas pressure inside the tube and the process is interrupted when the desired pressure drop is obtained.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement utilized for extending the ringing range of a single party telephone service utilized on long rural line loops where the ringer and a blocking capacitor of the subscriber's telephone instrument has been connected across the tip and ring electrical conductors of the loop includes; a pair of terminals connected to the tip and ring conductors of the subscriber's line, a zener diode connected from one of the electrical conductors with a capacitor connected in parallel therewith. A switching device is connected in series with the parallel connection of the zener diode and capacitor providing a current path to a reference ground.

Abstract: A line test termination device to provide a characteristic signature recognizable by the telephone central office when a continuity test is made on a subscriber line having a pair of electrically conductive paths includes a resistor and a diode connected in series between the conductive paths. A neon tube device placed in series with the resistor and diode will be illuminated when a ringing voltage is applied to the line and no telephone ringing circuit is connected thereto.

Abstract: A line test termination device for use on a telephone subscriber line having a pair of electrically conductive paths to provide an audio-visual indication when interrogated by the telephone central office and a subscriber test to indicate the operability of the subscriber line includes in combination, a first current path having a neon tube and an audio indicator connected in series; a second current path with a first normally open switch, a first resistor, a first zener diode and an indicating meter connected in series, all of which are placed in parallel with the first current path. Additionally included is a current polarizing circuit arrangement connected across the pair of electrically conductive paths to provide a unidirectional flow of current through the first and second current paths regardless of the polarity of voltage applied across the pair of electrically conductive paths.