Abstract: A central office surge protector having at least one gas tube and at least one varistor. The at least one varistor interacts with the at least one gas tube to lower the impulse breakdown voltage of the gas tube. The at least one gas tube may be a two or a three element gas tube. Alternative embodiments of the surge protector further include at least one sneak current protection element.

Abstract: A central office surge protector having at least one gas tube and at least one varistor. The at least one varistor interacts with the at least one gas tube to lower the impulse breakdown voltage of the gas tube. The at least one gas tube may be a two or a three element gas tube. Alternative embodiments of the surge protector further include at least one sneak current protection element.

Abstract: A central office surge protector having at least one gas tube and at least one varistor. The at least one varistor interacts with the at least one gas tube to lower the impulse breakdown voltage of the gas tube. The at least one gas tube may be a two or a three element gas tube. Alternative embodiments of the surge protector further include at least one sneak current protection element.

Abstract: A surge protector having a failsafe mechanism including at least one overvoltage protection element, at least one arm assembly, at least one ground element, at least one resilient member, and at least one protrusion. The at least one resilient member is electrically connected to the at least one ground element and the at least one protrusion is generally positioned between the at least one resilient member and the at least one arm assembly. The at least one protrusion is in thermal contact with the at least one resilient member, prevents the at least one resilient member from electrically contacting the at least one arm assembly during normal operation, and is spaced away from the at least one arm assembly.

Abstract: A surge protector having a failsafe mechanism including at least one overvoltage protection element, at least one arm assembly, at least one ground element, at least one resilient member, and at least one protrusion. The at least one resilient member is electrically connected to the at least one ground element and the at least one protrusion is generally positioned between the at least one resilient member and the at least one arm assembly. The at least one protrusion is in thermal contact with the at least one resilient member, prevents the at least one resilient member from electrically contacting the at least one arm assembly during normal operation, and is spaced away from the at least one arm assembly.

Abstract: A central office surge protector having at least one gas tube and at least one varistor. The at least one varistor interacts with the at least one gas tube to lower the impulse breakdown voltage of the gas tube. The at least one gas tube may be a two or a three element gas tube. Alternative embodiments of the surge protector further include at least one sneak current protection element.

Abstract: An overvoltage protector assembly and a method of attaching a terminal member through a dielectric body. The assembly has a dielectric body, and line terminal members extending through the body into a chamber within. The terminal members each have a shaft passing through the body and first and second radially extending, opposing abutment surfaces which engage inner and outer surfaces of the body. The body is compressed between the opposing abutment surfaces in an axial direction of the shaft to deform the body inwards to sealingly engage the terminal member between the opposing abutment surfaces. The body is formed with axial projections around apertures receiving the line terminals, so that compressing the body results in displacement of material of the body to form annular projections sealingly engaging around the shaft between the abutment surfaces. Peripheral surfaces of the terminal member are cooperable with the body to prevent relative rotation of the body and the terminal member.

Abstract: Overvoltage protector unit for use in a well in which an overvoltage protection device is mounted in a grounding housing and electrically separates a conductor pin in the housing from the housing during normal voltage conditions. The conductor pin is mounted within a flame resistant resilient elastomeric dielectric support which also electrically isolates it from the housing. The support cushions the pin before installation of the unit and the unit is unlikely to suffer damage during storage or transit upon the protection device failing, the resilient support flexes to enable line to ground contact to be established.

Abstract: An overload protector for a telecommunications system with an overcurrent protection device for each signal line in a chamber formed between a housing and a base and in which the base carries the line and ground pins and also an overvoltage device for each pair of the signal pins, the overvoltage device disposed at the base. In one construction, each overvoltage device comprises a solid state semi-voltage surge protection device at the base and a ground conductor extends laterally of the base between the ground pin and the device.

Abstract: A plug-in module may be added to terminals on an existing telephone distribution frame. Electronic modules may be added to the plug-in modules to provide surge and lightning protection and the like. This way a distribution frame built to protect electromechanical voice signal transmission standards may be upgraded to protect electronic transmission data signal transmission capabilities, both now and in the future.

Abstract: A protector for telephone systems and similar systems is in the form of an elongate housing formed by two hollow box-like members, one fitting within the other. In the bottom member, a line terminal is provided at each end, each terminal connected to a line contact member in the housing. A ground terminal is provided at a mid position in the bottom member, connected to a support and ground member. A protector device assembly is mounted in the support and ground member, providing a breakdown gap connected between each line contact member and the ground. The device assembly can be two-electrode gas tube devices, a three-electrode gas tube device, or other devices. Back-up protector devices are positioned between each line contact member and the support and ground member.

Abstract: A three electrode gas tube protector has a central electrode and a line electrode positioned on each side, with a gap between each line electrode and the central electrode, the gaps being at a subatmospheric pressure. Connecting to each line electrode, in an axial arrangement, is a ground assembly having two coaxial conductive cups, their bottom ends spaced by a fusible member. A contact member is positioned within the inner cup and has a head and a stem. Around the stem is a compression spring, the stem passing through the bottoms of the cups and the fusible member. The end of the stem extends over the outer surface of the outer cup bottom, as by riveting. The spring is constrained between the bottom of the inner cup and the head of the contact member. On melting of the fusible member, the inner cup moves axially in the outer cup and a radially extending member, such as a flange or other, moves into contact with a ground member in a support structure.

Abstract: An electrical surge arrester module having a back-up external spark gap in its base assembly comprising an insulator plate perforated at points intermediate a terminal contact surface in said base assembly and a conductive plate at ground potential when said surge arrester module is in use.