Abstract: A lighting arrester in the form of a double-ended polymer enclosure contains one or more varistor discs in vertical alignment having terminals at the opposing ends for external electrical connection. The discs are formed from a zinc oxide composition with metal electrodes on opposing faces that are electrically connected with each other and with the end terminals by U-shaped metal straps.

Abstract: A non-ceramic insulator for high voltage electrical conductors is designed using a combination of materials to form the outermost surface of the insulator. The non-ceramic insulator includes a support structure and one or more weather sheds. The surface characteristics are chosen to give the insulator good contamination and flashover performance while preventing the aging due to corona activity caused by water drops. Also, the weather shed spacing is varied according to the strength of the local electric field. Old non-ceramic insulators are retrofitted to create a combination of aging resistant and hydrophobic surfaces.

Abstract: This overvoltage surge arrester has a tubular porcelain housing having a bore, metal terminals at opposite ends of the porcelain housing, stacks of metal-oxide varistor disks located within the housing in angularly-spaced relationship about the bore, and venting means within the terminals for venting gases from the housing should an electric arc develop within the housing as a result of failure of a varistor disk. First liners of electrical insulating material having relatively high thermal conductivity are sandwiched between the stacks and the bore for providing effective heat transfer between the stacks and the porcelain housing. Additional liners are disposed on the bore in locations angularly between the first liners. These additional liners are of a thermal and electrical insulating material, a major portion of which is a ceramic selected from the group of alumina, thoria, zirconia, zircon, and spinel.