Abstract: A surge protection device comprising surge protector having a first terminal and a second terminal, one of the terminals being conductively connected to a first power transfer mechanism, such as a source of electrical power, and another of the terminals being conductively connected to a second power transfer mechanism, such as a sink of electrical power. The surge protector is operable to conduct current form one of the power transfer mechanism to another of the power transfer mechanism in the presence of a prolonged overvoltage surge across the first and second terminals of the surge protector. The surge protection device includes a mechanism for automatically disconnecting one of the terminals from one of the power transfer mechanisms in the presence of a prolonged overvoltage surge across the first and second terminals.

Abstract: A surge protector is adapted for a broadband coaxial system in which electrical signals having a frequency range from DC to one gigahertz are transmitted. The surge protector has a pair of coaxial cable connectors, a surge protection device, and a fail-short mechanism. The fail-short mechanism has a first operating condition in which the center and outer conductors of the coaxial cable connectors are isolated from each other and a second operating condition in which the center and outer conductors of the coaxial cable connectors are conductively coupled to each other. The impedance of the fail-short mechanism allows the surge protector to have an insertion loss with a magnitude not greater than about -0.2 decibels and a return loss having a magnitude of at least about -20 decibels, and the fail-short mechanism is adapted to conduct a fail-short current having a magnitude of at least about 30 amperes for at least about 15 minutes when the fail-short mechanism is in its second operating condition.

Abstract: An applique or attachment for a station protector spark gap device includes an insulated enclosure housing a gas tube spark gap device together with fail safe shorting means located circumferentially therearound. Auxiliary gaps in parallel with the gas tube spark gap device are provided as back up should the gas tube vent. Wire leads welded to end plates within the enclosure make connection with the ends of the gas tube spark gap device, the fail safe shorting mechanism and the auxiliary gaps.

Abstract: A spark gap protector includes a gas tube spark gap device received in a supporting base. A failsafe device for permanently shorting the spark gap protector to ground after an extended discharge includes a spring biased cage and a solder pellet. An extended surge current fuses the solder pellet resulting in movement of the shorting cage to a failsafe, shorted condition. The cage normally grasps a conducting ring spaced from a shorting contact member by a thin insulating spacer defining an auxiliary gap thereacross. In case the spark gap device vents so as to become substantially inoperative, and the cage does not operate to short the device, the auxiliary gap provided backup protection at a breakdown voltage somewhat greater than ordinarily supplied by the gas tube spark gap device.