Abstract: Apparatus for protecting a coaxial transmission line using a coaxial transmission line surge arrestor and a fusible link connected thereto. The surge arrestor comprising a gas discharge tube having a hollow conductive housing and a center conductor having a longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of signal transmission, the diameter of the center conductor being varied along at least a portion of its length for matching the impedance of the surge arrestor to that of the transmission line. The fusible link comprises a section of coaxial transmission line having a solid copper center conductor electrically connected in series with the surge arrestor.

Abstract: A miniature station overvoltage protection module having a surge protector device and a back-up protector suitable for use on communication lines, includes a hollow housing having a top surface; a pair of line terminals and a ground terminal disposed in the housing top surface, extending inside the hollow housing. A holding bracket affixed to the housing ground terminal disposed within the hollow housing includes first and second conductors and a ground conductor, each of the first and second conductors extends towards one of the pair of line terminals and is in electrically conductive contact therewith; the ground conductor is in electrically conductive contact with the ground terminal. A surge arrester, having at least a pair of electrode terminals and a ground terminal connected to the housing ground terminal. Each one of the pair of surge arrester electrode terminals is in electrically conductive contact with one of the pair of line terminals.

Abstract: A network interface apparatus for connecting incoming and subscriber coaxial transmission lines and having a coaxial transmission line surge arrestor connected in series between the coaxial transmission lines, the surge arrestor comprising a gas discharge tube having a hollow conductive housing and a center conductor having a longitudinal axis parallel to the direction of signal transmission, the interior surface of the hollow housing and the exterior surface of the center conductor being symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis, ratio of the inner diameter of the conductive housing to the outer diameter of the center conductor being varied within the gas discharge tube for matching the impedance of the surge arrestor to that of the transmission line.

Abstract: A miniature solid state overvoltage protection circuit for use on telephone lines using a solid state circuit arrangement connected between the tip terminal and the ground terminal and another solid state circuit between the ring terminal and the ground terminal. The first current path includes a bi-directional solid state thyristor having two terminals. One terminal of the thyristor is connected to the tip terminal and the other terminal is connected in series with a parallel pair of oppositely polarized semiconductor diodes connected to the ground terminal. A second current path is disposed between the ring terminal and the ground terminal and is identical to the first current path.

Abstract: A coaxial transmission line surge arrestor comprising a hollow conductive body having coaxial connectors mounted thereon and a gas discharge tube located inside the hollow metal body, the gas discharge tube having a hollow conductive housing and a center conductor having an axis parallel to the direction of signal transmission, the diameter of the center conductor being dimensioned for matching the impedance of the surge arrestor to that of the transmission line, the RF signal flowing through said gas discharge tube.