Abstract: For reducing the engineering cost of construction and manufacture for the air gap associated with the second electrode in an overvoltage arrester with air gap connected in parallel, the arrester (22) is enclosed by a cylindrical metal sleeve (28). One edge (19) of this metal sleeve contacts the first electrode (3) of the arrester, while the other edge (14) is laid over inwardly and grips the auxiliary electrode (27) placed on the second electrode (25) with interposition of an insulating disk (26). The outside diameter of this auxiliary electrode (27) is greater than the outside diameter of the second electrode (25). For the centering of the arrester (22) in the metal sleeve (28) the distance between the arrester and the metal sleeve is smaller, at least at three points over the circumference, than the required radial safety distance between the metal sleeve and the second electrode.

Abstract: Overvoltage arrester having a gas-filled housing, including two overvoltage arrester electrodes disposed across from each other in the housing, a tubular insulator body spacing the overvoltage arrester electrodes apart from each other, a ring-shaped flange integral with one of the overvoltage arrester electrodes forming a first spark gap electrode, a ring-shaped metal cap forming a second spark gap electrode being superimposed on the first spark gap electrode and pressed in on the tubular insulator body, the first and second spark gap electrodes forming a spark gap having a given clearance therebetween, and a contact spring connecting the second spark gap electrode to the other of the overvoltage arrester electrodes.

Abstract: A surge arrester with a parallel-connected improved spark gap structure has a flanged ring connected to one of the two electrodes of the surge arrester which forms the first electrode of the spark gap structure, an axially aligned insulator disc having recesses therein seated on the flanged ring, and an annular metal contact seated on the opposite side of the insulator ring forming the second electrode of the spark gap structure through the recesses in the insulating ring has the improvements of the metal contact forming the second electrode of the spark gap being an annular cup having a base seated against the insulator ring and a conical wall connected via contact springs with the other electrode of the surge arrester, and the base of the annular cup has projections in registry with the insulator ring recesses extending a distance therein such that the spark gap is formed between the flanged ring and the highest elevation of the projections.