Abstract: A system including a base and a module to be inserted into this base, an electric relay to electrically disconnect the module from the base, and a blocking device that can change over from a blocking state to a release state. The system including a sensor to detect the presence of the module in the base and a blocking sensor to detect the state of the blocking device, and means for opening the relay as soon as the blocking device is released or as soon as the module is not present. The blocking device can leave its released state only when the module has been extracted from the base by a distance more than the detection distance of the presence sensor.

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 resistor array including a series of spaced first conductor members, a series of initially substantially non-conductive switches respectively connecting adjacent first conductor members to one another, at least one second conductor member in spaced relation to the first conductor members, and a series of resistors extending from respective first conductive members to the at least one second conductor member.

Abstract: There is provided a surge absorber without chips in which a pair of discharge electrodes arranged facing to each other in a housing 1 are fixed by welding of the housing 1 with a distance between the discharge electrodes maintained. Clean and dry air or a mixed gas mainly comprising such air is sealed in an air chamber 4.

Abstract: A device for connecting, and then isolating and disconnecting an arrester includes a non-conductive housing with two electrical terminals. The housing has opposite ends separated by an internal chamber. The terminals are mounted at the housing ends. A resistor engages and extends between the terminals in the housing internal chamber. A cartridge with an explosive charge is mounted in the internal chamber adjacent the resistor. A gap spacer surrounds the cartridge, is adjacent one of the terminals and is spaced from the other terminal.

Abstract: A failsafe device is shown in which a solid state surge suppressor (12) is mounted thermally coupled to a heat transfer element (42). A shorting bar (60) is attached to element (42) by a thin layer of solder chosen to melt at a selected maximum temperature. A spring (70) places a preload on the shorting bar and, upon melting the solder, rapidly moves the shorting bar into engagement with leads (T, G, R) attached to the surge suppressor to short the T and R leads to ground (G).

Abstract: In order to guarantee that the gas atmosphere of the structure of an encapsulated spark gap (9) is reliably protected from the effect of moisture, two flat discharge surfaces of two dish-type electrodes (1,6), each designed with a collar-shaped rim (2), abut on both sides of a thin insulating layer (4) having punched holes. A tubular glass insulator (3) is sealed on the front side into the collar-shaped rims of the two electrodes. During the course of their manufacturing, the electrodes are placed with their collar-shaped rim on the front sides of the glass insulator, are inductively heated and, under the action of an axially directed pressing force, are driven toward one another and pressed against the insulating layer. A spark gap of this type can be used as a secondary discharge gap for triple-electrode arresters.

Abstract: A surge absorber has an insulating body having a flat surface on which a pair of electrically conductive thin-film terminal electrodes and, therebetween, one or more electrically conductive thin-film discharge electrodes of a predetermined shape or shapes are formed. Micro discharging gaps are present between each of the terminal electrodes and any of the discharging electrodes adjacent thereto and between any of the discharging electrodes adjacent to each other. The discharging electrodes are typically arranged in a row and column pattern. A thermostatic fuse may be provided on the opposite side of the insulating body from the side of the flat surface on which the terminal and discharge electrodes are present. The substantial part of the surge absorber is hermetically sealed in an enclosure. The enclosure is filled with a gas such as an inert gas.

Abstract: An assembly for defining a sealed back-up air gap, for use with a line protector comprising an over-voltage arrester housed within a canister and defining a back-up air gap therebetween, comprises an electrical contact and a sealing member. A mounting arrangement is disposed on the electrical contact for positively positioning and retaining the sealing member on the electrical contact. The sealing member is engagable with the canister to form a seal for the back-up air gap, and with the contact while also mounting the contact for electrically conductive engagement with one electrode of the arrester. In one embodiment, the sealing member is an elastomeric O-ring. In another embodiment, the O-ring mount is formed by deformation of the electrical contact. In yet another embodiment, the O-ring is replaced by a flat, annular washer-shaped insulator, which is positively retained on the electrical contact.

Abstract: An electric fence controller (20) interconnected to electric fence terminals (136, 138) by a three terminal spark gap arrangement (140) one terminal (142) being interconnected to the fence hot terminal (136), a second terminal (144) being interconnected to the fence ground terminal (138) and a third terminal (146) being interconnected to utility ground (48). High voltage surges on the electric fence will thus be diverted either to the local fence ground terminal (138) or to the utility ground (48) whichever ground has the least resistance to ground thereby assuring an effective ground so as to prevent damage due to lightning strikes.

Abstract: A gas filled surge arestor has at least one external air back-up gap comprising two spaced electrodes(7a,2 or 7a,3), one (7a) of which has at least one sharp edge or corner (9) adjacent the other electrode (2 or 3). The said one electrode (7a) is resiliently urged towards the other electrode and is coated with an insulating material (8) which prevents the two electrodes from being in direct contact and hence short circuiting. The arrangement is such that, although the sharp edge or corner (9) on said one electrode has a covering of insulating material, it is also separated from the other electrode by an air gap.

Abstract: An improved telephone subscriber circuit protector module particularly suited for use in interconnecting with protector blocks having exposed quick clip terminals on an exposed surface thereof. The module features a relatively few number of metallic parts, and can be assembled with a series of simple hand operations. A three-element gas tube is employed in which the contacts are formed with elongated extensions, the extensions providing interconnections with contacts in such manner as to maintain the contacts in operative position when the module is assembled.

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 element gas tube type subscriber pair protector module in which the gas tube serves as both a momentary surge protector and a heat responsive means directly operable upon a pair of fusable elements. The number of component parts has been minimized, permitting low manufacturing cost and simplified assembly.

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: A line protector for central office use comprises an elongated housing open at one side for receiving components and a cover for the opening. First and second surge arresters are coaxially positioned within the housing. First and second line terminals are respectively connected to the arresters as is a common ground terminal. The three terminals project from one end of the housing in the provision of coplanar flat pins for plug-in connection with a circuit board edge connector. Means including a test contact in the housing permits use of a test probe to test the lines while the protector is plugged into the connector. A shiftable insulator in the housing is used optionally to interrupt the inside lines at the line terminal pins.

Abstract: A line protector has a housing with coaxial surge voltage arresters, line terminals and a ground terminal. One line terminal is substantially at one end of the cavity of the housing while the other line terminal extends substantially the full length of the cavity of the housing. The ground terminal extends from between the arresters to said one end of the housing cavity. Each terminal projects from the housing at said one end. The three terminals are insultated from the arresters by barrier walls in the housing. A cover closes a side opening in the housing through which the components of the protector are inserted.

Abstract: A gas tube arrester subassembly for use in a modular component type telephone central office protection system includes a gas tube arrester having a spacer tube with an electrode at each end. One of the electrodes is insertable into an open end of a generally cylindrical shell portion of the gas tube arrester subassembly with parts of the shell portions at the open end being swaged to form securing members to maintain the one electrode in the shell portion. The other end of the shell portion is closed with a generally rectangular slot therein. Removably mounted in the slot is a conductive U-shaped spring member such that the spring member has one leg extending along the inner surface of the closed end. Disposed between the one leg and the one electrode is a conductive disk-shaped contact member to couple the one electrode to the spring member.