Abstract: A transient voltage protector is provided for telephone lines and the like. An insulating plastic housing is provided with two pairs of terminals having female connections at the lower ends for association with selected terminals of a telephone terminal block. The upper ends of these terminals are of a male type and extend above the top of the housing for receipt of further elements such as bridging clips, plug-on fuse units, or line status indicators. An offset and raised portion of the housing carries a pair of zener diodes having lower wire terminals connected to two of the aforesaid terminals. The upper wire terminals of the zener diodes are connected to a grounding terminal having an upper portion extending above the housing in the form of two spaced tines for receipt of a common ground wire between the tines. The various terminals and the zener diodes and the housing have complementary structure for positioning of the terminals and the diodes within the housing.

Abstract: A protective device for a plurality of electrical circuits includes a pluity of isolated electrodes forming a gap with a common electrode. An output signal, electrically isolated from the circuits being monitored, is obtained by a photosensor viewing the discharge gap through an optical window. Radioactive stabilization of discharge characteristics is provided for slowly changing voltages and carbon tipped dynamic starters provide desirable discharge characteristics for rapidly varying voltages. A hydrogen permeation barrier is provided on external surfaces of the device.

Abstract: A power switch assembly has a horizontal supporting base, a circuit disconnector including a first supporting porcelain insulator vertically disposed on the supporting base, a stationary contactor supported by the free end of the first insulator, and a rod-shaped movable contactor separably engaged by the stationary contactor and pivotally secured to an operating mechanism located within a hollow terminal disposed at the free end of a second supporting porcelain insulator vertically disposed on the supporting base, and a circuit breaker disposed on the hollow terminal to be tilted to be remote from the movable contactor, while two driving rods extend through the second insulator and are connected to the driving source to open and close the circuit disconnector through the operating mechanism and the circuit breaker through a linkage located within the hollow terminal. The power switch assembly may have further a porcelain clad lightning arrester substituted for the first insulator.

Abstract: A device for connection to lightning arresters isolates the grounded lead and contains the resulting spark or arcing flame, including any hot particles generated when ground disconnection is made due to excessive current flow through the arrester. A central spacer member is screwed onto the existing ground lead terminal of the lightning arrester and contains an arc extinguishing channel with an internal fusible link adapted to melt in an overload condition. A shielding cup surrounds the central spacer member for containment of sparks and arcing, and a ground lead connector wire extends from the internal fusible link to a new ground lead terminal at the exterior of the shielding cup, for connection to a grounded lead.

Abstract: A supporting insulator (9) to support the driving mechanism (6) of a disconnect switch part (100) and a supporting insulator (9) of a breaker (10) are unified. The heights of the fixed contact (4) and the driving mechanism (6) of the disconnect switch part (100) as well as the height of the upper end of the common supporting insulator (9) supporting the breaker (10) are substantially the same. Setting area is thus decreased, while ensuring a high spatial insulation distance.

Abstract: A gas-insulated switchgear apparatus comprises,(a) first and second grounded tanks filled therein with insulating gas,(b) a circuit breaker unit enclosed in the first tank,(c) a disconnecting switch unit connected to an axial extension of the first tank and enclosed in the second tank partitioned off the first tank through a gas,(d) a third grounded tank having a connecting conductor filled therein insulating gas and connected to an axial extension of the second tank as partitioned off the second tank through a gas,(e) a grounding switch connected to the third tank in an opposite side of the disconnecting switch unit, and(f) a lightning arrester connected to the third tank.

Abstract: A gas-insulated switching apparatus is disclosed which includes a circuit breaker having a breaking section with at least a couple of mutually detachable contacts and a grounded tank containing the breaking section and filled with an insulating gas, the grounded tank being maintained at earth potential. A first bushing is vertically mounted on one side of the grounded tank, the central conductor of the first bushing being connected with one of the contact of the breaking section. A disconnecting switch has insulating gas sealed in it and accommodates a disconnecting section in a tank which is arranged connected to but gas-partitioned from the circuit breaker in an axially extending region of the grounded tank on the other side of the region where the first bushing is mounted.

Abstract: A surge arrester of compact construction includes a housing formed preferably of elastomeric material through which a pair of spaced terminals protrude and between which a stack of metal oxide varistor discs is disposed and connected in series therewith. Disposed below the lower one of the discs and in contact therewith is a conductive base plate and an electrode is spaced somewhat from the lower surface of the base plate to form a gap and is provided with shunt means connecting the electrode with the upper surface of the lower disc so that an overvoltage surge condition and the resulting arc across the gap establishes a shunt circuit around the lower disc.

Abstract: A protective boot of flexible, insulating material for use in covering the grounded portions of a circuit interrupter and thereby preventing accidental shorting between the current carrying sections of the circuit interrupter and the grounded portions. The standard, pole-mounted circuit interrupter consists of a number of movable switches used in high voltage applications where shorting can be extremely damaging to the unit. The protective boot of the invention is fabricated in a number of separate parts which correspond to the individual grounded elements of the interrupter. Thus, when in place, the boot will substantially encase the entire grounded portion providing the requisite insulation. At the same time, due to the number of separate parts of the boot, installation on pole-mounted interrupters is easily accomplished, and at the same time, the moving parts of the switches remain unobstructed.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement for protecting electrical appliances such as radio and television sets from damage due to lightning during electrical storms, and the like. The antenna input and power supply lines are connected in a common circuit with one another and may further be connected to the chassis ground in response to movement of the usual on-off switch to the "off" position, thus eliminating any potential differences. This common circuit is isolated by a gap from all outside electrical sources when the set is turned off. Also, the antenna lead-in wires may be electrically connected to an outside, ground-driven rod when the set is turned off.

Abstract: An oscillator comprising an oscillation circuit including an oscillation transistor whose emitter is connected to the ground with respect to a D.C. signal; a detection circuit for detecting D.C. power source current supplied to said oscillation transistor; and a control circuit for controlling a D.C. bias voltage impressed on said oscillation transistor according to an output signal from the detection circuit, wherein the oscillation circuit, detection circuit and control circuit jointly constitute a negative feedback loop for sending direct current back to the source.

Abstract: A lightning arrester is mounted on one end of a rigid insulator bar, the other end of which is mounted by a metal bracket to the grounded casing of an electrical distribution transformer. The ground terminal of the arrester is electrically connected with a terminal on the insulator bar intermediate the arrester mounting and the transformer mounting. A switch is remotely operable to establish electrical communication between the transformer casing and the intermediate terminal, and thus to the ground terminal of the lightning arrester.

Abstract: Spark gap apparatuses are provided at the receiving end or the sending end of an electric power substation, in order to protect electric apparatus in the electric power substation against the surge voltage incoming from the power transmission lines. In the case where the gap of such a spark gas apparatus is placed in electronegative gas, for example SF.sub.6 gas, the spark voltage vs. spark time characteristic varies depending on the polarity of the surge voltage and thus the protecting performance of the spark gap apparatus is poor. The improvement in the protecting performance of the spark gap apparatus is provided by substantially equilizing the maximum electric field developed between the end surfaces of a pair of electrodes which are oppositely disposed to each other to form a spark gap therebetween.