CA1245712A - Station protector assembly - Google Patents
Station protector assemblyInfo
- Publication number
- CA1245712A CA1245712A CA000440916A CA440916A CA1245712A CA 1245712 A CA1245712 A CA 1245712A CA 000440916 A CA000440916 A CA 000440916A CA 440916 A CA440916 A CA 440916A CA 1245712 A CA1245712 A CA 1245712A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- arrester
- station protector
- base member
- surge voltage
- cartridge
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Landscapes
- Emergency Protection Circuit Devices (AREA)
Abstract
STATION PROTECTOR ASSEMBLY
ABSTRACT
A station protector assembly for communications lines includes a pair of electrical conductors formed for connection to the communications lines and affixed to a base member, a grounding means affixed to the base member, a pair of surge voltage arrester assemblies disposed in apertures in the base member and a biased resilient member electrically coupling each electrical conductor to a surge voltage arrester or to circuit ground in the absence of a surge voltage arrester.
ABSTRACT
A station protector assembly for communications lines includes a pair of electrical conductors formed for connection to the communications lines and affixed to a base member, a grounding means affixed to the base member, a pair of surge voltage arrester assemblies disposed in apertures in the base member and a biased resilient member electrically coupling each electrical conductor to a surge voltage arrester or to circuit ground in the absence of a surge voltage arrester.
Description
D-24~829 _ 1 _ STATION PROTECTOR ASSEMBLY
TEcHNIcAL FIELD
This inYention relates to station protector assemblies for communication lines and more particularly to communication lines station protector assemblies employing a surge voltage arrester assembly and having a capability for "grounding" the communication lines upon removal of the surge voltage arrester assembly.
BACKGROUND ART
Generally, communicatiors apparatus, such as telephones for lG example9 are available at a location remote from a central of~ice and connected thereto by a pair of coummunications lines. Also, the increased popularity of relatively inexpensive home computer apparatus has greatly increased and the use thereof in the home has increased the vulnerability of such apparatus to undesired surges in potential. Moreover, these communication lines servicing remotely located apparatus are particularly sensitive to undesired voltage surges such as might be caused by lightning for instance.
Numerous forms of overvoltage arresters, such as carbon type arresters, have been employed in an effort to alleviate undesired - 20 overvoltages and the presence of such overvoltages at the remotely located apparatus. Usually, a carbon type arrester couples each of a pair of telephone lines to circuit ground and any surge current flowing on the line is by-passed or shunted to circuit ground and prevented from reaching remotely located apparatus.
One particularly successful type of overvoltage surge arrester is the so-called gas-tube type of surge arrester. Briefly, the surge voltage arrester assembly includes a screw-in case member having a sealed cold cathode gas-tube with an arc . ~ .
TEcHNIcAL FIELD
This inYention relates to station protector assemblies for communication lines and more particularly to communication lines station protector assemblies employing a surge voltage arrester assembly and having a capability for "grounding" the communication lines upon removal of the surge voltage arrester assembly.
BACKGROUND ART
Generally, communicatiors apparatus, such as telephones for lG example9 are available at a location remote from a central of~ice and connected thereto by a pair of coummunications lines. Also, the increased popularity of relatively inexpensive home computer apparatus has greatly increased and the use thereof in the home has increased the vulnerability of such apparatus to undesired surges in potential. Moreover, these communication lines servicing remotely located apparatus are particularly sensitive to undesired voltage surges such as might be caused by lightning for instance.
Numerous forms of overvoltage arresters, such as carbon type arresters, have been employed in an effort to alleviate undesired - 20 overvoltages and the presence of such overvoltages at the remotely located apparatus. Usually, a carbon type arrester couples each of a pair of telephone lines to circuit ground and any surge current flowing on the line is by-passed or shunted to circuit ground and prevented from reaching remotely located apparatus.
One particularly successful type of overvoltage surge arrester is the so-called gas-tube type of surge arrester. Briefly, the surge voltage arrester assembly includes a screw-in case member having a sealed cold cathode gas-tube with an arc . ~ .
- 2 - ~ 7~
- gap thereln and an air gap in parallel connection with the arc gap of the gas tube. Moreover, a ~usible pellet is also disposed within a slideable cage member. In operation, a voltage surge causes breakdown of the arc gap of the gas tube or, upon failure thereof, breakdown of the air gapO
Moreover, the fusible pellet provides a gxounding capabili-ty should an overvoltage condition exist Eor an extended period of time.
Also, it is readily apparent that use of the above-described overvoltage surge arrester assemblies necessitates some form of supporting structure. Thus, a station protector assembly is utilized to support the surge arrester assembly or assemblies at a location whici is usually adjacent the remotely located apparatus. One known form of station protector assembly i5 set forth in U.S. Patent No. 3,310,712 issued on March 21, 1967 in the name of A.F. Paddock.
In the above-mentioned Paddock patent, a base member has a pair of apertures formed to receive screw-in ~ype surge voltage arres-Lers. A pair of conductor posts are embedded in the base and formed for connection to a pair of communic-ation lines. Also, an electrical conductor is connected to each of the conductor posts and extends into each one of the apertures formed to receive a surge voltage arrester.
When a surge voltage arrester is positioned within an aperture, the electrical conductor connecting the conductor posts or communication lines to the remotely located apparatus is shunted by the surge voltage arrester. Thus, the surge arresters protect the apparatus connected to each communication line.
Although the above-described surge voltage arrester and station protector assembly combination has been and still is employed in numerous applications with varying amounts of success, it has been found that certain problems may be encountered. More specifically, it has been found that it is not uncommon to encounter a surge ~457~
voltage arrester, such as previously described, wherein the surge resistant portion normally contained within a threaded case portion of the assembly has been removed and the threaded case portion screwed into the station protector assembly.
As a result, the surge voltage arrester no longer shunts the communication lines and the protection is no longer present. Moreover a cursory examination of the exterior surface of the line protector assembly would not reveal the absence of the surge resistant capabilities. Thus, contact between the communication lines and the surge voltage arres-ter is absent although there is no indication of such absence insofar as one can detect from the communication lines.
An object of the present invention is to provide a station protector assembly having an enhanced protection capability. Another object of the invention is to improve the reliability of a station protector assembly. Still an-other object of the invention is to pxovide an improved station protector assembly wherein an absence of surge voltage protection is indicated. A further object of -the invention is to provide an enhanced station protector assembly wherein functional operation of the system is dependent upon a proper surge voltage protection of the apparatus.
According to the invention there is provided a station protector comprising a base member of electrical insulator material; mounting means formed in said member mounting an arrester cartridge comprising a threaded metal shell, an arrester and a cage; grounding means affixed to said base member and formed to connect to a circuit ground and to said arrester cartridge; a line terminal affixed to said base member and formed to connect to a circuit;
and an electrically conductive cantilever spring formed to ground the line terminal to the grounding means in the absence of the arrester, cage and shell and to connect the line terminal to the arrester cartridge when the complete arrester cartridge is properly mounted in the mounting means, the axis of the cantilever spring when th~ arrester cartridge is properly mounted being orthogonal to the axis of the thread-ed metal shell.
D-24,829 i7~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a line station protector with the cover removed;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the line station protector of FIG. 1 showing the protector configuration prior to insertion of a surge ~oltage arrester assembly; and FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the line station protector of FIG. 1 with the surge voltage assembly in operational position.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and fwrther objects, advantages, and capabilities thereof reference is made to the following dislosure and appended Claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a communications line station protector assembly 5 having a base member 7 of an electrical insulator material such as a phenolic plastic for example. The base member 7 includes a pair of elongated slots 9 and 11 which extend in a direction normal to one another and are formed for adjustable attachment of the base member 7 to a support member (not shown), such as a building or pole.
A pair of electrical conductors or posts 13 and 15 are affixed to the base member 7 either by a molding arrangement or preferably by attachment after the base portion 7 has been fabricated. Each of these electrical conductor posts 13 and 15 is connectable to one of a pair of communications lines which is, in turn, connectable to an energy source and to a remotely located instrument such as a telephone or computer terminal.
D-2fi,829 ~57~2 A grounding means 17 which may be in the form of an electricatly conducting post, is affixed to the base member 7 in a manner similar to the above-described electrical conductor posts 13 and 15 and is, in turn, connectable to a potential reference level such as circuit ground, for example. Also, the base member 7 includes a pair of apertured members 19 and 21 each formed to rleceive a surge Yoltage arrester assembly~ 23 and 25 respectively. Moreover9 the line station protector assembly 5 is formed for attachment of a cover member (not shown) to the base member 7 to provide for enclosure of the electrical conductors 13 and 15; grounding m~ans 17 and the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25.
As can more readily be seen in the cross sectional view of FIG.
2, the apertured member 21 includ~s a threaded metal member 27 therein which is electrically and mechanically coupled to the grounding means 17 by way of a structural metal member 29. Also, each of the structural metal members 29 includes a downwardly extending portion 31. A threaded tubular housing member 33 of the surge voltage arrester assembly 25 is screwed into the threaded metal member 27. As explained i~ detail in applicant's U.S.
Patent No. 4,4~3,003, issued January 1, 1985, the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25 preferably include a sealed cold cathode gas tube 35, a secondary arc gap and a fusible pellet, all of which are electrically connected to the tubular housing member 33.
Importantly, each one of the electrical conductors 13 and 15 has the resilient electrically conductive member 37 affixed thereto with a contact member 38 at the opposite end thereof extending into the apertured members 19 and 21. This resilient electrically conductive member 37 is biased to contact the downwardly extending portion 31 of the structural metal member 29 connected to the grounding means 17 whenever one of the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25 is absent or withdrawn from the apertured members 19 and 21.
~2~i57~
As can more readily be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, a properly inserted surge voltage arrester assem~ly 25 exerts a force on the biased resilent electrically conductive member 37 such that contact between the resilient electrically conductive member 37 and the downwardly extending portion 31 of metal member 29 connected to thegrounding means 17 is interrupted or discontinued. However, the electricaLly conductive member 37 does provide electrical connection from the electrical conductors 13 and 15 to the surge voltage arrester assembly 25.
Thus a biased resilient electrical conductor 37 provides a capability for disconnecting a pair of electrical conductors 13 and 15 from a circuit ground means 17 and connecting them to surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25 whenever the surge voltage arrester assemblies are positioned within a station pxotector assembly 5. However, the biased resilient electrical conductor 37 also serves to couple the pair of electrical conductors 13 and 15 to a circuit ground means 17 whenever the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25 are intentionally or unintentionally not present in the apertured members 19 and 21 oP the base member 7 of the line sta-tion protector assembly 5. ~ccordingly, the resilient electrical conductor 37 either provides electrical coupling of the electrical conductors or lines 13 and 15 to the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25 or to circuit ground in the absence of the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25.
There has been described a station protector assembly having a base member formed for attachment to a support with a pair of electrical conductors and a grounding conductor affixed thereto. ~ mounting means for surge voltage arresters is formed in the base member and a resilient electrically conductive member interconnects the electrical conductors and surge voltage arresters during normal operation with the resilient conductive member grounding the electrical conductors in the absence of the surge voltage arresters.
While there has been shown and described what is at present considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.
- gap thereln and an air gap in parallel connection with the arc gap of the gas tube. Moreover, a ~usible pellet is also disposed within a slideable cage member. In operation, a voltage surge causes breakdown of the arc gap of the gas tube or, upon failure thereof, breakdown of the air gapO
Moreover, the fusible pellet provides a gxounding capabili-ty should an overvoltage condition exist Eor an extended period of time.
Also, it is readily apparent that use of the above-described overvoltage surge arrester assemblies necessitates some form of supporting structure. Thus, a station protector assembly is utilized to support the surge arrester assembly or assemblies at a location whici is usually adjacent the remotely located apparatus. One known form of station protector assembly i5 set forth in U.S. Patent No. 3,310,712 issued on March 21, 1967 in the name of A.F. Paddock.
In the above-mentioned Paddock patent, a base member has a pair of apertures formed to receive screw-in ~ype surge voltage arres-Lers. A pair of conductor posts are embedded in the base and formed for connection to a pair of communic-ation lines. Also, an electrical conductor is connected to each of the conductor posts and extends into each one of the apertures formed to receive a surge voltage arrester.
When a surge voltage arrester is positioned within an aperture, the electrical conductor connecting the conductor posts or communication lines to the remotely located apparatus is shunted by the surge voltage arrester. Thus, the surge arresters protect the apparatus connected to each communication line.
Although the above-described surge voltage arrester and station protector assembly combination has been and still is employed in numerous applications with varying amounts of success, it has been found that certain problems may be encountered. More specifically, it has been found that it is not uncommon to encounter a surge ~457~
voltage arrester, such as previously described, wherein the surge resistant portion normally contained within a threaded case portion of the assembly has been removed and the threaded case portion screwed into the station protector assembly.
As a result, the surge voltage arrester no longer shunts the communication lines and the protection is no longer present. Moreover a cursory examination of the exterior surface of the line protector assembly would not reveal the absence of the surge resistant capabilities. Thus, contact between the communication lines and the surge voltage arres-ter is absent although there is no indication of such absence insofar as one can detect from the communication lines.
An object of the present invention is to provide a station protector assembly having an enhanced protection capability. Another object of the invention is to improve the reliability of a station protector assembly. Still an-other object of the invention is to pxovide an improved station protector assembly wherein an absence of surge voltage protection is indicated. A further object of -the invention is to provide an enhanced station protector assembly wherein functional operation of the system is dependent upon a proper surge voltage protection of the apparatus.
According to the invention there is provided a station protector comprising a base member of electrical insulator material; mounting means formed in said member mounting an arrester cartridge comprising a threaded metal shell, an arrester and a cage; grounding means affixed to said base member and formed to connect to a circuit ground and to said arrester cartridge; a line terminal affixed to said base member and formed to connect to a circuit;
and an electrically conductive cantilever spring formed to ground the line terminal to the grounding means in the absence of the arrester, cage and shell and to connect the line terminal to the arrester cartridge when the complete arrester cartridge is properly mounted in the mounting means, the axis of the cantilever spring when th~ arrester cartridge is properly mounted being orthogonal to the axis of the thread-ed metal shell.
D-24,829 i7~
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a line station protector with the cover removed;
FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the line station protector of FIG. 1 showing the protector configuration prior to insertion of a surge ~oltage arrester assembly; and FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the line station protector of FIG. 1 with the surge voltage assembly in operational position.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and fwrther objects, advantages, and capabilities thereof reference is made to the following dislosure and appended Claims in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a communications line station protector assembly 5 having a base member 7 of an electrical insulator material such as a phenolic plastic for example. The base member 7 includes a pair of elongated slots 9 and 11 which extend in a direction normal to one another and are formed for adjustable attachment of the base member 7 to a support member (not shown), such as a building or pole.
A pair of electrical conductors or posts 13 and 15 are affixed to the base member 7 either by a molding arrangement or preferably by attachment after the base portion 7 has been fabricated. Each of these electrical conductor posts 13 and 15 is connectable to one of a pair of communications lines which is, in turn, connectable to an energy source and to a remotely located instrument such as a telephone or computer terminal.
D-2fi,829 ~57~2 A grounding means 17 which may be in the form of an electricatly conducting post, is affixed to the base member 7 in a manner similar to the above-described electrical conductor posts 13 and 15 and is, in turn, connectable to a potential reference level such as circuit ground, for example. Also, the base member 7 includes a pair of apertured members 19 and 21 each formed to rleceive a surge Yoltage arrester assembly~ 23 and 25 respectively. Moreover9 the line station protector assembly 5 is formed for attachment of a cover member (not shown) to the base member 7 to provide for enclosure of the electrical conductors 13 and 15; grounding m~ans 17 and the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25.
As can more readily be seen in the cross sectional view of FIG.
2, the apertured member 21 includ~s a threaded metal member 27 therein which is electrically and mechanically coupled to the grounding means 17 by way of a structural metal member 29. Also, each of the structural metal members 29 includes a downwardly extending portion 31. A threaded tubular housing member 33 of the surge voltage arrester assembly 25 is screwed into the threaded metal member 27. As explained i~ detail in applicant's U.S.
Patent No. 4,4~3,003, issued January 1, 1985, the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25 preferably include a sealed cold cathode gas tube 35, a secondary arc gap and a fusible pellet, all of which are electrically connected to the tubular housing member 33.
Importantly, each one of the electrical conductors 13 and 15 has the resilient electrically conductive member 37 affixed thereto with a contact member 38 at the opposite end thereof extending into the apertured members 19 and 21. This resilient electrically conductive member 37 is biased to contact the downwardly extending portion 31 of the structural metal member 29 connected to the grounding means 17 whenever one of the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25 is absent or withdrawn from the apertured members 19 and 21.
~2~i57~
As can more readily be seen in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 3, a properly inserted surge voltage arrester assem~ly 25 exerts a force on the biased resilent electrically conductive member 37 such that contact between the resilient electrically conductive member 37 and the downwardly extending portion 31 of metal member 29 connected to thegrounding means 17 is interrupted or discontinued. However, the electricaLly conductive member 37 does provide electrical connection from the electrical conductors 13 and 15 to the surge voltage arrester assembly 25.
Thus a biased resilient electrical conductor 37 provides a capability for disconnecting a pair of electrical conductors 13 and 15 from a circuit ground means 17 and connecting them to surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25 whenever the surge voltage arrester assemblies are positioned within a station pxotector assembly 5. However, the biased resilient electrical conductor 37 also serves to couple the pair of electrical conductors 13 and 15 to a circuit ground means 17 whenever the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25 are intentionally or unintentionally not present in the apertured members 19 and 21 oP the base member 7 of the line sta-tion protector assembly 5. ~ccordingly, the resilient electrical conductor 37 either provides electrical coupling of the electrical conductors or lines 13 and 15 to the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25 or to circuit ground in the absence of the surge voltage arrester assemblies 23 and 25.
There has been described a station protector assembly having a base member formed for attachment to a support with a pair of electrical conductors and a grounding conductor affixed thereto. ~ mounting means for surge voltage arresters is formed in the base member and a resilient electrically conductive member interconnects the electrical conductors and surge voltage arresters during normal operation with the resilient conductive member grounding the electrical conductors in the absence of the surge voltage arresters.
While there has been shown and described what is at present considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention as defined by the appended claims.
Claims (5)
1. A station protector comprising:
a base member of electrical insulator material;
mounting means formed in said member mounting an arrester cartridge comprising a threaded metal shell, an arrester and a cage;
grounding means affixed to said base member and formed to connect to a circuit ground and to said arrester cartridge;
a line terminal affixed to said base member and formed to connect to a circuit; and an electrically conductive cantilever spring formed to ground the line terminal to the grounding means in the absence of the arrester, cage and shell and to connect the line terminal to the arrester cartridge when the complete arrester cartridge is properly mounted in the mounting means, the axis of the cantilever spring when the arrester cartridge is properly mounted being orthogonal to the axis of the threaded metal shell.
a base member of electrical insulator material;
mounting means formed in said member mounting an arrester cartridge comprising a threaded metal shell, an arrester and a cage;
grounding means affixed to said base member and formed to connect to a circuit ground and to said arrester cartridge;
a line terminal affixed to said base member and formed to connect to a circuit; and an electrically conductive cantilever spring formed to ground the line terminal to the grounding means in the absence of the arrester, cage and shell and to connect the line terminal to the arrester cartridge when the complete arrester cartridge is properly mounted in the mounting means, the axis of the cantilever spring when the arrester cartridge is properly mounted being orthogonal to the axis of the threaded metal shell.
2. The station protector of claim 1 wherein the spring makes substantially frictionless contact with the arrester cartridge when said cartridge is properly mounted.
3. The station protector of claim 1 wherein the spring is substantially flat.
4. The station protector of claim 1 wherein a rod is connected to the grounding means and wherein the spring grounds the line terminal by making contact with the rod.
5. The station protector of claim 4 wherein the rod is substantially orthogonal to the spring so that the contact therebetween is substantially frictionless.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US461,765 | 1983-01-02 | ||
| US46176583A | 1983-01-28 | 1983-01-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1245712A true CA1245712A (en) | 1988-11-29 |
Family
ID=23833849
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000440916A Expired CA1245712A (en) | 1983-01-02 | 1983-11-10 | Station protector assembly |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1245712A (en) |
-
1983
- 1983-11-10 CA CA000440916A patent/CA1245712A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKEX | Expiry |