CN212784191U

CN212784191U - Overvoltage protector

Info

Publication number: CN212784191U
Application number: CN202020565174.3U
Authority: CN
Inventors: J-E.施姆茨; J.黑格费尔德
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2019-04-16
Filing date: 2020-04-16
Publication date: 2021-03-23
Anticipated expiration: 2030-04-16
Also published as: DE102019110006A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an overvoltage protection device (1) having a housing (4,5), having at least one overvoltage-building element (6a,6b) and having at least two disconnection devices, wherein the at least one disconnection device electrically disconnects the at least one overvoltage-building element (6a,6b) in the event of an overload. The overvoltage protection device (1) according to the invention is thus constructed in a simple and low-cost manner, i.e. the disconnection devices together have a common insulating separation element (8) which is loaded with force and is arranged movably in the housing (4), the insulating separation element (8) being held in a first position against the force acting thereon when neither of the disconnection devices is triggered, and the insulating separation element (8) being brought into another position by the force acting thereon in the event of triggering of at least one of the disconnection devices.

Description

Overvoltage protector

Technical Field

The invention relates to an overvoltage protection device (Ü berspannungsschutzger ä t) having a housing, having at least one overvoltage building element (or overvoltage component, Ü berspannungsbaueuement), and having at least two disconnection devices (Abtrennvorrichtung), wherein the at least one disconnection device electrically disconnects the at least one overvoltage building element in the event of an overload.

Background

Overvoltage protection devices have been used for decades in various embodiments for protecting current circuits, installations, machines and installations. Depending on the application and the protection class, the overvoltage protection device has different overvoltage building elements and different design. As overvoltage-building elements, it is possible to use not only overvoltage-limiting building elements such as varistors (or varistors) but also overvoltage-switching building elements such as spark-discharge devices (or spark gaps, or gas-filled overvoltage arresters) or gas-filled overvoltage arresters, and also combinations of these building elements.

Due to aging and short-Term Overvoltage (TOV) in the second range, an undesirable increase in the leakage current at the operating voltage occurs, particularly in the case of overvoltage protectors with varistors as arresters. Overvoltage protection devices with a varistor therefore generally have a thermal disconnection device by means of which the varistor, which can be operated without problems, is disconnected from the current path to be monitored. In the case of known overvoltage protection devices, the monitoring of the state of the varistor is mostly carried out on the basis of the principle of a temperature switch, wherein in the case of overheating of the varistor, for example, a soldered connection provided between the varistor and the conductive connecting element as a result of occurring leakage currents is broken, which leads to an electrical disconnection of the varistor.

DE 202004006227U 1 discloses a surge arrester with a thermal disconnection device, in which a varistor is used as an arrester according to one exemplary embodiment (fig. 5). The overvoltage protection device known from this document has, in addition to the conductive connecting element and the thermally separable connection, which are embodied as elastic separating tongues, an insulating separating element (Trennement) which is arranged movably in the housing and can be brought from a first position into a second position by the force of the elastic element. The first interface contact is permanently electrically conductively connected to the first interface of the variable resistor. The second interface contact is electrically conductively connected to the first end of the conductive connecting element. In the normal state of the overvoltage protection element, that is to say when the varistor is not heated to an impermissible degree, the second end of the conductive connecting element is connected to the second connection of the varistor via a thermally separate connection. Furthermore, the insulating separating element is held in its first position against (or against, i.e. entgegen) the spring force of the spring element by means of a soldered connection realized between the second end of the conductive connecting element and the second interface of the variable resistor.

If the surge arrester is heated so strongly due to the permanent overload of the varistor that a predetermined limit temperature is exceeded, the soldered connection is broken. The insulating separating element is moved into its second position by the force of the spring element, in which the section of the separating element is arranged between the second end of the connecting element and the second interface of the variable resistor, so that the variable resistor is electrically disconnected. By moving the separating element into its second position, a light arc which may form in the case of opening the separation point is interrupted and thus extinguished by the insulating separating element which has moved into the separation point.

The known overvoltage protection device is formed by a lower device part provided with an interface clip and an overvoltage protection element in the form of a "plug part" which can be plugged onto the lower device part. For this purpose, the interface contacts in the case of the overvoltage protection element are in the form of plug pins or plug blades, against which corresponding plug receptacles are arranged in the lower part of the device, which are connected to interface clamps for the electrical connection of the overvoltage protection device. In addition, the known overvoltage protection device has a visual status indicator and a converter contact as a signal generator for remote notification of the status of the overvoltage protection element, wherein the converter contact arranged in the lower part of the device and the visual status indicator formed at the plug part are actuated via a common mechanical actuating system.

DE 102009036125 a also discloses an overvoltage protection element with a variable resistor, which is disconnected by thermally separated connections in the event of impermissible heating. In the case of the overvoltage protection element, the conductive connecting element is connected to the insulating separating element in such a way that, in the case of a separate thermal connection, the insulating separating element is moved between the interface of the varistor and the associated interface contact. The connecting element is preferably designed as a metal part and is arranged in a separate element, which is formed from a rigid insulating material sheet.

For moving the separating element, a spring-loaded trigger slide (Ausl microschischlitten) is arranged in the housing, by means of which the insulating separating element is brought into the second position in the case of a separate thermal connection. In the tripping slide, a bore is also formed, in which a tripping pin is arranged for actuating a remote communication contact (or communication contact, i.e. fernmeldekontkatokt). In the normal state of the overvoltage protection element, the lower end of the trigger pin protrudes through an opening arranged in the bottom face of the housing, so that a switch of the remote notification contact, which is arranged in the lower part of the device, can be actuated via the trigger pin.

The known overvoltage protection device makes possible a reliable disconnection of a damaged overvoltage-building element, in particular of a varistor. Furthermore, the overvoltage protection element part has a visual status indication and additionally also enables remote notification of the status of the overvoltage protection device. However, it is disadvantageous here that the overvoltage protection device requires a relatively large number of components for this purpose, as a result of which the assembly is complicated and therefore expensive. This applies in particular when the overvoltage protection device has not only an overvoltage build-up element but also at least two overvoltage build-up elements which are to be monitored independently of one another and which are to be switched off in the event of damage.

In order to keep the wiring effort for the user as low as possible, overvoltage protection devices with two or more overvoltage building elements also have only one remote notification. In this case, although all overvoltage building elements are monitored, the switches associated with the individual building elements are connected in series, so that when at least one overvoltage-limiting building element is opened, an error notification is issued via a remote notification. The number of components is further increased here by using a plurality of switches for remote notification.

Disclosure of Invention

The invention is therefore based on the object of making available an overvoltage protection device of the type described above having at least one overvoltage build-up element arranged in the housing, which can be built as simply as possible and can therefore be produced at low cost.

This object is achieved in the case of the overvoltage protection device described above by the features of the invention. In the case of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention, the disconnection means together have a common insulating separating element which is loaded with force and is arranged movably in the housing. When none of the disconnection devices is triggered, the insulating separating element is held in a first position against the force acting thereon, which can be referred to as the basic position. In the case of triggering of the at least one disconnection device, the insulating separating element is brought into another position by a force acting thereon, which is the trigger position.

The reduction of the required components is achieved by the embodiment according to the invention of the overvoltage protection device with the previously described arrangement of the isolating disconnection element, only one isolating disconnection element being required for two disconnection devices. Independent of whether one of the disconnection devices, the other disconnection device or both disconnection devices are triggered, a change in position of one of the insulating separating elements is therefore always achieved, so that one of the insulating separating elements is used for both disconnection devices.

According to a first advantageous embodiment of the overvoltage protection device, the overvoltage protection device has a switch as a remote notification contact for remote notification of the state of the overvoltage protection device. The switch is in operative connection with the isolating element in such a way that it has a first switching position (Schalttellung) when the isolating element is in its first position and has another switching position when the isolating element is in the other position.

By means of this embodiment of the overvoltage protection device with the arrangement described above, in which the at least two disconnection devices are in operative connection with one of the switches, the possibility is created that the position of the at least two disconnection devices is detected with only one switch and also only one isolation element. Thus, one of the isolating separating elements also has the function of activating remote notification in addition to its original opening and extinguishing function. In order to remotely inform the state of the overvoltage protection device, therefore, it is necessary to use only one switch as a remote informing contact even when the overvoltage protection device has two disconnection devices and, if appropriate, also two overvoltage limiting components.

It is previously provided that the overvoltage protection device has at least one overvoltage limiting component and at least two disconnection devices. Even when in principle the overvoltage protection device may have more than two disconnection devices, for example three or four disconnection devices, it is always assumed hereinafter that the overvoltage protection device has two disconnection devices. However, it is also possible for the overvoltage protection device to have more than two overvoltage-limiting building elements and also more than two disconnection devices with which the disconnection element interacts and which are then also in operative connection with the switches of the remote notification contacts via the insulating disconnection element.

In the case of a preferred embodiment of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention, in which two overvoltage-limiting building elements and two disconnection devices are provided, three different states of the disconnection devices are possible. In the case of the first state, the two disconnection means are respectively in their first position, so that the switch assumes its first switching position due to the respective position of the insulating separating element. According to a second possible state, one of the two disconnecting means is in its first position and the other disconnecting means is in its second position. These two states correspondingly cause a change in the position of the insulating separating element, which is transmitted to the switch, so that the switch assumes the other, second or third switch position. In the case of a third possible state, the two disconnection means are in their second position, which likewise causes a change in the position of the insulating separating element, which is transmitted to the switch, so that the switch can assume a third switch position, which is different from the first switch position.

In accordance with the configuration of the switch, it is possible here for the switch to have two or three switch positions. In the first case, the second and third switch positions are identical, so that the switch can only distinguish between the first switch position and the further second switch position. In the second case, the second and third switch positions differ, so that a distinction can also be made via the switches between the second and third states, i.e. whether only one or both disconnection means are in their second position. Both possibilities can be realized in the case of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention.

The insulating separating element is also in its first position only when the two disconnection means are in their first position, in which the switch is held in its first switching position against the spring force by the separating element. If at least one of the disconnection devices is moved from its first position into its second position, this results in the insulating separating element also no longer being fixed in its first position, but its position changes, so that the switch also has another switch position.

According to a second preferred embodiment of the invention, the overvoltage protection device has a visual status indicator. For this purpose, the insulating separating element has a marking, which is part of the visual status indication. Furthermore, a viewing window is formed in the housing, which is arranged and arranged (or dimensioned, i.e. bemessen) in such a way that the marking is visible or not visible through the viewing window from the outside, depending on the position of the insulating separating element. In the case of a first variant of this preferred embodiment, the marking is visible from the outside through the viewing window at the insulating separating element when the insulating separating element is in its first position. If the insulating separating element is in another position opposite to it, the marking is not visible through the viewing window. In the case of the second variant of the preferred embodiment, the association of the marking and the viewing window is approximately different. The mark is not visible through the viewing window at the insulating separating element if the insulating separating element is in its first position, but is visible through the viewing window from the outside when the insulating separating element is in another position. The isolating switch element therefore also assumes, in addition to its original switching-off or extinguishing function, the function of an optical indication of the state of the overvoltage protection device.

The optical indication of the state of the overvoltage protection means is preferably realized here by a corresponding color indication, for which purpose the marking has a corresponding color at the insulating separating element. In the case of the first variant described above, this can be in particular the color green, while the color of the marking is preferably red in the case of the second variant.

In order to make possible a particularly good visual distinction between the two states, the complete operability of the overvoltage protection device or the incomplete operability of the overvoltage protection device, a second marking is preferably arranged in the region of the observation window, which is covered or not covered by the first marking depending on the position of the insulating separating element. Here, again, two variants are possible. In the case of the first variant, the second marking is covered by the first marking when the insulating separating element is in its first position. If the insulating separating element is in another position, on the contrary, the second marking is not covered by the first marking, so that the second marking is visible from the outside through the viewing window. In the case of the second variant, on the contrary, when the insulating separating element is in its first position, the second marking is then not covered by the first marking and is therefore visible from the outside through the viewing window. If the insulating separating element is in another position opposite to it, the second marking is covered by the first marking.

If the first marking has a green color according to the first variant, it is preferably provided that the second marking has a red color, so that the state of the overvoltage protection device can be visually perceived by the user. In contrast, if the first marking has a red color according to the second variant, the second marking has a green color accordingly.

Preferably, the insulating separating element is arranged in the housing such that it pivots clockwise from its first position into its second position in the event of triggering of one of the disconnection devices. In the case of triggering of the further tripping device, the separating element is pivoted counter-clockwise from its first position into a third position. If both disconnection means are triggered, the insulating separating element is moved into the fourth position as a result of the force acting thereon. In this case, a purely linear movement is possible, in particular when the two disconnection devices are simultaneously disconnected. In contrast, if there is a time offset between the separation of the two disconnection means, the separating element can first be pivoted slightly before it is moved linearly into the fourth position.

According to a further preferred embodiment of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention, the insulating separating element has the shape of a circular segment. The height h of the circular segment is preferably slightly smaller than the radius of the corresponding circular surface, so that the central angle α of the circular segment is also slightly smaller than 180 °. The design of the insulating separating element as a circular arc segment has the advantage that different positions of the separating element (which in the case of the respective state of the tripping device occupy said different positions) can thus be easily transmitted to the switch in the case of a pivotable and linearly displaceable arrangement of the separating element in the housing.

The different positions of the separating element, which are embodied as circular segments, described above can be transferred directly to the spring-loaded switch if the switch is in the same plane as the insulating separating element, but laterally next to the separating element, approximately at the height of the circular chord. The use of an additional transmission element for transmitting the position of the separating element to the switch can thereby be dispensed with. Independently of this, the insulating separating element can however also have other shapes, so that the shape of the separating element is not limited to the shape of a circular arc segment.

According to a preferred variant of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention, the overvoltage protection device has two overvoltage-building elements, wherein a disconnection device is associated with the overvoltage-building elements, the disconnection device having a conductive connection element. In a normal state of the first overvoltage buildup element, the interface of the first overvoltage buildup element is electrically conductively connected to the first end of the first conductive connecting element via a first thermally separate connection. Accordingly, in the normal state of the second overvoltage build-up element, the interface of the second overvoltage build-up element is electrically conductively connected to the first end of the second conductive connecting element via a second thermally separate connection. In the normal state of the two overvoltage buildup elements, the disconnection element is held in its first position against forces acting on it by the two conductive connection elements.

In the event of a exceeding of a predetermined limit temperature of the first overvoltage build-up element, a detachment of the first thermal connection occurs, so that the disconnection element is brought into the second position by a force acting thereon. In this second position of the insulating separating element, the first section of the separating element is arranged between the first connection of the first overvoltage building element and the first end of the first conductive connecting element. By means of the separating element, a light arc which may thus be formed in the case of an open connection can be extinguished. In the event of a exceeding of a predetermined limit temperature of the second overvoltage build-up element, a corresponding detachment of the second thermal connection takes place, so that the disconnection element is brought into the third position by a force acting thereon. In this position, the second section of the disconnection element is then arranged between the first connection of the second overvoltage build-up element and the first end of the second conductive connection element, so that the light arc which may form in the case of an open connection is extinguished again via the insulating disconnection element.

If an exceeding of the predetermined limit temperature of the two overvoltage buildup elements occurs, this causes the two thermal connections to separate, so that the separating element is brought into the fourth position by the force acting thereon. In this position, the first section of the disconnection element is arranged between the first connection of the first overvoltage formation element and the first end of the first conductive connection element and the second section of the disconnection element is arranged between the first connection of the second overvoltage formation element and the first end of the second conductive connection element, so that a possible light arc is extinguished by the insulating disconnection element which has moved into the disconnection point when the two connection elements are opened.

In the case of this embodiment variant, the two disconnection devices are accordingly thermal disconnection devices whose operating principle is known, in which case the interface of the overvoltage build-up element is in each case realized via the respective electrically conductive connection element. In the event of an inadmissible heating of the overvoltage build-up element, the connection is interrupted by an insulating disconnection element, in which the disconnection element is moved between the respective interface of the respective overvoltage build-up element and the end of the respective conductive connection element. However, it is new to use only one common insulating separating element in the case of two overvoltage buildup elements and two separation points.

As overvoltage building elements, which are correspondingly electrically disconnected by thermally separated connections in the event of impermissible heating, gas-filled overvoltage arresters can be used, for example. Preferably, however, the overvoltage protection device according to the invention has two varistors as overvoltage building elements, so that most of the varistors are mentioned below, without the invention being restricted thereto. The thermally separate connection between the first end of the conductive connecting element and one of the interfaces of the associated variable resistor is preferably in each case designed as a soldered connection, so that, via a corresponding selection of solder, a limit temperature can be set from which the thermal connection separates.

In order to move the conductive connecting element from its first position into its second position in the event of a disconnection of the thermal connection, the connecting element is preferably correspondingly elastically configured and is biased in its first position out of its relaxed position (or rest position, i.e., Ruhelage). In the case of a separate thermal connection, the connecting element then springs out of its first position into its second position on the basis of its elastic force. This movement is additionally supported by the insertion of the respective section of the disconnection element into the disconnection point between the connection of the varistor and the first end of the respective connection element. In principle, the conductive connecting element can also be brought from its first position into its second position solely by the movement of the insulating separating element in the case of a separation of the thermal connection or an additional elastic element can be provided, which acts on the connecting element.

In order that the separating element can be brought from its first position into another position in the case of a separate thermal connection, a force acts on the separating element. Preferably, the force is applied by at least one elastic element arranged in the housing. The elastic element is fixed to the insulating separating element at one end and in the housing at the other end. The fastening at the insulating separating element is preferably in the center of the separating element, i.e. in the vicinity of the apex of the separating element, which is embodied as a circular arc segment.

According to a second embodiment variant, only one overvoltage building element is provided, one disconnection device having a conductive connection element and the other disconnection device having a fuse element, wherein the fuse element and the overvoltage building element are electrically connected in series. In the case of such an overvoltage protection device, the overvoltage build-up element can therefore also be electrically opened in such a way that the fuse element exceeds the permissible melting integral (Schmelzintegral) i²t is triggered in case of t.

In a normal state of the overvoltage build-up element, the interface of the overvoltage build-up element is electrically conductively connected to the first end of the conductive connecting element via a thermally separate connection. In addition, in the normal state of the fuse element, the interface of the overvoltage protection device is electrically conductively connected to the second interface of the overvoltage building element via the fuse element, so that the overvoltage building element and the fuse element are electrically connected in series. In this case, the disconnection element is held in its first position in the normal state of the overvoltage buildup element and the fuse element by the conductive connection element and the latching element cooperating with the fuse element against the forces acting thereon.

In the event of exceeding a predetermined limit temperature of the overvoltage build-up element, a detachment of the thermal connection occurs, so that the disconnection element is brought into its second position by a force acting thereon. In this position, the first section of the disconnection element is arranged at the second section of the overvoltage build-up elementAn interface is provided between the first end of the conductive connecting element, so that the separating element can again extinguish a possible light arc. Integration of melting beyond the permissible limit of the fuse element i²In the case of t, an activation of the securing element occurs, as a result of which the securing element no longer interacts with the catch element and the separating element is therefore brought into the third position by the force acting thereon. The insertion or pivoting of the isolating disconnecting element from its first position into its second position takes place here in the opposite direction to the insertion or pivoting of the isolating disconnecting element from its first position into its third position.

If an excess of the predetermined limit temperature of the overvoltage build-up element occurs and additionally an excess of the permissible melting integral of the fuse element occurs, so that the thermal connection and the fuse element are separated, the separating element is moved into the fourth position by the force acting thereon. In this position as well, the first section of the disconnection element is arranged between the first connection of the overvoltage build-up element and the first end of the conductive connection element, so that the insulating disconnection element can interpret its function as a light arc extinction aid.

Additionally, the insulating separating element can however also be used as a visual status indication. This can be achieved in a simple manner and also visually indicates the triggering of the fuse element at the overvoltage protection device. This is achieved in that the securing element is also coupled as a disconnection device to the insulating separating element, i.e. the triggering of the securing element causes a change in the position of the separating element, which can then be used as a visual status indicator via the marking and the viewing window.

The overvoltage protection device according to the invention is advantageously formed by a plug part and a lower device part, wherein at least one overvoltage-building element and a disconnection device are arranged in the plug part and a switch and an interface clamp of the overvoltage protection device are arranged in the lower device part. For actuating the switch, an opening is formed in the bottom of the plug housing facing the lower device part, through which opening the switch projects into the plug housing when the plug part is plugged onto the lower device part. Above the opening there is an insulating separating element which, in the normal state of the overvoltage protection device, presses onto the switch. The switch of the remote notification contact arranged in the lower part of the device below the opening can thus be held directly in its first switching position by the disconnecting element when the two disconnecting elements are not triggered and the disconnecting element is in its first position. In contrast, if at least one disconnection element has been triggered, so that the insulation separation element has changed its position, the switch also changes its switching position due to the spring force.

By means of the previously described design and arrangement of the two disconnection devices and the common disconnection element, it is also possible to determine, by means of a switch in the lower device part, when the plug part is not plugged onto the lower device part. In this case too, the switch is not held or pressed in its first switching position by the insulating separating element, so that the switch assumes its second switching position and a corresponding error notification is issued.

Drawings

In particular, there are numerous possibilities for designing and improving the overvoltage protection device according to the invention. Reference to the invention for this purpose includes reference to the following description of two preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the drawings wherein:

figure 1 shows an embodiment of the overvoltage protection device from the side,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of a first variant of the actuating mechanism of the switch in four different states, and

fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a second variant of the actuating mechanism of the switch in three different states.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of an overvoltage protection device 1 according to the invention, which is of two-part design, namely, is formed from a plug part 2 and a device lower part 3. The plug arrangement 2 can be easily plugged onto the U-shaped lower device part 3 and can also be easily pulled out of the lower device part 3, for example, for replacing a damaged plug arrangement 2, without having to loosen the lines connected to the lower device part 3 for this purpose. The plug part 2 has a plug housing 4 and the device lower part 3 has a base housing 5, so that in the case of the overvoltage protection device 1 this housing is formed by the plug housing 4 and the base housing 5, which are preferably locked to one another when the plug part 2 is plugged onto the device lower part 3.

Fig. 2 and 3 show schematic representations of two different variants of the overvoltage protection device 1, wherein the plug housing 4 and the base housing 5 are omitted and only the components essential to the invention are shown. In both figures, the overvoltage protection device 1 is shown in different states.

The overvoltage protection device 1 shown in fig. 2 has two

varistors

6a,6b as overvoltage-building elements, which are arranged together in the plug housing 4. In contrast, in the case of the overvoltage protection device 1 shown in fig. 3, only one varistor 6a is provided as an overvoltage-building element. In addition, the overvoltage protection device 1 has, in the case of both embodiment variants, two disconnection devices, a switch 7 arranged in the base housing 5 as a remote notification contact for remote notification of the state of the overvoltage protection device 1 and an insulating separating element 8. The separating element 8 interacts with two disconnection devices, i.e. both disconnection devices have a common insulating separating element 8.

In the normal state of the two

varistors

6a,6b, which is illustrated in fig. 2a, the separating element 8 is held in a first position, which can be referred to as the basic position, against a tensile force F acting thereon. In the basic position of the disconnecting element 8, the switch 7 is held or pressed by the disconnecting element 8 in a first switch position, which displays to the user via a remote notification: both

varistors

6a,6b and thus the overvoltage protection device 1 are in a defined state.

In addition to the remote notification, the overvoltage protection device also has a visual status indicator, for which purpose a first marking 9 is provided at the insulating separating element 8, which is preferably configured as a green color marking. The first marking 9 is externally recognizable through a viewing window 10 formed in the plug housing 4 only when the insulating separating element 8 is in its basic position. If the insulating separating element 8 is in contrast in the other positions shown in fig. 2b to 2d, a further second marking 11 can be recognized from the outside through the viewing window at the position of the first marking 9 formed at the separating element 8. The second marking 11 is in particular embodied here as a red color marking, so that the user can recognize the state of the overvoltage protection device 1 on the basis of a simple view through the observation window 10. If the first marking 9 is visible in the color green through the observation window 10, the overvoltage protection device 1 is in the defined state. In contrast, if the second marking 11 is visible in the red color through the viewing window 10, the overvoltage protection device 1 is in the undefined state, since one

variable resistor

6a,6b or both

variable resistors

6a,6b are electrically disconnected due to impermissible heating.

The second marking 11 may, for example, be arranged at an inner housing surrounding the

variable resistors

6a,6 b. If the second marking 11 is configured as a color marking, preferably the entire inner housing has this color, so that no separate component is required for the second marking.

In the case of the overvoltage protection device 1 shown schematically in fig. 2 and 3, the insulating separating element 8 has the shape of a circular arc segment, wherein the height h of the circular arc segment is slightly smaller than the radius of the circular arc segment. Such a design of the separating element 8 and its pivotable and linearly displaceable arrangement make it possible for the two tripping devices to be in operative connection with the switch 7 directly via the separating element 8, so that the switching position of the switch 7 can be changed depending on whether the tripping devices are activated or not. As can also be recognized from fig. 2 and 3, the switch 7 is in the same plane as the insulating separating element 8, but laterally next to the separating element 8, approximately at the height of the round chord. The previously described different positions of the separating element 8 can thus be transferred directly to the spring-loaded switch 7.

In the case of the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 2, two

varistors

6a,6b are provided therein, and the two disconnection devices each have a conductive connecting

element

12a,12b, wherein the

varistors

6a,6b are associated with the respective connecting

elements

12a,12 b. In the normal state of the two

variable resistors

6a,6b, the

first connections

13a,13b of the respective

variable resistors

6a,6b are electrically conductively connected to the first ends of the conductive connecting

elements

12a,12b via thermally separate connections. In the normal state of the two

variable resistors

6a,6b, which is shown in fig. 2a, the separating element 8 is held in its first position, the basic position, by the two connecting

elements

12a,12b in their first position counter to the tensile force F acting thereon.

In the event of exceeding a predefined limit temperature of the first varistor 6a, a separation of the first thermal connection occurs, so that the insulating separating element 8 is pivoted clockwise according to fig. 2b from its first position into its second position on the basis of the tensile force acting thereon. In this case, the first section 14a of the insulating separating element 8 is pushed between the first connection 13a of the first varistor 6a and the first end of the first conductive connecting element 12a, so that a light arc, which may form in the case of an open connection, is extinguished.

If an inadmissible heating of the second varistor 6b occurs, the second thermal connection is broken when the respective limit temperature of the varistor 6b is exceeded. As a result, the disconnection element 8 is pivoted counterclockwise according to fig. 2c from its first position into its third position, in which the second section 14b of the disconnection element 8 is arranged between the first connection 13b of the second variable resistor 6b and the first end of the second transmissible connection element 12 b. Thus, a light arc which may occur in the event of opening the second connection by pushing the separating element 8 into the separation point is also extinguished by the separating element 8 or its second section 14 b.

Fig. 2d shows a state in which the two

variable resistors

6a,6b heat up impermissibly (or become hot, i.e. erw ä rmt), so that the two thermal connections are separated. In this case, the separating element 8 is moved by a pulling force acting thereon from its first position into a fourth position, in which the two

sections

14a,14b of the separating element 8 are respectively arranged between the

first connections

13a,13b of the

variable resistors

6a,6b and the first ends of the respective connecting

elements

12a,12 b.

As can also be seen from a comparison of fig. 2a with fig. 2b to 2d, the switch 7 is held in its first switching position only in the first position of the separating element 8 by the separating element 8. In contrast, when at least one thermal disconnection point is disconnected, so that the disconnection element 8 moves into its second, third or fourth position, the switch 7 is in the second switch position, which notifies the overvoltage protection device 1 of the faulty state via remote notification.

In order to move the conductive connecting

elements

12a,12b from their first position into their second position in the event of a disconnection of the respective thermal connection and thus to make possible a movement of the insulating separating element 8 from its first position into the other position, the connecting

elements

12a,12b are configured in a corresponding elastic manner. In this case, the connecting

elements

12a,12b are biased out of their relaxed position when their first ends are connected to the

first connections

13a,13b of the respectively associated

variable resistors

6a,6b via the respective thermal disconnection points. In the case of a separation of the thermal connection, the connecting

element

12a,12b then springs out of its first position into its second position due to its elastic force, in which the end of the connecting

element

12a,12b is spaced apart from the

first connection

13a,13b, so that the

section

14a,14b of the separating element 8 can be moved into the separation point.

In the case of the exemplary embodiment of the overvoltage protection device 1 shown in fig. 3 (in which only one variable resistor 6a is provided), the first disconnection device has a first conductive connecting element 12a and the second disconnection device has a fuse element 15. The first conductive connecting element 12a is in turn electrically conductively connected in the normal state of the variable resistor 6a via a thermal disconnection point to the first connection 13a of the variable resistor 6 a. The fuse element 15 is electrically connected in series with the variable resistor 6a in such a way that, in the normal state of the fuse element 15, the interface of the overvoltage protection device 1 is electrically conductively connected to the second interface 16 of the variable resistor 6a via the fuse element 15.

Fig. 3a shows a normal state of the overvoltage protection device 1, in which the first connection 13a of the variable resistor 6a is electrically conductively connected to the first end of the first conductive connecting element 12a via a thermally separate connection. The fuse element 15 is also connected to the interface of the overvoltage protection device 1 in an electrically conductive manner on one side and to a second interface 16 of the varistor 6a on the other side. At the insulating separating element 8, a pin-like holding element 17 is arranged, which interacts with the securing element 15. The insulating separating element 8 is thereby held in its first position against the pulling force F acting thereon, in which the switch 7 is actuated by the separating element 8, so that the switch 7 is in its first switching position. At the same time, the first marking 9, which is mounted at the separating element 8, is in the region of the viewing window 10, so that this first marking 9 is recognizable by the user through the viewing window 10.

Fig. 3b shows a state in which a predefined limit temperature of the varistor 6a is exceeded, so that the thermal connection between the first connection 13a of the varistor 6a and the first end of the connecting element 12a is broken. As a result, the disconnection element 8 is twisted into a second position on the basis of the force acting thereon, in which the first section 14a of the disconnection element 8 is arranged between the first connection 13a of the variable resistor 6a and the first end of the first conductive connection element 12 a. At the same time, the marking 9 of the separating element 8 is also removed from the region of the viewing window 10, so that the second marking 11 is now visible from the outside through the viewing window 10 at the location of the first marking 9.

Fig. 3c shows a state in which the permissible melting integral i of the fuse element 15²t is exceeded and the fuse element 15 is triggered. The triggering of the securing element 15 causes the push rod 18 to be pushed out of the securing element 15, as a result of which the catch element 19 arranged at the end of the push rod 18 is no longer in engagement with the retaining element 17 at the release element 8. As a result, the separating element 8 can be moved from its first position into a third position as a result of the force F acting thereon, in which, on the one hand, the switch 7 is no longer actuated by the separating element 8 and, on the other hand, the first marking 9 is no longer arranged in the region of the viewing window 10.

In the case of both embodiment variants, the force F acting on the separating element 8 is exerted by an elastic element 20, which acts with an end 21 on the insulating separating element 8 in such a way that the separating element 8 is loaded with a tensile force F in its first position. The embodiment shown in the figures, in which the spring element 20 is an alternative to a tension spring, is also possible if the spring element is embodied as a compression spring and then acts on the separating element 8 from opposite sides.

Claims

1. An overvoltage protection device (1) having a housing (4,5), having at least one overvoltage build-up element (6a,6b) and having at least two disconnection devices, wherein at least one disconnection device electrically disconnects the at least one overvoltage build-up element (6a,6b) in the event of an overload,

it is characterized in that the preparation method is characterized in that,

the disconnection devices together have a common insulating separating element (8) which is loaded with force and is arranged movably in the housing (4),

when neither of the disconnecting devices is triggered, the insulating separating element (8) is held in a first position against a force acting thereon, and

the insulating separating element (8) is brought into another position by a force acting thereon in the event of triggering of the at least one disconnection device.

2. Overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that a switch (7) is provided as a remote notification contact for remote notification of the state of the overvoltage protection device (1), the switch (7) being in operative connection with the isolating separating element (8) in such a way that the switch (7) has a first switching position when the isolating separating element (8) is in its first position and the switch (7) has another switching position when the isolating separating element (8) is in its other position.

3. Overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the insulating separating element (8) has a first marking (9) as a visual status indication and in that a viewing window (10) is constructed in the housing (4), which is arranged and arranged in such a way that the first marking (9) is visible or not visible from the outside through the viewing window (10) depending on the position of the insulating separating element (8),

wherein the first marking (9) is externally visible through the viewing window (10) when the insulating separating element (8) is in one position, and the first marking (9) is externally invisible through the viewing window (10) when the insulating separating element (8) is in another position.

4. Overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that a second marking (11) is arranged in the region of the observation window (10), wherein the second marking (11) is covered by the first marking (9) or is visible from the outside through the observation window (10) depending on the position of the insulating separating element (8).

5. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the isolating parting element (8) is pivoted clockwise from its first position into its second position in the case of triggering a first disconnection device, the isolating parting element (8) is pivoted counterclockwise from its first position into its third position in the case of triggering a second disconnection device and the isolating parting element (8) is moved from its first position into its fourth position in the case of triggering two disconnection devices.

6. Overvoltage protector (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the insulating separating element (8) has the shape of a circular arc segment.

7. Overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that two overvoltage building elements (6a,6b) are provided, wherein one disconnection means each is associated with one overvoltage building element (6a,6b), which disconnection means each have one conductive connection element (12a,12b),

in a normal state of the first overvoltage build-up element (6a), a first connection (13a) of the first overvoltage build-up element (6a) is electrically conductively connected to a first end of a first conductive connecting element (12a) via a first thermally separate connection,

in a normal state of the second overvoltage build-up element (6b), the first connection (13b) of the second overvoltage build-up element (6b) is electrically conductively connected to a first end of a second conductive connection element (12b) via a second thermally separate connection,

the insulating separating element (8) is held in its first position against forces acting on it by the two conductive connecting elements (12a,12b) in the normal state of the two overvoltage building elements (6a,6b),

in the event of a predetermined limit temperature of the first overvoltage build-up element (6a) being exceeded, the first thermally separate connection is disconnected and the disconnection element (8) is brought into a second position by a force acting thereon, in which a first section (14a) of the disconnection element (8) is arranged between a first connection (13a) of the first overvoltage build-up element (6a) and a first end of the first conductive connection element (12a),

in the event of exceeding a predetermined limit temperature of the second overvoltage build-up element (6b), the second thermally separate connection is disconnected and the disconnection element (8) is brought into a third position by a force acting thereon, in which case a second section (14b) of the disconnection element (8) is arranged between a first connection (13b) of the second overvoltage build-up element (6b) and a first end of the second conductive connection element (12b), and

in the event of exceeding a predetermined limit temperature of the first and second overvoltage build-up elements (6a,6b), the two thermally separate connections are separated and the separating element (8) is brought into a fourth position by a force acting thereon, wherein a first section (14a) of the separating element (8) is arranged between a first connection (13a) of the first overvoltage build-up element (6a) and a first end of the first conductive connection element (12a), and a second section (14b) of the separating element (8) is arranged between a first connection (13b) of the second overvoltage build-up element (6b) and a first end of the second conductive connection element (12 b).

8. The overvoltage protector (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the conductive connecting elements (12a,12b) are respectively configured elastically and are biased out of their relaxed position in their first position, so that the connecting elements (12a,12b) respectively spring out of their first position into their second position on the basis of their elastic force in the case of a thermally separated connection being separated.

9. Overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is provided with an overvoltage building element (6a), the disconnection device having a first conductive connection element (12a) and the disconnection device having a fuse element (15), wherein the fuse element (15) and the overvoltage building element (6a) are electrically connected in series,

in a normal state of the overvoltage build-up element (6a), a first connection (13a) of the overvoltage build-up element (6a) is electrically conductively connected to a first end of the first conductive connection element (12a) via a thermally separate connection,

in a normal state of the fuse element (15), an interface (16) of the overvoltage protection device (1) is electrically conductively connected to a second interface of the overvoltage build-up element (6a) via the fuse element (15),

the insulating separating element (8) is held in its first position against forces acting on it by the first conductive connecting element (12a) and a holding element (17) which interacts with the fuse element (15) in the normal state of the overvoltage building element (6a) and the fuse element (15),

in the event of a temperature limit exceeding a predetermined limit temperature of the overvoltage build-up element (6a), the thermally separate connection is disconnected and the disconnection element (8) is brought into a second position by a force acting on it, in which a first section (14a) of the disconnection element (8) is arranged between a first connection (13a) of the overvoltage build-up element (6a) and a first end of the first conductive connection element (12a),

in the event that the permissible melting integral of the securing element (15) is exceeded, the securing element (15) is triggered and the securing element (15) no longer interacts with the retaining element (17), so that the separating element (8) is brought into the third position by the force acting thereon.

10. The overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 9, characterised in that the thermally separate connection and the fuse element (15) are separated and the insulating separating element (8) is brought into a fourth position by a force acting thereon in the event of a predetermined limit temperature of the overvoltage building element (6a) being exceeded and in the event of an allowed melting integral of the fuse element (15) being exceeded, in which case a first section (14a) of the separating element (8) is arranged between a first connection (13a) of the overvoltage building element (6a) and a first end of the first conductive connecting element (12 a).

11. Overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an elastic element (20) is provided, which acts with one end (21) on the insulating separating element (8) in such a way that the insulating separating element (8) is loaded with force by the elastic element (20) in its first position.

12. The overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the overvoltage protection device (1) is composed of a plug part (2) and a lower equipment part (3), and the at least one overvoltage building element (6a,6b) and the disconnection means are arranged in the plug part (2) and the switch (7) and the interface clip are arranged in the lower equipment part (3).