CN216904295U

CN216904295U - Overvoltage protection device

Info

Publication number: CN216904295U
Application number: CN202121882209.7U
Authority: CN
Inventors: R·德斯; V·奥克尔
Original assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Phoenix Contact GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2020-08-12
Filing date: 2021-08-12
Publication date: 2022-07-05
Anticipated expiration: 2031-08-12
Also published as: DE102020121195A1

Abstract

In the overvoltage protection device (1) according to the utility model, the insulation measurement can be easily performed by: an electrically conductive connecting element (12) is movably arranged in the housing (2) in such a way that it can be brought from a first position, in which the second connections (11) of the overvoltage arresters (5, 6, 7, 8) are connected to one another by the electrically conductive connecting element (12), into a second position, in which the second connections (11) of the overvoltage arresters (5, 6, 7, 8) are not connected to one another, and an actuating element (13) connected to the electrically conductive connecting element (12) is movably arranged in the housing (2) in such a way that the electrically conductive connecting element (12) can be brought from its first position into its second position by actuating the actuating element (13).

Description

Overvoltage protection device

Technical Field

The utility model relates to an overvoltage protection device having a housing, having at least two overvoltage-limiting structural elements and having at least three conductor attachment elements, wherein the overvoltage arresters each have a first connection and a second connection, and wherein the first connections are each connected to a conductor attachment element.

Background

In various embodiments, overvoltage protection devices are widely used to protect circuits, systems, machines and devices. Depending on the application and the protection level, the overvoltage protection devices have different overvoltage-limiting components and different structural shapes. In this case, in particular spark gaps, gas-filled surge arresters and varistors and combinations of these components are used as overvoltage-limiting components. These are also referred to below as surge arresters or arresters.

Due to aging and the Transient Overvoltage (TOV) occurring in the range of a few seconds, particularly in the case of overvoltage protection devices having a varistor as an arrester, an undesirable increase in the leakage current of the varistor occurs at the operating voltage. Overvoltage protection devices with varistors as arresters therefore usually have a thermal disconnection device by means of which the varistor, which no longer functions properly without failure, is disconnected from the current path to be monitored. In the known overvoltage protection device, the state of the varistor is monitored on the basis of the principle of a temperature switch, wherein, when the varistor overheats, for example due to a leakage current occurring, the soldered connection provided between the varistor and the electrically conductive connecting element is broken, which results in an electrical disconnection of the varistor.

For example, DE 102009036125 a discloses an overvoltage protection device of this type, which has a varistor that is disconnected by a thermally separate connection in the event of an inadmissible heating. In this overvoltage protection element, the electrically conductive connecting element is connected to the insulating disconnection element in such a way that, when the thermal connection is disconnected, the insulating disconnection element is moved between the terminals of the varistor and the associated attachment contacts. The connecting elements are preferably designed as metal blocks and are arranged in separate elements made of a rigid insulating material sheet.

Overvoltage protection devices limit transient overvoltages that can compromise the insulation of an electrical device or of an electrical system and can cause it to stop functioning or to fail. The protection level of the surge arresters used is usually significantly lower than the insulation voltage in order to ensure the best possible protection and in order to be able to coordinate with other surge arresters of a lower protection class.

The use of overvoltage protection devices in the operation of electrical systems can significantly increase the system availability. However, the use of overvoltage protection devices proves to be disturbing when repeated insulation measurements need to be performed in the system. Due to the lower response voltage of the surge arresters, a response of the surge arresters can occur when insulation measurements are carried out, so that these surge arresters become conductive, so that the required insulation capacity of the tested device or electrical system cannot be proven.

For this reason as well, the overvoltage protection devices used in practice usually consist of a lower device part provided with attachment terminals and of a surge arrester configured as a "plug part", which can be easily slipped onto the lower device part. For this purpose, in the surge arrester, the attachment contacts are in the form of plug pins or plug blades, and in the lower part of the device there are arranged corresponding sockets which are connected to electrically attached attachment terminals for the overvoltage protection device. In this case, in order to carry out the insulation measurement, the pluggable surge arrester is first removed from the lower installation part and then, after the insulation measurement has been carried out, is fitted to the lower installation part. In particular in the case of larger systems with a plurality of overvoltage protection devices or overvoltage arresters, this results in increased operating effort. Furthermore, there is a risk that: the removed surge arrester is mixed up, so that subsequently further surge arresters are placed on the lower part of the installation again.

DE 102010033179B 4 discloses an overvoltage protection device which is of two-part design, i.e., has a base part and a functional module which can be slipped onto the base part. A gas arrester, which can be switched between the two line paths by means of a rotary switch, is arranged as an overvoltage protection element in the base part. In a second switching position of the rotary switch, the two line paths are connected to one another, and in a third switching position, the two line paths are isolated from one another. The third switching state serves here as a test position in which the overvoltage protection device or a system in which the overvoltage protection device is installed, for example an insulation test, can be tested. The rotary switch is arranged in such a way that the user can carry out three switching positions in the installed state, for which purpose, however, the functional module needs to be removed from the base part.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

The object on which the utility model is based is to provide an overvoltage protection device of the type described at the outset, which has at least two components arranged in a housing, which limit overvoltages, is of as simple a construction as possible and can therefore be produced cost-effectively. In particular, it should be possible to easily carry out insulation measurements without having to disassemble parts of the overvoltage protection device.

This object is achieved in the overvoltage protection device described at the outset. According to the utility model, the electrically conductive connecting element is movably arranged in the housing in such a way that the electrically conductive connecting element can be brought from the first position into the second position. In the first position, the second terminals of the surge arrester are connected to one another by an electrically conductive connecting element, and in the second position of the connecting element, the second terminals are not connected to one another. In the first position of the electrically conductive connecting element, this electrically conductive connecting element forms a common potential point to which all the surge arresters are attached by means of their second connections.

In addition, an actuating element is movably arranged in the housing, which actuating element is connected to the electrically conductive connecting element in such a way that the electrically conductive connecting element can be moved from its first position into its second position by actuating the actuating element. If the actuating element is actuated by bringing it from its first position into its second position, the electrically conductive connecting element is also moved from its first position into its second position. In this way, simple actuation of the electrically conductive connecting elements can be achieved by means of the actuating elements, so that the individual surge arresters can be quickly and easily disconnected by the user when required, in particular when insulation measurements are to be carried out, without these surge arresters having to be removed from the overvoltage protection device. After the measurement has been carried out, the user merely has to bring the actuating element back into its first position, whereby the electrically conductive connecting elements are also brought into their first position again, in which first position the second terminals of the individual surge arresters are connected to one another by the electrically conductive connecting elements.

In the case of overvoltage protection devices with a plurality of overvoltage arresters, all the overvoltage arresters must be separated from the power grid before insulation measurements can be carried out. If the overvoltage protection device has n overvoltage arresters, at least n-1 discharge paths must be separated in order to separate all connections between different potentials to which the overvoltage protection device is connected by means of the conductor attachment element. At least n-1 separate contacts are therefore required for this purpose, which must all be manipulated before the insulation measurement.

Overvoltage protection devices for polyphase or multi-core systems, each having a plurality of surge arresters, are interconnected internally in such a way that they have a common potential point at which all surge arresters are connected to one another. In the 3+1 circuit normally used in TN-C-S systems, for example, the N potential forms this common potential point, to which all surge arresters are connected by means of their second connections. In a Y circuit used in a dc voltage network, the common potential point corresponds to a node at which the surge arresters are connected to one another.

In the case of an overvoltage protection device, according to the utility model, an electrically conductive connecting element which is arranged in the housing in a movable manner is provided at the location of the common potential point, so that it is only necessary to bring this connecting element from its first position, in which it is connected to the second connection of the overvoltage arrester, into a second position, in which it is isolated from the second connection. In this way, in a simple manner, all the surge arresters are disconnected from the power supply system and therefore all the potentials attached to the overvoltage protection device are separated from one another in order to carry out the insulation measurement.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the utility model, the electrically conductive connecting element has a connecting region and a contact region, wherein in the first position of the connecting element the contact region makes contact with the second terminal of the surge arrester in a force-fitting and/or form-fitting manner. In particular, a mechanical connection of the connecting element to the actuating element can be established via the connecting region. Since the contact region contacts the second connection of the surge arrester in a force-locking and/or form-locking manner, the electrically conductive connecting element can be easily brought from its first position of contact into its second, insulated position.

According to a preferred first embodiment, the contact region has a plurality of spring segments for this purpose, which in each case are arranged under spring stress between the second terminals of the two surge arresters in the first position of the connecting element. The spring section of the contact region then forms a plug contact with two contacts of the two surge arresters which are opposite one another, the spring section corresponding to the plug and the opposite second contact corresponding to the socket. In this case, the individual spring segments preferably have spring arms which can be easily realized by bending the free ends of the contact regions. In order to achieve the springing behavior, adjacent springing segments are separated from each other, for example by punching or slits, wherein the individual springing segments are connected to each other by connecting regions.

According to an alternative embodiment, the contact region has a plurality of contact elements, which are likewise connected to one another by way of the connection region, wherein in the first position of the connection element each contact element contacts a second terminal of the surge arrester. The electrical connection of the second connection of the surge arrester is then realized via the connection region of the connection element. The contact element can be configured, for example, as a contact socket, with which the second terminal has a corresponding contact plug section. By means of this configuration of the connection element, this connection element can also be easily pushed onto and removed from the second connection of the surge arrester by means of the contact element when the connection element is moved from the first position into the second position.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the overvoltage protection device according to the utility model, the actuating element has an actuating section which can be actuated from outside the housing, which actuating section preferably projects out of the housing. Thus, a simple actuation of the actuating element is ensured by means of the actuating section, which can also be referred to as a handle section. In this case, the actuating element is preferably formed entirely, but at least the actuating section, from an insulating material, so that there is no electrically conductive connection to the electrically conductive connecting element. When the actuating section preferably projects out of the housing, this has the following advantages: the user can easily grip the manipulation section.

In order that the actuating element does not inadvertently return from its second position into its first position, it is preferably provided that the actuating element is held in the second position by the force of a spring acting on the actuating element or by a catch of the actuating element. In the case of the overvoltage protection device according to the utility model, the actuating element, and therefore also the connecting element, is brought by the user from the first position into the second position, primarily for testing purposes, in particular for carrying out insulation measurements. Since it must be ensured that the individual surge arresters remain open during the insulation measurement, it is important that the actuating element does not inadvertently move from the second position into the first position again. This can be achieved by a catch formed between the actuating element and the housing or by a force acting on the actuating element, by means of which catch or force the actuating element is held in the second position.

In principle, different possibilities exist with regard to the manner in which the actuating element, and thus also the connecting element, is brought from its first position into its second position. For example, both the actuating element and the connecting element can slide linearly or be pivoted between two positions by means of a rotary movement or a translatory movement.

According to a preferred embodiment, the actuating element is arranged in the housing in a pivotable manner, which enables particularly simple and space-saving actuation. The connecting element is instead preferably arranged in the housing in a linearly slidable manner, which is advantageous in terms of contacting the second connection of the surge arrester by means of the contact region. In this case, the electrically conductive connecting element is mechanically connected to the actuating element in such a way that a pivoting movement of the actuating element causes a translatory movement of the electrically conductive connecting element. This can be achieved, for example, by: a guide device is formed on the actuating element, in which a bearing element arranged on the connecting element is guided during pivoting of the actuating element in such a way that the connecting element slides linearly, in particular is raised or lowered relative to the second joint, when the actuating element is pivoted.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the overvoltage protection device according to the utility model, the movable, electrically conductive connecting element is additionally used to separate the overvoltage arresters in the event of a fault. For this purpose, a disconnecting element is movably arranged in the housing, which disconnecting element is acted upon by a force in the direction of the actuating element. In this case, the disconnection element is held in the first position against a force acting on the disconnection element when the surge arrester associated with the disconnection element is in the normal state. In this case, the disconnecting element does not actuate the actuating element. If, on the other hand, the associated surge arrester has reached a critical state, the tripping element is brought into the second position by a force acting on the tripping element, whereby the tripping element brings the actuating element from its first position into its second position. The activation or movement of the disconnection element therefore leads to an actuation of the actuating element, as a result of which the electrically conductive connection element is also brought from its first position into its second position, in which the second connection of the surge arrester is disconnected. The activation of the disconnection element is dependent on the state of the associated surge arrester. If the surge arrester is in an uncritical state, the disconnection element is held in its first position against the force acting on the disconnection element. If, on the other hand, the surge arrester has reached a critical state, the disconnection element is no longer held in the first position, so that it is brought into the second position by the force acting on the disconnection element.

According to a first embodiment variant, the holding of the break-away element in the first position against the force acting at the break-away element can be achieved by: the disconnection element is connected directly or indirectly via a thermally separate connection to the associated surge arrester. The thermally isolated connection can be, in particular, a solder, and is designed such that it is isolated when the temperature of the surge arrester is above a predetermined limit temperature. In this case, the tripping element is then brought from its first position into its second position by a force acting on the tripping element, as a result of which the actuating element is simultaneously also moved from its first position into its second position.

According to an alternative embodiment, a blocking element is provided for holding the disconnection element in its first position, which blocking element is arranged in the housing in thermal contact with the associated surge arrester. In the normal state of the surge arrester, the tripping element is held in its first position against the forces acting thereon by means of the blocking element, and the blocking element releases the tripping element when the temperature of the surge arrester is above a predetermined limit temperature. For this purpose, the blocking element consists of a material which melts when the temperature of the surge arrester is above a limit temperature.

Irrespective of the specific configuration and arrangement of the disconnecting element, this disconnecting element is preferably loaded with force in the direction of the actuating element by means of a spring element. In principle, however, other types of drives are also conceivable, by means of which the disconnection element can be brought from its first position into its second position when the associated surge arrester has reached a critical state. For example, an actuator with the aid of a pyrotechnic device can be envisaged, as is known in principle, for example, from DE 202009018086U 1.

If the overvoltage protection device according to the utility model has the disconnection element described above, by means of which the actuating element is brought into its second position and thus the overvoltage arrester is disconnected from the power supply system in the event of a fault, it is preferably provided that the actuating element is blocked in its second position when the disconnection element has brought the actuating element from its first position into its second position. In the event of a disconnection of the surge arrester as a result of a failure of the surge arrester, it is thereby ensured that the actuating element can no longer, at least without additional measures, be brought back from its second position into its first position, so that the overvoltage protection device with the failed surge arrester is prevented from being attached to the power supply network again.

According to an advantageous embodiment, a blocking element is provided for this purpose, which is acted upon by a force in the direction of the opening element. Furthermore, a recess is formed in the disconnecting element, into which the blocking element engages when the disconnecting element is in its second position. The blocking element thus enables the movement of the disconnecting element from its first position into its second position, but prevents the disconnecting element from subsequently moving back into its first position again. It is then also prevented thereby that the actuating element is brought back again from its second position into its first position, so that the second terminals of the surge arrester cannot be connected to one another again by the electrically conductive connecting element.

The overvoltage protection device according to the utility model preferably has, in addition to this, a remote reporting contact for remote reporting of the state of the connecting element, so that not only the performance of the insulation measurement but also the occurrence of a failure of the overvoltage arrester can be remotely reported. For this purpose, an electrically conductive connecting or actuating element is indirectly or directly connected to the remote reporting contact, so that a change in the position of the connecting or actuating element causes a change in the state of the remote reporting contact.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the overvoltage protection device has not only remote reporting contacts for remote reporting of the state of the connecting element, but also an optical state display, by means of which the state of the overvoltage protection device is also displayed directly and immediately. For this purpose, the actuating element has a marking section as an optical state reading or is connected indirectly or directly to a separate optical state reading, so that the position of the actuating element, and therefore also the position of the electrically conductive connecting element, is displayed by the optical state reading. In this case, an optical reading of the state of the overvoltage protection device or of the actuating element can be carried out by means of a corresponding color reading, so that if the actuating element is in its second position, in which the second terminal of the overvoltage protection device is electrically disconnected, it is displayed, for example, in red.

In detail, there are various configurations and the possibilities of the overvoltage protection element according to the utility model are further extended.

Drawings

For this reason, reference is made to the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Shown in the drawings are:

fig. 1a and 1b are perspective views of an exemplary embodiment of an overvoltage protection device according to the utility model, with an actuating element in its first position and in its second position,

fig. 2a and 2b show a first exemplary embodiment of an overvoltage protection device in two different viewing directions, wherein the housing upper part is removed.

Figure 3 important parts of the overvoltage protection device according to figures 2a and 2b without the housing,

figure 4 shows the overvoltage protection device according to figures 2a and 2b with overvoltage limiting structural elements and electrically conductive connecting elements,

fig. 5a and 5b show components of the overvoltage protection device according to fig. 2a and 2b, which have conductive connecting elements in two different states,

fig. 6a and 6b are schematic diagrams of the overvoltage protection device according to fig. 2a and 2b without the housing in two different states,

fig. 7a and 7b show a second exemplary embodiment of an overvoltage protection device in two different viewing directions, wherein the housing upper part is removed.

Figure 8 parts of an overvoltage protection device according to the body of figures 7a and 7b,

figures 9a and 9b are schematic diagrams of the overvoltage protection device according to figures 7a and 7b without the housing in two different states,

fig. 10a, 10b and 10c are schematic diagrams of further variants of the overvoltage protection device in three different states.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1a and 1b show an exemplary embodiment of an overvoltage protection device 1 according to the utility model, which has a housing 2, which is composed of a housing lower part 3 and a housing upper part 4 in the form of a cap. A plurality of

surge arresters

5, 6, 7, 8, which in the present case are spark gaps, in particular stacked spark gaps, are arranged inside the housing 2. In addition to this, the overvoltage protection device 1 has a plurality of, in the present case, a total of six conductor attachment elements 9, of which three conductor attachment elements 9 are arranged on each of the two end sides of the housing 2.

In the illustration according to fig. 1a, conductor attachment elements 9 for the three phase conductors L1, L2 and L3 are arranged at the front end side of the housing 2, whereas in the illustration according to fig. 1b rotated by 180 °, one conductor attachment element 9 for the neutral conductor N and two conductor attachment elements 9 for the potential connection PE are provided at the front end side of the housing 2 there, which conductor attachment elements are electrically connected to one another inside the housing 2.

Fig. 2a and 2b and 3 show, in particular, the arrangement of the

surge arresters

5, 6, 7, 8 inside the housing 2 or the lower housing part 3, wherein the upper housing part 4 is omitted in fig. 2a and 2b and both the upper housing part 4 and the lower housing part 3 are omitted in fig. 3. In fig. 2a, the overvoltage protection device 1 is arranged in accordance with fig. 1a, and according to fig. 2a, the conductor attachment elements 9 are connected to the first terminals 10 of the

overvoltage arresters

5, 6, 7, respectively. At the opposite end side of the housing 2 or of the overvoltage protection device 1, two further attachment elements 9 for the PE connections are connected to a first connection 10 of a further overvoltage arrester 8, which in the present case is the total spark gap.

The surge arresters 5 to 8 arranged in the housing 2 of the overvoltage protection device 1 are in this case interconnected in a 3+1 circuit, for which purpose the second terminals 11 of the surge arresters 5 to 8 are connected to one another by electrically conductive connecting elements 12 arranged movably in the housing 2 when the connecting elements 12 are in their first position shown in fig. 2a and 2b to 4. In contrast, if the electrically conductive connecting element 12 is in its second position shown in fig. 5a and 5b, the second terminals 11 of the surge arresters 5 to 8 are not connected to one another, but are separated from one another. In this case, both the distance between the second terminals 11 and the connecting element 12 are selected to be so great that the second terminals 11 are safely separated from one another, so that insulation measurements can be carried out at the overvoltage protection device 1 without the risk of currents flowing through the overvoltage arresters 5 to 8.

For actuating the connecting element 12, the overvoltage protection device 1 has an actuating element 13 which is arranged in the housing 2 in a movable manner and can be seen in particular from fig. 5a and 6 to 9. If the actuating element 13 is pivoted from its first position according to fig. 6a into its second position according to fig. 6b, this results in the connecting element 12 connected to the actuating element 13 likewise being moved from its first position into its second position.

As can be seen, for example, from fig. 3 and 4, the connecting element 12 has a connecting region 14 and a contact region 15, wherein, in the exemplary embodiment shown there, the contact region 15 is composed of three sprung segments 16, which are connected to one another by the connecting region 14. In the first position of the connecting element 12 shown in fig. 3 and 4, the spring-loaded sections 16 are each located under spring stress between the second connection 11 of the surge arrester 8 connected to the PE connection and the second connection 11 of the respective one of the

surge arresters

5, 6, 7 connected to the phase conductors L1, L2, L3. The second connections 11 of the

surge arresters

5, 6, 7 are thereby not only electrically conductively connected to one another, but also to the second connections 11 of the surge arresters 8, so that in this position the connecting elements 12 form a common potential point of the overvoltage protection device 1. This common potential point is additionally contacted by a conductor attachment element 9 for the neutral conductor N, wherein, however, no surge arrester is arranged between this conductor attachment element 9 and the connecting element 12.

Fig. 7a and 7b to 9a and 9b show a second exemplary embodiment of an overvoltage protection device 1 according to the utility model, which is distinguished from the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 2a and 2b to 6, in particular by a slightly different configuration of the connecting element 12. As can be seen in particular from fig. 8 and 9a and 9b, the contact region 15 of the connecting element 12 has a plurality of tulip-shaped contact elements 17, which are connected to one another by means of the arcuate connecting regions 14. In the first position of the connecting element 12, which is shown in fig. 8 and 9a, the contact elements 17 each contact a corresponding section of the second connection 11 of the surge arrester 5-8. In contrast, in the second position of the connecting element 12 shown in fig. 9b, the contact elements 17 are located above the corresponding sections of the second connection 11, so that these are then not connected to one another by the connecting element 12. Correspondingly, the individual surge arresters 5 to 8 are then also not connected to one another.

In order to enable the user to easily bring the actuating element 13 from its first position into its second position, it has an actuating section 18 which projects out of the housing upper part 4, as shown in fig. 1a and 1 b. In order to ensure that the actuating element 13 is not inadvertently or unintentionally pivoted back into its first position from its second position, it interacts with the spring 19 in such a way that the actuating element 13 remains in its second position by the spring force. Only when the actuating element 13 is deliberately actuated can it be pivoted from its second position into its first position, in which first position the second terminals 11 of the surge arresters 5 to 8 are then again connected to one another by the connecting element 12.

As can be seen not only from fig. 6a and 6b, but also from fig. 9a and 9b, the actuating element 13 has a guide 20, in which a bearing element 21 of the connecting element 12 is arranged, so that a pivoting movement of the actuating element 13 causes a translational movement of the connecting element 12. This ensures that the contact regions 15 of the connecting element 12 interact with the second terminals 11 of the surge arresters 5 to 8 without the contact sections of the second terminals 11 being skewed or bent. In the exemplary embodiment shown in fig. 6a and 6b, the spring-loaded section 16 of the contact region 15 thus slides between the second contacts 11 of the surge arresters 5-8, which are opposite one another. In the exemplary embodiment according to fig. 9a and 9b, the tulip-shaped contact element 17 is slid onto the corresponding section of the second connector 11 without tilting.

In fig. 10a, 10b and 10c, further variants of the overvoltage protection device 1 according to the utility model are illustrated on the basis of principle. Fig. 10a, 10b and 10c show the overvoltage protection device 1 in three different states. According to fig. 10a, the connecting element 12 and the actuating element 13 are each in their first position, so that the second terminals 11 of the surge arresters 5 to 8 are connected to one another by the electrically conductive connecting element 12. The overvoltage protection device 1 is therefore located in its operating position.

Fig. 10b shows the following state: in this state, the user has pivoted the operating element 13 from the first position into the second position in order to be able to perform, for example, insulation measurements. The pivoting of the actuating element 13 also directly results in a corresponding movement of the connecting element 12 from its first position into its second position, so that the second terminals 11 of the surge arresters 5 to 8 are no longer connected to one another by the connecting element 12.

In the variant of the overvoltage protection device shown in fig. 10a, 10b and 10c, a tripping element 22 is additionally arranged in the housing 2, which tripping element is acted upon by a spring element 23 in the direction of the actuating element 13 with a force F1. In the two states of the overvoltage protection device 1 shown in fig. 10a and 10b, the tripping element 22 is held against the force F1 in its first position, in which it does not interact with the actuating element 13. The disconnection element 22 is located in this position when the associated surge arrester 5 is in the normal state. If, on the other hand, the surge arrester 5 is in the critical state, the disconnection element 22 is no longer held in its first position, but, according to fig. 10c, it is pressed against the actuating element 13 by the force F1 of the spring element 23, which results in the actuating element 13 being pivoted from its first position into its second position. As in the case of manual actuation of the actuating element 13, this then results in the connecting element 12 also being moved from its first position into its second position, so that the surge arresters 5 to 8 are no longer connected to one another at their second terminals 11, but are separated from one another.

In order to be able to prevent the actuating element 13 from pivoting back into the first position again in the situation shown in fig. 10c, in which the actuating element 13 has been moved into its second position by the tripping element 22 as a result of the detection of a defective surge arrester 5, a blocking element 24 is additionally provided. The spring element 25 acts upon the blocking element 24 with a force F2 in the direction of the tripping element 22, so that the free end of the blocking element 24 rests against the tripping element 22. Furthermore, a recess 26 is formed in the tripping element 22, into which recess the blocking element 24 engages by means of the force F2 of the spring element 25 when the tripping element 22 is in its second position. As a result, the disconnection element 22 and thus also the actuating element 13 are blocked in their second position, so that the overvoltage protection device 1 with the failed overvoltage arrester 5 is safely prevented from being attached to the system to be protected or the device to be protected again.

Claims

1. Overvoltage protection device (1) having a housing (2), having at least two overvoltage arresters (5, 6, 7, 8) and having at least three conductor attachment elements (9), wherein the overvoltage arresters (5, 6, 7, 8) each have a first connection (10) and a second connection (11), and wherein the first connections (10) are each connected to a conductor attachment element (9),

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

an electrically conductive connecting element (12) is movably arranged in the housing (2) in such a way that it can be brought from a first position, in which the second connections (11) of the surge arresters (5, 6, 7, 8) are connected to one another by the electrically conductive connecting element (12), into a second position, in which the second connections (11) of the surge arresters (5, 6, 7, 8) are not connected to one another, and

an actuating element (13) connected to the electrically conductive connecting element (12) is movably arranged in the housing (2) such that the electrically conductive connecting element (12) can be brought from its first position into its second position by actuating the actuating element (13).

2. The overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically conductive connecting element (12) has a connecting region (14) and a contact region (15), wherein in the first position of the connecting element (12) the contact region (15) contacts the second connection (11) of the overvoltage arrester (5, 6, 7, 8) in a force-locking and/or form-locking manner.

3. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the contact region (15) has a plurality of sprung segments (16) which are connected to one another by the connection region (14) and which, in the first position of the connecting element (12), are each arranged under spring stress between the second connections (11) of two overvoltage arresters (5, 6, 7, 8).

4. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the contact region (15) has a plurality of contact elements (17) which are connected to one another via the connection region (14) and which, in the first position of the connection element (12), each contact element contacts a second connection (11) of the overvoltage arrester (5, 6, 7, 8).

5. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (13) has an actuating section (18) which can be actuated from outside the housing (2), wherein the actuating section (18) projects out of the housing (2).

6. Overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (13) is held in its second position by the force of a spring (19) acting on the actuating element (13) or as a result of a latching of the actuating element (13).

7. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the operating element (13) is pivotably arranged in the housing (2).

8. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the electrically conductive connecting element (12) is mechanically connected to the actuating element (13) in such a way that a pivoting movement of the actuating element (13) causes a translatory movement of the electrically conductive connecting element (12).

9. Overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one disconnection element (22) is movably arranged in the housing (2), and the disconnecting element (22) is acted upon by a force in the direction of the actuating element (13), wherein the disconnection element (22) is held in a first position against the force when the surge arrester (5, 6, 7, 8) associated with the disconnection element (22) is in a normal state, when the associated surge arrester (5, 6, 7, 8) has reached a critical state, the disconnection element (22) is brought into a second position by the force, and wherein, when the disconnect element (22) is brought from its first position into its second position by the force, the disconnecting element (22) brings the actuating element (13) from its first position into its second position.

10. Overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the disconnection element (22) is connected to the associated overvoltage arrester (5, 6, 7, 8) against forces acting thereon by means of thermally separate connections, wherein the thermally separate connections are separated when the temperature of the overvoltage arresters (5, 6, 7, 8) is above a predefined limit temperature.

11. The overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that a blocking element is arranged in the housing (2) in thermal contact with the overvoltage arresters (5, 6, 7, 8), wherein in the normal state of the overvoltage arresters (5, 6, 7, 8) the blocking element holds the disconnection element (22) in its first position against the force acting there, and wherein the blocking element consists of a material which melts when the temperature of the overvoltage arresters (5, 6, 7, 8) is above a predetermined limit temperature.

12. The overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 9, characterized in that the operating element (13) is blocked in its second position when the disconnecting element (22) has brought the operating element (13) from its first position into its second position.

13. Overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that a blocking element (24) is provided, which is acted upon by a force in the direction of the disconnection element (22) and in that a recess (26) is formed in the disconnection element (22), wherein the blocking element (24) engages into the recess (26) in the disconnection element (22) when the disconnection element (22) is in its second position.

14. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (13) has a marking section as an optical state display or is connected indirectly or directly to an optical state display, so that the position of the actuating element (13) or of the electrically conductive connecting element (12) can be displayed by means of the optical state display.

15. The overvoltage protection device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the electrically conductive connecting element (12) or the actuating element (13) is indirectly or directly connected with a remote reporting contact for remotely reporting the status of the connecting element (12).