EP2443709B1 - Spark gap arrangement comprising two preferably flat, opposing electrodes that are held apart in a housing body - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a spark gap arrangement with two in a housing body at a distance, opposite, preferably flat electrodes, forming an arc combustion chamber, as well as a standing with the arc combustion chamber gas cooling and pressure compensation chamber according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

From the DE 198 45 889 B4 Disclosing the preamble of claim 1, there is known a spark gap assembly for use in the power supply having an arc chamber within which arcing occurs between two electrodes of the spark gap. The arc chamber is followed by an intermediate chamber whose volume is substantially greater than the volume of the arc chamber. Furthermore, there is a connection between the arc chamber and the intermediate chamber in the form of a pressure-resistant metallic flow channel, which projects into the intermediate chamber and ends in lateral openings for gas deflection.

With such a solution an encapsulation can be carried out, so that a spark gap can also be installed where usually the use of Ausblasenden routes is not or only partially possible due to the risk of fire.

From the foregoing, it is an object of the invention to provide a further developed spark gap arrangement, which is suitable for applications with high lightning current loads and low follow currents, ie in particular for a circuit between N and PE, wherein the spark gap arrangement nichtausblasend to be realized and may take only a small amount of space. Furthermore, a possibility is to be created to realize a cost-effective and simple way a stringing together a plurality of similar or similar spark gaps or a via and mechanical connection in a series arrangement of corresponding spark gaps.

The object of the invention is achieved by the feature combination according to the teaching of claim 1, wherein the dependent claims comprise at least expedient refinements and developments.

It is therefore assumed that a spark gap arrangement with two in a housing body at a distance, opposite, preferably flat electrodes forming an arc combustion chamber. Furthermore, there is a gas cooling and pressure compensation chamber, which is connected to the arc combustion chamber and formed as a corresponding pressure equalization chamber.

According to the invention, the housing body is produced from two half shells, preferably from an insulating plastic material. The half shells each have in a plane opposite first recesses for electrode connection legs. The electrode connection legs are on the outside of the housing body with a known terminal in combination. This connection can be realized by riveting or positive locking. The electrode connection legs are connected to the actual electrodes e.g. connected by riveting. In this way, the most cost-effective material for each purpose can be used.

The half-shells each have a first space for receiving a Isolierstoffhalters for the electrodes and a second space for receiving a channels owning cooling block with high heat capacity. The cooling block may consist of a metallic material and corresponding milled or introduced in any other meandering channels for multiple gas deflection, corresponding cooling and pressure reduction have.

Furthermore, a U-shaped bracket is provided which at least the receiving area of the cooling block, the half shells on the outside embraces, is arranged. This high heat capacity U-shaped clamp is mechanically and compressively loadable with the half-shells, e.g. connected by riveting.

At preferably one end face, the half-shells in the region which is provided for receiving the cooling block, small slots or openings, so that a pressure equalization is possible. Gas flowing in the region of these small openings is again cooled and relaxed by the U-shaped clamp.

Perpendicular to the plane between the first recesses a second recess is introduced as a passage slot in at least one of the half shells to receive a contacted with the electrode extended connecting leg, so that a thread-like juxtaposition and electrical contacting several such spark gap arrangements can be done in a very simple and mechanically stable manner ,

One of the connecting legs for the electrodes has a molded-on tab for receiving a higher temperature form-changing melting part, wherein the molded part is acted upon by a defined spring force and is directly or indirectly in operative connection with a display element, so that a thermal overload can be signaled.

For the also becoming necessary setting a lower operating voltage, a trigger device is provided, which is located in a recess or in a cavity of the insulating part.

The trigger device is preferably realized as a thin circuit board, which carries the necessary Ansteuerbauelemente. Furthermore, the printed circuit board has an end, which extends into the electrode gap, to act there as ignition or trigger electrode.

The half-shells form a flat housing body in a preferably rectangular shape, wherein the housing assembly can be mounted in a freely configurable outer housing.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to figures and an embodiment.

Fig. 1

eine Darstellung einer der Elektroden mit Anschlussschenkel und kontaktiertem verlängerten Anschlussschenkel sowie den Zustand mit mechanisch fixierter Anschlussklemme (rechter Bildteil);

Fig. 2

eine Darstellung ähnlich derjenigen nach Fig. 1, jedoch mit Lasche zur Aufnahme eines sich formverändernden Schmelzteils sowie eines Anzeigeelements und einer Feder zur Druckbeaufschlagung;

Fig. 3a

eine Darstellung der Funkenstreckenanordnung ohne obere Halbschale mit pfeilartig symbolisiertem Gasströmungsverlaufs innerhalb des Kühlblocks;

Fig. 3b

eine Darstellung ähnlich derjenigen nach Fig. 3a mit erkennbarem verlängerten Anschlussschenkel sowie einer U-förmigen Klammer, die nach Montage des in der Fig. 3a und b noch fehlenden zweiten Halbschalenteils aufgeschoben und mit den Halbschalen mechanisch verbunden wird;

Fig. 4

eine Ansicht des Isolierstoffhalters für die Elektroden mit einer dort einsetzbaren Leiterplatte als Verdrahtungsträger für die Zündschaltung und

Fig. 5

eine vollständig montierte Funkenstreckenanordnung mit U-förmiger Klammer, die die Halbschalen des Gehäusekörpers fixiert, und einen verlängerten Anschlussschenkel zum Aneinanderreihen weiterer Funkenstreckenanordnungen, die gleichzeitig kontaktiert werden können.

Hereby show:

Fig. 1

a representation of one of the electrodes with connecting leg and contacted extended connecting leg and the state with mechanically fixed terminal (right part of the image);

Fig. 2

a representation similar to that after Fig. 1 but with a tab for receiving a shape-changing melting part and a display element and a spring for pressurizing;

Fig. 3a

a representation of the spark gap arrangement without upper half shell with arrow-like symbolized gas flow course within the cooling block;

Fig. 3b

a representation similar to that after Fig. 3a with recognizable extended connecting leg and a U-shaped bracket, which after mounting the in the Fig. 3a and b slipped still missing second half-shell part and mechanically connected to the half-shells;

Fig. 4

a view of the Isolierstoffhalters for the electrodes with a usable there circuit board as a wiring support for the ignition circuit and

Fig. 5

a fully assembled spark gap assembly with U-shaped bracket that fixes the half-shells of the housing body, and an extended connecting leg for juxtaposing further spark gap assemblies that can be contacted simultaneously.

Like in the Fig. 1 shown, the spark gap on electrodes 1, which are fuel and / or positively connected to their respective terminal bracket 2.

One of the two electrodes can be connected to an extended connecting leg 3, so that an electrical contact and mechanical attachment to other arrester modules can be realized, as for example the Fig. 5 lets recognize.

The guide of the connecting legs, in particular of the longer connecting leg 3 is geometrically designed so that, despite a high current load in the case of discharge nearly no electromagnetic force effect between the individual arrester modules.

The Fig. 2 shows once again the preassembled unit of electrode 1, connector 2 and extended connecting leg 3, here supplemented by a tab 4, which serves to receive a molded part 5 with a defined lower melting temperature, for example solder preform or wax bolt. The molded part 5 monitors both the thermal load of the surrounding plastic parts, ie the half-shells or Isolierstoffhalters 11 (see Fig. 4 ) as well as the temperature of the metallic parts.

With a corresponding deformation, the prestressed spring 7 moves the indicator slide 6.

The in the Fig. 3a . 3b and 5 spark gap arrangement shown is not designed ausblasblasend.

The resulting pressure load is extremely reduced by the integrated cooling block 8, preferably made of a material with high heat capacity, such as copper, and there existing integrated Gasumlenkungskanälen. A still necessary pressure equalization with the environment is carried out by meandering channels smallest cross section in the area 13 after Fig. 3b ,

The Fig. 3a and 3b each show a lower half-shell 14, which have corresponding recesses for both the Isolierstoffhalter 11 and for the cooling block 8. Visible here is the location of external terminals 15.

After placing the second, further half shell 16 (see Fig. 5 ) is a U-shaped bracket 9, in particular sheet metal clip, pushed and There existing holes 17 which are complementary to recesses 18 in the half shells or in the insulating body 11 connected thereto.

The U-shaped bracket 9 is used for additional cooling and extends the meandering channels and also contributes to the pressure reduction. It is designed insulated from electrical components.

If desired, to realize lower threshold voltages, e.g. in the range 1.5 kV, the spark gap will be equipped with a corresponding necessary auxiliary ignition unit.

The necessary ignition circuit, preferably comprising an interconnection of a varistor and a gas arrester for controlling the internal spark gap, is located on an insulating plate 10. This is completely integrated in the insulating material 11, which in turn is in the overall pressure-resistant housing body 13.

The thin Isolierstofffolie 10 serves not only as a carrier for the components of the auxiliary ignition circuit, but with a corresponding end which extends between the electrodes, as the ignition electrode.

The bores 18 in the insulating holder 11 are surrounded by domes 12, which serve to receive the terminal bracket 2 with the corresponding main electrodes 1, for which purpose a correspondingly provided on the outer dimensions of the corresponding dome opening is introduced in the terminal brackets.

Claims (6)

1. Spark gap arrangement comprising two opposite, preferably flat, electrodes (1) spaced apart in a housing body (13), the electrodes forming an arc burning space, and a gas-cooling and pressure-compensating chamber connected to the arc burning space,
   characterized in that
   the housing body (13) is formed of two half-shells (14; 16) each having first recesses for electrode connection webs (3), the recesses being opposite in a plane and the electrode connection webs (3) being connected to a connection terminal (15) on the outside of the housing body,
   the half-shells (14; 16) each have a first space for receiving an insulating material holder (11) for the electrodes (1) and a second space for receiving a cooling block (8) of a high thermal capacity which comprises channels,
   and further a U-shaped, thermally conductive clamp (9) is provided, which encompasses on the outside of the half-shells at least the receiving area of the cooling block and is connected to the half-shells (14; 16) mechanically and resistant to pressure.
2. Spark gap arrangement according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   perpendicular to the plane between the first recesses a second recess is incorporated as a through-slot in one half-shell to receive an extended connection web (3) which is contacted or can be contacted with the electrode (1) so as to allow a threading-type stringing together and, at the same time, electrical contacting of further spark gap arrangements.
3. Spark gap arrangement according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that
   one of the connection webs (3) comprises an integral clip (4) to receive a melting part which changes its shape at a high temperature, wherein the molded part (5) is subjected to a defined spring force (7) and is operatively connected, directly or indirectly, to a display element.
4. Spark gap arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   a trigger device is provided for setting a low response voltage, which is located in a recess or a hollow space of the insulating material holder (11).
5. Spark gap arrangement according to claim 4,
   characterized in that
   the trigger device comprises a thin printed circuit board or foil-type printed circuit board which has one end which projects into the spacing between the electrodes.
6. Spark gap arrangement according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the half-shells (14; 16) form a flat housing body (13) preferably of a rectangular shape, wherein this housing arrangement can be mounted into a freely configurable external housing.

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