JPH0145227Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an apparatus for detecting surges such as lightning surges occurring in electric lines such as power lines or communication lines.

Electric lines such as power lines or communication lines are prone to lightning surges due to lightning strikes, etc. Therefore, lightning surges may enter various electrical devices connected to these lines from the line side, causing damage to these devices. Otherwise, it may damage the equipment or cause an electric shock accident. In order to avoid such accidents, it is necessary to protect equipment and the like from surges such as lightning surges, and various measures have been taken for this purpose. However, in order to take such protective measures, it is necessary to know the type and nature of the surge in advance, and for this purpose, for example, the magnitude of the surge and its polarity are investigated.

As such conventional surge detection devices, for example, there are devices that use an oscillograph to detect surges, and devices that use a low resistance and count the terminal voltage of that resistor with a counter. Observation of surges is complicated and expensive, and devices that count low-resistance terminal voltages have the disadvantage that the mechanism of the device is complicated and expensive.

Furthermore, depending on the type of power line and its installation location, for example, it may be sufficient to observe the presence or absence of a surge attack and the approximate size of the surge. A surge detection device is required.

This idea was made in view of the above circumstances.
The purpose is to provide a surge detection device that is simple in structure, easy to handle, and inexpensive, which can easily detect the presence or absence of a surge, its magnitude, and its polarity.

According to the present invention, an arrester is connected to an electric line such as a power line or a communication line via a switch, and has an operating voltage set in advance to respond to a surge occurring in the electric line; and a plurality of semiconductor elements connected in series with opposite polarity to each other via the arrester, and wherein when the surge is applied, the elements having the opposite polarity are destroyed and become conductive. A surge detection device is obtained.

Next, one embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a surge detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electric line which is an object to be measured such as a power line or a communication line, and an arrester 3 such as a gas-filled discharge tube is connected to this electric line 1 via a switch 2. The operating voltage of the arrester 3 is set to a predetermined value in advance, and the arrester 3 is configured to discharge in response to a surge generated in the electric line 1 that corresponds to a voltage equal to or higher than the predetermined value. Reference numeral 4 denotes a current limiting resistor for limiting the surge current, which is connected in series between the arrester 3 and the ground 6 with polarities opposite to each other via the resistor 4, and has a polarity opposite to that when the surge is applied. A plurality of semiconductor elements 5, such as elements 5' and 5'' such as transistors, are connected to each other so as to be electrically conductive when the elements are destroyed.As described above, a surge detection apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. As shown, it is constituted by a series circuit 10 in which a switch 2, an arrester 3, a current limiting resistor 4, and a semiconductor element 5 connected in series with opposite polarity are connected in series between the electric line 1 and the ground 6. ing.

Next, the operation of the surge detection device according to an embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 1 will be described.

When a surge voltage higher than a preset operating voltage of the arrester 3 is applied between the electric line 1 and the ground 6, the arrester 3 immediately operates. Due to this operation of the arrester 3, one of the semiconductor elements 5 is destroyed and becomes conductive. Therefore, by detecting the presence or absence of an element in the semiconductor element 5 that has become conductive due to breakdown, it is possible to confirm whether or not a surge voltage higher than the operating voltage of the arrester 3 is attacking the electric line 1, and to check whether the semiconductor element 5 is in a conductive state due to breakdown. The polarity of the surge can be easily confirmed by detecting which element is broken and becomes conductive. That is, for example, in FIG.
When element 5' of the semiconductor element 5 is destroyed and is in a conductive state, it indicates that a negative polarity surge has been applied, whereas when element 5'' is destroyed and is in a conductive state, it indicates that a negative polarity surge has been applied. This indicates that a positive polarity surge has been applied.

In addition, in FIG. 1, the surge detection device is constructed of one series circuit 10. A plurality of series circuits 10 may be provided using a plurality of arresters each having a different operating voltage, and these circuits may be connected in parallel between the electric line 1 and the ground 6.

Further, in FIG. 1, for example, detection of the presence or absence of conduction due to destruction of the semiconductor element 5 and its polarity can be performed using appropriate means and methods, an example of which is shown in FIG. . The surge detection device shown as a series circuit 10 in FIG. 2 is the same as the series circuit 10 in FIG. 1, so the same parts are given the same reference numerals and a description thereof will be omitted. A detection unit 20 is connected between each terminal of the elements 5' and 5'' in the semiconductor element 5 in the series circuit 10 in order to detect the presence or absence of conduction due to their destruction and the polarity thereof. As shown in FIG.
2. An indicator light such as a light emitting diode connected to the input terminal of the element 5' via the switch 21, the other terminal connected to the input terminal of the element 5'', that is, the ground 6, and further connected in antiparallel to the resistor 23. 24, 24'
A series circuit is connected in parallel to the semiconductor element 5 via the switch 21.

Next, the operation of the embodiment of the present invention shown in FIG. 2 will be explained.

As explained with reference to FIG. Either one of the elements 5' or 5'' is destroyed and becomes conductive. At this time, in order to detect the presence or absence of the element 5' or 5'' which has become conductive as described above and its polarity, the detection unit 20 is activated. For example, the polarity changeover switch 25 is switched to the positive polarity side, and the indicator light 24 is turned on. Next, the switch 21 is closed while the indicator light 24 is turned on. At this time, if the indicator light 24 goes out, it can be confirmed that the element 5'' in the semiconductor element 5 has been destroyed and is in a conductive state.Therefore, it can be confirmed that a surge has occurred, and its polarity is positive. In response to this, for example, switch the polarity selector switch 25 to the negative side to turn on the indicator lamp 24', close the switch 21 in that state, and turn on the indicator lamp 24'.
When 4' goes out, it can be confirmed that the element 5' in the semiconductor element 5 has been destroyed and is in a conductive state, which indicates that a surge has occurred and that its polarity is negative. In addition, in the above case, the indicator lights 24 and 2
When both indicator lights 4' go out, it is known that a surge of voltage higher than the operating voltage of the arrester 3 of both positive and negative polarities has occurred. On the other hand, if the indicator lights 24 and 24' remain lit when the switch 21 is closed, it can be seen that no surge of voltage higher than the operating voltage of the arrester 3 has occurred.

Further, in the case where the circuit of the detection unit 20 shown in FIG.
Since the indicator light 24 or 24' is turned off when the semiconductor element 5 is in a destructive conduction state, it is easy to inspect the detection unit 20 itself, and therefore it is possible to reliably check whether the semiconductor element 5 is in a destructive conduction state. It is possible.

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which the surge detection device shown in FIG. 2 is made into a plurality of channels. The configuration and operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 are basically the same as those in FIG. 2 since they are simply made up of multiple channels, so the same parts are given the same reference numerals. The explanation will be omitted. Next, the differences in FIG. 3 from those in FIG. 2 will be explained. In Fig. 3, the operating voltages of arresters 3, 3'3'' are set, for example, 2 kV for 3, 5 kV for 3', 10 kV for 3'',
This allows the size of the incoming surge to be quantitatively determined. Each of these arresters 3, 3', 3'' has a resistor 4,
4', 4'' and semiconductor elements 5, 7, 8 are connected in series and inserted between the electric line 1 and the ground 6 via the switch 2. Also, as in the case of FIG. Each series circuit is connected to each resistor 32, 32', 32'', 33, 33', 33'' through a switch 31, and each indicator light 34, 34', 35, 35', 36, 36'.
, a polarity changeover switch 37, and a DC power supply 38 are connected to each detection section.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, when the switch 2 is closed as shown in FIG. In this way, each arrester 3, 3',
3″ are connected in parallel,
The surge voltage that attacks the electric line 1 is applied to each arrester 3,
Even when the voltage is in the operating range of 3', 3'', the arrester 3 with the lowest operating voltage usually operates first.When this arrester 3 operates, the other arresters 3', 3'' connected in parallel will not operate even if the voltage is within the operating voltage range. This is because when the arrester 3 operates, its terminal voltage decreases due to its constant voltage characteristics. However, in the case shown in Fig. 3, resistors 4, 4', 4'' are connected in series to these arresters 3, 3', 3'', respectively, so for example, the operation of these arresters 3, 3', 3'' is When a surge voltage exceeding the voltage range is applied to the electric line 1, the arrester 3 operates first, and this operating current generates a voltage in the resistor 4, and the sum of this voltage and the voltage applied to the arrester 3 The voltage causes the next arrester 3' to operate, and the sum of the operating current of this arrester 3' and the voltage generated across the resistor 4' causes the next arrester 3'' to operate. In Fig. 3, three arresters are used, but this number can be arbitrarily selected depending on the magnitude of the surge voltage to be measured, and as mentioned above, these arresters can be operated sequentially to detect the surge voltage. The arrester can be operated reliably up to a voltage of

Next, the operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 will be explained. When a surge voltage higher than the operating voltage of the arresters 3, 3', and 3'' occurs in the electric line 1, the arrester 3 with the lower operating voltage operates first, and as a result, as shown in FIG.
In the same way as in the case of FIG. 2, one of the elements 5' or 5'' in the semiconductor element 5 is destroyed and becomes conductive.Furthermore, when the arrester 3 operates, its operating current flows through the resistor 4, so as described above, Next, the next arrester 3' is operated to destroy the element 7' or 7'' in the semiconductor element 7 and make it conductive. Similarly, the arrester 3'' operates, destroying 8' or 8'' in the semiconductor element 8 and making it conductive. The operation of the detection section in FIG. 3 for detecting the presence or absence of a broken and conductive element among the semiconductor elements 5, 7, and 8 and its polarity is basically the same as that described in connection with FIG. Since there is, I will omit the explanation. In FIG. 3, each detection section of a plurality of channels is connected to a DC power supply 38 via a polarity switch 37.
It is clear that each channel can be checked simultaneously since they are connected in parallel.

Although the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 has been described as having three channels, the number of channels can be arbitrarily selected depending on the number of surge voltages to be measured.

Furthermore, in order to quantitatively detect the surge voltage, instead of using a multi-channel detection circuit in which the operating voltage is set in advance as described above, the operating voltage of the arrester may be set arbitrarily.

Furthermore, in each of the above embodiments, a transistor is used as the semiconductor element, but instead of this, a diode or other element connected in series with opposite polarity to each other and having the opposite polarity when a surge is applied breaks down and becomes conductive. It is possible to use the following elements, and furthermore, if these elements are connected to the circuit by a plug-in method, their installation and removal can be simplified.

Furthermore, in each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a surge detection device equipped with a detection section has been described, but such a detection section does not necessarily need to be always provided. For example, a detection section can be provided separately for inspection. It may be used only occasionally. Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the detection section having the configuration shown in the drawings, and that any other detection means or method may be used.

As described above, according to the present invention, the presence or absence of a surge attack,
Since a surge detection device with a simple structure, easy to handle, and low cost that can easily detect the size and polarity can be obtained, for example, surge observation can be performed arbitrarily and easily, and detailed surge information can be obtained. This has the practical benefit of making it easier to take reliable surge countermeasures.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a surge detection device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic circuit diagrams of surge detection devices according to other embodiments of the present invention. 1... Electric line, 2... Switch, 3, 3',
3″...Arrester, 4,4',4″...Resistor, 6...
...Earth, 5,7,8...Semiconductor element, 5', 5'',
7', 7'', 8', 8''...Each element, 10...Series circuit, 20...Detector, 21, 31...Switch,
22, 23, 32, 32', 32'', 33, 33',
33″...Resistance, 24, 24', 34, 34', 3
5, 35', 36, 36'... Indicator light, 25, 37
...Polarity switch, 26, 38...DC power supply.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] An arrester connected to an electric line such as a power line or a communication line via a switch, and having an operating voltage set in advance to respond to a surge occurring in the electric line; and the electric wire. a plurality of semiconductor elements connected in series with opposite polarities to each other between the circuit and the ground via the arrester, and which are configured so that when the surge is applied, the elements having the opposite polarity are destroyed and become conductive. A surge detection device comprising: