LU505812B1 - Surge protection element - Google Patents

Abstract

Shown is an overvoltage protection element with a housing (2), an overvoltage component (3), an overcurrent protection element (4) and a display device (5, 6), wherein the display device has a force absorption section (51) and a display section (61) and wherein, when the overcurrent protection element is triggered, an actuating element (7) moves into a second position in which it applies a force to the force absorption section, thereby initiating a movement of the display section. A receptacle (8) for the overcurrent protection element is formed in the housing of the overvoltage protection element, the receptacle having an opening (81) through which the movable actuating element projects, and a stop (82) is formed in the receptacle and an edge (91) is provided on the overcurrent protection element, with which the overcurrent protection element rests against the stop, the stop being at a distance a from the force-absorbing section and the edge being at a distance b from the end face of the actuating element, so that the end face of the actuating element, in the first position, has a predetermined distance x from the force-absorbing section of the display device.

Description

1 LU505812

Surge protection element

The invention relates to an overvoltage protection element with a housing, with an overvoltage component, with an overcurrent protection element and with a display device according to the preamble of patent claim 1. In addition, the invention also relates to an overcurrent protection element for actuating a display device of an overvoltage protection element according to the preamble of patent claim 10.

The overcurrent protection element has a movable actuating element that moves from a first position to a second position when the overcurrent protection element is triggered. The movable actuating element of the overcurrent protection element is configured, in its second position, to apply a force to a force-absorbing portion of the display device in order to actuate the display device by initiating a movement of the display portion of the display device from a first position to a second position.

Surge protection elements and surge protection devices have been

They have been known in various designs for decades. They serve to protect systems, consumers, and end devices from overvoltages or excessive voltage peaks, which can be caused, for example, by lightning strikes or switching operations. Depending on the installation location and requirements, surge protection elements have different overvoltage components. Surge protection components can include both overvoltage-limiting components such as varistors and overvoltage-switching components such as spark gaps, gas discharge tubes, or diodes, as well as combinations of these components.

Surge protection elements are often designed as "protective plugs" that, together with a base unit, form a surge protection device. For installation, such surge protection devices require connection terminals for the individual conductors, for example, the phase-carrying conductors L1,

L2, L3 as well as the neutral conductor N and, if necessary, the earth conductor PE. For easy mechanical and electrical contact of the

The overvoltage protection elements have connection contacts designed as plug pins, to which the connection terminals in the device base are connected.

2 LU505812 connected plug sockets are arranged as counter contacts, so that the

Surge protection element can be easily plugged onto the base of the device.

With such surge protection devices, installation and assembly are very easy due to the pluggability of the surge protection elements. In addition, such surge protection devices often have optical status indicators to show the status of the surge components. The status indicator shows whether the

Surge protection element is still functional or not. In practice, the monitoring of the condition of the surge protection element is often carried out by means of thermal

Disconnection devices that electrically disconnect the surge protection element in the event of excessive heating, which can occur, for example, due to leakage currents.

DE 10 2009 036 125 A1 discloses a surge protection element with a thermal disconnection device, which monitors the condition of a varistor. For this purpose, a solder joint and a conductive connecting element are provided as a triggering element, wherein the conductive connecting element is connected to an insulating separating element in such a way that, when the solder joint is opened, the insulating separating element is moved by spring force between a terminal of the varistor and the associated connection contact. The connecting element is preferably designed as a metal piece and arranged in the separating element formed by a rigid insulating plate.

The separation element is moved by means of a release slide, which is actuated by a spring system, so that when the solder joint is severed, the release slide is moved from a first position to a second position by the force of the spring system. The electrically conductive connecting element is in the first position of the release slide, and the electrically conductive connecting element is in the second position.

Position of the insulating separating element between the connection contact and the corresponding pole of the varistor. In addition, the surge protection element known from DE 10 2009 036 125 A1 provides an optical status indicator, which is formed by a colored display surface on a tab of the trigger slide.

Since the response time of thermal disconnect devices is relatively high, they are not suitable for protecting overvoltage components from

3 LU505812 prolonged mains frequency overvoltages, which can lead to the breakdown of varistors. For this reason, in addition to thermal disconnectors, fuses are also used in practice as overcurrent protection elements, which are connected in series with the protected

Overvoltage component can be switched.

Overcurrent protection elements in various designs are known from practice, which also have an indicator.

Triggering of such an overcurrent protection element will not only

Not only is the current path interrupted via the fuse element of the overcurrent protection element, but there is also a movement of an actuating element connected to the fuse element, which can be, for example, a spring-loaded bolt protruding from one side of the housing of the overcurrent protection element or a spring-loaded cap of the overcurrent protection element. The advantage of using such a fuse with an indicator is that the fuse not only interrupts the current path when an overcurrent occurs, but also

The triggering of the fuse can be indicated by the movement of the actuating element.

From DE 10 2006 034 404 A1 a fuse with a spring-loaded striker as an indicator is known, which is used in an overvoltage protection device to protect an overvoltage component in

A melting of the fuse element of the

The blown fuse interrupts the current path through the fuse and also causes the firing pin to move from a first position to a second position. The firing pin can be used as a visual indicator to indicate the status of the surge protection device before

to display location.

In the case of a surge protection element known from practice with a

Overvoltage component, an overcurrent protection element and an indicator device, the movement of the actuating element of the overcurrent protection element initiates the movement of the optical status indicator from its first position to its second position. To do this, the actuating element applies a force to a locking element, causing the locking element to move into a

position in which it no longer blocks the movement of the spring-loaded optical status indicator from its first position to its second position. The overcurrent protection device, designed as a fuse,

4 LU505812 element is accommodated in a fuse holder and glued or soldered so that it is fixed in the position required to actuate the blocking element.

The need to mount the fuse in the fuse holder, align it with the blocking element, and then secure it by soldering or gluing increases the complexity of installing the surge protection element. Incorrect positioning of the fuse holder may also result in the optical status indicator not being correctly moved from its first position to its second position, resulting in an incorrect display of the surge protection element's status.

The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an overvoltage protection element in which the aforementioned disadvantages are avoided. In particular, the assembly of the

overcurrent protection element can be facilitated so that the indicator device is operated reliably.

This object is achieved in the overvoltage protection element described above with the features of patent claim 1. In the overvoltage protection element according to the invention, a receptacle is formed in the housing, in which the overcurrent protection element is at least partially arranged. The receptacle has, on the side facing the force absorption section of the

The side facing the display device has an opening through which at least the movable actuating element of the overcurrent protection element protrudes, so that the actuating element in its second position can apply a force to the force-absorbing section of the display device.

In addition, a stop is formed in the holder, to which an edge is arranged or formed on the overcurrent protection element as a counter-stop, with which the overcurrent protection element rests against the stop in the holder. Due to the design of the stop and the edge, the

The overcurrent protection element can be easily positioned in a predetermined position in the holder. The stop in the holder has a distance a to the force-absorbing section of the indicator, and the edge of the overcurrent protection element has a distance b to the front of the actuating element, with the distance a and the distance b being aligned in such a way that

> LU505812 are such that the front side of the actuating element in the first position has a predetermined distance x from the force absorption section of the display device.

By appropriately arranging or positioning the stop and the edge, the distance between the front side of the actuating element and the force-absorbing section of the indicator can be determined when the indicator or its force-absorbing section is in a predetermined position in the housing. Since the distance x of the

Actuating element to the force absorption section has an influence on how quickly and strongly the force absorption section reacts after the triggering of the

When the overcurrent protection element is subjected to force F, the distance x also influences how quickly the indicator section is moved from a first position to a second position. By appropriately positioning the stop and the edge, the desired actuation of the indicator device can be ensured.

Preferably, the distance a and the distance b are selected such that the distance x is as small as possible. Ideally, the distance x is zero, so that the front side of the actuating element rests against the force-absorbing section of the display device in the first position without an air gap. Since permanent application of a force to the force-absorbing section of the display device should be avoided as far as possible, the distance a and the distance b are preferably selected such that the distance x is not negative, even taking manufacturing tolerances into account, so that the force-absorbing section is not deflected in the first position of the actuating element. This can result in a small distance x between the actuating element and the force-absorbing section, even if direct contact between the front side of the actuating element and the force-absorbing section of the display device is actually desired.

The edge provided on the overcurrent protection element can be either

The outer surface of the overcurrent protection element can protrude outwards or be directed inwards from the outer surface, for example by a groove. The stop in the

designed so that the edge rests against the stop when the

Overcurrent protection element is arranged in the holder.

6 LU505812

According to a preferred embodiment of the surge protection element according to the invention, the stop in the receptacle is supported by the edge of the

An opening is formed on the side of the holder facing the force-absorbing section of the display device. This has the advantage that no separate stop needs to be formed in the holder, which simplifies the manufacture of the holder.

The edge provided on the overcurrent protection element is preferably formed by the end face of an annular element facing the actuating element, which is arranged or formed on the overcurrent protection element. The annular element can be formed integrally with a cap or the

Housing of the overcurrent protection element, or as a separate

The element can be plugged onto the overcurrent protection element and attached to a cap or the outer surface of the overcurrent protection element. The annular element can, in particular, be a circumferential, closed ring. Such a closed ring can be particularly easily attached to an existing overcurrent protection element, even at a later date.

By forming the stop in the holder and the edge on the

Overcurrent protection element, precise positioning of the overcurrent protection element relative to the force absorption section is very easy. To ensure that the overcurrent protection element permanently rests with its edge against the stop of the holder after insertion into the holder, the overcurrent protection element is preferably subjected to a force that presses the edge against the stop. This allows a

The gluing or soldering of the overcurrent protection element associated with the manufacturing step is no longer necessary.

Preferably, the force with which the overcurrent protection element or its

Edge is pressed against the stop, is applied by a spring element, for example a coil spring or a disc spring. Advantageously, on the side of the

Overcurrent protection element a spring element is arranged in the holder.

The overcurrent protection element is protected by the spring element with a

Force Fr is applied, which presses the edge against the stop in the holder. The spring element does not have to be directly on the

the front side of the overcurrent protection element facing away from the actuating element, but one or more other components can also be located between

7 LU505812 the spring element and the overcurrent protection element, via which the force of the spring element is transferred to the overcurrent protection element. The further component can in particular be a component of an ignition circuit, for example a gas-filled surge arrester, which is also electrically connected to the overcurrent protection element.

The display device preferably consists of a spring element as a mechanical actuating element and an optical status indicator, which are mechanically coupled to one another. The force-absorbing section is formed on the spring element, and the display section is formed on the optical status indicator. The restoring force Fr of the spring element is used to move the spring element from its first position, deflected from the rest position, to its second position. The mechanical

Coupling the spring element with the optical status indicator also causes a movement of the optical status indicator and in particular of the display section from its first position to its second position.

The spring element is preferably designed and arranged in the housing in such a way that it is movable from a first position into a second position, wherein the spring element is deflected from its rest position in the first position. In the first position, the spring element is held in its first position by a holding element against the restoring force of the spring element. When the movable actuating element, in its second position, applies a force F to the force-absorbing section on the spring element, the spring element disengages from the holding element, so that the spring element moves into a second position due to its restoring force.

According to a preferred embodiment, the spring element is designed as a wire spring having a relatively small thickness or width. The wire spring preferably has a circular or approximately circular cross-section, with the diameter or circumference of the wire spring being significantly smaller than its length. This is advantageous in terms of space-saving installation of the wire spring in the housing of the surge protection element.

The holding element that the spring element counteracts the restoring force of the

spring section in its first position, is preferably designed as a projection

8 LU505812 or edge, the end of which at least partially overlaps the spring element. If the spring element is designed as a wire spring and has only a small width, the projection or edge must also have only a relatively small extension in order to hold the spring element in its first position against the restoring force of the spring section.

This means that only a slight pivoting of the spring element is required to release it from the first position, so that the spring element requires only a small amount of installation space.

The above-mentioned task is in an overcurrent protection element for actuating an indicator device of an overvoltage protection element with the

Features of claim 10. An edge is arranged or formed on the overcurrent protection element, which is intended to be

The edge has a distance b to the front of the actuating element of the overcurrent protection element, which is selected so that the

The front side of the actuating element, in the first position, has a predetermined, as small as possible distance x from the force-absorbing section of the display device. Regarding the advantages of such an overcurrent protection element, reference can be made to the corresponding explanations regarding the overvoltage protection element according to the invention.

The overcurrent protection element is preferably cylindrical, with an annular element arranged or formed on a cap or the outer surface of the overcurrent protection element, the end face of which facing the actuating element forms the projecting edge. The annular element can be designed to be completely or only partially circumferential. Alternatively, the annular element can also consist of several sections, which are then preferably distributed symmetrically around the circumference of the overcurrent protection element. Instead of an outwardly projecting edge formed by an annular element,

Overcurrent protection element may also have a groove formed so that the edge of the outer surface of the overcurrent protection element is directed inwards.

In detail, there are several possibilities for further developing and designing the overvoltage protection element and the overcurrent protection element according to the invention. Reference is made to the subordinate patent claims as well as to the description of an embodiment in

Connection with the drawing. In the drawing show

9 LU505812

Fig. 1 shows an overvoltage protection element according to the invention, with optical status indicator in the first position, from the side,

Fig. 2 the overvoltage protection element according to Fig. 1, with optical

Status indicator in the second position,

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the surge protection element according to Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the overcurrent protection element with the actuating element in the first position and in the second

Position,

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the overcurrent protection element with the actuating element in the first position and in the second position,

Fig. 6 the section of the overvoltage protection element according to Fig. 1, with not yet mounted overcurrent protection element, from the

side and longitudinal section,

Fig. 7 the overvoltage protection element according to Fig. 1, with optical

Status indicator in the first position, from the second side, and

Fig. 8 the overvoltage protection element according to Fig. 1, with optical

Status indicator in the second position, from the second side.

The figures show a preferred embodiment of an overvoltage protection element 1 with a housing 2, wherein in the housing 2 several

Overvoltage components 3 are arranged in the form of spark gaps.

In the illustrated embodiment, the individual spark gaps 3 together form a stacked spark gap, in which the individual spark gaps 3 are connected in series. Instead of the spark gaps 3 illustrated in the exemplary embodiment, a varistor, a gas discharge tube, or other overvoltage-switching or overvoltage-limiting components, as well as a combination thereof, can also be arranged as overvoltage components in the housing 2. Within the scope of the present invention, it is not important what type of overvoltage component or how many overvoltage components the overvoltage protection element 1 has.

10 LU505812

The overvoltage protection element 1 also has an overcurrent protection element 4 and a display device consisting of a spring element 5 as a mechanical actuating element and an optical status display 6. The overcurrent protection element 4, which is shown separately in Figs. 4 and 5, is a fuse with a spring-loaded actuating element 7. A fusible element 44 is arranged inside the fuse housing, which burns open when the fuse is triggered. The one

The end of the fusible element 44 is connected to the actuating element 7 in the non-triggered state of the fuse, whereby the actuating element 7 remains in its first position against the force of the spring 45, as can be seen from

Fig. 5a. When the fuse is triggered, i.e. when the

fuse element 44, the actuating element 7 moves by the force of the

Spring 44 from a first position according to Fig. 4a, 5a into a second position according to Fig. 4b, 5b.

To move the optical status indicator 4 from its first position (Fig. 1 and 7) to its second position (Fig. 2 and 8), a locking device is provided in the housing 2 of the

The spring element 5, designed as a wire spring, is arranged in the overvoltage protection element 1. The spring element 5 has at one end a

Force absorption section 51, which is subjected to a force Fa by the actuating element 7 when the overcurrent protection element 4 is triggered.

The surge protection element 1 shown in the figures is designed as

A protective plug is formed which has two connection contacts 10, 11 designed as blade contacts, which can be plugged into corresponding plug sockets of a device base not shown here. However, the surge protection element according to the invention does not have to be designed as a protective plug; rather, the surge protection element can also be a one-piece surge protection device, which therefore does not have a separate device base. The illustrated surge protection element 1 is, in the fully assembled state, also arranged in an outer housing (not shown here), with the connection contacts 10, 11 protruding from the underside of the preferably hood-like outer housing. A viewing window is arranged in the opposite upper side of the outer housing, through which, depending on the state of the surge protection element 1, the display section 61 of the status display 6 or a marking 21 on the upper side of the housing 2 is visible.

1 LU505812

From the illustration of the overvoltage protection element 1 according to Fig. 1, it can be seen that the end face 71 of the movable actuating element 7 in its first position is opposite the force-absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5 or is directly in contact with the force-absorbing section 51.

Triggering of the overcurrent protection element 4, the actuating element 7 moves from its first position (Fig. 1) to its second position (Fig. 2), so that the force-absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5 is acted upon by a force

Fa is applied. This causes the spring element 5 to initially deflect and then move from its first position (Fig. 7) to its second position (Fig. 8) due to its restoring force.

As can be seen in particular from the sectional view according to Fig. 3 and from the two views in Fig. 6, a receptacle 8 is formed in the housing 2, in which the overcurrent protection element 4 is or can be arranged. The receptacle 8 has an opening 81 on the side facing the force-absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5, through which the end of the overcurrent protection element 4 with the actuating element 7 protrudes. The overcurrent protection element 4 is thus not completely, but only partially, arranged in the receptacle 8.

Furthermore, a stop 82 is formed in the receptacle 8, which in the illustrated embodiment is formed by the edge of the opening 81. Corresponding to the stop 82, an edge 91 is provided on the overcurrent protection element 4, with which edge the overcurrent protection element 4 rests against the stop 82 in the receptacle 8 in the assembled state. As can be seen in particular from the separate illustration of the overcurrent protection element 4 in Figs. 4 and 5, the edge 91 is formed by the end face of an annular element 9 provided on the overcurrent protection element 4, facing the actuating element 7. The annular element 9 can be formed integrally with a cap 42 or the housing of the overcurrent protection element 4. Alternatively, the annular element 9 can also be pushed onto the overcurrent protection element 4 as a separate element and then fastened to a cap 42 or the outer surface 43 of the overcurrent protection element 4.

From Fig. 3 it can be seen that the stop 82 in the receptacle 8 has a distance a from the force absorption section 51 of the spring element 5. From

Fig. 4a and 5a it can be seen that the edge 91 on the overcurrent protection element 4 has a distance b from the end face 71 of the actuating element 7,

12 LU505812 when the actuating element 7 is in its first position. In the surge protection element 1 according to the invention, the distance a and the distance b are selected such that the end face 71 of the actuating element 7, in the first position of the actuating element 7, rests directly against the force-absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5 (Fig. 1). The distance x between the end face 71 of the actuating element 7 and the force-absorbing section 51 is thus ideally zero (Fig. 7).

The fuse used as an overcurrent protection element 4 is cylindrical overall, so that the receptacle 8 is correspondingly tubular. On one side of the receptacle 8, the opening 81 is formed, through which the end of the overcurrent protection element 4 with the actuating element 7 protrudes. On the side opposite the opening 81, the receptacle 8 has an insertion opening 83 through which the overcurrent protection element 4 can be inserted into the receptacle 8, as can be seen in particular from the two illustrations in Figs. 6a and 6b.

In order to ensure that the overcurrent protection element 4 permanently rests with the edge 91 on the stop 82 after insertion into the receptacle 8, a spring element 12 is arranged in the receptacle 8 on the side of the overcurrent protection element 4 facing away from the actuating element 7. The spring element 12 applies a force Fr to the overcurrent protection element 4, which presses the edge 91 against the stop 82. The spring element 12 does not have to be directly on the side facing away from the actuating element 7.

front side 41 of the overcurrent protection element 4, but other components can also be arranged between the spring element 12 and the overcurrent protection element 4.

In the illustrated embodiment of the overvoltage protection element 1, for example, a gas-filled surge arrester 13 is arranged between the end face 41 of the overcurrent protection element 4 and the spring element 12. On the side facing away from the overcurrent protection element 4

On the other side, the gas-filled surge arrester 13 is electrically connected to a varistor 14, which is connected via an ignition element to one of the electrodes 3 of the

Overvoltage protection element 1. The ignition element, the varistor 14, the gas-filled surge arrester 13 and the overcurrent protection element 4 together form an ignition circuit for the spark gaps of the stacked spark gap shown in the figures.

13 LU505812

In the surge protection element 1 shown in the figures, the optical status indicator 6 is moved from its first position by the spring element 5.

Position into its second position. If the spring element 5 is in the first position shown in Fig. 7, the spring section 52 is deflected from its rest position. During assembly of the spring element 5, the spring section 52 is deflected downwards from the position shown in Fig. 8. In order for the spring element 5 to remain in the first position despite the deflection of the spring section 52 from the rest position, a

A retaining element 15 is formed as a projection, the end of which overlaps the spring element 5.

When the overcurrent protection element 5 is triggered, the force absorption section 51 of the spring element 5 is actuated by the actuating element 7 with a

Force FA is applied, which is directed perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the force absorption section 51. This leads to the spring element 5 being pivoted about a first axis of rotation, which is perpendicular to the direction of the force

Fa and is arranged perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the force-absorbing section 51. By pivoting the spring element 5, the spring section 52 of the spring element 5 is pivoted away from under the end of the holding element 15, so that the spring element 5 is no longer held in its first position by the holding element 15 against its own restoring force.

As soon as the spring element 5 is no longer held in its first position by the holding element 15, the spring element 5 is rotated about a second axis of rotation from its first position due to the restoring force of the spring section 52.

Position into its second position, upwards. The second axis of rotation runs perpendicular to the first axis of rotation and parallel to the

Longitudinal extension of the force absorption section 51. The first position of the

Spring element 5 is shown in Fig. 7, while in Fig. 8 the spring element 5 is shown in its second position.

From Figures 7 and 8 it can be seen that a pin-shaped section 62 is formed on the optical status indicator 6, which is inserted into the U-shaped

Driving section 53 of the spring element 5 engages, so that pivoting of the spring element 5 from its first position to its second position leads to a corresponding movement of the optical status indicator 6. If the surge protection element 1 is located in the outer housing (not shown in the figures), the display section will have a marking.

14 LU505812 section 61 of the optical status indicator 6 is not only pushed upwards by the movement of the spring element 5, but is also pressed slightly to the bottom right by the top of the outer housing - in the illustration according to Figure 8.

This position of the display section 61 of the opti-

The status indicator 6 is shown in dashed lines in Fig. 8.

15 LU505812

Reference numeral 1 Overvoltage protection element 2 Housing 21 Marking 3 Overvoltage component 4 Overcurrent protection element 41 Front side 42 Cap 43 Shell surface 44 Fusible element 45 Spring 5 Spring element 51 Force absorption section 52 Spring section 53 Driving section 6 Optical status indicator 61 Display section 62 Pin-shaped section 7 Actuating element 71 Front side 8 Receptacle 81 Opening 82 Stop 83 Insertion opening 9 Ring-shaped element 91 Edge 10 Connection contact 11 Connection contact 12 Spring element 13 Surge arrester 14 Varistor 15 Holding element

Fa force of the actuating element

Fr force of the spring element a distance b distance x distance

Claims (11)

16 LU505812 patent claims 1. An overvoltage protection element (1) comprising a housing (2), an overvoltage component (3), an overcurrent protection element (4), and a display device (5, 6), wherein the display device (5, 6) comprises a force-absorbing section (51) and a display section (61), wherein the overcurrent protection element (4) comprises a movable actuating element (7) which, upon triggering of the overcurrent protection element (4), moves from a first position to a second position, wherein the end face (71) of the movable actuating element (7) is opposite the force-absorbing section (51) of the display device (5, 6), and wherein the movable actuating element (7), in its second position, applies a force (F), to the force-absorbing section (51), thereby initiating a movement of the display section (61) of the display device (5, 6) from a first position to a second position, characterized in that a receptacle (8) is provided in the housing (2). is formed, in which the overcurrent protection element (4) is at least partially arranged, wherein the receptacle (8) has an opening (81) on the side facing the force-absorbing section (51) of the display device (5, 6), through which at least the movable actuating element (7) of the overcurrent protection element (4) protrudes, and wherein a stop (82) is formed in the receptacle (8), that an edge (91) is provided on the overcurrent protection element (4), with which edge the overcurrent protection element (4) bears against the stop (82) in the receptacle (8), that the stop (82) in the receptacle (8) has a distance a to the force-absorbing section (51) of the display device (5, 6) and the edge (91) of the overcurrent protection element (4) has a distance b to the end face (71) of the actuating element (7), and that the distance a and the distance b are coordinated with one another in such a way that the end face (71) of the actuating element (7) in the first position has a predetermined distance x from the force absorption section (51) of the display device (5, 6). 17 LU505812 2. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance a and the distance b are selected such that the distance x is as small as possible. 3. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an annular element (9) is arranged or formed on the overcurrent protection element (4), the end face of which facing the actuating element (7) forms the edge (91). 4. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stop (82) in the receptacle (8) is formed by the edge of the opening (81). 5. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the overcurrent protection element (4) is subjected to a force (Fr) by which the edge (91) is pressed against the stop (82). 6. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that a spring element (12) is arranged in the receptacle (8) on the side of the overcurrent protection element (4) facing away from the actuating element (7), the spring element (12) applying the force (Fr) to the overcurrent protection element (4). 7. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the overcurrent protection element (4) is cylindrical and the receptacle (8) is tubular, the receptacle (8) having an insertion opening (83) for inserting the overcurrent protection element (4) on the side opposite the opening (81). 8. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the display device (5, 6) has a spring element (5) and an optical status display (6) which are mechanically coupled to one another, wherein the force absorption section (51) is formed on the spring element (5) and the display section (61) is formed on the optical status display (6). 9. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring element (5) is movable from a first position into a second position, that the spring element (5) in the first position 18 LU505812 is deflected from its rest position and is held in its first position by a holding element (13) against the restoring force of the spring element (5), and that the spring element (5) is disengaged from the holding element (15) when the movable actuating element (7) in its second position applies a force (F 5) to the force-absorbing section (51). 10. Overcurrent protection element (4) for actuating a display device (5, 6) of an overvoltage protection element (1), wherein the overcurrent protection element (4) has a movable actuating element (7) which moves from a first position to a second position when the overcurrent protection element (4) is triggered, wherein the movable actuating element (7) is designed to apply a force (Fa) to a force receiving section (51) of the display device (5, 6) in its second position, and wherein the overvoltage protection element (1) has a housing (2) with a receptacle (8) for the overcurrent protection element (4), characterized in that an edge (91) is arranged or formed on the overcurrent protection element (4), which edge is designed to bear against a stop (82) in the receptacle (8) of the housing (2) of the overvoltage protection element (1), and that the edge (91) of the overcurrent protection element (4) has a Distance b to the end face (71) of the actuating element (7), which is selected such that the end face (71) of the actuating element (7) in the first position has a predetermined distance x from the force absorption section (51) of the display device (5, 6). 11. Overcurrent protection element (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the overcurrent protection element (4) is cylindrical and that an annular element (9) is arranged or formed on a cap (42) or the outer surface (43) of the overcurrent protection element (4), the end face of which facing the actuating element (7) forms the projecting edge (91).