US1031796A - Lightning-arrester. - Google Patents

Description

RJP. JACKSON & H. M. SCHEIBE.

\ LIGHTNING ARRBSTER. APPLIOATION FILED 001'. a, 1910.

1,031,796, Patented July 9,191.2.

WITNESSES: Q ZNVEugORS a 3 AT TOR NEY RAY 1?. JACKSON,

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SF SWISSVALE, AND HAROLD M. SCHEIBE, Ol? VJILKINSBURG, PENN- SYLVAINIA, ASSIGNQRS T0 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COM- PANY, A CGRPORATION 0E IENNSYLVANIA.

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Specification of Letters Eatent.

Patented July 9, 1912.

Application filed fictober 8, 1910. Serial No. 5$6,080.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, BAY P. JACKSON and HAROLD M. SCHEIBE, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of Swissvale and llillrinsburg, both in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsyl- Vania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Lightning-Arresters, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to protective devices and it has special reference to devices known as horn-gap lightning air-rosters and comprising two opposed rods'or bars of conducting material which are electrically insulated from each other and are close together at their lower ends and diverge widely at their upper ends.

One of the objects of our invention is to provide a simple and durable lightning arrester of the class above indicated, the opposed parts of which shall be so supported and constructed that the formation of successive electric arcs across the minimum air gap shall automatically cause the members to be separated. and thereby interrupt such arcs.

A further object of our invention is to provide means for adjusting the minimum air gap betweenthe two members so that, under normal conditions, it shall exist-at a predetermined value, within relatively wide limits.

Lightning arresters of the horn type are particularly well adapted for the protection of high-voltage transmission lines and for other outdoor service on account of their simplicity and reliability, but, if they are used for relatively low voltages, the minimum air gap between the opposed members becomes very small and arcs are sometimes formed in rapid succession, each are rising to the upper ends of the horns, where it is ruptured. In order to avoid the continuous recurrence of the aforesaid phenomena, we provideopposed members which correspond to'the usual horns, but, instead ofsupporting them near theminimum air gap, we support them near their upper extremities and construct them of strips of unlike metals, or otherwise adapt them to be automatically separated at their lower ends when they are heated. In order to enable the thermostatic members to return to the osition which the formerly occuied after the electric arcing which caused the heating of the members has ceased, we provide adjustable limiting devices, or stops, which prevent the members from coming so close together as to reduce the minimum air gap below thepredetermined value which is necessary to the protection of the circuit or apparatus with which the arrester is associated. J

The single figure of the accompanying drawing is an elevation of a lightning arresterconstructed in accordance with our invention. v 7

Referring to the drawing, the device here shown comprises two similar opposed members 1 and 2 of conducting material which are relatively close together near their lower ends and diverge until they are materially separated at their upper ends, supporting rods or bars 3 and l, line insulators 5 and 6, to which the parts 3 and 4 arerespectively secured, and stops or limiting members 7 andS.

The line insulators 5 and 6 may be supported in any suitable manner, being shown mounted on pins S} and 10 which are carried on a cross arm 11, which, in turn, is

carried by a pole or post 12. The members 1 and 2 are composed of straps or bars 13, preferably formed of iron,-and other straps or bars 14 of brass or other suitable con ducting material having a .diflerent co-etiicient of expansion from that of the parts 13 with which they are associated. The parts 13 and 1a are welded or otherwise secured together to form the arcin members of the device and are bolted tov tl ie upper ends of the supports 3 and 4: which extend vertically upward from the insulators 5 and 6 and are bent over at their ends forthis purpose. v

The strips or oars 13 are bent into U shape at't-heir lower ends, .as indicated inthe drawing, so that projections 15 are provided to engage adjusting screws 16 0f the stops? ancl'8.

The stops or limiting devices are secured to thelupper ends of the insulators and project toward each other, their inner ends being bent at right angles to project adjusting screws 16 are mounted in the ends ot the lim1ting strips to engage the propotions 15.- I

into the lower U shaped ends of the parts 13. The

If electric arcs are successively formed between the members 1 and 2, the thermostatic properties of the members will cause them to separate, thereby rendering it impossible for more arcs to be formed until the horns have had time to cool and return to their original positions. If then the cause of the disturbance which produces the first are formed has disappeared, it is evident that the arrester is in condition to protect the line when the next emergency arises.

\Ve claim as our invention:

L A lightning arrestercomprising a pair of initially and variably spaced discharge electrodes that are inherently responsive to the heat generated "therein to eifectincreased separation thereof.

2. A lightning arrester comprising a pair of opposed diverging members the lower ends of which are relatively near together and supports for their upper ends, said opposed members embodying heat-responsive means for causing a separation of their lower ends.

3. A lightning arrester comprising electrically separated vertical supports and a pair of opposed upwardly diverging thermo-responsive members having their upper ends secured to the upper ends of the vertical supports.

A lightning arrester comprising a pair insulating supports, vertical rods or bars secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom, a pair of opposed arcing members secured to the vertical rods at their upper ends and converging toward theirlower ends, Where they are relatively close together, said arcing members being composed of strips of unlike metals, whereby the heat produced by the formation of successsive arcs causes the members to separate.

5. A lightning arrester comprising a pair of thermostatic horns supported at their upper ends and stops at their lower ends for limiting the minimum air gap between them to a predetermined value.

(3. A lightning arrester comprising apair of thermostatic horns supported at their upper endsand adjustable stops at their lower ends for limiting the minimum air gap betwen them to a predetermined value.

In testimony whereof, We have hereunto subscribed our names this 24th day of Sept. 1910. v

RAY r. JACKSON.

HAROLD M. SCHEIBE.

Witnesses R. J. DEARBORN, B. B. Hines.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissiimer of Patents,

Washington, 11. C.

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