US1984333A - Lightning arrester - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 11, 1934. A T, CARTER 1,984,333

LIGHTNING ARRESTER Filed sept. 21, 1928 l Patented Dec. 1l, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LIGHTNING ABBESTER Ainslie T. Carter, Coldwater, N. Y., assignor to General Railway Signal Company, Rochester,

Application September 21, 1928, Serial No. 307,471

7 Claims. (Cl. 175-30) This invention relates in general to lightning er 9 of conducting material is likewise received arresters. and has more particular reference to on each of the studs 'I so as to bear fiat against an arrester of the vacuum tube type having an the corresponding washers 8. Holding the air spark gap in multiple with the tube. washers 8 and 9 in place against each other and In lightning arresters of the gas tube type, against the crimped over portion 51 of cylinder 5 there is always the danger of the tube failing 5, are the sleeves 4 which are held in place on and hence of losing proper protection. In orstuds 7 by means of solder or the like 41. der to avoid this danger, it is usual to provide, in Within the cartridge C is a sealed glass tube multiple with the gas tube, a usual spark gap 10, having lead-in wires ll sealed in the ends 10 type of arrester having a break down voltage cf the tube 10 and in the solder 41 and connect- 10 somewhat greater than the break down voltage ed within the tube 10 to spaced electrodes 12. of the gas tube so that the gas tube normally The tube is filled with neon gas, or other usual functions to ground excessive currents but in or suitable gas, under subatmosphcric pressure, the event of its failure the air spark gap will in a manner usual in such devices. l5 afford proper protection. Diagrammatically shown at 13 is a relay con- 15 It is one object of this invention to provide a nected up as shown in Figs. l and 3 so as to simple and economical means of providing an be energized through a circuit including one air spark gap which will be uniform and prcdeterminal B of a source of energy, binding post termined in length in all arresters produced. 2 and adjacent post 21, the winding of relay Further objects, purposes and characteristic 13, and the other terminal C of the source. Flow 2,0 features of the present invention will appear as from the terminal B of the source of energy, the description progresses. reference being had also can take place, if the voltage is sufficiently to the accompanying drawing showing, solely high, through a parallel path to ground 14, this by way of example, and not in any manner parallel path including, in parallel, one circuit whatsoever in a limiting sense, one form which including the gap between the electrodes 12, and

the invention can assume. In the drawing:- a second circuit including the two air gaps be- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of the tween the conducting washers 9 and the ends invention, with parts shown in section. 51 of cylinders 5, in series.

Fig. 2 is an axial sectional View through a The structure forming the two air gaps in lightning arrester cartridge constructed in acseries between the washers 9, and the crimped 3U cordance with this invention. over ends 51 of cylinder 5, insures accurately Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of the invention. formed air gaps of invariable and predetermined Referring now to the drawing, the lightning length so long as the washer 8 be accurately arrester comprises an insulating base l of pordimensioned. It is a very simple matter to form celain or the like, to which are connected bindthese washers 8 of predetermined and uniform 3,-, ing posts 2 and 21. Connected to the base l by dimensions, and hence a simple and economical the binding posts 21, are receiving clips 3 formed construction has been afforded which insures of electrically conducting springy material uniform air gaps of predetermined dimensions.

spaced so as to readily receive an arrester car- It is most important that these air gaps be tridge C, by means of the projecting conducting formed accurately, and of the desired prede- 4U sleeves 4 on the cartridge. termined dimensions, since if they are too short The cartridge C comprises a hollow cylindrithe break down Voltage across the two air gaps cal Conducting Shell 5, fOrmed preferably 0f in series may be less than that across the elecmetal, with end discs 6 0f porcelain 0r other trades 12, with the result that air gaps and not non-conducting material, over which the ends the gas tube, normally functions to care for 45 0f the Cylinder 5 are crimped, aS ShOWIl at 51, overloads. On the other hand, if the two air the ends 51 0f Cylinder 5. v@Xtendng Only part gaps in series be too long, the break down voltage way across the outer face of each disc 6. A may be so great that even on failure of the gas conducting stud 7 passes through each disc 6 tube, no current will flow to ground upon excesand projects outwardly beyond the outer face of sive voltage, and hence no secondary protection 50 its disc so as to receive awasher 8 of non-conwill be afforded the translating device 13, upon ducting material, accurately formed in its varifailure of the tube 10. ous dimensions so as to snugly fit over the stud The above rather specific description of one 7, and bearing flat against the crimped or bendform of the present invention, is given solely 55 ed over portion 51 of cylinder 5. A second washby way of illustration, and is not intended, in 55 Having described my invention, I now claim:-

1. In a lightning arrester, an arrester unit, said unit comprising, a hollow open endedvshell of conducting material, an end piece of insulating material forming each end of said shell with said conducting material crimped over the outer end of each end piece, a conductingstud spaced from said. crimped ends and. passingthrough each end piece and projecting beyond ,the outer face of each end piece, an accurately formed insulating washer on each stud and'bearing at against said crimped overparts of said shell, and a conducting washeron each stud and bearing flat against said insulating Washer, Uwhereby to form an invariable air gap of predetermined size between said conducting-shell and said conductinglwashers.

2. In a lightning arrester, in combination, an open ended cylindrical metallic shell, a non- -conducting disc in each end lof said shell, a conducting st-ud projecting out from each disc, each end of said shell being crimped over the outer face'of each disc and out of contact with said studs, an accurately formed insulating washer on each stud and bearing flat against the crimped over parts of said shell, and a Washer of conducting material on each stud and bearing against each insulating washer.

3. In a lightning arrester, in combination, an open ended cylindrical metallic shell, a nonconducting disc in each end of said shell, a conducting stud projecting out from each disc, each end of said shell being crimped over the outer face of each disc and out of contact with said studs, an accurately formed insulating washer on each stud and bearing flat against the crimped `,over parts of said shell, a washer of conducting. material on each stud and bearing against each insulating washer, a sleeve passing cver each stud and bearing against said washers to hold them in contact with each other and said shell, and solder connecting said sleevesrand studs. 4

4. In a lightningarrester, in combination an open ended cylindrical meta`.lli c .shell,l av non-- conducting disc vin each'- end of said Shell, yaconducting stud'` projecting -out from ,."each disc,

each Aend of said. shell' being crimped over the outer face of each disc vand out of Contact with '.said studs, an accurately -formed insulating washer o'fpredetermineddimensions on each stud andbearingat againstthe crimped over parts of said shell, a washer of conducting ma..

terial -on each stud and bearing against each Ainsulatinlr Washer, a sleeve passing over each stud and bearing against said Washers to hold themincontact With each other and with said shell, solder connecting said sleeves and studs, lead-in wires passing from said solder and through said studs and into said shell, and a rare gas tube lightning arrester within said shell and connected to said wires.

5. In a lightning arrester, in combination, an open ended metallic shell, a non-conducting head in each end of the shell, a conducting stud projecting out from each head, a Washer of conducting material en each stud, and an insulating washer on each stud and electrically insulating each conducting Washer from the shell.

6. A lightning arrester of the cartridge type comprising a metal shell, and spark gap elements each consisting of a current conducting element held spaced from an end of the shell by a suitable insulator inserted therebetween whereby the shell serves to interconnect the elements through gaps determined by the insulators, in series relation.

7. A lightning arrester of the cartridge type including, a shell, insulators carried at each end of the shell, spark gap elements on each of said insulators, each including an end of the shell, a conducting Washer, and an insulating Washer of a desired thickness separating the conducting washer from the end of the shell, said shell thus serving to interconnect said spark gap elements on said insulators in series.

AINSLIE T. CARTER.

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