WO2017088843A1

WO2017088843A1 - Overvoltage protection device

Info

Publication number: WO2017088843A1
Application number: PCT/CZ2016/050027
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jaromir Suchy
Original assignee: Saltek S.R.O.
Priority date: 2015-11-29
Filing date: 2016-08-09
Publication date: 2017-06-01
Also published as: CZ29068U1

Abstract

The overvoltage protection device involves a flat protection component (1). The protection component (1) is defined by the bottom surface (2) and on its opposite side by the upper surface (3). Both surfaces (2, 3) are provided with an electrode. The electrode on the bottom surface (2) is electrically connected to the pad (7) located on the insulation board (5) and connected at least to one terminal. The portion (9) of the electrode on the upper surface (3) of the protection component (1) is electrically connected to the first end portion of a jumper (6). The second end portion of the jumper (6) is electrically connected to the trace (8) located on the insulation board (5). The electrodes on the bottom and upper surfaces (2, 3), the jumper (6), the pad (7), the trace (8) and the connection portion (9) form an electrical connection.

Description

[Title established by the ISA under Rule 37.2] OVERVOLTAGE PROTECTION DEVICE

The technical solution relates to an overvoltage protection element, represented by electric protective devices with at least one protection component which are specified for the protection of persons, equipment, machines and metal constructions from dangerous contact voltage, overvoltage and the effects of stray currents.

The currently known designs of overvoltage protection usually use protection components to protect electrical and electronic equipment. They usually feature industrially produced varistors embedded in a protective case and provided with wire leads, and can be directly assembled in the protected equipment. An example of such a solution is document CA 2821708 "Metal Oxide Varistor Design And Assembly".

Such accommodated varistors are also used as components in overvoltage protection devices, especially to protect data lines. In both above cases it is difficult to assemble or install them due to their dimensions, which is why small varistors with low resistance to discharge currents are used.

A protection element consisting of an encapsulated varistor, provided with leads, is the core item in utility models such as CZ 18902 "Varistor overvoltage protection", CZ 19812 "Varistor overvoltage protection with compact thermal disconnector", CZ 292211 "Overvoltage protection device for a terminal device of the electrical network". Similarly, document DE 20204673 "Schutzkontaktsteckdose" uses a protection element comprising an encapsulated varistor provided with leads.

The basic problem, i.e., low resistance to discharge currents due to the limited dimensions of the protection element, has not been satisfactorily resolved by known solutions.

Technical Problem

The aforesaid disadvantages are largely eliminated by an overvoltage protection element containing a protection component, whereas the technical solution comprises a flat-design protection component the bottom plane of which features an electrically conductive connection with a printed circuit, provided with at least one lead, with the printed circuit situated on the insulation board, whereas part of a jumper is connected by electrical conductivity on the opposite side of the protection component on its upper surface at the connection point, whereas at least one further part of the jumper features an electrically conductive connection with at least one other printed circuit, located on the insulation board, with the bottom surface, upper surface, jumper, printed circuit, another printed circuit and the connection point featuring electrical conductivity.

One of the possibilities how to use the technical solution is the overvoltage protection element as a separate product or an assembly part specified for supplemental safeguarding of electrical or electronic equipment which has no overvoltage protection, either on the side of the network supply, or at the data signal connection points.

The protection component comprises a varistor or gas discharge tube in a flat design whereas its ground plan shows an advantageous shape of a circle or rectangle.

The ground plan shape of the protection component is not critical, it tolerates the production possibilities of a varistor or gas discharge tube and/or space available in the device into which the protection component is built, whereas the necessary condition is the possibility to create a connection point on the upper surface of the protection component.

The connection point is accommodated for an electrically conductive connection of the jumper via soldering or contacting.

The insulation board is either separate, if it is the base of the overvoltage protection, or is an integral part of the protected equipment.

Another option of how to use the technical solution is that the overvoltage protection element is part of the overvoltage protection device or part of the protected equipment.

The whole protection component can be provided with an insulation layer on the upper surface, except for the connection point, whereas the insulation layer advantageously overlaps as far as the insulation board.

The use of the insulation layer is an advantage, particularly in a protection component comprising a varistor, but is not necessary if a gas discharge tube is used.

The technical solution will be explained in detail using drawings, where

Fig. 1 displays a protection component in a flat design in a side view on the left, on the right an axonometric view of the protection component seen from the side of its upper surface.

Fig. 2 in the upper left corner shows an insulation board of general dimensions with a printed circuit and another printed circuit, the figure in the upper right corner features the protection component with a jumper; the bottom left figure shows top view of the whole protection component, except for the connection point, provided with an insulation layer, overlapping as far as the insulation board.

Fig. 3 shows a circular protection component installed on the insulation board, which is part of the overvoltage protection device.

Fig. 4 shows a square protection component with rounded corners, provided with an insulation layer, overlapping as far as the insulation board.

Examples

The overvoltage protection element in the basic design according to Fig. 2 comprises a protection component 1 in a flat design according to Fig. 1, whose bottom surface 2 features an electrically conductive connection, advantageously by soldering using tin solder, with a printed circuit 7 situated on the insulation board 5, and provided with one or more leads accommodated for connecting conductors or for installation in the protected equipment. On the opposite side of the protection component 1 on its upper surface 3 at the connection point 9 part of the jumper 6 is connected showing electrical conductivity, whereas its other part features an electrically conductive connection with another printed circuit 8, situated on the same insulation board 5 and provided with one or more leads accommodated for connecting conductors or for installation in the protected equipment. The leads of the printed circuit 7 and those of another printed circuit 8 also serve as leads of impulse or discharge currents to the protection component 1. The bottom surface 2 and upper surface 3 of the protection component 1, the jumper 6, printed circuit 7 and another printed circuit 8 including the leads, as well as the connection point 9 are electrically conductive. The jumper 6 is in the simplest design implemented from a profile with a shaped metal strip according to Fig. 2 to 4, so it has two parts or arms, of which one ensures electrically conductive contact of the jumper 6 with the upper surface 3 of the protection component 1, while the other part or arm of the jumper 6 ensures an electrically conductive contact with another printed circuit 8. The jumper 6 can have more parts or arms, depending on the number of further printed circuits 8, if it is necessary for construction considerations, e.g., due to a greater number of connected conductors.

The basic design of the overvoltage protection element can be implemented as a separate product, interconnected downstream of electrical devices which lack any overvoltage protection, e.g., downstream of network feeders of mobile equipment, computers, modems, routers, etc. It can also be used as supplemental protection interconnected downstream of connection points of data signals of electronic equipment, such as ports for connecting telephones, Ethernet, series or parallel lines in computers, modems, routers, etc. The overvoltage protection element can be used as an assembly part for additional overvoltage protection of equipment or components which do not have it or do not have their own insulation board, e.g., RJ-11 plastic telephone sockets, RJ-45 plastic Ethernet sockets. Should an overvoltage protection element be used as an assembly part, its flat design is an advantage.

The protection component 1 comprises a varistor or gas discharge tube in a flat design whereas its ground plan shows an advantageous shape of a circle or rectangle, i.e., a square or a rectangle. At the same time, the bottom surface of the varistor 2 and its upper surface 3, advantageously implemented with metalized silver, do not reach as far as the edge of the protection component 1, whereas with the gas discharge tube the bottom surface 2 and upper surface 3, in an advantageous design made of copper, can reach as far as the edge of the protection component 1. The reason for this is different reaction periods; the varistor is slower, so there is a larger risk of a discharge flash across the side edge of the protection component 1, whereas such a risk is minimised in a faster gas discharge tube.

The connection point 9 is accommodated for an electrically conductive connection of the jumper 6 via soldering or contacting. In most designs the electrically conductive connection of the jumper 6 and connection point 9 of the protection component 1 is provided with soldering via tin solder. In the next possible design, the electrically conductive connection of the jumper 6 and connection point 9 of the protection component 1 is provided via a contact. In Figs. 1 to 4 the connection point 9 is located in the geometrical centre of the upper surface 3 of the protection component 1, however, this situation is only illustrative and is not critical from the technical point of view.

Other designs of the technical solution feature in one design the overvoltage protection element as the core of the overvoltage protection, where the insulation board 5 is separate. An example of such a layout is shown in Fig. 3. In the next design, the overvoltage protection element including the insulation board 5 is an integral part of the protected equipment.

The designs of the above technical solution can feature the whole protection component 1 on the upper surface 3, except for the connection point 9, provided with an insulation layer 4, advantageously overlapping as far as the insulation board 5. The use of the insulation layer 4 on the top part of the protection component 1 including its side edges is important particularly in a varistor, where it prevents the discharge flash across its side edge.

The overvoltage protection element according to this technical design represents a product which can be used everywhere persons, equipment, machines and metal constructions should be protected against dangerous contact voltage, overvoltage and against the effects of stray currents.

1 - protection component

2 - bottom surface

3 - upper surface

4 - insulation layer

5 - insulation board

6 - jumper

7 - printed circuit

8 - another printed circuit

9 - connection point

Claims

An overvoltage protection element containing a protection component (1), comprising the protection component (1) in a flat design which features an electrically conductive connection between its bottom surface (2) and a printed circuit (7), provided with at least one lead and located on an insulation board (5), whereas on the opposite side of the protection component (1) on its upper surface (3) at a connection point (9) part of a jumper (6) shows an electrically conductive connection, whereas at least one other part of the jumper (6) shows an electrically conductive connection with at least another printed circuit (8), located on the insulation board (5), whereas the bottom surface (2), the upper surface (3), the jumper (6), the printed circuit (7), another printed circuit (8) and the connection point (9) show electrical conductivity.
The overvoltage protection element according to claim 1, comprising the protection component (1) containing a varistor or gas discharge tube in a flat design and a ground plan with an advantageous circular or rectangular shape.
The overvoltage protection element according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the connection point (9) accommodated for an electrically conductive connection of the jumper (6) via soldering or contact.
The overvoltage protection element according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, comprising the insulation board (5) which is either separate, if it is the core of the overvoltage protection, or an integral part of the protected equipment.
The overvoltage protection element according to any of the claims 1 to 4, comprising the whole protection component (1) is from the top, from the side of the upper surface (3), except the connection point (9), provided with an insulation layer (4), advantageously overlapping as far as to the insulation board (5).