The object of the invention is a fuse for a device to be protected that is connected in series with the fuse, wherein the series connection is connected to a supply network with a first potential and with a second potential that is different from the first, wherein the fuse has a first contact and a second contact, with the second contact being used to electrically contact the device (8) to be protected, wherein the fuse has a fuse element that connects the first contact to the second contact, wherein the fuse also has an additional contact, with the additional contact being arranged so as to be insulated from the first contact and insulated from the second contact and, in an untripped state, is contactless with respect to the fuse element, with the first contact being directly connected to the first potential during operation and with the device to be protected being directly connected to the second potential (N) during operation, with the additional contact also being directly connected to the second potential during operation, and wherein a fourth contact is also provided that makes external triggering available, with triggering resulting in an electric arc that indirectly or directly causes the fuse element to fuse.

A triggerable spark gap, a switching circuit and a method for manufacturing a triggerable spark gap are disclosed. In an embodiment, a triggerable spark gap includes a trigger electrode, an adjacent electrode at the trigger electrode, a counter electrode and a gap between the counter electrode and the adjacent electrode, wherein a distance between the trigger electrode and the adjacent electrode is less than a distance between the trigger electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the distance between the trigger electrode and the counter electrode is less than a distance between the adjacent electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the counter electrode and/or the adjacent electrode includes a first phase including a first material and a second phase including a second material, and wherein the second material has a lower electron work function than the first material.

A triggerable spark gap, a switching circuit and a method for manufacturing a triggerable spark gap are disclosed. In an embodiment, a triggerable spark gap includes a trigger electrode, an adjacent electrode at the trigger electrode, a counter electrode and a gap between the counter electrode and the adjacent electrode, wherein a distance between the trigger electrode and the adjacent electrode is less than a distance between the trigger electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the distance between the trigger electrode and the counter electrode is less than a distance between the adjacent electrode and the counter electrode, wherein the counter electrode and/or the adjacent electrode includes a first phase including a first material and a second phase including a second material, and wherein the second material has a lower electron work function than the first material.

An arrester is disclosed. In an embodiment, the arrester includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a switching contact, a first discharge space between the first and second electrodes and a short-circuiting mechanism suitable for short-circuiting the first and second electrodes and for switching a state of the arrester, wherein, in a first state, at least one electrode of the first and second electrodes is not electrically conductively connected to the switching contact and, in a second state, the at least one electrode is electrically conductively connected to the switching contact.

An arrester is disclosed. In an embodiment, the arrester includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a switching contact, a first discharge space between the first and second electrodes and a short-circuiting mechanism suitable for short-circuiting the first and second electrodes and for switching a state of the arrester, wherein, in a first state, at least one electrode of the first and second electrodes is not electrically conductively connected to the switching contact and, in a second state, the at least one electrode is electrically conductively connected to the switching contact.

The present disclosure provides a surge protection device including a ceramic substrate (1), at least one pair of discharge electrodes (31) disposed on a surface of the ceramic substrate (1) so as to face each other at end portions thereof with a space in between, outer electrodes (32) electrically connected to the corresponding discharge electrodes (31), and a discharge auxiliary electrode (4) disposed between the end portions of the pair of discharge electrodes (31) The discharge auxiliary electrode (4) contains crystalized glass and particles of conductive powder (40) dispersed apart from each other in the crystalized glass.

The design of the triggering circuit 1 of the overvoltage protection, connected via three poles 4 to the spark gap of the overvoltage protection, provided with the first input terminal 2 and the second main terminal 3, whose principle consists that an auxiliary electrode 7 of the spark gap 4 is connected in series to the first varistor 8 and one end of the secondary winding 14 of the transformer 13, the other end of which is connected to the second main electrode 6 of the spark gap 4 and the second input terminal 3, whereas one end of the primary winding 15 of the transformer 13 is connected in series to the gas discharge tube 10, the second varistor 9, resistor 11 and capacitor 12, connected to the other end of the primary winding 15 of the transformer 13, connected to the second input terminal 3, whereas the junction connecting the second varistor 9 to the resistor 11 is interconnected with the junction, connecting the first input terminal 2 to the first main electrode 5 of the spark gap 4. The advantage of such a design of the triggering circuit 1 of overvoltage protection resides in the thermosensitive disconnector 17 coupled with the thermal coupling 16 to the second varistor 9, is either connected in series to the second varistor 9, or connected to the link of the junction connecting the second varistor 9 to the resistor 11 and the junction connecting the first input terminal 2 to the first main electrode 5 of the spark gap 4, or that the thermosensitive disconnector 17 is connected between the primary winding 15 of the transformer 13 and the gas discharge tube 10.

The design of the triggering circuit 1 of the overvoltage protection, connected via three poles 4 to the spark gap of the overvoltage protection, provided with the first input terminal 2 and the second main terminal 3, whose principle consists that an auxiliary electrode 7 of the spark gap 4 is connected in series to the first varistor 8 and one end of the secondary winding 14 of the transformer 13, the other end of which is connected to the second main electrode 6 of the spark gap 4 and the second input terminal 3, whereas one end of the primary winding 15 of the transformer 13 is connected in series to the gas discharge tube 10, the second varistor 9, resistor 11 and capacitor 12, connected to the other end of the primary winding 15 of the transformer 13, connected to the second input terminal 3, whereas the junction connecting the second varistor 9 to the resistor 11 is interconnected with the junction, connecting the first input terminal 2 to the first main electrode 5 of the spark gap 4. The advantage of such a design of the triggering circuit 1 of overvoltage protection resides in the thermosensitive disconnector 17 coupled with the thermal coupling 16 to the second varistor 9, is either connected in series to the second varistor 9, or connected to the link of the junction connecting the second varistor 9 to the resistor 11 and the junction connecting the first input terminal 2 to the first main electrode 5 of the spark gap 4, or that the thermosensitive disconnector 17 is connected between the primary winding 15 of the transformer 13 and the gas discharge tube 10.

The invention relates to an arrangement for overload protection of overvoltage protection devices, consisting of at least one type II surge arrester with or without a thermal disconnecting device that responds in the event of an of overload. According to the invention, a switching unit free of movable contacts is connected in series with the at least one surge arrester and structurally combined therewith, which switching unit has at least two fixed narrow spaced switching contacts, wherein the spacing of the switching contacts is specified in such a way that in the event of every surge current or discharge process, the switching device changes into a quasi-closed state because of the arc formed; whereas in the idle state, the voltage of the connected mains drops at the switching device, with the surge arrester arranged in series remaining free of leakage current.

The invention relates to an arrangement for overload protection of overvoltage protection devices, consisting of at least one type II surge arrester with or without a thermal disconnecting device that responds in the event of an of overload. According to the invention, a switching unit free of movable contacts is connected in series with the at least one surge arrester and structurally combined therewith, which switching unit has at least two fixed narrow spaced switching contacts, wherein the spacing of the switching contacts is specified in such a way that in the event of every surge current or discharge process, the switching device changes into a quasi-closed state because of the arc formed; whereas in the idle state, the voltage of the connected mains drops at the switching device, with the surge arrester arranged in series remaining free of leakage current.