The invention relates to a disconnection and switch-over device for overvoltage protection, particularly for DC systems, comprising at least one arresting element, and a thermal cut-off point incorporated into the electrical interconnect path of the arresting element, the thermal cut-off point comprising a movable mechanically prestressed conductor element that moves from a first position to a second position in the event of a cut-off, and when the second position is reached, an electrical switch-over to a safety device is generated, and the thermal cut-off point is formed by the movable conductor element and a stationary contact element, the movable conductor element being attached to the stationary contact element by a thermally releasable means. According to the invention, a completely electrical cut-off of the arresting element regarding the interconnect path only occurs when the movable conductor element has gone beyond the second position and has reached a third position, the safety device being arranged in series with the arresting element and the movable conductor element being designed as a wiper or sliding contact in relation to the second position, the second position being created by a bypass end point.

The invention relates to a thermally triggered, mechanical switching device, consisting of a heat-sensitive means and a mechanical force-storage means, wherein the heat-sensitive means blocks or unblocks the movement path of a switching piece; furthermore, the switching piece is preloaded and held by the mechanical force-storage means, and comprising a housing that accommodates the aforementioned means. According to the invention, the housing is designed as a cartridge-shaped shell which receives a plunger in the interior thereof, which plunger is mounted in a movable manner through a first end-side opening in the housing and is supported against a fusible shaping part under pretension, wherein the fusible shaping part is arranged so as to cover a second opening, which is located opposite the first end-side opening, in such a way that, when the melting temperature of the fusible shaping part is reached, said fusible shaping part is displaced by the plunger and the plunger takes on a changed position.

A temperature fuse assembly for a high-power DC circuit is provided. The temperature fuse assembly includes a case extending from a first case end to a second case end and an isolated lead projecting from the second case end. A bushing electrically isolates the isolated lead from the case. A high-gauge wire is electrically connected to the case at a first wire end and electrically connected to the isolated lead at a second wire end. A portion of the high-gauge wire is helically wound about an exterior of the bushing. When a temperature of the temperature fuse assembly exceeds a threshold temperature, the temperature fuse assembly is configured to conduct a DC current of the high-power DC circuit through the high-gauge wire. The high-gauge wire is configured to melt under a load of the DC current and interrupt the high-power DC circuit.

The invention relates to an overvoltage protection arrangement having: a plurality of planar varistors 2, 21, 22, which are arranged on a first side of a supporting plate 7; at least one gas arrester 10; and at least one thermal disconnection device, which is in close thermal contact with at least one of the varistors. The aforementioned components are surrounded by an outer housing 1, and electrical connection means 6, 61 for soldering to a printed circuit board are also provided on the second side of the supporting plate. The varistors 2, 21, 22 have a parallel stack arrangement, which is delimited on each of two opposing sides by an insulating partition wall 3, 31 which can be attached to the supporting plate. Each partition wall has at least one opening for a varistor terminal (62), each varistor terminal being connected to a thermal disconnection device, which in turn comprises a spring-loaded disconnecting lever (80), the respective disconnecting lever being connected at its first end to the respective varistor terminal by a soldered connection (18) and wherein its second end merges into one of the electrical terminals 6, 61 and penetrates through the supporting plate 7. The thermal disconnection device also has an insulating slide 4, whose free end acts on the disconnecting lever (80), wherein the slide runs in recesses in the respective partition wall 3, 31, and a change in the position of the slide can be seen by means of a viewing opening 8 in the outer housing 1.

A surge protective device (SPD) module includes a module housing, first and second module electrical terminals mounted on the module housing, an overvoltage clamping element electrically connected between the first and second module electrical terminals, and a thermal disconnector mechanism. The thermal disconnector mechanism is positioned in a ready configuration, wherein the overvoltage clamping element is electrically connected with the second module electrical terminal. The thermal disconnector mechanism is repositionable to electrically disconnect the overvoltage clamping element from the second module electrical terminal. The thermal disconnector mechanism includes: an electrode electrically connected to the overvoltage clamping element; a disconnect spring elastically deflected and electrically connected to the electrode in the ready configuration; a solder securing the disconnect spring in electrical connection with the electrode in the ready configuration; and a heat sink member thermally interposed between the electrode and the solder, the heat sink member having a thermal capacity. The solder is meltable in response to overheating of the overvoltage clamping element. The disconnect spring is configured to electrically disconnect the overvoltage clamping element from the second module electrical terminal when the solder is melted. The thermal capacity of the heat sink member buffers and dissipates heat from the overvoltage clamping element to prevent the solder from melting in response to at least some surge currents through the SPD module.

A release mechanism for surge protectors includes a first electrical connection pin soldered with a varistor's second electrode, a function rotating member sheathed on a fixed column and installed between a varistor and a bridge bracket, an elastic driving device fixed into an internal box body, and a bridge bracket fixed to a second electrical connection pin in the internal box body (2). If the varistor is not released, then the bridge bracket will be passed through a soldering window and soldered with a varistor's first electrode, or else the elastic driving device will drive the function rotating member to rotate around the fixed column. An arc shield plate shields between the bridge bracket and electrode. A failure status indicating area is exposed and a remote linkage rod is triggered.

A surge protective device (SPD) module includes a module housing, first and second module electrical terminals mounted on the module housing, a gas discharge tube (GDT) mounted in the module housing, and a fail-safe mechanism mounted in the module housing. The GDT includes a first GDT terminal electrically connected to the first module electrical terminal and a second GDT terminal electrically connected to the second module electrical terminal. The fail-safe mechanism includes: an electrically conductive shorting bar positioned in a ready position and repositionable to a shorting position; a biasing member applying a biasing load to the shorting bar to direct the shorting bar from the ready position to the shorting position; and a meltable member. The meltable member maintains the shorting bar in the ready position and melts in response to a prescribed temperature to permit the shorting bar to transition from the ready position to the shorting position under the biasing load of the biasing member. In the shorting position, the shorting bar forms an electrical short circuit between the first and second GDT terminals to bypass the GDT.

A base of a surge protector, the surge protector comprising a function rotating member (3), and the function rotating member (3) having a remote linkage rod contact wall (3D) and a remote linkage notching (3H), and the base comprising a remote device, and the remote device having at least one remote linkage rod (9), and when the function rotating member (3) is situated at the first position, the remote linkage rod (9) is pressed down by the remote linkage rod contact wall (3D), and when the function rotating member (3) is rotated from the first position to the second position, the function rotating member (3) is rotated from the remote linkage rod contact wall (3D) to the remote linkage notching (3H) with respect to the point of action of the remote linkage rod (9) to release the remote linkage rod (9).

A device for dissipating a surge includes at least three metal oxide varistors (MOVs). Each of the MOVs may be positioned adjacent to each other. Each of the MOVs may have two contact surfaces. Contact surfaces of adjacent MOVs are electrically connected together. The at least three MOVs include a first outer MOV, a second outer MOV, and at least one inner MOV positioned between the first outer MOV and the second outer MOV. The first outer MOV and the second outer MOV have a greater voltage at a given current than at least one of the at least one inner MOV. The device further includes a first connector electrically coupled to at least one of the at least three MOVs. The device further includes a second connector electrically coupled to at least another of the at least three MOVs.

A thermal limiter system for an electric motor includes a thermal limiter fuse having a hollow contact element anchored by solder to at least one of first and second terminals of the fuse. A coaxial spring element causes the hollow contact element to slidably release and separate from one of the first and second terminals due to overheating of the solder that is not caused by a flow of electrical current. The system also includes stator mounting blocks and a stator cooling jacket for a motor to be thermally protected.