SURGE PROTECTION DEVICE HAVING A PLURALITY OF SURGE ARRESTERS AND, IN PARTICULAR THERMAL, ISOLATING APPARATUS WHICH IS RESPECTIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH THEM

Abstract

The invention relates to a surge protection device having a plurality of surge arresters and, in particular thermal, isolating apparatus which is respectively associated with them together with a fault and state display which is designed as a movable, spring force-prestressed displacement element (17) and has a display area and also an operating area for a telecommunications device, wherein tripping of the fault and state display is performed indirectly by means of a blocking element (1, 2, 3) of which the physical state can be changed. According to the invention, a blocking element is provided for each of the surge arresters, which blocking element is in each case arranged so as to block the movement path (4, 5, 6) of a mechanically prestressed wedge slide (7, 8, 9) with a wedge bevel (12). A rocker lever arrangement is also provided which has first lever arms (13, 14, 15) in accordance with the number of wedge slides and at least one second lever arm (16) for blocking, but also for releasing, the displacement element. Those ends of the first lever arms which are remote from the rotation axis (19) of the rocker lever arrangement each have an area (20) for sensing the respective wedge bevel of the respective wedge slide in such a way that, when the movement path of at least one of the wedge slides is cleared, its wedge bevel lifts the relevant first lever arm, as a result of which the second lever arm releases the displacement element.

Claims

1. An overvoltage protection device having a plurality of overvoltage arresters and an in particular thermal disconnecting apparatus respectively associated with them, together with a fault and state display which is designed as a movable, spring force-preloaded displacement element (17) and has a display surface and also an operating surface for a remote signaling device, wherein triggering of the fault and state display is performed indirectly by means of a blocking element (1; 2; 3), the physical state of which is changeable, characterized in that for each of the overvoltage arresters, a blocking element (1; 2; 3) is present, which is arranged to be blocking in each case the path of movement (4; 5; 6) of a mechanically preloaded wedge slide (7; 8; 9) having a wedge bevel (12), a rocker lever arrangement has first lever arms (13; 14; 15) corresponding to the number of the wedge slides (7; 8; 9) and at least one second lever arm (16) for blocking or releasing the displacement element (17), wherein the ends of the first lever arms (13; 14; 15) that are remote from the axis of rotation (19) of the rocker lever arrangement each have a surface (20) for contacting the respective wedge bevel (12) of the wedge slides (7; 8; 9) in such a way that, when the respective path of movement (4; 5; 6) is released, at least one of the wedge slides (7; 8; 9) lifts the corresponding first lever arm (13; 14; 15) with its wedge bevel (12), as a result of which the second lever arm (16) releases the displacement element (17).

2. The overvoltage protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the paths of movement (4; 5; 6) of the wedge slides (7; 8; 9) run in the same direction or in opposite directions, wherein, for contacting the respective wedge bevel (12) independently of the direction of the respective path of movement, the first lever arms (13; 14; 15) have an angular structure in the form of a contacting finger, wherein the end of the contacting finger pointing toward the wedge bevel (12) has a convex rounding (20).

3. The overvoltage protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wedge slides (7; 8; 9) each are mounted in a groove-like recess to be displaceable.

4. The overvoltage protection device according to claim 3, characterized in that the respective blocking element (1; 2; 3) is arranged in a portion of the groove-like recess and is in thermal contact with the respective overvoltage arrester or another element to be monitored.

5. The overvoltage protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the displacement element (17) has a recess (170) into which a latching hook (160) engages, which is formed on the second lever arm (16).

6. The overvoltage protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the rocker lever arrangement has a central axle beam (18) from which the lever arms (13; 14; 15; 16) extend.

7. The overvoltage protection device according to claim 6, characterized in that the central axle beam (18) and the lever arms (13; 14; 15; 16) are configured as a monobloc part.

8. The overvoltage protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the wedge slides (7; 8; 9) are configured as a monolithic block or as a part of an assembly of the respective overvoltage arrester.

Description

[0045] The invention will be explained in more detail below on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and with reference to Figures.

[0046] Shown are in:

[0047] FIG. 1 a principle representation of the fault and state display having a wedge slide, a rocker lever arrangement and a spring force-preloaded displacement element in the initial state;

[0048] FIG. 2 a representation similar to that of FIG. 1, but with a displacement element triggered by way of example due to a change of the physical state of the blocking element which is on the right side in the Figure;

[0049] FIG. 2a a representation similar to that of FIG. 2, but with a displacement element triggered by way of example due to a change of the state of the blocking element which is on the left side in FIG. 2a;

[0050] FIG. 3 the second triggering stage in which the displacement element after having been released can be displaced by a spring arrangement not shown, so as to activate, for example, an optical state display, or to cause itself directly a change of such an optical state display, or else to operate or trigger a remote signaling means directly or indirectly, and

[0051] FIG. 3a the second triggering stage subsequently resulting from the physical change of state of the left-side blocking element shown in FIGS. 2a and 3a.

[0052] As a preliminary point, the attention is drawn to the fact that in the figurative representations used for the exemplary embodiment, the actual overvoltage arresters, which form an overvoltage protection device in their entirety, have been omitted just as the representation of housing parts or a total housing, or guiding elements for the displacement element and means for generating the spring force preload for the displacement element, or means for generating the mechanical preload for the blocking element shown in the middle in the Figures.

[0053] The illustrated quasi collective display in the exemplary embodiment for analyzing the state of, for example, three overvoltage arresters of an overvoltage protection device (not shown) takes three blocking elements 1, 2 and 3 as a basis.

[0054] Each blocking element is positioned such as to be capable of blocking paths of movement 4, 5 and 6 of a mechanically preloaded wedge slide 7; 8; 9.

[0055] If the blocking elements 1; 2; 3 are a pill of a low-melting solder material, for example, a physical change of state occurs along with reaching or exceeding the melting temperature. The corresponding pill changes its shape and may be displaced completely or in part by the wedge slides 7; 8; 9, which are under spring preload.

[0056] The mechanical preload for the wedge slides is generated by the spring elements 10 and 11, respectively, represented in a symbolic manner.

[0057] The corresponding wedge slides each dispose of a wedge bevel 12.

[0058] Moreover, a rocker lever arrangement is present which has first lever arms 13, 14, 15 corresponding to the number of the wedge slides 7, 8, 9.

[0059] Opposite the lever arms 13, 14, 15, at least one second lever arm 16 is located serving to block or release a displacement element 17.

[0060] The rocker lever arrangement comprises a central axle beam 18 having an axis of rotation 19.

[0061] The ends of the first lever arms 13, 14, 15 that are remote from the axis of rotation 19 of the rocker lever arrangement each have a surface 20 for contacting the respective wedge bevel 12 of the corresponding wedge slides 7, 8, 9.

[0062] This contacting is performed in such a way that, when the path of movement 4 according to FIG. 2 is released, the wedge slide 7 lifts the first lever arm 15 while utilizing the force of the spring 11 and the wedge bevel 12.

[0063] As a result, the second lever arm 16 descends.

[0064] A latching hook 160 exits a recess 170 in the displacement element 17. Depending on the force of a spring preload acting upon the displacement element 17, this element can now make a movement such as symbolized in FIGS. 3 and 3a by the arrow representation.

[0065] It becomes obvious from the comparison of FIGS. 2 and 2a that the paths of movement 4 and 6 regarding the corresponding wedge slides 7 and 9 run in opposite directions.

[0066] For contacting also in this respect opposite directions of movement of the corresponding wedge slides, and different positions of the wedge bevels 12 resulting therefrom, the first lever arms 13, 14, 15 are angled, i.e. the lever arms have a contacting finger, wherein the end of the contacting finger pointing toward the wedge bevel has a convex rounding as can be seen from the Figures.

[0067] In relation to the configuration of the paths of movement, the wedge slides 7, 8, 9 are mounted to be displaceable in a relevant groove-like recess, which is likewise clear from the Figures.

[0068] It is understood that the blocking elements 1, 2 and 3 are in thermal contact with the respective not shown overvoltage arrester so as to change their physical state when the respective overvoltage arrester is correspondingly overloaded and they are correspondingly heated, and to release the corresponding path of movement and thus the possibility of moving for the corresponding wedge slide.

[0069] The relevant elements such as the wedge slide, the displacement element but also the rocker lever arrangement can be manufactured in a cost-efficient manner from plastic material by usual injection or pressing processes.

[0070] After the spring force-preloaded displacement element is released, it cannot only signalize a fault state visually but also serve to operate a micro switch directly or indirectly so as to realize in this respect a remote signaling of the fault state.