SPARK GAP ARRANGEMENT

Abstract

A spark gap arrangement with at least three electrodes and with at least two holding frames, which are arranged flat one on top of the other, wherein each of the holding frames has an edge that surrounds a recess for accommodating at least one electrode, wherein at least one receptacle opening is made in the edge of at least one holding frame, in which opening a control element is arranged, and wherein the holding frames are arranged offset relative to one another around their central axis perpendicular to the plane of the holding frame, in such a way that the receptacle opening of a first holding frame is located above an electrode which is accommodated in a second holding frame arranged underneath, so that the control element arranged in the receptacle opening of the first holding frame makes contact with the electrode accommodated in the second holding frame arranged underneath.

Claims

1. A spark gap arrangement, comprising: at least three electrodes and at least two holding frames which are arranged flat one on top of the other, wherein the holding frames in each case have an edge, which surrounds a recess for accommodating at least one electrode, wherein at least one receptacle opening is made in the edge of at least one holding frame, in which opening a control element is arranged, and wherein each holding frame is arranged offset relative to another holding frame around a central axis thereof, which is arranged perpendicular to a main plane of the holding frame, in such a way that the receptacle opening of a first of the holding frames is located above an electrode accommodated in a second of the holding frames arranged underneath the first of the holding frames, so that the control element arranged in the receptacle opening of the first of the holding frames makes contact with the electrode that is accommodated in the second of the holding frames.

2. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one receptacle opening is arranged close to a corner of the holding frames.

3. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the holding frames has a collar-shaped support section facing inward toward the central axis on which at least one electrode comes to rest.

4. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 3, wherein the holding frames have an outside contour and an inside contour, the inside contour deviating from that of a rectangle.

5. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 4, wherein two holding frames are arranged offset relative to one another at an angle α, characterized wherein the collar-shaped support section has an octagonal inside edge, wherein four inside angles δ.sub.1 have a value of 90°+α, and four inside angles δ.sub.2 have a value of 180°−α, and wherein the inside angles δ.sub.1 and δ.sub.2 alternate relative to one another.

6. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the holding frames are halted held the offset arrangement relative to one another.

7. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 6, wherein each of the holding frames has at least one holding element on at least one side, wherein two holding elements of two holding frames work together when the two holding frames are stacked one on top of the other.

8. The spark gap arrangement according to claim 1, wherein each of the electrodes is a rectangular, thin disk made of graphite or a tungsten-copper composite material.

9. The holding frame for a spark gap arrangement according to claim 1, having an edge, which surrounds a recess for accommodating at least one electrode, wherein at least one receptacle opening for accommodating a control element is located in the edge.

10. The holding frame according to claim 9, wherein the holding frame has a collar-shaped support section facing inward toward the central axis M.

11. The holding frame according to claim 10, wherein the holding frames have an outside contour and an inside contour, the inside contour of the holding frame deviating from that of a rectangle and wherein the collar-shaped support section has an octagonal inside edge, wherein four inside angles δ.sub.1 have a value of 90°+α, and four inside angles δ.sub.2 have a value of 180°−α, and wherein the inside angles δ.sub.1 and δ.sub.2 are arranged to alternate relative to one another.

12. The holding frame according to claim 9, wherein on at least one side, at least one holding element is provided to hold one of the holding frames to another of the holding frames.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a spark gap arrangement with four electrodes and three holding frames, in an exploded diagram,

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a holding frame, in top view,

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a sectional view of the holding frame according to FIG. 2,

[0030] FIG. 4 shows an enlarged detail of the holding frame as shown in FIG. 3,

[0031] FIG. 5 shows a sectional view of two holding frames with three accommodated electrodes,

[0032] FIG. 6 shows three holding frames that are arranged offset relative to one another,

[0033] FIG. 7 shows three holding frames that are arranged offset relative to one another, with an electrode inserted into the upper holding frame,

[0034] FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of four electrodes arranged in a stack arrangement with two control elements, and

[0035] FIG. 9 shows an enlarged detail of arrangement as shown in FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0036] The figures show a spark gap arrangement 1 or electrodes 2 and holding frames 3 for a spark gap arrangement 1, wherein each holding frame 3 can partially accommodate two electrodes 2. A spark gap arrangement 1 consists of at least three electrodes 2 and at least two holding frames 3 that accommodate the electrodes 2, wherein the holding frames 3 are arranged flat one on top of the other. Even if only three holding frames 3 are depicted in FIG. 1, the number of holding frames 3 and thus also the number of electrodes 2, which are part of the spark gap arrangement 1, is not limited thereto; rather, a spark gap arrangement 1 can also have considerably more electrodes 2 and thus also considerably more holding frames 3. In principle, a spark gap arrangement 1 can accommodate a total of n−1 electrodes 2 with n holding frames 3.

[0037] An exploded diagram of such a spark gap arrangement 1 is depicted in FIG. 1. The depicted spark gap arrangement consists of three holding frames 3, 3′, 3″ and four electrodes 2, of which, however, only three electrodes 2 are visible. In the central holding frame 3′, only the front electrode 2, which is arranged in the mounted state between the front holding frame 3 and the central holding frame 3′, is visible. The electrode that is arranged in the mounted state between the central holding frame 3′ and the rear holding frame 3″ is not visible. This electrode is also arranged in the central holding frame 3′, but in the depiction according to FIG. 1 is covered by the first, front electrode 2 that is arranged in the central holding frame 3′.

[0038] From the depiction of the spark gap arrangement 1 and also from the depiction of an individual holding frame 3 according to FIG. 2, it is evident that the holding frame 3 has an edge 4, which surrounds a recess 5 for accommodating an electrode 2. In the depicted embodiment, electrodes 2 are rectangular, in particular square, so that even the recess 5 that is surrounded by the edge 4 is rectangular or square. In the depicted embodiment, in addition, edge 4 of the holding frame 3 is completely circumferential. In principle, however, it is also possible that the edge has interruptions so that a more reliable accommodation of an electrode 2 is ensured.

[0039] In edge 4 of the holding frame 3, in each case a receptacle opening 6 is made, into which opening a control element 7, which can be in particular a capacitor, can be inserted. The control elements 7 of the spark gap arrangement 1 are used to control or trigger the individual spark gaps; to do this, a control element 7 is electrically connected in each case to an electrode 2.

[0040] In the spark gap arrangement 1 of the invention, the individual electrodes 2 are not brought into contact—as in the state of the art—on their narrow (edge) side, but rather on the face or the back side of the electrode 2, i.e., on the large surface of the electrode 2.

[0041] To this end, the individual holding frames 3 and, with them, the electrodes 2 arranged therein are arranged offset relative to one another around their central axis M arranged perpendicular to the plane of the holding frame 3 in such a way that the receptacle opening 6 of a first holding frame 3 is located above an electrode 2, which is accommodated in a second holding frame 3 arranged underneath. As a result, the control element 7 arranged in the receptacle opening 6 of the first holding frame 3 can make contact with the electrodes 2 accommodated in the second holding frame 3, arranged underneath. The spark gap arrangement 1 according to the invention thus has multiple holding frames 3 arranged one on top of the other, which in each case are arranged offset relative to one another around the central axis M, so that an offset-mounted stack of holding frames 3 is produced, which in each case accommodate two electrodes 2. As is evident in particular from FIG. 2, the receptacle opening 6 is arranged close to one corner of the holding frame 3, so that a control element 7 inserted in the receptacle opening 6 contacts the underlying electrodes 2 in the area of a corner as well.

[0042] It can also be seen from FIG. 2 that the holding frame 3 has a collar-shaped support section 8 facing inward toward the central axis M, on which in each case an electrode 2 rests on the two sides, when it is accommodated by the holding frame 3. In the direction of the central axis M, the electrodes 2 are thus held in their positions by, in particular, the support section 8. In addition to the function of positioning an electrode 2 in the holding frame 3, the support section 8 also assumes the function of the insulation film, otherwise commonly used in the stack spark gaps, between the individual electrodes 2. The thickness of the individual holding frame 3 as well as the thickness and the position of the support section 8 in the holding frame 3 determines in this case at which distance the individual electrodes 2 are arranged relative to one another in the mounted state.

[0043] In the depicted embodiment, the collar-shaped support section 8 is seen in the direction of the central axis M, arranged in the middle in the holding frame 3, as is evident in particular from the sectional view according to FIG. 3 and the enlarged detailed depiction according to FIG. 4. In this case, it is evident from the sectional view according to FIG. 5 that the distance between two electrodes 2 is determined by the thickness of the support section 8 of the holding frame 3. This sectional view also shows how three electrodes 2 are accommodated by two holding frames 3, 3′, wherein the central electrode 2 is arranged between the two holding frames 3, 3′ and is thus accommodated by two holding frames 3, 3′ together. In addition, it is evident from the depiction according to FIG. 5 that in each case, an electrode 2 rests on both sides of the collar-shaped support section 8 of a holding frame 3.

[0044] Even if the individual electrodes 2 have a rectangular, in particular square, shape and thus also the edge 4 of the holding frame 3, which surrounds an accommodated electrode 2 on the outside, has a square shape, both the outside contour and the inside contour of the holding frame 3 deviate from the shape of a rectangle. The outside contour of the holding frame 3 that deviates from a rectangle is used to make space available for the arrangement of the receptacle opening 6 for the control element 7. In the depicted embodiment, the holding frame 3 has, on all four sides, an outward-facing section 9 that rises in each case toward a respective corner, wherein only in two of these sections 9 is a receptacle opening 6 made in each case.

[0045] The inside contour of the holding frame 3 that deviates from the shape of a rectangle is characterized wherein the support section 8 has an inside edge 10 that is not rectangular. The collar-shaped support section 8 to this end has, on all four sides, an inward-projecting section 11 that rises in each case toward a corner. In this case, an outward-rising section 9 of the holding frame 3 and the inward-rising section 11 of the support section 8 are arranged offset relative to one another in such a way that the two sections 9, 11 of a side of the holding frame 3 do not face one another. In the top view of a holding frame 3 depicted in FIG. 2, the latter thus seems to consist of two, in each case square, holding frames arranged offset relative to one another at an angle.

[0046] The above-described configuration of the support section 8 ensures that the latter has an octagonal inside edge, wherein the eight inside angles are not all of the same size. Rather, the inside edge 10 has four smaller inside angles δ.sub.1 and four larger inside angles δ.sub.2, wherein the smaller inside angles δ.sub.1 and the larger inside angles δ.sub.2 are arranged to alternate relative to one another. The inside angle θ.sub.1 is 90°+α, and the inside angle θ.sub.2 is 180°−α, wherein the angle α corresponds to the offset angle of two holding frames 3 relative to one another. This angle α can lie in particular in the range between 5 and 10°, so that the first inside angle θ.sub.1 is between 95° and 100°, and the second inside angle θ.sub.2 is between 170° and 175°.

[0047] FIG. 6 shows by way of example three holding frames 3 arranged one on top of the other, which frames are arranged offset relative to one another around their central axis M. The offset angle α between the first holding frame 3 and the second holding frame arranged underneath is in this case 7.5°. FIG. 7 shows the same arrangement of three holding frames 3, wherein the individual holding frames 3 in each case accommodate two electrodes 2, which together form a spark gap. The electrode 2 arranged between the first holding frame 3 and the second holding frame 3′ is in this case visible through the receptacle opening 6 in the first, upper holding frame 3, so that a control element 7 that is inserted into the receptacle opening 6 can make contact with this electrode 2 on its face.

[0048] So that the individual holding frames 3 remain in their desirable arrangement offset relative to one another, the individual holding frames 3 are halted in their offset arrangements. To this end, in each case, a halting element 12 is made on the sides of the holding frame 3, which element works together with the corresponding halting element 12 of a second holding frame 3 when the two holding frames 3 are stacked one on top of the other. As is evident from the exploded diagram of the spark gap arrangement 1 according to FIG. 1, the mounting of an overvoltage protector with such a spark gap arrangement 1 is also very easy, since the individual components can be stacked in succession on one another. In this case, the mounting can be carried out in particular from one direction.

[0049] To make an electrical connection with the spark gap arrangement 1, moreover, two contact plates 13, 14 are also provided, wherein in this case, the contact plate 13 is provided for connecting a PE conductor, and the contact plate 14 is provided for connecting a neutral conductor. Moreover, depicted in FIG. 1 is a housing half shell 15, which forms a part of a housing that accommodates the spark gap arrangement 1. In this case, the dimensions of the housing half shell 15 are only slightly larger than the outside dimensions of the spark gap arrangement 1 or the individual holding frame 3, since no additional installation space is required for the control elements 7.

[0050] Making contact with individual electrodes 2 by control elements 7 is evident from the sectional view according to FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein in the two sectional views, only the electrodes 2 are depicted in their positions, offset relative to one another and preset by the holding frame 3, but not the holding frame 3 itself. The first electrode 21 arranged on the far right is brought into contact on one side of the contact plate 14, which in turn is connected to a connecting element 16 to make an electrical connection with a neutral conductor. Located on the other side of the first electrode 21 is the second electrode 22, which is separated from one another by the support section, arranged between two electrodes 21, 22, of the first holding frame, so that the two electrodes 21, 22 form a first spark gap. Accordingly, the second electrode 22 and the third electrode 23 arranged adjacent with some distance between them form a second spark gap, and the third electrode 23 and the fourth electrode 24 also arranged adjacent at a distance form a third spark gap of the spark gap arrangement 1. The side of the fourth electrode 24 facing away from the third electrode 23 is then connected to the contact plate 23, not depicted here, which is provided to make a connection with a PE conductor.

[0051] A busbar 17 is arranged nn the side of the contact plate 14 facing away from the first electrode 21, and is connected in an electrically-conductive manner to the contact plate 14, wherein the two ends 18, 19 of the busbar 16 in each case make contact with a first connector of a control element 7, 7′. The first control element 7 depicted above in FIG. 8 is arranged in a first opening 6 in the first holding frame 3. As a result, the second electrode 22, which is arranged offset relative to the first electrode 21 in the first holding frame 3, can be brought into contact on its face with its second connector, without touching the first electrode 21 with its second connector.

[0052] The second control element 7′ depicted in FIG. 8 at the bottom and in FIG. 9 is arranged in a second opening 6 in the first holding frame 3. This control element 7′ can thus be brought into contact on its face with its second connector to the third electrode 23, which is arranged in the second holding frame 3′, without the first electrode 21 and the second electrode 22 contacting its second connector. Since the two control elements 7, 7′ in each case are arranged in an opening 6 in the first holding frame 3, the necessary insulation intervals between the control elements 7, 7′ themselves as well as between the control elements 7, 7′ and the electrodes 21, 22 that are not brought into contact with them can also be maintained.

REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0053] 1 Spark gap arrangement [0054] 2 Electrodes [0055] 3 Holding frame [0056] 4 Edge [0057] 5 Recess [0058] 6 Receptacle opening [0059] 7 Control element [0060] 8 Support section [0061] 9 Section, outside [0062] 10 Inside edge [0063] 11 Section, inside [0064] 12 Halting element [0065] 13 Contact plate PE [0066] 14 Contact plate N [0067] 15 Housing half shell [0068] 16 Connecting element [0069] 17 Busbar [0070] 18, 19 Ends of the busbar [0071] M Central axis [0072] α Offset angle [0073] δ.sub.1 Inside angle [0074] δ.sub.2 Inside angle