Overcurrent protection device for surge arresters

Abstract

This device consists of a housing (1) made of electrically insulating material, in which a fuse (6) is provided with at least one main fuse wire (7) located in its cavity. The main fuse wire (7) is electrically conductively connected at one end to at least one connecting pin (2) which is led out of the housing (1) and at the other end it is electrically conductively connected to at least one terminal (3) located in at least one cavity (4) formed in the housing (1). The shape of the connecting pin (2) is adapted for connection to the protected device.

Claims

1-8. (canceled)

9. An overcurrent protection device, comprising: a housing made of electrically insulating material; and a fuse provided within the housing, the fuse having at least one main fuse wire located in a cavity of the fuse, wherein the main fuse wire is electrically conductively connected at one end to at least one connecting pin which is led out of the housing and at the other end is electrically conductively connected to at least one terminal located in at least a second cavity formed in the housing, wherein further the connecting pin is shaped for connection to a protected device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the other cavity is outside the cavity of the fuse.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein a protected device is a surge arrester.

12. The device of claim 9, further comprising: at least one signal fuse wire connected in parallel to the main fuse wire.

13. The device of claim 12, further comprising: an inspection opening provided on the housing; a slider disposed under the opening, the slider having a marked display area and being slidably arranged along an inner surface of the housing; and a lever made of electrically conductive material placed in the housing wherein the lever: at one end is electrically conductively anchored to a lead of the terminal, rotatably in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fuse and simultaneously electrically conductively connected to the signal fuse wire; and at another end forms a stop for the slider.

14. The device of claim 13, further comprising: a spring element in contact with the slider at an end of the slider that is distal from the lever.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the spring element is formed by a compression spring, one end of which rests on the housing and the other on the slider.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the spring element is formed by a lever made of a resiliently hard electrically conductive material.

17. The device of claim 9, further comprising: a switch; a control system; and a connector electrically connected to the switch for providing connection to the control system.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the switch is proximal to the one end of the lever.

19. The device of claim 17, wherein the switch is proximal to the slider.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] An example of an overcurrent protection device, particularly for the protection of surge arresters according to the present solution, is shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0024] FIG. 1 schematically shows the device at rest.

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a view of the device in the state after the interruption of the main and signal wires, when the indication area is visible in the inspection opening and the switch is closed.

[0026] One possible embodiment of the terminal is shown in FIG. 3.

[0027] Another embodiment of the terminal in the so-called screwless version is shown in FIG. 4.

[0028] FIG. 5 is a view of the device housing from the pin side, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the terminal.

EXAMPLES OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENTS

[0029] An example of an overcurrent protection device in a modular design, particularly for the protection of surge arresters, is shown schematically in longitudinal section in FIG. 1. The device consists of a fuse 6, in this example with one main fuse wire 7 and one signal fuse wire 8 placed in parallel with it. The main fuse wire 7 is electrically conductively connected at one end to an electrically conductive pin 2 which is led out of the housing 1 and at the other end it is electrically conductively connected in this example to one terminal 3 located in the cavity 4 provided in the housing 1. The shape of the connecting pin 2 is adapted for connection to the protected device. In the exemplary embodiment, a signal fuse wire 8 is arranged in parallel with the main fuse wire 7, which is also electrically conductively connected to the pin 2 at one end, while its other end is electrically conductively connected to the terminal 3 via a lever 9. The lever 9 made of electrically conductive material is rotatably anchored at one end in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fuse 6 to the lead 3c of the terminal 3. The other end of the lever 9, depending on the condition of the signal fuse wire 8, forms a stop for the slider 10, which is in contact with a spring element realized, for example, by a compression spring 12. The spring element can also be formed in another way, for example directly by a lever 9 made of a resiliently hard electrically conductive material. The slider 10, usually made of electrically insulating material, has an indication area 11 formed at a suitable location, for example by a different surface colour.

[0030] An inspection opening 5 is provided in the housing 1, in which the slider 10 is visible, both in the position signalling the functional operational status of the device and in the position signalling the non-functional operational status of the device, as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows a situation where, after the main fuse wire 7 is interrupted, the signal fuse 8 is interrupted, releasing the lever 9 from its position and moving the slider 10 under the force of the spring element, and an indication area 11 appears in the inspection opening 5, indicating non-functional status of the device.

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment with a terminal 3 consisting of a clamp 3a of the terminal, a screw 3b and a lead 3c.

[0032] Another advantageous embodiment with terminal 3 in the so-called screwless version is demonstrated in FIG. 4.

[0033] A view of the device with pins 2 formed by three flat strips, one of which is fork-shaped, is shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, this advantageous embodiment allows easy connection to a protected surge arrester.

[0034] It is also conceivable that the pins 2 will be shaped for connection to various protected devices.

[0035] For remote monitoring of the operational status of the device, a switch 13 connected to the connector 14 is located in the housing 1, thus enabling connection to the control system. At the same time, the slider 10 causes the status of the contacts of the switch 13 to change after the position has been changed, thus enabling continuous monitoring and signalling of the non-functional status of the fuse. In a preferred embodiment, the signalling lever 9 acts directly on the switch 13.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

[0036] The above-mentioned overcurrent protection device in modular design can be used in industrial and domestic installations to protect electrical equipment, especially surge arresters, against low fault current, overcurrent and short-circuit current with significant savings in investment costs.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0037] 1. Housing [0038] 2. Connecting pin [0039] 3. Terminal: 3a—Clamp of the terminal; 3b—Screw; 3c Lead [0040] 4. Cavity [0041] 5. Inspection opening [0042] 6. Fuse [0043] 7. Main fuse wire [0044] 8. Signal fuse wire [0045] 9. Lever [0046] 10. Slider [0047] 11. Indication area [0048] 12. Spring [0049] 13. Switch [0050] 14. Connector