Patent US3566201A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3566201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Discharge arc control means for a lightning arrester
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1969-03-03
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Granted: 1971-02-23
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Expires: 1989-03-03
Abstract
Abstract A surge voltage arrester having means for retarding the build up of appreciable current limiting voltage therein for a predetermined interval of time after sparkover of the arrester comprising, a current limiting spark gap assembly having an electromagnetic coil electrically connected in series with it and disposed adjacent to it for moving arcs within the assembly in a manner such that arc voltage is increased. The coil is shunted by a current limiting means and is provided with enough turns to give it a substantial inductance so that an overvoltage surge may be discharged through the assembly for a predetermined interval of time before the coil develops enough magnetic flux to move arcs within the assembly sufficiently to build up an appreciable current limiting arc voltage. Additionally, the highly inductive coil provides the arrester with a high inductive reactance such that at the moment of clearing the current is forced slowly to zero providing a ''''gentle'''' clearing so high induced voltages are not produced in inductive protected circuits.
Inventors
- 👤 Eugene C Sakshaug
- 👤 James S Kresge
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:49
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01T; H01T1/00; H01T1/02
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
204 words
In a lightning arrester of the type adapted to protect a high voltage electric power conductor from damage due to overvoltages surges, a housing of insulating material, first and second electrically conductive terminals mounted at spaced-apart points on said housing, a spark gap assembly and a nonlinear resistance valve mounted within said housing and electrically connected in series between said terminals, said spark gap assembly including at least one current limiting gap comprising a pair of horn gap electrodes mounted in an arc confining chamber, an electromagnetic coil disposed adjacent said at least one current limiting gap and adapted when adequately energized to produce magnetic flux for moving an arc formed between the pair of horn gap electrodes along the arc-running surfaces of these electrodes, said coil having an inductive reactance large enough to effectively prevent for a predetermined interval of time after sparkover of the current limiting gap energization of the coil adequate to move an arc along said arc running surfaces, whereby said current limiting gap is prevented from building up a substantial voltage for said predetermined interval, said predetermined interval of time being long enough to allow substantially all of an overvoltage surge discharged through said arrester to bypass the coil.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
204 words
In a lightning arrester of the type adapted to protect a high voltage electric power conductor from damage due to overvoltages surges, a housing of insulating material, first and second electrically conductive terminals mounted at spaced-apart points on said housing, a spark gap assembly and a nonlinear resistance valve mounted within said housing and electrically connected in series between said terminals, said spark gap assembly including at least one current limiting gap comprising a pair of horn gap electrodes mounted in an arc confining chamber, an electromagnetic coil disposed adjacent said at least one current limiting gap and adapted when adequately energized to produce magnetic flux for moving an arc formed between the pair of horn gap electrodes along the arc-running surfaces of these electrodes, said coil having an inductive reactance large enough to effectively prevent for a predetermined interval of time after sparkover of the current limiting gap energization of the coil adequate to move an arc along said arc running surfaces, whereby said current limiting gap is prevented from building up a substantial voltage for said predetermined interval, said predetermined interval of time being long enough to allow substantially all of an overvoltage surge discharged through said arrester to bypass the coil.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
117 words
In combination, a current limiting spark gap, an electrically conductive coil disposed adjacent said spark gap and adapted when adequately energized to provide magnetic flux for moving an arc in a predetermined direction in said spark gap, said coil being operative to prevent its energization sufficiently to move an arc in said spark gap for a predetermined interval of time after sparkover of said spark gap and being further operative to afford adequate energization thereof after said predetermined interval to develop a magnetic flux that moves an arc rapidly in said predetermined direction, said predetermined interval of time being long enough to allow substantially all of an overvoltage surge discharged through said arrester to bypass the coil.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
117 words
In combination, a current limiting spark gap, an electrically conductive coil disposed adjacent said spark gap and adapted when adequately energized to provide magnetic flux for moving an arc in a predetermined direction in said spark gap, said coil being operative to prevent its energization sufficiently to move an arc in said spark gap for a predetermined interval of time after sparkover of said spark gap and being further operative to afford adequate energization thereof after said predetermined interval to develop a magnetic flux that moves an arc rapidly in said predetermined direction, said predetermined interval of time being long enough to allow substantially all of an overvoltage surge discharged through said arrester to bypass the coil.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
The combination defined in claim 2 including means for regulating the energization of said coil comprising nonlinear resistance means shunting said coil in combination with a predetermined number of turns of said coil adapted to provide an inductive reactance substantially greater than the impedance of said nonlinear resistance means during said predetermined interval of time.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination defined in claim 3 wherein the inductance of said predetermined number of turns is greater than 15 millihenries.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The combination defined in claim 3 wherein the inductance of said predetermined number of turns is in the range between 20 to 30 millihenries, inclusive.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The combination defined in claim 2 including a nonlinear resistance valve shunt connected across said coil, said valve being adapted to afford a low-resistance path to high surge voltages and a high-resistance path to lower voltages.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said nonlinear resistance means comprises a voltage-building spark gap.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The combination defined in claim 3 wherein said nonlinear resistance means comprIses at least one block of nonlinear valve material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a lightning arrester having at least one current limiting spark gap electrically connected in series with a nonlinear resistance valve the improvement comprising a high inductance coil shunted by coil-current control means, said coil-current control means being operable to bypass substantially all of the discharge current of an overvoltage surge grounded by the arrester around said coil and being further operable to pass all power follow current through said coil after the surge current has been discharge to ground, said arrester cm comprising a pair of terminals respectively mounted adjacent opposite ends thereof, and circuit means connected to form a series circuit between said terminals and said shunted coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a lightning arrester having at least one current limiting spark gap electrically connected in series with a nonlinear resistance valve the improvement comprising a high inductance coil shunted by coil-current control means, said coil-current control means being operable to bypass substantially all of the discharge current of an overvoltage surge grounded by the arrester around said coil and being further operable to pass all power follow current through said coil after the surge current has been discharge to ground, said arrester cm comprising a pair of terminals respectively mounted adjacent opposite ends thereof, and circuit means connected to form a series circuit between said terminals and said shunted coil.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a lightning arrester having a plurality of main spark gaps electrically connected in series with a nonlinear resistance valve between a line terminal and a ground terminal on said arrester, the improvement comprising a high inductance coil, a current limiting spark gap shunt connected across said coil and series connected with said main spark gaps, the inductance of said coil being high enough to prevent a sudden change in arrester discharge current when the current limiting spark gap clears causing all current through the arrester to pass through said coil, whereby the arrester clears gently without developing a high voltage peak on its line terminal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
106 words
In a lightning arrester having a plurality of main spark gaps electrically connected in series with a nonlinear resistance valve between a line terminal and a ground terminal on said arrester, the improvement comprising a high inductance coil, a current limiting spark gap shunt connected across said coil and series connected with said main spark gaps, the inductance of said coil being high enough to prevent a sudden change in arrester discharge current when the current limiting spark gap clears causing all current through the arrester to pass through said coil, whereby the arrester clears gently without developing a high voltage peak on its line terminal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-02-22 | 1974-08-24 | 1975-02-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-02-22 | 1978-08-24 | 1979-02-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-02-22 | 1982-08-24 | 1983-02-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |