US3723819A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Low voltage secondary lightning arrester sparkgap assembly
Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1970-11-09
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Granted: 1973-03-27
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Expires: 1990-11-09
Abstract
Abstract A sparkgap assembly for a low voltage lightning arrester is formed by mounting a disc-shaped electrode in spaced-apart relation with a cup-shaped electrode with a block of insulating material between the two electrodes. The block of insulating material serves as a preionizer to ionize the sparkgap between the electrodes when a surge voltage is applied to the arrester. The block of material is also characterized by incorporating baffle means that operate to prevent arc-generated contaminants, such as particles of electrode metal, from being deposited on preselected, shielded portions of it. By thus maintaining portions of the resistance path disposed between the two electrodes free of electrically conducting contaminants, the sparkover level of the arrester is preserved during and after successive arc discharge operations and the noise generating capability of the assembly is reduced.
Inventors
- 👤 F Charewicz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:35
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01T; H01T4/00; H01T4/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
151 words
A surge voltage arrester sparkgap assembly comprising a first electrically conductive electrode having a generally disc-shaped central portion, a second electrically conductive electrode, a first block of insulating material, mounting means for mounting said first and second electrodes in fixed predetermined positions with respect to said block of insulating material thereby to form a sparkgap between said electrodes, baffle means mounted between the disc-shaped central portion of the first electrode and the second electrode, said baffle means being effective when in operating position between the first and second electrodes to intercept arc-generated particles thrown from said electrodes during a discharge operation thereof, thereby to shield portions of the area between said electrodes and prevent such particles from being deposited thereon, whereby the electrical resistance of said portions of the area between said electrodes is maintained at a substantially constant value during and after successive arc discharge operations of the sparkgap assembly.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
151 words
A surge voltage arrester sparkgap assembly comprising a first electrically conductive electrode having a generally disc-shaped central portion, a second electrically conductive electrode, a first block of insulating material, mounting means for mounting said first and second electrodes in fixed predetermined positions with respect to said block of insulating material thereby to form a sparkgap between said electrodes, baffle means mounted between the disc-shaped central portion of the first electrode and the second electrode, said baffle means being effective when in operating position between the first and second electrodes to intercept arc-generated particles thrown from said electrodes during a discharge operation thereof, thereby to shield portions of the area between said electrodes and prevent such particles from being deposited thereon, whereby the electrical resistance of said portions of the area between said electrodes is maintained at a substantially constant value during and after successive arc discharge operations of the sparkgap assembly.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
103 words
An invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said baffle means comprises a second block of insulating material that is adapted to ionize the sparkgap between said electrodes when a predetermined voltage exists across the electrodes, said second block of insulating material having first and second surfaces, the first surface of said second block comprising a shield on which at least some of said arc-generated particles are deposited, said second surface of said second block of insulating material comprising at least one of said portions of the area between said electrodes the electrical resistance of which is maintained at a substantially constant value.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
An invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said baffle means comprises a plurality of blocks of insulating material mounted adjacent one another, each of said blocks of insulating material having first and second surfaces that afford the same functions respectively as the first and second surfaces of said second block of insulating material.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
An invention as defined in claim 3 wherein each block of said plurality of blocks is substantially identical in configuration to said second block of insulating material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
An invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said second electrode has a generally cup-shaped surface, said second block of insulating material being adapted to nest within the space defined by said cup-shaped surface, said first surface of the second block of insulating material being disposed generally parallel to the walls of said cup-shaped surface, and said second surface of the second block of insulating material being disposed generally parallel to the bottom of said cup-shaped surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
61 words
An invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said second block of insulating material is generally disc-shaped, said first surface thereof comprising the peripheral surface of said disc shape, said second surface being generally frusto-conical with its large diameter end adjacent said peripheral surface and spaced closer to the bottom of said cup-shaped second electrode than is its small diameter end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
An invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said baffle means also comprises at least one plate member mounted within said cup-shaped surFace between the first electrode and the first block of insulating material, said plate member being spaced away from both said first electrode and said first block of insulating material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
60 words
An invention as defined in claim 7 including a plurality of additional plate members mounted in spaced-apart relationship between said at least one plate member and said first block of insulating material, at least some of said plate members being formed of insulating material, thereby to afford a plurality of insulating surfaces that are shielded from contamination by arc-generated particles.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
77 words
An invention as defined in claim 5 wherein said second block of insulating material is generally disc-shaped, said first surface thereof comprising the peripheral surface of said disc shape, said second surface being corrugated and lying in a plane generally perpendicular to the axis of said disc-shaped second block of insulating material, whereby at least portions of said second surface are spaced away from the bottom of said cup-shaped second electrode and are shielded from arc-generated particles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
An invention as defined in claim 9 including means for spacing all of said second surface away from said second electrode.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
An invention as defined in claim 2 wherein said sparkgap assembly is encapsulated in an epoxy resin housing, and including a pair of rigid pointed electrical connectors that are driven through the housing into electrical contact respectively with said first and second electrodes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
An invention as defined in claim 11 including means for sealing the openings around said pointed electrical connectors, thereby to make said sparkgap assembly essentially water-tight.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
An invention as defined in claim 4 wherein at least two of the blocks in said plurality of blocks differ from one another in configuration.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-03-26 | 1976-09-25 | 1977-03-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-03-26 | 1980-09-25 | 1981-03-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-03-26 | 1984-09-25 | 1985-03-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |