Arc-over protective device

Claim 2

An electron tube socket comprising, in combination, terminal means for contacting terminal pins of an associated electron tube, electrically conductive means coupled to said terminal means, said conductive means having at least one arc gap assembly providing an variable electrical impedance including first means across which arcing may be initiated, and second means for dissipating the energy resulting from said arcing.

Claim 3

An electron tube socket as in claim 1 wherein said second means includes a graduated electrical spacing for dissipating the energy resulting from said arcing.

Claim 4

An electron tube socket as in claim 1 wherein said second means comprises angled means providing a graduated electrical spacing between said portions whereby an ignition arc gap initiated across said spacing and the energy resulted from said arcing can be dispersed and dissipated across said graduated electrical spacing.

Claim 5

An electron tube socket as in claim 1 wherein said arc gap assembly is defined Between sheared edges of said conductive means to thereby provide an accentuated edge, for initiating an arcing, and an angled surface for providing a graduated electrical spacing.

Claim 6

An electron tube socket comprising, terminal means for contacting terminal pins of an associated electron tube, electrically conductive means coupled to said terminal means, said conductive means providing an arc gap assembly for dissipating high voltage energy comprising an electrical path interruption in said conductive means, said electrical path interruption formed with electrically spaced end portions, one edge of one of said end portions being positioned to form the narrowest spacing between said end portions, a surface adjacent said edge being positioned to provide a gradually increased space such that an arcing current initiated across said edge gradually disperses across said spacing to thereby dissipate the arcing currents.

Claim 7

An electron tube socket comprising, terminal means for contacting terminal pins of an associated electron tube, electrically conductive means coupled to said terminal means, said conductive means providing an arc gap assembly for dissipating high voltage energy comprising an electrical path interruption in said conductive means, said electrical path interruption formed with electrically spaced end portions, one edge of one of said end portions being positioned to form the narrowest spacing between said end portions, a surface adjacent said edge being positioned to provide a gradually increased space such that an arcing current initiated across said edge gradually disperses across said spacing to thereby dissipate the arcing currents.

Claim 8

An electron tube socket comprising, terminal means for contacting terminal pins of an associated electron tube, Electrically conductive means coupled to said terminal means, said conductive means providing an arc gap assembly for dissipating high voltage energy comprising an electrical path interruption in said conductive means, said electrical path interruption formed with electrically spaced end portions, one edge of one of said end portions being positioned to form the narrowest spacing between said end portions, said electrical path interruption comprising an elongated member sheared at a selected point with the sheared portions being angled relative to one another.

Claim 9

An electron tube socket comprising, terminal means for contacting terminal pins of an associated electron tube, Electrically conductive means coupled to said terminal means, said conductive means providing an arc gap assembly for dissipating high voltage energy comprising an electrical path interruption in said conductive means, said electrical path interruption formed with electrically spaced end portions, one edge of one of said end portions being positioned to form the narrowest spacing between said end portions, said electrical path interruption comprising an elongated member sheared at a selected point with the sheared portions being angled relative to one another.

Claim 10

An electron tube socket comprising, terminal means for contacting terminal pins of an associated electron tube, electrical conductive means coupled to said terminal means, said conductive means providing an arc gap assembly for dissipating high voltage energy comprising an electrical path interruption in said conductive means, said electrical path interruption formed with electrically spaced end portions, one edge of one of said end portions being positioned to form the narrowest spacing between said end portions, said electrical path interruption comprising an elongated member sheared at a selected point and portions thereof adjacent said shear being bent relative to the plane of said member.

Claim 11

An electron tube socket comprising, terminal means for contacting terminal pins of an associated electron tube, electrical conductive means coupled to said terminal means, said conductive means providing an arc gap assembly for dissipating high voltage energy comprising an electrical path interruption in said conductive means, said electrical path interruption formed with electrically spaced end portions, one edge of one of said end portions being positioned to form the narrowest spacing between said end portions, said electrical path interruption comprising an elongated member sheared at a selected point and portions thereof adjacent said shear being bent relative to the plane of said member.

Claim 12

An electron tube socket comprising terminal means for contacting terminal pins of an associated electron tube, electrically conductive means coupled to said terminal means, said conductive means providing an arc gap assembly for dissipating high voltage energy comprising an electrical path interruption in said conductive means, said electrical path interruption formed with electrically spaced end portions, one edge of one of said end portions being positioned to form the narrowest spacing between said end portions, said electrical path interruption comprising an elongated member cut at a selected point and with the portions thereof adjacent said cut being bent relative to one another for forming a first means for initiating an arc and a second graduated electrical spacing for dissipating the energy resulting from said arcing.

Claim 13

An electron tube socket comprising terminal means for contacting terminal pins of an associated electron tube, electrically conductive means coupled to said terminal means, said conductive means providing an arc gap assembly for dissipating high voltage energy comprising an electrical path interruption in said conductive means, said electrical path interruption formed with electrically spaced end portions, one edge of one of said end portions being positioned to form the narrowest spacing between said end portions, said electrical path interruption comprising an elongated member cut at a selected point and with the portions thereof adjacent said cut being bent relative to one another for forming a first means for initiating an arc and a second graduated electrical spacing for dissipating the energy resulting from said arcing.

Claim 14

An electron tube socket as in claim 8, wherein said portions are bent in opposite direction relative to the plane of said member whereby edges of the opposed surfaces of said cut portions are positioned adjacent each other, and wherein a pair of graduated electrical spacing are formed between the edge of one member and the surface of the other member.

Claim 15

An electron tube socket comprising terminal receiving means for coupling to terminal pins of an electron tube, and electrically conductive means coupled to said terminal receiving means having a variable impedance arc gap assembly including arc initiating means across which arcing is initiated and dissipating means across which the energy resulting from said arcing is dissipated, said arc initiating means and sAid dissipating means being positioned within an open arc chamber to vent gases formed during an arcing event to prevent premature arc extinguishing.

Claim 16

An electron tube socket comprising terminal receiving means for coupling to terminal pins of an electron tube, and electrically conductive means coupled to said terminal receiving means having a variable impedance arc gap assembly including arc initiating means across which arcing is initiated and dissipating means across which the energy resulting from said arcing is dissipated, said arc initiating means and sAid dissipating means being positioned within an open arc chamber to vent gases formed during an arcing event to prevent premature arc extinguishing.

Claim 17

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said dissipating means across which the energy resulting from said arcing is dissipated includes a graduated electrical spacing.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said graduated electrical spacing comprises a variable spaced air dielectric formed between an accentuated edge of said conductive means and an angled surface thereof.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said arc initiating means across which arcing is initiated comprises spaced end portions of said electrically conductive means wherein one edge of one end of said end portions is positioned to form the narrowest spacing between said end portions.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said dissipating means across which the arc energy is dissipated comprises a graduated electrical spacing formed between one edge of one end of said end portions and an angled surface of the other of said end portion.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said arc initiating means and said dissipating means comprise an elongated member sheared at a selected point with the sheared portions being angled relative to one another.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said arc initiating means and said dissipating means comprise an elongated member sheared at a selected point and portions thereof adjacent said shear being bent relative to the plane of said member.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said arc initiating means and said dissipating means comprise an elongated member cut at a selected point and with the portions thereof adjacent said cut being bent relative to one another for forming said arc initiating means for initiating an arc and said dissipating means having a graduated electrical spacing for dissipating the energy resulting from said arcing.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said portions are bent in opposite directions relative to the plane of said member whereby edges of the opposed surfaces of said cut portions are positioned adjacent each other, and wherein a pair of graduated electrical spacings are formed between the edge of one member and the surface of the other member.