Patent US3818271A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3818271A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Line connector for a communications circuit
Assignee: Reliable Electric Co
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Filing: 1973-03-09
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Granted: 1974-06-18
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Expires: 1993-03-09
Abstract
Abstract A line protector for a communications circuit comprises a module containing a pair of carbon blocks that provide an air gap in a shunt circuit for grounding high voltage transients. In an overcurrent condition in that shunt circuit, a solder element melts causing contacts in an overcurrent shunt circuit to engage and ground the line. The protector also has an overcurrent responsive mechanism comprising a heat coil for melting the solder element. The heat coil is wound on a bobbin that constitutes one of the contacts in the overcurrent shunt circuit. The bobbin is telescoped with a pin that abuts a cap that engages one of the carbon blocks. The solder element secures the bobbin contact against movement relative to the pin except upon melting of the solder element.
Inventors
- 👤 B Baumbach
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 20:19
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01T; H01T1/00; H01T1/14; H01H; H01H85/00; H01H85/02; H01H85/44
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A line protector for a communications circuit, said protector having line terminals and a line circuit connected therebetween, a ground terminal, a first normally open shunt circuit from said line circuit to said ground terminal, said first shunt circuit having contacts, spring means biasing said contacts toward each other, a solder element normally maintaining said contacts apart in opposition to said spring means, and a second shunt circuit from said line circuit to ground, said second shunt circuit including blocks forming an arc gap, said solder element being in series with said blocks, whereby an overvoltage of short duration in said second shunt circuit produces an arc at said gap without melting of said solder element and an overvoltage condition of longer duration also produces said arc and causes said solder element to melt and close said contacts, said line circuit including means responsive to an overcurrent condition therein and in close proximity to said solder element for melting said solder element, whereby an overcurrent condition in either said line circuit or said second shunt circuit closes said first shunt circuit, said last-mentioned means further including telescoping members, and said solder element being between said telescoping members and restraining relative movement between said telescoping members except upon melting of said solder element.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A line protector for a communications circuit, said protector having line terminals and a line circuit connected therebetween, a ground terminal, a first normally open shunt circuit from said line circuit to said ground terminal, said first shunt circuit having contacts, spring means biasing said contacts toward each other, a solder element normally maintaining said contacts apart in opposition to said spring means, and a second shunt circuit from said line circuit to ground, said second shunt circuit including blocks forming an arc gap, said solder element being in series with said blocks, whereby an overvoltage of short duration in said second shunt circuit produces an arc at said gap without melting of said solder element and an overvoltage condition of longer duration also produces said arc and causes said solder element to melt and close said contacts, said line circuit including means responsive to an overcurrent condition therein and in close proximity to said solder element for melting said solder element, whereby an overcurrent condition in either said line circuit or said second shunt circuit closes said first shunt circuit, said last-mentioned means further including telescoping members, and said solder element being between said telescoping members and restraining relative movement between said telescoping members except upon melting of said solder element.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
A line protector according to claim 1 in which said last-mentioned means also comprises a coil of wire in series with the line terminals for generating heat in response to said overcurrent condition through said line terminal, and one of said telescoping members is a metallic member around which the coil is wrapped for transmitting heat to the solder element.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A line protector according to claim 2 in which another of said telescoping members is in electrical contact with one of said blocks forming said arc gap.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A line protector according to claim 2 in which said one telescoping member also comprises one of said contacts in said first shunt circuit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
51 words
A line protector according to claim 4 in which another of said contacts in the first shunt circuit comprises a cup that receives said blocks, said cup having an open end that is in-turned to provide a region of engagement with said one telescoping member when first shunt circuit is closed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A line protector according to claim 1 in which one of said telescoping members is a pin, another of said telescoping members has a bore that receives said pin, and said solder element is in said bore.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A line protector according to claim 3 In which said one telescoping member has a bore, said other telescoping member is in said bore, and said solder element is in said bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a line protector for a communications circuit that includes contacts, a solder element normally maintaining said contacts spaced apart, spring means urging said contacts together in opposition to said solder element, one of said contacts comprising a metallic member, a coil of wire wrapped around said metallic member for generating heat to melt said solder element in a line overcurrent condition, an insulating member on said metallic member, and conductive means on said insulating member, said coil being in series with said metallic member and said conductive means; an improvement including an additional metallic member in relative sliding engagement with said first-mentioned metallic member, said solder element bonding the two members in rigid assembled relationship and normally preventing movement of the first-mentioned member relative to said additional member but permitting such movement upon melting of said solder element, thereby to cause the first-mentioned member to engage the other contact.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
150 words
In a line protector for a communications circuit that includes contacts, a solder element normally maintaining said contacts spaced apart, spring means urging said contacts together in opposition to said solder element, one of said contacts comprising a metallic member, a coil of wire wrapped around said metallic member for generating heat to melt said solder element in a line overcurrent condition, an insulating member on said metallic member, and conductive means on said insulating member, said coil being in series with said metallic member and said conductive means; an improvement including an additional metallic member in relative sliding engagement with said first-mentioned metallic member, said solder element bonding the two members in rigid assembled relationship and normally preventing movement of the first-mentioned member relative to said additional member but permitting such movement upon melting of said solder element, thereby to cause the first-mentioned member to engage the other contact.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
In a line protector according to claim 8, said first-mentioned member having a bore, said additional member being in said bore, and said solder element also being in said bore.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a line protector that has terminals for connection to a line; an overcurrent responsive mechanism in series with the line terminals, said mechanism including a contact, means forming a second contact, and a terminal connected to said second contact and adapted for connection to ground, said mechanism including fusible means normally maintaining said contacts separated but operable to close said contacts upon there being an overcurrent condition of predetermined magnitude flowing between said line terminals, said mechanism further having a member in relative sliding engagement with the means forming said second contact, said fusible means being between said member and said second contact-forming means and preventing movement of said second contact-forming means relative to said member except upon occurrence of said overcurrent condition.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
124 words
In a line protector that has terminals for connection to a line; an overcurrent responsive mechanism in series with the line terminals, said mechanism including a contact, means forming a second contact, and a terminal connected to said second contact and adapted for connection to ground, said mechanism including fusible means normally maintaining said contacts separated but operable to close said contacts upon there being an overcurrent condition of predetermined magnitude flowing between said line terminals, said mechanism further having a member in relative sliding engagement with the means forming said second contact, said fusible means being between said member and said second contact-forming means and preventing movement of said second contact-forming means relative to said member except upon occurrence of said overcurrent condition.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3743888A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-17 | 1977-12-17 | 1978-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-17 | 1981-12-17 | 1982-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-17 | 1985-12-17 | 1986-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |