Line protector

Claim 2

A mounting for a gas tube having three electrodes which are electrically insulated from each other and wherein there is an arc gap within the tube between each of first and second electrodes and a third electrode, said mounting including three terminals electrically insulated from each other, means for removably supporting said gas tube with said three electrodes in electrical contact with each of said terminals respectively, contactor means, resilient means urging said contactor means from a normal location out of electrical contact with the terminals associated with said first and second electrodes to a location of electrical contact with said three terminals, and mechanism preventing said electrical contact of the contactor means with said terminals associated with said first and second electrodes except upon overheating of said gas tube; said mechanism comprising meltable means in the form of a film for heat reception from said gas tube, and cooperating relatively slidable parts rigidly held in fixed positions by said meltable means between said cooperating parts except upon said overheating but relatively slidable upon melting of said meltable means due to said overheating, said parts being repositionable upon solidification of said meltable means and without replacement thereof to reset said contactor means in its normal location, and at least one of said parts being in force-transmitting engagement with said resilient means and imposing a shear force on said meltable means.

Claim 3

A mounting for a gas tube having three electrodes which are electrically insulated from each other and wherein there is an arc gap within the tube between each of first and second electrodes and a third electrode, said mounting including three terminals electrically insulated from each other, means for removably supporting said gas tube with said three electrodes in electrical contact with each of said terminals respectively, contactor means, resilient means urging said contactor means from a normal location out of electrical contact with the terminals associated with said first and second electrodes to a location of electrical contact with said three terminals, and mechanism preventing said electrical contact of the contactor means with said terminals associated with said first and second electrodes except upon overheating of said gas tube; said mechanism comprising meltable means for heat reception from said gas tube, and cooperating parts rigidly held in relative positions by said meltable means except upon said overheating but relatively movable to other relative positions upon melting of said meltable means due to said overheating, said parts being repositionable upon solidification of said meltable means to reset said contactor means in its normal location. One of said cooperating parts being telescoped within another of said cooperating parts, said meltable means being radially interposed between those last-mentioned parts, and said resilient means imposing a shear force on said meltable means.

Claim 4

A mounting for a gas tube having three electrodes which are electrically insulated from each other and wherein there is an arc gap within the tube between each of first and second electrodes and a third electrode, said mounting including three terminals electrically insulated from each other, means for removably supporting said gas tube with said three electrodes in electrical contact with each of said terminals respectively, contactor means, resilient means urging said contactor means from a normal location out of electrical contact with the terminals associated with said first and second electrodes to a location of electrical contact with said three terminals, and mechanism preventing said electrical contact of the contactor means with said terminals associated with said first and second electrodes except upon overheating of said gas tube; said mechanism comprising meltable means for heat reception from said gas tube, and cooperating parts rigidly held in relative positions by said meltable means except upon said overheating but relatively movable to other relative positions upon melting of said meltable means due to said overheating, said parts being repositionable upon solidification of said meltable means to reset said contactor means in its normal location. One of said cooperating parts being telescoped within another of said cooperating parts, said meltable means being radially interposed between those last-mentioned parts, and said resilient means imposing a shear force on said meltable means.

Claim 5

A mounting according to claim 2 in which said one part is movable axially within the other part, upon said melting, an amount such that said parts are repositionable, upon said solidification, by removal of said parts as a unit from said mounting and reinstallation of the unit in a position that is inverted from its previous position.

Claim 6

A mounting according to claim 3 further having a pin mounted on said contact means and engaging the inner of the telescoping parts to push the same relative to the outer telescoping part upon said melting.

Claim 7

A mounting according to claim 1 having said gas tube mounted thereon by said means for removably supporting the same, and said cooperating parts being in heat conductive contact with said third electrode.

Claim 8

A mounting according to claim 2 having said gas tube mounted thereon by said means for removably supporting the same, and the outer of said cooperating parts being in heat conductive contact with said third electrode.

Claim 9

A protector comprising three electrode gas tube having two opposed electrodes and a third electrode surrounding the two opposed electrodes and forming an arc gap with each, a base having terminals thereon that are electrically insulated from each other, means for mounting said gas tube on said base such that the electrodes are each respectively connected to one of said terminals for connecting said opposed electrodes to lines to be protected and for connecting said third electrode to ground, contactor means, resilient means urging said contactor means from a normal location out of electrical contact with the terminals associated with said opposed electrodes to a location of electrical contact with all of said terminals thereby to connect the terminals associated with said opposed electrodes to ground, and mechanism preventing electrical contact of said contactor means with said last-mentioned terminals except upon overheating of said gas tube; said mechanism having cooperating parts rigidly held in relative positions by meltable means between said cooperating parts in thermal contact with said third electrode, said parts being relatively movable upon melting of said meltable means due to said overheating and being repositionable upon solidification of said meltable means without replacement thereof to reset said contactor means in its normal location, said meltable means being a film of material upon which a shear force is imposed by at least one of said Cooperating parts.

Claim 10

A protector comprising three electrode gas tube having two opposed electrodes and a third electrode surrounding the two opposed electrodes and forming an arc gap with each, a base having terminals thereon that are electrically insulated from each other, means for mounting said gas tube on said base such that the electrodes are each respectively connected to one of said terminals for connecting said opposed electrodes to lines to be protected and for connecting said third electrode to ground, contactor means, resilient means urging said contactor means from a normal location out of electrical contact with the terminals associated with said opposed electrodes to a location of electrical contact with all of said terminals thereby to connect the terminals associated with said opposed electrodes to ground, and mechanism preventing electrical contact of said contactor means with said last-mentioned terminals except upon overheating of said gas tube; said mechanism having cooperating parts rigidly held in relative positions by meltable means between said cooperating parts in thermal contact with said third electrode, said parts being relatively movable upon melting of said meltable means due to said overheating and being repositionable upon solidification of said meltable means without replacement thereof to reset said contactor means in its normal location, said meltable means being a film of material upon which a shear force is imposed by at least one of said Cooperating parts.

Claim 11

A protector according to claim 7 in which said cooperating parts are repositionabel by repositionable as a unit to position that is turned from its previous position.

Claim 12

A protector comprising a three electrode gas tube having two opposed electrodes and a third electrode surrounding the two opposed electrodes and forming an arc gap with each, a base having terminals thereon that are electrically insulated from each other, means for mounting said gas tube on said base such that the electrodes are each respectively connected to one of said terminals for connecting said opposed electrodes to lines to be protected and for connecting said third electrode to ground, contactor means, resilient means urging said contactor means from a normal location out of electrical contact with the terminals associated with said opposed electrodes to a location of electrical contact with all of said terminals thereby to connect the terminals associated with said opposed electrodes to ground, and mechanism preventing electrical contact of said contactor means with said last-mentioned terminals except upon overheating of said gas tube; said mechanism having cooperating parts rigidly held in relative positions by meltable means in thermal contact with said third electrode, said parts being relatively movable upon melting of said meltable means due to said overheating and being repositionable upon solidification of said meltable means to reset said contactor means in its normal location, said cooperating parts being telescoped and with the meltable material being therebetween.

Claim 13

A protector comprising a three electrode gas tube having two opposed electrodes and a third electrode surrounding the two opposed electrodes and forming an arc gap with each, a base having terminals thereon that are electrically insulated from each other, means for mounting said gas tube on said base such that the electrodes are each respectively connected to one of said terminals for connecting said opposed electrodes to lines to be protected and for connecting said third electrode to ground, contactor means, resilient means urging said contactor means from a normal location out of electrical contact with the terminals associated with said opposed electrodes to a location of electrical contact with all of said terminals thereby to connect the terminals associated with said opposed electrodes to ground, and mechanism preventing electrical contact of said contactor means with said last-mentioned terminals except upon overheating of said gas tube; said mechanism having cooperating parts rigidly held in relative positions by meltable means in thermal contact with said third electrode, said parts being relatively movable upon melting of said meltable means due to said overheating and being repositionable upon solidification of said meltable means to reset said contactor means in its normal location, said cooperating parts being telescoped and with the meltable material being therebetween.

Claim 14

A protector according to claim 7 having a clip for engaging said third electrode, said clip having an arcuate recess that receives said third electrode.