Surge protective device modules and DIN rail device systems including same

A surge protective device (SPD) module comprising:

• a module housing;
• first and second module electrical terminals mounted on the module housing;
• a gas discharge tube (GDT) mounted in the module housing, the GDT including a first GDT terminal electrically connected to the first module electrical terminal and a second GDT terminal electrically connected to the second module electrical terminal;
• and
• a fail-safe mechanism mounted in the module housing, the fail-safe mechanism including:
• a shorting bar positioned in a ready position and repositionable to a shorting position, wherein the shorting bar is electrically conductive;
• a biasing member applying a biasing load to the shorting bar to direct the shorting bar from the ready position to the shorting position;
• and
• a meltable member;
• wherein:
• the meltable member maintains the shorting bar in the ready position and melts in response to a prescribed temperature to permit the shorting bar to transition from the ready position to the shorting position under the biasing load of the biasing member;
• and
• in the shorting position, the shorting bar forms an electrical short circuit between the first and second GDT terminals to bypass the GDT;
• wherein the SPD module includes an alarm mechanism responsive to melting of the meltable member to provide an alert that the SPD module has failed;
• and
• wherein the alarm mechanism includes a local alarm mechanism including:
• a window defined in the module housing;
• an indicator member movable between first and second positions relative to the window;
• an indicator biasing member applying a biasing load to the indicator member to direct the indicator member from the first position to the second position;
• and
• a trigger member;
• wherein:
• the trigger member retains the indicator member in the first position;
• and
• when the meltable member melts, the trigger member releases the indicator member to move from the first position to the second position under the biasing load of the indicator biasing member.

A surge protective device (SPD) module comprising:

• a module housing;
• first and second module electrical terminals mounted on the module housing;
• a gas discharge tube (GDT) mounted in the module housing, the GDT including a first GDT terminal electrically connected to the first module electrical terminal and a second GDT terminal electrically connected to the second module electrical terminal;
• and
• a fail-safe mechanism mounted in the module housing, the fail-safe mechanism including:
• a shorting bar positioned in a ready position and repositionable to a shorting position, wherein the shorting bar is electrically conductive;
• a biasing member applying a biasing load to the shorting bar to direct the shorting bar from the ready position to the shorting position;
• and
• a meltable member;
• wherein:
• the meltable member maintains the shorting bar in the ready position and melts in response to a prescribed temperature to permit the shorting bar to transition from the ready position to the shorting position under the biasing load of the biasing member;
• and
• in the shorting position, the shorting bar forms an electrical short circuit between the first and second GDT terminals to bypass the GDT;
• wherein the SPD module includes an alarm mechanism responsive to melting of the meltable member to provide an alert that the SPD module has failed;
• and
• wherein the alarm mechanism includes a remote alarm mechanism including:
• a port defined in the module housing to receive a remote control pin;
• and
• an indicator member having an indicator hole defined therein;
• wherein:
• the indicator member is movable between a first position, wherein the indicator member covers the port, and a second position, wherein the indicator opening is aligned with the port and permits the remote control pin to extend through the indicator opening;
• and
• when the meltable member melts, the indicator member is moved from the first position to the second position under the biasing load of the biasing member.