Overvoltage protection arrangement consisting of a horn spark gap accommodated in an insulating housing

Abstract

The invention relates to an overvoltage protection arrangement consisting of a horn spark gap accommodated in an insulating housing (1) having a deion chamber. A trigger electrode is located in the ignition area of the horn spark gap. A varistor is also present, electrically connected in series to the horn spark gap. According to the invention, a first and a second disconnection apparatus are formed in the housing, wherein the first disconnection apparatus (2) is in heat-conducting connection with the varistor and, when a limit temperature is reached or exceeded, releases a spring-loaded slide (3) which interrupts the series connection between varistor and horn spark gap. Furthermore, the second disconnection apparatus (13) comprises a fusible conductor which is located inside the deion chamber, for example, and can be exposed there to an arc, wherein the fusible conductor holds a spring-loaded disconnector element (14) in a first position and releases this disconnector element (14) when fused as a result of the effects of the arc in such a manner that the disconnector element (14) adopts a second position, wherein an electrical connection to the trigger electrode is interrupted when the second position is reached. A three-pointed, rotatably mounted star or a circular disc with lugs or prongs is formed in the housing such that a first star point (7) is carried along by the slide (3) as it moves to interrupt the series connection. In the same way, a second star point (16) is carried, as the disconnector element (14) moves, from the first to the second position, wherein each movement of the star results in a rotation of the star around its axis of rotation (17) with the consequence that a third point of the star (10) releases a spring-loaded pivoting lever (8) which operates a remote signalling contact (11) and/or a visual fault status display (12).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.