Three element gas tube protector module

An improved telephone line surge protecting device comprising:

• a casing element having a principal longitudinal axis including a plurality of oppositely disposed side walls defining a cavity;
• interconnected telephone input and output terminals having inner ends communicating with said cavity;
• a grounding prong element penetrating said casing element and communicating with said cavity;
• a temperature sensitive element mounted generally coaxially with respect to said principal axis of said casing element for movement between first and second positions within said cavity;
• resilient means urging said temperature sensitive element from said first to said second position;
• said temperature sensitive element including a transversely extending multisection gaseous discharge device having conductive end portions and a medially positioned grounding projection extending laterally therefrom;
• a generally U-shaped conductive member including a first end portion selectively contacting the conductive ends of said gaseous discharge device, and a second end generally parallel to said first end portion and communicating with said grounding prong element;
• said second portion mounting a hollow tube element surrounding said grounding projection on said gaseous discharge device and fixed thereto against the action of said resilient means by a meltable material;
• and a pair of resilient elongated electrically conducting contact members slidably contacting the conductive ends of said gaseous discharge device and the inner ends of said input and output terminals;
• whereby upon the melting of said meltable material said resilient means serves to move said gaseous discharge device into contact with said first end portion of said U-shaped member, resulting in current being conducted from said inner ends of said input and output terminals through the conductive ends of said gaseous discharge device to said U-shaped member and said grounding prong.