Overvoltage surge arrester with predetermined creepage path

A low voltage surge arrester, comprising:

• (a) an electrically conductive base member;
• (b) a semiconductor core member centrally disposed on and in intimate conductive contact with said base member;
• and
• (c) a plurality of conductive electrodes in electrical contact with said core member and disposed proximate the outer edge of said core member providing a predetermined surface creepage path from each said electrode and across the surface of said core member to said base member.

An overvoltage surge arrester, comprising:

• (a) a pair of metallic terminals extending towards each other and providing a gap therebetween;
• (b) a common terminal spaced away from said pair of metallic terminals and concentric therewith;
• and
• (c) a pair of semiconductor washers having an insulator disposed therebetween and positioned within said gap, the circumference of said washers in electrical conductive contact with said common terminal providing a predetermined surface creepage path between said common terminal and said end terminals.

An overvoltage surge arrester comprising:

• (a) a pair of metallic terminals extending towards each other and providing a gap therebetween;
• (b) a common terminal spaced away from said pair of metallic terminals and concentric therewith;
• and
• (c) a pair of semiconductor washers, each in electrically conductive contact with said common terminal and concentric with said end terminals, said semiconductor washers having a centrally disposed aperture each circumscribing one of said pair of terminals.

A low voltage surge arrester, comprising:

• (a) at least one core member of semiconductor material having two contact surfaces, said core member being provided with a predetermined surface creepage path thereacross;
• (b) a pair of electrodes, one of said pair of electrodes being an electrically conductive contact with a respective one of said contact surfaces of the core member, said electrodes extending towards each other forming a predetermined discharge gap therebetween;
• and
• (c) insulating spacing means disposed between said semiconductor material and one of said electrodes.

A low voltage surge arrester, comprising:

• (a) at least one core member of semiconductor material having two contact surfaces, said core member being provided with a predetermined surface creepage path thereacross;
• (b) a pair of electrodes, one of said pair of electrodes being an electrically conductive contact with a respective one of said contact surfaces of the core member, said electrodes extending towards each other forming a predetermined discharge gap therebetween;
• and
• (c) insulated housing means enclosing said semiconductor material and said discharge gap in intimate contact with said electrodes.