Line protector for a communications circuit
AssigneeReliance Comm/Tec Corporation
InventorsRichard Kaczmarek, William L. Weber
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A line protector for a communications circuit. The protector has a three electrode gas tube, the end electrodes of which are connected to the protector's line input terminals. The middle electrode of the tube is connected to the protector's ground terminal. Decoupling devices such as positive temperature coefficient resistors are connected in series between the line input terminals and the protector's equipment terminals. The protector also includes an additional overvoltage arrestor in the form of two diodes connected between the protector's ground terminal and the equipment terminals. The diodes have a lower voltage rating than the gas tube. A conductive clip which is in firm engagement with the protector's ground terminal is used to removably hold the diodes.
Claims17
A line protector for a communications circuit comprising:
- (a) an overvoltage arrestor having first and second electrodes connected between first and second line input terminals and a third electrode intermediate said first and second electrodes connected to a ground terminal;
- (b) decoupling means having a resistance which increases substantially when the temperature of said decoupling means rises to a predetermined temperature above ambient temperature, said decoupling means connected in series between said first and second line input terminals and first and second equipment terminals, respectively;
- and
- (c) a conductive clip in electrical connection with said ground terminal, said clip including initial overvoltage protection means having a ground terminal connected by said clip to said line protector ground terminal and first and second terminals in electrical connection with said first and second equipment terminals, respectively.
A line protector for a communications circuit comprising:
- (a) an overvoltage arrestor having first and second electrodes connected between first and second line input terminals and a third electrode intermediate said first and second electrodes connected to a ground terminal;
- (b) decoupling means having a resistance which increases substantially when the temperature of said decoupling means rises to a predetermined temperature above ambient temperature, said decoupling means connected in series between said first and second line input terminals and first and second equipment terminals, respectively;
- and
- (c) a conductive clip in electrical connection with said ground terminal, said clip including means for removably holding an initial overvoltage protection means having a ground terminal connected by said clip to said line protector ground terminal, and first and second terminals connected to said first and second equipment terminals, respectively.
An initial overvoltage protecting means for use in a line protector, said line protector comprising:
- (a) an overvoltage arrestor having first and second electrodes connected between first and second line input terminals and a third electrode intermediate said first and second electrodes connected to a ground terminal;
- (b) decoupling means having a resistance which increases substantially when the temperature of said decoupling means rises to a predetermined temperature above ambient temperature, said decoupling means connected in series between said first and second line input terminals and first and second equipment terminals, respectively;
- said initial overvoltage protecting means comprising:
- (i) a conductive clip having means for engaging said line protector ground terminal;
- and
- (ii) an initial overvoltage arresting means having a ground terminal and first and second terminals, said clip also having means for removably holding said initial overvoltage arresting means such that said initial overvoltage arresting means ground terminal is electrically connected to said line protector ground terminal and said first and second terminals are electrically connected to said first and second equipment terminals, respectively, when said clip engages said line protector ground terminal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.