High voltage surge arrester with failed surge arrester signaling device
AssigneeJoslyn Corporation
InventorsJoseph C. Osterhout, Steven P. Hensley
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A high voltage surge arrester includes first, second and third terminals. Arrester components, including one or more arrester valve blocks, are serially disposed in an insulating arrester housing between the first and second terminals. A first current carrying conductor is connected between the second and third terminals by way of a disconnector. If the arrester fails, the disconnector will disengage the first current carrying conductor to provide a visible indication that the arrester has failed. At the same time, a second current carrying conductor then reestablishes the connection between the second and third terminals. Thus, a current carrying conductive path is maintained between the first and third terminals.
Claims32
A high voltage surge arrester for protecting a high voltage electric power distribution system from damage due to overvoltage surges comprising:
- a first terminal;
- a second terminal;
- a third terminal;
- arrester components disposed between said first and second terminals;
- an insulating housing for internally disposing said arrester components;
- terminal connecting means for electrically interconnecting said second and third terminals, said terminal connecting means including a separable lead having first and second ends, said first end being electrically connected to said second terminal and said second end being electrically connected to said third terminal;
- disconnecting means for automatically and electrically disconnecting said separable lead from one of said second and third terminals upon failure of said arrester components to thereby provide a visible indication of a failed surge arrester condition;
- and,
- means for maintaining a current carrying conductive path between said second and third terminals subsequent to the operation of said disconnecting means and the electrical disconnection of said separable lead.
A high voltage surge arrester for protecting a high voltage electric power distribution system from damage due to overvoltage surges comprising:
- terminal means having at least first and second terminals;
- arrester components disposed between said first and second terminals;
- an insulating housing for internally housing said arrester components;
- a first current carrying conductor having first and second ends, said first end being electrically connected to said terminal means for providing a current carrying path with respect to said terminal means, and said second end being electrically captured in a fixed position;
- disconnecting means for automatically and electrically disconnecting said first current carrying conductor upon failure of said arrester components to thereby provide a visible indication of a failed surge arrester condition;
- and,
- means, including a second current carrying conductor, for maintaining said current carrying path with respect to said terminal means subsequent to the operation of said disconnecting means and the electrical disconnection of said first current carrying conductor.
A high voltage surge arrester system for protecting a high voltage electric power distribution system from damage due to overvoltage surges comprising:
- a high voltage surge arrester including
- a first terminal for conducting overvoltage surges to ground,
- a second terminal,
- arrestor components disposed between said first and second terminals, said arrester components including an arrester element formed of one or more arrester valve blocks, and
- an insulating arrester housing for said arrester components, said one or more arrester valve blocks being internally disposed within said insulating arrester housing;
- and,
- power line connecting means for electrically connecting said second terminal to said power line, said power line connecting means including
- first conductive means electrically connected to said second terminal for forming a first current carrying conductive path between said second terminal and said power line and for providing a signal in response to the failure of said arrester, said first current carrying conductive path being severable upon the failure of said arrester components,
- disconnector means for automatically severing said first current carrying conductive path of said first conductive means upon failure of said arrester components, and
- means for maintaining a second current carrying conductive path between said second terminal and said power line upon severing said first current carrying conductive path.
A method of providing surge protection for a high voltage electric power distribution system comprising the following steps:
- conducting high voltage surges on a power line to ground by way of a high voltage surge arrester adapted to be electrically connected between said power line of said high voltage power distribution system and system ground;
- electrically disconnecting a first current carrying conductive path between said power line and said system ground through said high voltage surge arrester upon the occurrence of a failure of said high voltage surge arrester in order to provide a visible indication of a failed surge arrester, and
- establishing a second current carrying conductive path between said power line and said system ground through said high voltage surge arrester upon the disconnection of said first current carrying conductive path to thereby maintain a current carrying conductive path between said power line and said system ground upon failure of said surge arrester.
A high voltage surge arrester system for protecting a high voltage power distribution system from damage due to overvoltage surges comprising:
- a high voltage surge arrester including (a) a first terminal for connection to a high voltage power line of a high voltage power distribution system, (b) a second terminal, (c) arrester components disposed between said first and second terminals, said arrester components including an arrester element formed by one or more arrester valve blocks, and (d) an insulating arrester housing for said arrester components, said one or more arrester blocks being internally disposed within said housing;
- and
- grounding means for electrically connecting said second terminal to system ground of said power distribution system, said grounding means including (e) first conductive means electrically connected to said second terminal for forming a first current carrying conductive path between said second terminal and said system ground, for conducting said overvoltage surges to system ground, and for providing a signal in response to the failure of said arrester, said first conductive means being severable upon the occurrence of failure of said arrester components, (f) disconnector means for automatically disconnecting said first conductive means to sever said first current carrying conductive path upon failure of said arrester components, and (g) means for maintaining a second current carrying conductive path between said second terminal and said system ground upon the severing of said first current carrying conductive path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.