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US 5,357,568 AGranted
Telephone line overvoltage protection method and apparatus
AssigneeOneac Corporation
InventorDimitris J. Pelegris
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A telephone line overvoltage protection method and device are provided. An overvoltage protection apparatus used with a pair of telephone lines includes first voltage clamping circuitry for clamping voltage signals on the lines at a first predetermined voltage potential; second voltage clamping circuitry for clamping voltage signals on the lines at a second predetermined voltage potential. The second voltage clamping circuitry includes filter circuitry for filtering the voltage signals when the voltage signals exceed the second predetermined voltage signals. The first voltage clamping circuitry is formed by a solid state protective device and a failure mode mechanism adapted for connecting the lines to ground responsive to increased temperature of the solid state protective device.
Claims15
An overvoltage protection apparatus used with a pair of telephone lines comprising:
- first voltage clamping means for clamping voltage signals on said lines at a first predetermined voltage potential;
- second voltage clamping means for clamping voltage signals on said lines at a second predetermined voltage potential;
- said second voltage clamping means including filter means for filter said voltage signals when said voltage signals exceed said second predetermined voltage potential;
- said first voltage clamping means formed by a solid state protective device and a failure mode mechanism consisting of a fusible pellet and a unitary electrically conductive fail safe member adapted for simultaneously connecting both of said lines to ground responsive to increased temperature of said solid state protective device, whereby balanced grounding operation is provided with respect to said lines;
- a first base housing defining a plurality of terminal-pin receiving channels, a pair of INPUT TIP and RING terminal-pins, a pair of OUTPUT TIP and RING terminal-pins, and a ground terminal-pin, each of said terminal-pins received within a corresponding one of said terminal-pin receiving channels;
- each of said pair of INPUT TIP and RING terminal-pins, said pair of OUTPUT TIP and RING terminal-pins, and said ground terminal-pin having an enlarged stop collar portion location each of said terminal-pins within said first base housing and each of said terminal-pins having elongated pin portions extending both above and below said first base housing;
- said failure mode unitary electrically conductive fail safe member being a stamped and formed member having a base portion supported by said first base housing and defining an aperture receiving said ground terminal-pin in electrical contact engagement;
- and
- said failure mode unitary electrically conductive stamped and formed fail safe member having a vertically extending upper portion with a pair of opposed ends located adjacent to said INPUT TIP and RING terminal-pins;
- and said upper portion having means for locating and retaining said fusible pellet between said solid state protective device and said upper portion.
7 more elements
An overvoltage protection device used with a pair of telephone lines comprising:
- a first base housing defining a plurality of terminal-pin receiving channels;
- a second housing arranged for mating engagement with said first base housing;
- first voltage clamping means connected between a pair of INPUT terminal-pins and a ground terminal-pin for clamping voltage signals on said lines at a first predetermined voltage potential;
- second voltage clamping means connected between said first voltage clamping means and a pair of OUTPUT terminal-pins for clamping voltage signals on said lines at a second predetermined voltage potential;
- said second voltage clamping means including a bidirectional voltage suppressor device, resistance means connected in series with said lines and capacitance means connected between said bidirectional voltage suppressor device and said resistance means;
- said pair of INPUT terminal pins, said ground pin and said pair of OUTPUT terminal pins located in said terminal pin receiving channels of said first base housing;
- said first voltage clamping means formed by a solid state protective device and a failure mode mechanism supported by said first base housing, said failure mode mechanism consisting of a fusible pellet and a unitary electrically conductive fail safe member adapted for simultaneously connecting both of said lines to ground with said INPUT terminal-pins responsive to increased temperature of said solid state protective device;
- each of said pair of INPUT terminal-pins, said pair of OUTPUT terminal-pins and said ground terminal-pin received within a corresponding one of said terminal-pin receiving channels;
- each of said pair of INPUT terminal-pins, said pair of OUTPUT terminal-pins, and said ground terminal-pin having an enlarged stop collar portion locating each of said terminal-pins within said first base housing and each of said terminal-pins having elongated pin portions extending both above and below said first base housing;
- said failure mode unitary electrically conductive fail safe member being a stamped and formed member having a base portion supported by said first base housing and defining an aperture receiving said ground terminal-pin in electrical contact engagement;
- and
- said failure mode unitary electrically conductive stamped and formed fail safe member having a vertically extending upper portion with a pair of opposed ends respectively located adjacent to said pair of INPUT terminal-pins;
- and said upper portion having means for locating and retaining said fusible pellet between said solid state protective device and said upper portion.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.