Surge protector and lead assembly with improved contact area between the protector and lead
AssigneeSiecor Corporation
InventorBoyd G. Brower
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a lead for attachment to a cylindrical protector element with a circular contact ring thereon and a circular groove adjacent and axially inward of the contact ring. The lead is a conductive member with a first end and a second end opposite thereto. The second end has an arcuate surface with a ridge protruding therefrom than is sized to engage the groove of the protector element and guide the element until a portion of the contact ring of the element is disposed against the arcuate portion of the second end of the lead.
Claims23
A protector element and lead assembly comprising:
- a protector element having a generally cylindrical outer surface comprising:
- a first end and a second end opposite the first end;
- at least one circumferential contact ring at the first end of the protector element, the contact ring having a circumferential surface facing radially outward;
- and
- a circumferential groove adjacent and axially inward of the contact ring, the contact ring and groove defining a contact shoulder therebetween;
- and
- a lead having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the second end having a first and a second arcuate surface, the first arcuate surface electrically connected to the protective element in the circumferential groove and the second arcuate surface electrically connected to the circumferential surface of the contact ring, wherein the second end of the lead has an elongated opening, the first arcuate surface located on an inside portion of a first side of the elongated opening and the second arcuate surface located on an inside portion of a second side of the elongated opening, the second end being folded back on itself about a bend axis to create a U-shaped opening, the protector element being disposed in the U-shaped opening.
A lead to attach to a protector element, the protector element having at least one circular contact ring and a groove axially inward of the contact ring, the lead comprising a conductive member having a first end and a second end opposite thereto, the second end having an engagement member to engage the groove of the protector element and an arcuate surface to engage an outer surface of the contact ring of the protector element, wherein the second end of the lead has an elongated opening, the first arcuate surface is located on an inside portion of a first side of the elongated opening and the second arcuate surface located on an inside portion of a second side of the elongated opening, the second end being folded back on itself about a bend axis to create a U-shaped opening for the protector element.
A lead to attach to a protector element, the protector element having at least one circular contact ring and a groove axially inward of the contact ring, the groove having at least one substantially vertical wall, the lead comprising a conductive member having a first end and a second end opposite thereto, the second end having an engagement member to engage the the substantially vertical wall of the protector element to limit the movement of the protector element relative thereto and an arcuate surface to engage an outer surface of the contact ring of the protector element.
A lead to attach to a generally cylindrical protector element, the protector element having at least one circular contact ring with an outer diameter greater than the protector element adjacent the contact ring, the lead comprising a conductive member having a first end and a second end opposite thereto, the second end having an engagement member to engage a substantially vertical side wall of the contact ring to limit the movement of the protector element relative thereto and an arcuate surface disposed against an outer surface of the contact ring.
A method of manufacturing a lead for a protector element, the protector element generally being cylindrical with a circular contact ring at at least one end that extends radially beyond an adjacent portion of the protector element, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming an asymmetrical cut-out in a first end of the lead, the cut-out being asymmetrical about a bend axis, the bend axis dividing the cut-out into a first section and a second section, the first section having a first arcuate surface and the second section having a second arcuate surface,
- folding the lead about the bend axis, thereby making the end of the lead U-shaped to engage the protector element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.