Surge-gap end plug
AssigneeScientific-Atlanta, Inc.
InventorsAlan J. Schlenz, David Wallis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A surge-gap device (300) includes two electrodes (310, 315), having an inside portion and an outside portion, and an insulator material (320), which secures the two electrodes (310, 315). The insulator material (320) has an opening through the material to expose an open-air gap (325) that is defined by the space between the two inside portions of the electrodes (310, 315). In cases of a voltage surge, the surge-gap device permits an arc to pass between the proximate inside portions of the electrodes (310, 315) across the open-air gap (325), which gives a current surge a low impedance path to ground. Also included is a fastener (305) for electrically coupling the surge-gap device (300) to a ground plane (220) of an external electrical device (300) for suppressing the voltage and current surges.
Claims18
A surge-gap device, comprising:
- two electrodes each having an inner portion and an outer portion;
- an insulator for partially surrounding the two electrodes, the insulator having an open-air gap that is formed in a central region thereof and that separates the inner portions of the electrodes, wherein the insulator has an opening formed therethrough and into which the inner portions of the electrodes extend;
- and
- a fastener for electrically coupling the surge-gap device to a ground plane of an external electrical device for directing excess current to the ground plane and thereby suppressing voltage surge.
A tap for splitting signals, the tap comprising:
- a tap housing having at least one access port, wherein the access port is configured to have a cavity therein, and wherein the access port comprises:
- conducting means for contacting tap circuitry;
- and
- a surge-gap device coupled to the access port to protect the tap against voltage and current surges, the surge-gap device comprising:
- two electrodes each having an inner portion and an outer portion;
- an insulator for partially surrounding the two electrodes, the insulator having an open-air gap that is formed in a central region thereof and that separates the inner portions of the electrodes, wherein the insulator has an opening formed therethrough and into which the inner portions of the electrodes extend;
- and
- a fastener for electrically coupling the surge-gap device to the tap housing and for directing excess current, during voltage surges, from the tap circuitry to the tap housing via the surge-gap device and the conducting means.
A tap for splitting signals, the tap comprising:
- a tap housing having at least one access port, wherein the access port is configured to define a cavity therein, and wherein the access port further comprises:
- conducting means for contacting tap circuitry;
- and
- a surge-gap device coupled to the access port to protect the tap against excess voltage and current surges, the surge-gap device comprising:
- a fastener configured to define a cavity therein and to mate with the access port;
- a subassembly situated within the cavity of the fastener, wherein the subassembly comprises:
- two electrodes each having an inner portion and an outer portion;
- and
- an insulator for securing the two electrodes and to center the two electrodes about the same longitudinal axis, the insulator having an open-air gap that is formed in a central region thereof and that separates the inner portions of the two electrodes, and wherein the insulator has an opening formed therethrough into which the inner portions of the electrodes extend;
- and
- a spring situated within the cavity of the fastener between a bottom surface of the cavity and the subassembly for forcing the subassembly into contact with the conducting means of the access port when the fastener is mated with the access port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.