Device for protection against voltage surges with mobile electrode

A device for protecting electrical devices against voltage surges, comprising:

• first and second electrical pads, one of which is electrically connected to an electrical line and the other electrically connected to ground,
• a first electrode connected to said first electrical pad and shaped for directing an electric arc to an arc chute and comprising a fixed electrical contact,
• a mobile arc switching electrode comprising a second contact for electrically contacting said first contact when said mobile arc switching electrode is in its closed position,
• a means for driving said mobile arc switching electrode, electrically connected between said first electrode and said first electrical pad,
• an electrical ignition means electrically connected in series between said mobile arc switching electrode and said second electrical pad, and having an ohmic resistance varying inversely with the voltage applied to the electrical ignition means, the ohmic resistance being relatively high when the voltage is lower than an ignition voltage, for activating said electrical ignition means, and decreasing when the voltage increases above the ignition voltage, and
• a second electrode electrically connected to said second electrical pad and shaped for directing an electric arc to said arc chute,
• wherein the electrical ignition means is for directing an electrical current to ground when a relatively small voltage surge occurs on the electrical line,
• said means for driving the mobile arc switching electrode is for driving the mobile arc switching electrode when a relatively larger voltage surge occurs on the electrical line, such that said first and second contacts are separated and such electric arc bypasses said electrical ignition means, thereby protecting said electrical ignition means from such relatively larger voltage surge, and
• said arc chute is for dissipating an electric arc between said first and second electrodes when a still larger voltage surge occurs on the electric line.

A device for protecting electrical devices against voltage surges, comprising:

• first and second electrical pads, one of which is electrically connected to an electrical line and the other electrically connected to ground,
• a first electrode connected to said first electrical pad and shaped for directing an electric arc to an arc chute and comprising a first electrical contact,
• a mobile arc switching electrode comprising a second electrical contact,
• a fixed stud between said first electrode and said mobile arc switching electrode for physically contacting said mobile arc switching electrode when said mobile arc switching electrode is in its closed position,
• an ignition electrode between said fixed stud and said first electrode,
• an ignition circuit electrically connected to said first electrical pad, said fixed stud, and said ignition electrode, for detecting a potential voltage difference between said first electrical pad and said fixed stud and for increasing a voltage at said ignition electrode when such potential voltage difference is relatively high, triggering an arc between said first electrode and said mobile arc electrode,
• a means for driving said mobile arc switching electrode, electrically connected between said first electrode and said first electrical pad,
• an electrical ignition means electrically connected in series between said mobile arc switching electrode and said second electrical pad, and having an ohmic resistance varying inversely with the voltage applied to the electrical ignition means, and
• a second electrode electrically connected to said second electrical pad and shaped for directing an electric arc to said arc chute,
• wherein the electrical ignition means is for directing an electrical current to ground when a relatively small voltage surge occurs on the electrical line,
• said means for driving the mobile arc switching electrode is for driving the mobile arc switching electrode when a relatively larger voltage surge occurs on the electrical line, such that said second contact is separated from said fixed stud and such electric arc bypasses said electrical ignition means, thereby protecting said electrical ignition means from such relatively larger voltage surge, and
• said arc chute is for dissipating an electric arc between said first and second electrodes when a still larger voltage surge occurs on the electric line.

A device for protecting electrical devices against voltage surges, comprising:

• first and second electrical pads, one of which is connected to an electrical line and the other connected to ground,
• a first electrode connected to said first electrical pad and shaped for directing an electric arc to an arc chute and comprising a first electrical contact,
• a mobile arc switching electrode comprising a second electrical contact,
• a fixed stud between said first electrode and said mobile arc switching electrode for physically contacting said mobile arc switching electrode when said mobile arc switching electrode is in its closed position,
• an ignition electrode between said fixed stud and said first electrode, and
• an ignition circuit electrically connected to said first electrical pad, said fixed stud, and said ignition electrode, for detecting a potential voltage difference between said first electrical pad and said fixed stud and for increasing a voltage at said ignition electrode when such voltage difference is relatively high, triggering an arc between said first electrode and mobile arc electrode,
• a means for driving said mobile arc switching electrode, electrically connected between said first electrode and said first electrical pad,
• an electrical ignition means electrically connected in series between said first electrode and said fixed stud, and having an ohmic resistance varying inversely with the voltage applied to the electrical ignition means, and
• a second electrode electrically connected to said second electrical pad and shaped for directing an electric arc to said arc chute,
• wherein the electrical ignition means is for directing an electrical current to ground via said mobile arc switching electrode and said second electrical pad when a relatively small voltage surge occurs on the electrical line,
• said means for driving the mobile arc switching electrode is for driving the mobile arc switching electrode when a relatively larger voltage surge occurs on the electrical line, such that said second contact is separated from said fixed stud and such electric arc bypasses said electrical ignition means, thereby protecting said electrical ignition means from such relatively larger voltage surge, and
• said arc chute is for dissipating an electric arc between said first and second electrodes when a still larger voltage surge occurs on the electric line.