Externally gapped line arrester
OwnerJonathan Jay Woodworth, Deborah Lynn Limburginventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An arrester for preventing an insulator supporting a power line from experiencing an electrical flashover comprises an electrode, a varistor, and a separating device. The electrode is spaced apart from the power line or a conductor that is electrically tied to the power line so as to define an external gap therebetween. The separating device, in turn, comprises two portions operative to separate from one another when the varistor experiences an electrical condition sufficient to cause the varistor to fail. The electrode, the external gap, the separating device, and the varistor are arranged in electrical series with one another and in electrical parallel with the insulator.
Claims19
An arrester for preventing an insulator supporting a power line from experiencing an electrical flashover, the arrester comprising:
- an electrode, the electrode spaced apart from:
- (a) the power line, or (b) a conductor that is distinct from the power line, so as to define an external gap therebetween;
- a varistor;
- a separating device, the separating device comprising two portions operative to separate from one another when the varistor experiences an electrical condition sufficient to cause the varistor to fail;
- and
- a strap, the strap being continuous and defining two ends, each of the two ends coupled to a respective one of the two portions of the separating device;
- wherein the electrode, the external gap, the separating device, and the varistor are arranged in electrical series with one another and in electrical parallel with the insulator;
- wherein the strap is operative to span between the two portions of the separating device after the separating device separates into the two portions.
A method for preventing an insulator supporting a power line from experiencing an electrical flashover, the method comprising the steps of:
- positioning an electrode apart from:
- (a) the power line, or (b) a conductor that is distinct from the power line, so as to define an external gap therebetween;
- receiving a varistor;
- receiving a separating device, the separating device comprising two portions operative to separate from one another when the varistor experiences an electrical condition sufficient to cause the varistor to fail;
- receiving a strap, the strap being continuous and defining two ends;
- arranging the strap such that each of the two ends is coupled to a respective one of the two portions of the separating device;
- and
- arranging the electrode, the external gap, the separating device, and the varistor in electrical series with one another and in electrical parallel with the insulator;
- wherein the strap is operative to span between the two portions of the separating device after the separating device separates into the two portions.
An apparatus comprising:
- an insulator, the insulator supporting a power line;
- an electrode, the electrode spaced apart from:
- (a) the power line, or (b) a conductor that is distinct from the power line, so as to define an external gap therebetween;
- a varistor;
- a separating device, the separating device comprising two portions operative to separate from one another when the varistor experiences an electrical condition sufficient to cause the varistor to fail;
- and
- a strap, the strap being continuous and defining two ends, each of the two ends coupled to a respective one of the two portions of the separating device;
- wherein the electrode, the external gap, the separating device, and the varistor are arranged in electrical series with one another and in electrical parallel with the insulator;
- wherein the strap is operative to span between the two portions of the separating device after the separating device separates into the two portions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.