Surge arresters and related assemblies and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11295879-B2
Application number	US-202016937895-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 24, 2020
Priority date	Jul 24, 2020
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A surge arrester includes a polymer body or housing and a varistor assembly in the body or housing. The varistor assembly includes a plurality of varistor elements and a fuse electrically connected in series and forming a vertical stack of the plurality of varistor elements and the fuse. The stack has a first end surface, a second end surface, and a side surface extending between the first end surface and the second end surface. The varistor assembly includes a first end fitting at the first end surface of the stack and a second end fitting at the second end surface of the stack.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A surge arrester comprising:
a polymer body or housing; and
a varistor assembly in the body or housing, the varistor assembly comprising:
a plurality of varistor elements and a fuse electrically connected in series and forming a vertical stack of the plurality of varistor elements and the fuse, wherein the stack has a first end surface, a second end surface, and an outer side surface extending between the first end surface and the second end surface;
a first end fitting at the first end surface of the stack; and
a second end fitting at the second end surface of the stack,
wherein the fuse comprises a body, a first endcap at a first end of the body, and a second endcap at a second, opposite end of the body, and
wherein the surge arrester further comprises at least one annular semiconductor layer that contacts and surrounds at least one of the first and second endcaps of the fuse.

2. The surge arrester of claim 1 wherein:
the fuse is positioned at a top of the stack such that the first endcap defines the first end surface of the stack; and
the plurality of varistor elements are positioned below the fuse.

3. The surge arrester of claim 2 wherein the first endcap contacts the first end fitting.

4. The surge arrester of claim 2 wherein the at least one annular semiconductor layer contacts and surrounds the second endcap.

5. The surge arrester of claim 4 wherein the at least one annular semiconductor layer completely surrounds the fuse.

6. The surge arrester of claim 4 wherein the at least one annular semiconductor layer contacts each of the fuse body and the varistor element directly below the fuse.

7. The surge arrester of claim 1 wherein:
the fuse is positioned at a bottom of the stack such that the second endcap defines the second end surface of the stack; and
the plurality of varistor elements are positioned above the fuse.

8. The surge arrester of claim 7 wherein the second end cap contacts the second end fitting.

9. The surge arrester of claim 8 wherein the fuse comprises a striker pin that, upon operation of the fuse, protrudes through the second endcap and operates an indicator that is visible from below the surge arrester.

10. The surge arrester of claim 7 wherein the at least one annular semiconductor layer contacts and surrounds the first endcap.

11. The surge arrester of claim 10 wherein the at least one annular semiconductor layer comprises a first annular semiconductor that contacts and surrounds the first endcap and a second annular semiconductor layer that contacts and surrounds the second endcap.

12. The surge arrester of claim 11 wherein:
the first annular semiconductor layer contacts each of the fuse body and the varistor element directly above the fuse; and
the second annular semiconductor layer contacts each of the fuse body and the second end fitting.

13. The surge arrester of claim 1 further comprising an indicator electrically connected to the stack and configured to indicate when the fuse has operated, wherein the indicator is optionally on the body or housing.

14. The surge arrester of claim 1 wherein:
the body or housing comprises a first leg having a first channel defined therein;
the body or housing comprises a second leg perpendicular to the first leg and having a second channel defined therein, the second channel configured to receive a bushing; and
the varistor assembly is in the first channel.

15. The surface arrester of claim 1 further comprising a cage in the body or housing, the cage comprising a plurality of rods surrounding the stack.

16. The surge arrester of claim 1 wherein the at least one annular semiconductor layer completely surrounds the fuse and completely surrounds the stack.

17. A surge arrester comprising:
a polymer body or housing; and
a varistor assembly in the body or housing, the varistor assembly comprising:
a plurality of varistor elements and a fuse electrically connected in series and forming a vertical stack of the plurality of varistor elements and the fuse, wherein the stack has a first end surface, a second end surface, and an outer side surface extending between the first end surface and the second end surface;
a first end fitting at the first end surface of the stack; and
a second end fitting at the second end surface of the stack,

wherein the fuse is positioned at an interior of the stack with at least one of the plurality of varistor elements above the fuse and at least one of the plurality of varistor elements below the fuse.

18. The surge arrester of claim 17 further comprising:
a first annular semiconductor layer contacting and surrounding the first endcap; and
a second annular semiconductor layer contacting and surrounding the second endcap, the second annular semiconductor layer vertically spaced apart from the first annular semiconductor layer.

19. The surge arrester of claim 18 wherein:
the first annular semiconductor layer contacts each of the fuse body and the varistor element directly above the fuse; and
the second annular semiconductor layer contacts each of the fuse body and the varistor element directly below the fuse.

20. A surge arrester comprising:
a polymer body or housing; and
a varistor assembly in the body or housing, the varistor assembly comprising:
a plurality of varistor elements and a fuse electrically connected in series and forming a vertical stack of the plurality of varistor elements and the fuse, wherein the stack has a first end surface, a second end surface, and an outer side surface extending between the first end surface and the second end surface;
a first end fitting at the first end surface of the stack; and
a second end fitting at the second end surface of the stack,

wherein the fuse comprises a body, a first endcap at a first end of the body, and a second endcap at a second, opposite end of the body,
wherein the fuse is positioned at a top of the stack such that the first endcap defines the first end surface of the stack, and
wherein the plurality of varistor elements are positioned below the fuse.

Assignees

• TE Connectivity Services Gmbh

Inventors

• Kumar Senthil A

Classifications

• H01H85/303

  Movable indicating elements · CPC title

• H01H85/30

  Means for indicating condition of fuse structurally associated with the fuse · CPC title

• H01H85/0241

  Structural association of a fuse and another component or apparatus (switches with built-in fuses H01H9/10, spark-gap arresters H01H85/44, transformers and inductances H01F27/402, capacitors H01G2/14, lamps H01K1/66, semiconductors H10W20/493 or H10W42/80) · CPC title

• H01C1/012 Primary

  the base extending along and imparting rigidity or reinforcement to the resistive element (H01C1/016 takes precedence; the resistive element being formed in two or more coils or loops as a spiral, helical or toroidal winding H01C3/18, H01C3/20; the resistive element being formed as one or more layers or coatings on a base H01C7/00) · CPC title

• H01H85/044

  General constructions or structure of low voltage fuses, i.e. below 1000 V, or of fuses where the applicable voltage is not specified (H01H85/046 - H01H85/048 take precedence) · CPC title