Surge protection element

Abstract

Shown is an overvoltage protection element with a housing (2), an overvoltage component (3), an overcurrent protection element (4) and a display device (5, 6), wherein the display device has a force absorption section (51) and a display section (61) and wherein, when the overcurrent protection element is triggered, an actuating element (7) moves into a second position in which it applies a force to the force absorption section, thereby initiating a movement of the display section. A receptacle (8) for the overcurrent protection element is formed in the housing of the overvoltage protection element, the receptacle having an opening (81) through which the movable actuating element projects, and a stop (82) is formed in the receptacle and an edge (91) is provided on the overcurrent protection element, with which edge the overcurrent protection element rests against the stop, the stop being at a distance a from the force-absorbing section and the edge being at a distance b from the end face of the actuating element, so that the end face of the actuating element, in the first position, has a predetermined distance x from the force-absorbing section of the display device.

Description

The invention relates to an overvoltage protection element having a housing, having an overvoltage component, having an overcurrent protection element and having a display device according to the preamble of claim 1.The overcurrent protection element has a movable actuating element which moves from a first position into a second position when the overcurrent protection element is triggered. The movable actuating element of the overcurrent protection element is designed to apply a force to a force-absorbing section of the display device in its second position in order to actuate the display device by initiating a movement of the display section of the display device from a first position into a second position.Overvoltage protection elements and overvoltage protection devices have been known in various embodiments for decades. They serve to protect installations, loads and terminals from over-voltages or from excessively high voltage peaks which can be caused, for example, by lightning strikes or switching actions. Depending on the installation location and requirement, overvoltage protection elements have different overvoltage components. Overvoltage-limiting components such as varistors as well as overvoltage-switching components such as spark gaps, gas arresters or diodes as well as combinations of these components can be used as overvoltage components.Overvoltage protection elements are frequently designed as "protective plugs" which together with a device lower part form an overvoltage protection device. For installing such an overvoltage protection device, in such overvoltage protection devices, connection terminals for the individual conductors, for example the phase-conducting conductors L 1, L 2, L 3 as well as the neutral conductor N and, if applicable, the ground conductor PE, are provided on the device lower part. For simple mechanical and electrical contacting of the device lower part with the respective overvoltage protection element, the overvoltage protection elements have connection contacts designed as plug pins, with which sockets connected to the connection terminals are arranged as counter contacts in the device lower part, so that the overvoltage protection element can be easily plugged onto the device lower part.In the case of overvoltage protection devices of this type, installation and assembly can be carried out very easily because of the plug-in capability of the overvoltage protection elements. In addition, such overvoltage protection devices often have visual state indicators to indicate the state of the overvoltage devices. The status display indicates whether or not the overvoltage component arranged in the overvoltage protection element is still functional. In practice, the state of the overvoltage protection element is frequently monitored by means of thermal cut-off devices which electrically cut off the overvoltage protection element in the event of excessive heating, which can occur, for example, due to leakage currents.DE 10 2009 036 125 A1 discloses an overvoltage protection element having a thermal disconnection device, in which monitoring of the state of a varistor takes place. For this purpose, a solder joint and a conductive connecting element are provided as a triggering element, wherein the conductive connecting element is connected to an insulating separating element in such a way that, when the solder joint is separated, the insulating separating element is moved by means of spring force between a terminal of the varistor and the associated terminal contact. The connecting element is preferably designed as a metal piece and is arranged in the separating element formed by a rigid insulating plate.The movement of the separating element takes place with the aid of a release slide on which a spring system acts, so that when the soldering location is separated, the release slide is moved from a first position into a second position by the force of the spring system. In this case, in the first position of the triggering slide, the electrically conductive connecting element is arranged, and in the second position, the insulating separating element is arranged between the connection contact and the associated pole of the varistor. In addition, in the overvoltage protection element known from DE 10 2009 036 125 A1, an optical state indicator is provided, which is formed by a colored display surface on a tab of the triggering slide.Since the response time of thermal cut-off devices is relatively high, they are not suitable for protecting overvoltage components from longer-lasting mains-frequency overvoltages which can lead to breakdown of varistors. For this reason, in addition to thermal cut-off devices, fuses are also used in practice as overcurrent protection elements, which fuses are connected in series with the overvoltage component to be protected.Overcurrent protection elements in different embodiments are known from practice, which additionally have a identification detector. When triggering such an overcurrent protection element, not only is the current path across the fusible conductor of the overcurrent protection element interrupted, but an actuating element connected to the fusible conductor is also moved, which can be, for example, a spring-loaded bolt projecting on one side from the housing of the overcurrent protection element or a spring-loaded cap of the overcurrent protection element. The advantage of using such a fuse with a code is that the fuse not only interrupts the current path in the event of an overcurrent occurring, but the triggering of the fuse can be indicated by the movement of the actuating element.DE 10 2006 034 404 A1 discloses a fuse with a spring-loaded striker as a code detector, which is arranged in an overvoltage protection device for protecting an overvoltage component in series therewith. Melting of the fusible conductor of the fuse leads to the interruption of the current path via the fuse and additionally to the striker being moved from a first position into a second position. The striker can be used as a visual indicator in order to indicate the state of the overvoltage protection device on site.In an overvoltage protection element known from practice, having an overvoltage component, an overcurrent protection element and a display device, the movement of the actuating element of the overcurrent protection element initiates the movement of the optical state display from its first position into its second position. For this purpose, the actuating element applies a force to a blocking element, as a result of which the blocking element is pivoted into a position in which it no longer blocks the movement of the spring-loaded optical state indicator from its first position into its second position. The overcurrent protection element designed as a fuse is for this purpose accommodated in a fuse holder and glued or soldered, so that it is fixed in the position required to load the blocking element.The need to mount the fuse in the fuse holder and to align it for the blocking element and then to fix it by soldering or adhesive bonding leads to increased effort in the assembly of the overvoltage protection element. In the case of incorrect positioning of the fuse holder, it may also happen that the visual state indicator is not correctly displaced from its first position into its second position, with the result that the state of the overvoltage protection element is incorrectly indicated.The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an overvoltage protection element in which the aforementioned disadvantages are avoided. In particular, the assembly of the overcurrent protection element is to be facilitated, so that the display device is reliably actuated.This object is achieved in the overvoltage protection element described at the beginning with the features of claim 1. In the overvoltage protection element according to the invention, a receptacle is formed in the housing, in which receptacle the overcurrent protection element is at least partially arranged. On the side facing the force-absorbing section of the display device, the receptacle has an opening through which at least the movable actuating element of the overcurrent protection element protrudes, so that the actuating element can apply a force to the force-absorbing section of the display device in its second position.In addition, a stop is formed in the receptacle, with respect to which a rim is arranged or formed as a counterstop on the overcurrent protection element, with which rim the overcurrent protection element abuts against the stop in the receptacle. By forming the stop and the edge, the overcurrent protection element can be easily positioned in a predetermined position in the receptacle. The stop in the receptacle has a distance a from the force-receiving section of the display device and the edge of the overcurrent protection element has a distance b from the end face of the actuating element, wherein the distance a and the distance b are matched to one another in such a way that the end face of the actuating element has a predefined distance x from the force-receiving section of the display device in the first position.By means of a corresponding arrangement or positioning of the stop and the edge, the distance of the end face of the actuating element from the force-absorbing section of the display device can thus be fixed when the display device or its force-absorbing section is located in a predetermined position in the housing. Since the distance x of the actuating element from the force-absorbing section has an influence on how quickly and strongly the force F A is applied to the force-absorbing section after the overcurrent protection element is triggered, the distance x also has an influence on how quickly the display section is moved from a first position to a second position. By a corresponding positioning of the stop and the edge, the desired actuation of the display device can thus be ensured.Preferably, the distance a and the distance b are selected such that the distance x is as small as possible. Ideally, the distance x is zero in this case, so that the end face of the actuating element in the first position bears against the force-absorbing section of the display device without an air gap. Since a permanent application of a force to the force-absorbing section of the display device is to be avoided as far as possible, the distance a and the distance b are preferably selected such that the distance x is not negative even taking account of manufacturing tolerances, so that the force-absorbing section is not deflected in the first position of the actuating element. This can lead to a small distance x between the actuating element and the force-absorbing section, even if a direct contact of the end face of the actuating element on the force-absorbing section of the display device is actually desired.The edge provided on the overcurrent protection element can either protrude outwards from the lateral surface of the overcurrent protection element or be directed inwards from the lateral surface, i.e. be formed by a groove, for example. Correspondingly, the stop is then formed in the receptacle, so that the edge abuts the stop when the overcurrent protection element is arranged in the receptacle.According to a preferred embodiment of the overvoltage protection element according to the invention, the stop in the receptacle is formed by the edge of the opening which is provided on the side of the receptacle facing the force receiving section of the display device. This has the advantage that no separate stop then has to be formed in the receptacle, which simplifies the production of the receptacle.The edge provided on the overcurrent protection element is preferably formed by the end face of an annular element facing the actuating element, which is arranged or formed on the overcurrent protection element. The annular element can be formed integrally with a cap or the housing of the overcurrent protection element, or can be plugged onto the overcurrent protection element as a separate element and fastened to a cap or the lateral surface of the overcurrent protection element. The annular element can be, in particular, a circumferential, closed ring. Such a closed ring can also be fastened particularly easily subsequently to an existing overcurrent protection element.By forming the stop in the receptacle and the edge on the overcurrent protection element, a precise positioning of the overcurrent protection element relative to the force receiving section is very easily possible. In order that the edge of the overcurrent protection element, after being inserted into the receptacle, permanently abuts the stop of the receptacle, the overcurrent protection element is preferably acted upon by a force by which the edge is pressed against the stop. This makes it possible to dispense with adhesive bonding or soldering of the overcurrent protection element connected to an additional manufacturing step.Preferably, the force with which the overcurrent protection element or its edge is pressed against the stop is applied by a spring element, for example a helical spring or a disk spring. For this purpose, a spring element is advantageously arranged in the receptacle on the side of the overcurrent protection element facing away from the actuating element. The over-current protection element is thereby acted upon by the spring element with a force F F by which the edge is pressed against the stop in the receptacle. In this case, the spring element does not have to bear directly against the end face of the overcurrent protection element facing away from the actuating element, but one or more other components can also be arranged between the spring element and the overcurrent protection element, via which components the force of the spring element is transmitted to the overcurrent protection element. The further component can be, in particular, a component of an ignition circuit, for example a gas-filled surge arrester which is also electrically connected to the overcurrent protection element.The display device preferably consists of a spring element as a mechanical actuating element and an optical state display, which are mechanically coupled to one another. The force-absorbing section is formed on the spring element and the display section on the optical state display. The restoring force F R of the spring element is used here to move the spring element from its first position deflected from the rest position into its second position. By means of the mechanical coupling of the spring element to the optical state indicator, a movement of the optical state indicator and in particular of the indicator section from its first position into its second position also takes place.The spring element is preferably designed and arranged in the housing in such a way that it can be moved from a first position into a second position, wherein the spring element is deflected from its rest position in the first position. In the first position, the spring element is held in its first position by a holding element counter to the restoring force of the spring element. When the movable actuating element in its second position applies a force F A to the force-absorbing section on the spring element, the spring element disengages from the retaining element, so that the spring element moves into a second position due to its restoring force.According to a preferred embodiment, the spring element is designed as a wire spring, which has a relatively small thickness or width. Preferably, the wire spring has a circular or approximately circular cross section, wherein the diameter or the circumference of the wire spring is substantially less than its length. This is advantageous with regard to a space-saving installation of the wire spring in the housing of the overvoltage protection element.The holding element, which holds the spring element in its first position counter to the restoring force of the spring section, is preferably designed as a projection or edge, the end of which at least partially overlaps the spring element. If the spring element is designed as a wire spring and has only a small width, the projection or the edge must also have only a relatively small extent in order to keep the spring element in its first position counter to the restoring force of the spring section. Thus, for releasing the spring element from the first position, only a slight pivoting of the spring element is also required, so that the spring element requires only a small installation space.The object mentioned is achieved in the case of an overcurrent protection element for actuating a display device of an overvoltage protection element, having the features of patent claim 10. An edge is arranged or formed on the overcurrent protection element, which is provided to abut against a stop in the receptacle of the housing of the overvoltage protection element. The edge has a distance b from the end face of the actuating element of the overcurrent protection element, which is selected such that the end face of the actuating element in the first position has a predefined distance x from the force absorbing section of the display device that is as small as possible. With regard to the advantages of such an overcurrent protection element, reference can be made to the corresponding explanations relating to the overvoltage protection element according to the invention.The overcurrent protection element is preferably cylindrical, wherein an annular element is arranged or formed on a cap or the lateral surface of the overcurrent protection element, the end face of which facing the actuating element forms the protruding edge. The annular element can be embodied fully or else only partially circumferentially. Alternatively, the annular element can also consist of a plurality of sections which are then preferably arranged symmetrically distributed around the circumference of the overcurrent protection element. Instead of an outwardly projecting edge formed by an annular element, a groove can also be formed on the overcurrent protection element, so that the edge is directed inwardly from the lateral surface of the overcurrent protection element.In particular, there are several possibilities for developing and configuring the overvoltage protection element according to the invention and the overcurrent protection element. In this regard, reference is made both to the subordinate patent claims and to the description of an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. The drawing shows FIG. 1 shows an overvoltage protection element according to the invention, with a visual state indicator in the first position, from the side, FIG. 2 shows the overvoltage protection element according to FIG. 1, with a visual state indication in the second position, FIG. 3 shows a sectional illustration of the overvoltage protection element according to FIG. 1, FIG. 4 shows a perspective illustration of the overcurrent protection element with actuating element in the first position and in the second position, FIG. 5 shows a sectional illustration of the overcurrent protection element with actuating element in the first position and in the second position, FIG. 6 shows the detail of the overvoltage protection element according to FIG. 1, with the overcurrent protection element not yet mounted, from the side and in longitudinal section, FIG. 7 shows the overvoltage protection element according to FIG. 1, with the optical state indication in the first position, from the second side, and FIG. 8 shows the overvoltage protection element according to FIG. 1, with the optical state indicator in the second position, from the second side.The figures show a preferred exemplary embodiment of an overvoltage protection element 1 having a housing 2, wherein a plurality of overvoltage components 3 in the form of spark gaps are arranged in the housing 2. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the individual spark gaps 3 together form a stacked spark gap, in which the individual spark gaps 3 are connected in series. Instead of the spark gaps 3 shown in the exemplary embodiment, a varistor, a gas arrester or other overvoltage-switching or overvoltage-limiting components and their combination as overvoltage components can also be arranged in the housing 2. Within the scope of the present invention, it is not decided which type of overvoltage component or how many overvoltage components the overvoltage protection element 1 has.The overvoltage protection element 1 also has an overcurrent protection element 4 and a display device which consists of a spring element 5 as a mechanical actuating element and an optical state display 6. The overcurrent protection element 4, which is shown separately in FIGS. 4 and 5, is a fuse with a spring-loaded actuating element 7. One end of the fusible conductor 44 is connected to the actuating element 7 in the non-triggered state of the fuse, whereby the actuating element 7 remains in its first position counter to the force of the spring 45, as can be seen from FIG. 5 a. When the fuse is triggered, i.e. when the fusible conductor 44 burns up, the actuating element 7 moves from a first position according to FIGS. 4 a, 5 ato a second position according to FIGS. 4 b, 5 bby the force of the spring 44.In order to shift the optical state indicator 4 from its first position (FIGS. 1 and 7 ) into its second position (FIGS. 2 and 8 ), the spring element 5, which is designed as a wire spring, is arranged in the housing 2 of the sparkover protection element 1. The spring element 5 has at its one end a force absorbing section 51, which is acted upon by a force F A by the actuating element 7 when the overcurrent protection element 4 is triggered.The overvoltage protection element 1 shown in the figures is designed as a protective plug, which has two connection contacts 10, 11 designed as blade contacts, which can be inserted into corresponding plug sockets of a device lower part, not shown here. The overvoltage protection element according to the invention does not have to be designed as a protective plug, however, but the overvoltage protection element can also be a one-piece overvoltage protection device, which thus does not have a separate device lower part. The overvoltage protection element 1 shown is also arranged in the completely assembled state in an outer housing-not shown here-wherein the connection contacts 10, 11 protrude from the underside of the preferably hood-like outer housing. A viewing window is arranged in the opposite upper side of the outer housing, through which viewing window, depending on the state of the overvoltage protection element 1, the display section 61 of the state display 6 or a marking 21 on the upper side of the housing 2 is visible.It can be seen from the illustration of the overvoltage protection element 1 according to FIG. 1 that the end face 71 of the movable actuating element 7 in its first position is opposite the force absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5 or directly abuts the force absorbing section 51. When the overcurrent protection element 4 is triggered, the actuating element 7 moves from its first position (FIG. 1 ) into its second position (FIG. 2 ), so that a force F A is applied to the force absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5. This has the result that the spring element 5 is initially deflected and then moves from its first position (FIG. 7 ) into its second position (FIG. 8 ) due to its restoring force.As can be seen in particular from the sectional illustration according to FIG. 3 and from the two illustrations in FIG. 6, a receptacle 8 is formed in the housing 2, in which receptacle the overcurrent protection element 4 is or can be arranged. The receptacle 8 has an opening 81 on the side facing the force-receiving section 51 of the spring element 5, through which the end of the overcurrent protection element 4 with the actuating element 7 protrudes. The overcurrent protection element 4 is thus not arranged completely, but only partially in the receptacle 8.In the receptacle 8, a stop 82 is also formed, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is formed by the edge of the opening 81. Corresponding to the stop 82, an edge 91 is provided on the overcurrent protection element 4, with which edge the overcurrent protection element 4 in the assembled state abuts the stop 82 in the receptacle 8. As can be seen in particular from the separate illustration of the overcurrent protection element 4 in FIGS. 4 and 5, the edge 91 is formed by the end face, which points toward the actuating element 7, of an annular element 9 provided on the overcurrent protection element 4. The annular element 9 can be formed integrally with a cap 42 or the housing of the overcurrent protection element 4. Alternatively, the annular element 9 can also be pushed as a separate element onto the overcurrent protection element 4 and then fastened to a cap 42 or the lateral surface 43 of the overcurrent protection element 4.It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the stop 82 in the receptacle 8 is at a distance a from the force-receiving section 51 of the spring element 5. It can be seen from FIGS. 4 aand 5 a that the edge 91 on the overcurrent protection element 4 is at a distance b from the end face 71 of the actuating element 7 when the actuating element 7 is in its first position. In the overvoltage protection element 1 according to the invention, the distance a and the distance b are selected such that the end face 71 of the actuating element 7 in the first position of the actuating element 7 bears directly against the force absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5 (FIG. 1 ). The distance x between the end face 71 of the actuating element 7 and the force absorbing section 51 is thus ideally zero (FIG. 7 ).The fuse used as the overcurrent protection element 4 is formed as a whole in the shape of a cylinder, so that the receptacle 8 is formed correspondingly in the shape of a tube. On the one side of the receptacle 8, the opening 81 is formed, through which the end of the overcurrent protection element 4 with the actuating element 7 protrudes. On the side opposite the opening 81, the receptacle 8 has an insertion opening 83, through which the overcurrent protection element 4 can be inserted into the receptacle 8, as can be seen in particular from the two representations according to FIGS. 6 aand 6 b.In order that the overcurrent protection element 4 after insertion into the receptacle 8 permanently abuts the stop 82 with the edge 91, a spring element 12 is arranged in the receptacle 8 on the side of the overcurrent protection element 4 facing away from the actuating element 7. The spring element 12 applies a force F F to the overcurrent protection element 4, by which the edge 91 is pressed against the stop 82. In this case, the spring element 12 does not have to bear directly against the end face 41 of the overcurrent protection element 4 facing away from the actuating element 7, but other components can also be arranged between the spring element 12 and the overcurrent protection element 4.In the exemplary embodiment of the overvoltage protection element 1 shown, a gas-filled surge arrester 13 is arranged, for example, between the end face 41 of the overcurrent protection element 4 and the spring element 12. On the side facing away from the overvoltage protection element 4, the gas-filled surge arrester 13 is electrically connected to a varistor 14, which is connected via an ignition element to one of the electrodes 3 of the overvoltage protection element 1. The ignition element, the varistor 14, the gas-filled surge arrester 13 and the overcurrent protection element 4 together form an ignition circuit for the spark gaps of the stacked spark gap illustrated in the figures.In the overvoltage protection element 1 shown in the figures, the optical state indicator 6 is moved by the spring element 5 from its first position into its second position. If the spring element 5 is in the first position shown in FIG. 7, the spring section 52 is deflected from its rest position. During the assembly of the spring element 5, the spring section 52 is deflected downward from the position shown in FIG. 8 for this purpose. In order that the spring element 5 remains in the first position despite the deflection of the spring section 52 from the rest position, a holding element 15 designed as a projection is formed on the housing 2, the end of which holding element overlaps the spring element 5.When the overcurrent protection element 5 is triggered, the force absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5 is acted upon by the actuating element 7 with a force F A which is directed perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the force absorbing section 51. This has the result that the spring element 5 is pivoted about a first axis of rotation which is arranged perpendicularly to the direction of the force F A and perpendicularly to the longitudinal extent of the force absorbing section 51. By pivoting the spring element 5, the spring section 52 of the spring element 5 is pivoted away below the end of the holding element 15, so that the spring element 5 is no longer held in its first position by the holding element 15 counter to its own restoring force.As soon as the spring element 5 is no longer held in its first position by the holding element 15, the spring element 5 is pivoted upwards from its first position into its second position about a second axis of rotation due to the restoring force of the spring section 52. The second axis of rotation extends perpendicular to the first axis of rotation and parallel to the longitudinal extension of the force absorbing section 51 The first position of the spring element 5 is shown in FIG. 7, while in FIG. 8 the spring element 5 is shown in its second position.It can be seen from FIGS. 7 and 8 that a pin-shaped section 62 is formed on the optical state indicator 6, which engages in the U-shaped entrainment section 53 of the spring element 5, so that pivoting of the spring element 5 from its first position into its second position leads to a corresponding movement of the optical state indicator 6. If the overvoltage protection element 1 is located in the outer housing, not shown in the figures, the display section 61 of the optical state display 6 having a marking is not only pushed upward by the movement of the spring element 5, but is also pressed somewhat downward to the right-in the illustration according to FIG. 8 by the upper side of the outer housing. This position of the display section 61 of the optical state display 6 is illustrated in FIG. 8 by dashed lines.Reference numerals denote reference numerals1 Overvoltage protection element 2 housing 21 marking 3 overvoltage component 4 overcurrent protection element 41 end face 42 cap 43 lateral surface 44 fusible conductor 45 spring 5 spring element 51 force receiving section 52 spring section 53 entrainment section 6 optical state indicator 61 indicator section 62 pin-shaped section 7 actuating element 71 end face 8 receiving 81 opening 82 stop 83 insertion opening 9 annular element 91 edge 10 connection contact 11 connection contact 12 spring element 13 surge arrester 14 varistor 15 holding element F A force of the actuating element F F force of the spring element a distance b distance x distanceReferences included in the specificationThis list of documents cited by the applicant has been produced in an automated manner and is only included for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent application or utility model application. The DPMA does not take any adhesion for any faults or omissions.Patent Literature citedDE 10 2009 036 125 A1 [0006, 0007]DE 10 2006 034 404 A1

[0010]

Claims

Overvoltage protection element (1) having a housing (2), having an overvoltage component (3), having an overcurrent protection element (4) and having a display device (5, 6), wherein the display device (5, 6) has a force absorbing section (51) and a display section (61), wherein the overcurrent protection element (4) has a movable actuating element (7) which moves from a first position into a second position when the overcurrent protection element (4) is triggered, wherein the end side (71) of the movable actuating element (7) is opposite the force absorbing section (51) of the display device (5, 6) and wherein the movable actuating element (7) in its second position applies a force (F A) to the force absorbing section (51), whereby a movement of the display section (61) of the display device (5, 5, The device according to claim 6 ) is initiated from a first position into a second position, characterized in that a receptacle (8) is formed in the housing (2), in which receptacle the overcurrent protection element (4) is at least partially arranged, wherein the receptacle (8) has an opening (81) on the side facing the force-receiving portion (51) of the display device (5, 6), through which opening at least the movable actuating element (7) of the overcurrent protection element (4) protrudes, and wherein a stop (82) is formed in the receptacle (8), that an edge (91) is provided on the overcurrent protection element (4), with which edge the overcurrent protection element (4) abuts the stop (82) in the receptacle (8), that the stop (82) in the receptacle (8) is at a distance a from the force-receiving portion (51) of the display device (5, 5, 6) and the edge (91) of the overcurrent protection element (4) has a distance b from the end face (71) of the actuating element (7), and that the distance a and the distance b are matched to one another in such a way that the end face (71) of the actuating element (7) in the first position has a predetermined distance x from the force absorbing section (51) of the display device (5, 6).Overvoltage protection element (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the distance a and the distance b are selected such that the distance x is as small as possible.Overvoltage protection element (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an annular element (9) is arranged or formed on the overcurrent protection element (4), the end face of which facing the actuating element (7) forms the edge (91).Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the stop (82) in the receptacle (8) is formed by the edge of the opening (81).Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the overcurrent protection element (4) is subjected to a force (F F) by which the edge (91) is pressed against the stop (82).Overvoltage protection element (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that a spring element (12) is arranged in the receptacle (8) on the side of the overcurrent protection element (4) facing away from the actuating element (7), wherein the spring element (12) applies the force (F F) to the overcurrent protection element (4).Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the overcurrent protection element (4) is cylindrical and the receptacle (8) is tubular, wherein the receptacle (8) has an insertion opening (83) on the side opposite the opening (81) for inserting the overcurrent protection element (4).Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the display device (5, 6) has a spring element (5) and an optical state display (6) which are mechanically coupled to one another, wherein the force absorbing section (51) is formed on the spring element (5) and the display section (61) is formed on the optical state display (6).Overvoltage protection element (1) according to claim 8, characterised in that the spring element (5) can be moved from a first position into a second position, that the spring element (5) in the first position is deflected from its rest position and is held in its first position by a holding element (13) counter to the restoring force of the spring element (5), and that the spring element (5) disengages from the holding element (15) when the movable actuating element (7) in its second position applies a force (F A) to the force absorbing section (51).An overcurrent protection element (4) for actuating a display device (5, 6) of an overvoltage protection element (1), wherein the overcurrent protection element (4) has a movable actuating element (7) which moves from a first position into a second position when the overcurrent protection element (4) is triggered, wherein the movable actuating element (7) is designed to apply a force (F A) to a force absorbing section (51) of the display device (5, 6) in its second position, and wherein the overvoltage protection element (1) has a housing (2) with a receptacle (8) for the overcurrent protection element (4), characterized in that an edge (91) is arranged or formed on the overcurrent protection element (4) which edge is designed to bear against a stop (82) in the receptacle (8) of the housing (2) of the overvoltage protection element (1), and in that the edge (91) of the overcurrent protection element (4) is at a distance b from the end face (71) of the actuating element (7) which is selected such that the end face (71) of the actuating element (7) is at a predetermined distance x from the force absorbing section (51) of the display device (5, 6) in the first position.Overcurrent protection element (4) according to claim 1, characterised in that the overcurrent protection element (4) is formed cylindrically and that an annular element (9) is arranged or formed on a cap (42) or the lateral surface (43) of the overcurrent protection element (4), the end face of which facing the actuating element (7) forms the protruding edge (91).

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