Overvoltage protection apparatus and modular overvoltage protection system

Abstract

An overvoltage protection apparatus (14) has at least one isolator apparatus (38) which is provided in a housing (50), a thermally conductive element (40), an operating element (42) for operating an indicator apparatus (44), and a locking element (58), wherein the thermally conductive element (40) is in contact with the housing (50). The operating element (42) is attached to the thermally conductive element (40) by means of the locking element (58) and the attachment is formed in such a way that the locking element (58) becomes detached from the thermally conductive element (40) and / or from the operating element (48) and releases the operating element (42) when a predetermined temperature at the locking element (58) is exceeded. The invention further discloses a modular overvoltage protection system (10).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a surge protection device, in particular of type 1, type 2 or a combination of types 1 and 2, as well as to a modular surge protection system, in particular of type 1, type 2 or a combination of types 1 and 2.

[0002] Type 1 surge protection devices are used to protect against lightning strikes entering buildings. Type 1 surge protection devices are known to be compact, meaning they represent a single unit that is installed as a single unit.

[0003] Type 2 surge protection devices are located further inside the building and can also be compact.

[0004] Such surge protection devices can be provided with a so-called collective display, i.e. an optical display regarding the status of the device, as well as a remote signaling switch.

[0005] DE 10 2007 042 991 A1 describes a multi-pole surge protection device with a collective display element.

[0006] DE 10 2015 114 953 A1 discloses a surge protection device with a housing and a triggering device comprising a heat-conducting housing part, a signaling pin, and a holding part, for example, a bolt. The holding part is made of a low-melting solder and holds the signaling pin in position until the melting point of the holding part is reached. When triggered, the signaling pin is released, causing it to move downward via a spring, triggering a microswitch and pulling an indicator device downward.

[0007] WO 2008 / 068115 A1 discloses a surge arrester having a status indicator that visually signals the triggering of a disconnecting device. The status indicator is part of a disconnecting block that is biased against a switching tongue. The switching tongue is electrically and thermally connected to a contact of a disconnecting device via a current-carrying solder contact point. Furthermore, the switching tongue has a predetermined disconnection point that resembles a fuse. When the disconnecting device is subjected to a moderate load, the solder contact point melts, separating the switching tongue from the contact and simultaneously releasing the disconnecting block. In the event of an overload caused by a current surge, the predetermined disconnection point breaks open, producing the same effect as melting the solder contact point.

[0008] EP 2 602 805 A1 discloses a surge protection device with a disconnecting device. The disconnecting device is thermally conductively connected to a metallic electrode. The surge protection device also has a mechanical switch that is triggered in the event of an overload. The mechanical switch comprises a slider that, during normal operation, is attached to the electrode via a locking element and holds a vertically movable drive element in position. If the temperature at the electrode reaches a critical point, the locking element melts and releases the slider, which interrupts the conduction at the contacts. A status indicator is not provided.

[0009] However, the disadvantage of such compact surge protection devices is that the entire unit must always be replaced whenever a defect occurs, for example, after a lightning strike. Therefore, the object of the invention is to provide a surge protection device and a modular surge protection system that can operate a collective indicator and / or a remote signaling switch, and is also modular.

[0010] To achieve this object, a surge protection device, in particular of type 1, type 2, or a combination of types 1 and 2, is provided, comprising at least one isolating device provided in a housing, a heat-conducting element, an actuating element for actuating a display device, and a blocking element, wherein the heat-conducting element is in contact with the housing. The actuating element is fastened to the heat-conducting element by means of the blocking element, and the fastening is designed by the blocking element in such a way that, when a predetermined temperature at the blocking element is exceeded, the blocking element detaches from the heat-conducting element and / or the actuating element and releases the actuating element. According to the invention, the surge protection device has at least two isolating devices, each with a housing, wherein the heat-conducting element is in contact with at least two of the housings.

[0011] By using the heat-conducting element, it is possible to use the heat generated by the isolating device to release an actuating element. The actuating element, in turn, can then be used to activate a collective indicator, here in the form of a display device, or a remote signaling switch.

[0012] In particular, the heat-conducting element is not a live part, even in the event of an overvoltage.

[0013] In the context of this invention, "in contact" means that a good thermally conductive connection exists, in particular because the thermally conductive element touches the housing, in particular from the outside, and / or because only a thermally conductive paste, a thermally conductive adhesive or the like is provided between the thermally conductive element and the housing.

[0014] The actuating element is, in particular, movable between a locked position and a released position, with the locking element securing the actuating element in the locked position and the actuating element being preloaded in the locked position. This preload ensures immediate actuation and thus a short response time. For example, the preload acts toward the indicator device.

[0015] In one embodiment, the surge protection device may include a spring that biases the actuating element.

[0016] According to the invention, the surge protection device comprises at least two, in particular three or four, isolating devices, each with a housing, wherein the heat-conducting element is in contact with at least two, in particular all, of the housings. In this way, an OR circuit is realized by the heat-conducting element.

[0017] To enable reliable and safe separation, the at least one separation device can have a spark gap, and the housing can surround the spark gap. The spark gap is, for example, a horn spark gap.

[0018] In one embodiment of the invention, the blocking element comprises a temperature-sensitive material, in particular a solder, whose melting point determines the predetermined temperature, whereby the predetermined temperature and thus the triggering threshold can be precisely adjusted.

[0019] For example, the temperature-sensitive material is a low-temperature solder, in particular with a melting point between 110°C and 140°C, for example with a melting point of 138°C.

[0020] In order to ensure reliable actuation, the locking element can comprise a component, in particular a printed circuit board, which is fastened to one of the actuating element and heat-conducting element by means of the temperature-sensitive material, in particular wherein the component is permanently fastened to the other of the actuating element and heat-conducting element.

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, the heat-conducting element is a sheet metal, in particular made of copper, whereby reliable heat transport is achieved even between more distant separating devices and the blocking element.

[0022] To improve thermal contact with the housing, the heat-conducting element can have at least one spring portion that presses the heat-conducting element against the housing. For example, the spring portion rests against the frame and / or the device housing.

[0023] The surge protection device may comprise a frame and / or a device housing to which the heat-conducting element is attached, the at least one separating device is attached and / or the actuating element is guided, thereby achieving a compact design.

[0024] To visually indicate the status of the surge protection device, the surge protection device can have a display device that has a display area, a first display surface fixed in the display area, and a movable second display surface. The second display surface can be movable between a locked position, in which the second display surface covers the first display surface, and a triggered position, in which the second display surface is offset from the first display surface. The display device can also be referred to as a collective display.

[0025] For example, the second display surface is formed on a movable display element, wherein the display element is locked in the locked position and biased toward the released position by a spring. In the released position, the locking of the display element is released by the actuating element. In this way, the actuating element can actuate the display device.

[0026] In order to operate both an easily readable visual display and a remote signaling switch, the actuating element and the display element can largely be arranged on different sides of the surge protection device.

[0027] For example, the indicator element is provided for the most part, i.e., except for a free end, and also the indicator area is provided on the top side of the surge protection device, whereas the actuating element is provided on a side surface of the surge protection device.

[0028] The directions of movement of the display element and the actuating element can be perpendicular to each other, for example in the transverse direction or in the vertical direction.

[0029] The object is further achieved by a modular surge protection system, in particular of type 1, type 2, or a combination of types 1 and 2, comprising a base part and a previously described surge protection device, wherein the base part has a receptacle for the surge protection device and a pretensioning device. The pretensioning device has a spring and a movable clamping part that partially projects into the receptacle. When the surge protection device is inserted into the base part, the clamping part engages with the actuating element of the surge protection device, and the spring pretensions the actuating element via the clamping part.

[0030] The features and advantages described for the surge protection device also apply equally to the modular surge protection system.

[0031] In the context of this invention, a spring is generally understood to mean elastic components that can provide a restoring force.

[0032] For example, the surge protection system includes a remote signaling switch, which includes the spring, in particular the preloading device. Thus, the spring serves both to actuate the remote signaling switch and the indicator device, thereby saving components.

[0033] Further features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, to which reference is made. In the drawings: Figure 1a modular surge protection system according to the invention with a surge protection device according to the invention, Figure 2a a basic part of the surge protection system according to Figure 1 , Figure 2b an enlarged view of a section of the base part according to Figure 2a , Figure 3a the surge protection device of the surge protection system according to Figure 1 and a pre-tensioning device for the base part, Figure 3b an enlarged view of the contact point between the biasing device and the surge protection device according to Figure 3a , Figure 4 the surge protection device according to Figure 1 opened in perspective view in locked position, Figure 5 a heat-conducting element of the surge protection device according to Figure 4 , Figure 6 a partial sectional view of the surge protection device along the line VI-VI of the Figure 4 , and Figure 7 the surge protection device according to Figure 4in the triggered state.

[0034] In Figure 1 a modular surge protection system 10 according to the invention is shown, which has a base part 12 and a surge protection device 14.

[0035] The surge protection system 10 is modular in that the surge protection device 14 can be removed from the base part 12 and replaced, for example after a lightning strike.

[0036] The surge protection system 10 and the surge protection device 14 are a Type 1 surge protection system and a Type 1 surge protection device, respectively.

[0037] The base part 12 is in Figure 2a shown separately and has a housing 16 with connections 18 and a receptacle 20.

[0038] The surge protection device 14 can be inserted and held in the receptacle 20 in an insertion direction R, whereby the surge protection system 10 is ready for operation.

[0039] As in Figure 2b As can be seen, a radio switch 22 (FM switch) is provided within the housing 16, which includes a biasing device 24.

[0040] The remote signaling switch 22 also includes a microswitch 26 with a trigger 27, which can be integrated into a building management system, the switch cabinet control or the like to indicate the status of the surge protection system 10 or the surge protection device 14.

[0041] The pretensioning device 24 comprises a spring 28 and a movable clamping part 30 which extends through the housing 16 into the receptacle 20.

[0042] The clamping part 30 is designed to be movable in the insertion direction R. Furthermore, the clamping part 30 can actuate the microswitch 26, more precisely the microswitch 27.

[0043] In the Figures 3a and 3b the overvoltage protection device 14 and the pre-tensioning device 24 are shown separately.

[0044] The surge protection device 14 has a device housing 32 and contacts 34 that are not covered by the device housing 32. When the surge protection device 14 is inserted into the receptacle 20, the contacts 34 electrically connect the surge protection device 14 to the terminals 18 of the base part 12.

[0045] In Figure 4 For better clarity, the surge protection device 14 is shown without the device housing 32 and the contacts 34.

[0046] The surge protection device 14 has a frame 36, several separating devices 38, here four, a heat-conducting element 40, an actuating element 42 and a display device 44.

[0047] It is of course also conceivable that (not according to the invention) exactly one or (according to the invention) two, three or more than four separating devices 38 are provided.

[0048] The frame 36 serves in particular as the base of the surge protection device 14, to which the contacts 34, the separating devices 38, the heat-conducting element 40 and the actuating element 42 are fastened or guided.

[0049] The frame 36 comes into direct contact with the bottom of the receptacle 20 and is designed to be complementary to the receptacle 20.

[0050] For fastening the heat-conducting element 40 and the actuating element 42, the frame 36 has a side wall 46 which extends at least partially along the longitudinal direction L of the surge protection device 14.

[0051] For the purposes of this invention, the vertical direction H of the surge protection device 14 or the surge protection system 10 is intended to run opposite to the insertion direction R in which the surge protection device 14 is inserted into the base part 12. This serves only for illustrative purposes and corresponds to the orientation of the figures. However, in the orientation in which the surge protection system 10 is typically mounted, the vertical direction H runs horizontally.

[0052] The directions "top" and "bottom" also refer to the orientations shown in the figures.

[0053] Perpendicular to the vertical direction H, the surge protection device 14 has a transverse direction Q and a longitudinal direction L, which correspond to the direction of the shorter and longer side edges of the surge protection device 14, respectively.

[0054] In the side wall 46, a guide 48 in the form of a slot is formed in the vertical direction H of the surge protection device 14.

[0055] The separating devices 38 have a housing 50 in which a spark gap 52 (in Figure 4 (indicated by dashed lines), for example, a horn spark gap is formed. The housings 50 are made of metal, for example.

[0056] The separating devices 38 are arranged in alignment one behind the other in the longitudinal direction L, in particular the walls 54 of the housings 50 lie in a common plane.

[0057] Above the walls 54 is the heat conducting element 40, which is Figure 5As shown enlarged, the heat-conducting element 40 is in contact with each of the housings 50. The heat-conducting element 40 has spring portions 56 and contacts the housings 50, more precisely the walls 54, directly, or only by means of a thermal paste, a thermal adhesive, or the like. As a result, the heat-conducting element 40 is thermally coupled to the housings 50.

[0058] The heat-conducting element 40 is, for example, a sheet metal, particularly made of copper, a copper alloy, or an aluminum alloy. Other materials with good heat conduction are, of course, also conceivable.

[0059] The heat-conducting element 40 is arranged between the separating devices 38 and the device housing 32 and partially the side wall 46 and also extends in the region of the guide 48 of the side wall 46.

[0060] By means of the spring sections 56, the heat-conducting element 40 is supported against the frame 36 or the side wall 46 and the device housing 32 and is thus pressed against the housing 50 in order to ensure good thermal contact.

[0061] In the area of the guide 48, a locking element 58 is provided on the heat conducting element 40.

[0062] The blocking element 58 has a circuit board made of FR-4 as component 60 and a temperature-sensitive material 62.

[0063] The circuit board has no electrically conductive structures.

[0064] The temperature-sensitive material 62 is, for example, a low-temperature solder, in particular with a melting point between 110°C and 140°C, for example with a melting point of 138°C.

[0065] In the embodiment shown, the component 60 is detachably attached to the heat-conducting element 40 and permanently attached to the actuating element 42 by means of the temperature-sensitive material 62.

[0066] The actuating element 42 has a first section 64 and an adjoining second section 66. The first section 64 is wider than the second section 66, so that a step is formed at the transition between the first section 64 and the second section 66, in which the locking element 58, or more precisely, the component 60, rests.

[0067] The first section 64 is received in the guide 48 and is designed, for example, to be complementary to the guide 48. The guide 48 and the first section 64 can represent a dovetail joint.

[0068] The actuating element 42 is in the guide 48 in the vertical direction H between a locked position ( Fig. 4 ) and a triggered position ( Fig. 7) movable.

[0069] The arrangement of the locking element 58 on the step prevents movement of the actuating element 42 along the vertical direction H, so that the actuating element 42 is fixed in the locked position.

[0070] At the lower end of the first section 64, ie the end facing away from the second section 66, the first section 64 has a nose 68 which is arranged in a gap 70 of the device housing 32, as shown in the Figure 3b is shown.

[0071] It can be clearly seen that the nose 68 engages the clamping part 30 of the pre-tensioning device 24. When the surge protection device 14 is fully inserted into the receptacle 20, the spring 28 of the pre-tensioning device 24 is tensioned by the actuating element 42 and the clamping part 30. In other words, the actuating element is then pre-tensioned in the vertical direction H by the spring 28, opposite to the insertion direction R.

[0072] The display device 44 is provided on the top side of the surge protection device 14, i.e. above the disconnecting devices 38.

[0073] The display device 44 has a display area 71, a base plate 72, a display element 74 movable relative to the base plate 72 and a spring 76.

[0074] The device housing 32 of the surge protection device 14 may also have a viewing window 88 in the display area 71, which allows a view of the display area 71.

[0075] In the embodiment shown, the base plate 72 covers the separating devices 38 at the top and rests on the housings 50.

[0076] At least one of the edges 78 of the base plate 72 running in the longitudinal direction L is angled downwards and extends in the direction of the vertical direction H.

[0077] The display element 74 is designed to be movable in the transverse direction Q relative to the base plate 72 and has a main section 84 substantially parallel to the base plate 72 and an adjoining fastening section 86.

[0078] The display element 74 is guided in the transverse direction Q in the base plate 72 and can assume a locked position and a released position.

[0079] The part of the base plate 72 in the display area 71 forms a fixed first display surface 80. The first display surface 80 is, for example, red, in particular the entire base plate 72 is red.

[0080] The main portion 84 of the display element 74 has a second display surface 82 of the display device 44, which is thus also movable. The second display surface 82 is provided at the end of the main portion 84 facing away from the mounting portion 86.

[0081] The second display surface 82, in particular the entire display element 74, is green.

[0082] In the Figure 4 In the locked position shown, the second display surface 82 covers the first display surface 80, so that the green, second display surface 82 can be seen through the viewing window 88.

[0083] In Figure 6 the overvoltage protection device 14 is shown schematically in the locked position in the area of the display device 44, so that the spring 76 can be seen.

[0084] The spring 76 is provided in the base plate 72 and applies a force in the transverse direction Q to the display element 74. The spring 76 acts in particular on the main section 84.

[0085] This can be clearly seen in the Figure 6In the locked position shown, the free end of the fastening section 86 is angled. This angled end engages the edge 78 of the base plate 72 and thus prevents movement of the display element 74 in the transverse direction Q.

[0086] For this purpose, the edge 78 of the base plate 72 can have an undercut into which the end of the fastening section 86 engages.

[0087] As in the Figure 4 and 6 As can also be clearly seen, the end of the fastening section 86 is located in the vertical direction H above the actuating element 42.

[0088] In the Figure 4 In the situation shown, both the actuating element 42 and the display element 74 are in a first, pre-tensioned and locked position.

[0089] This is the normal position of the surge protection device 14 when all of the disconnect devices 38 are operational.

[0090] When the surge protection system 10 or the surge protection device 14 is deployed, a high voltage is dissipated by at least one of the isolating devices 38. In the case of particularly large overvoltages, the corresponding isolating device 38 may lose its functionality, which is indicated by the indicator device 44 and the remote signaling switch 22. For this purpose, both the indicator device 44 and the remote signaling switch 22 are triggered.

[0091] In the event of an overvoltage, significant heat buildup occurs in the disconnecting devices 38, for example, due to an arc. This causes the housing 50 of the corresponding disconnecting device 38 to heat up, or, if multiple disconnecting devices 38 are involved in the voltage reduction, the housings 50 of several of the disconnecting devices 38 to heat up.

[0092] Due to the good thermal contact between the housings 50 and the heat-conducting element 40, the heat-conducting element 40 is heated by the heat generated by each of the separating devices 38.

[0093] Due to the high thermal conductivity of the heat-conducting element 40 itself, the location of the heat-conducting element where the blocking element 58 is provided also heats up. As soon as this location, more precisely the temperature-sensitive material 62, reaches a predetermined temperature, which in this case is determined by the melting point of the temperature-sensitive material 62, the temperature-sensitive material 62 dissolves, so that the component 60 is no longer connected to the heat-conducting element 40.

[0094] In other words, the heat-conducting element 40 absorbs the heat generated by all the separating devices 38 and transfers it to the blocking element 58. The heat-conducting element 40 thus represents an OR connection between the separating devices 38.

[0095] As soon as the component 60 is released from the heat-conducting element 40, it is no longer able to hold the actuating element 42 in the locked position against the spring force of the spring 28 of the pretensioning device 24.

[0096] The actuating element 42 is thus moved by the pre-tensioning device 24, more precisely the tensioning part 30, in the vertical direction H towards the display device 44 and assumes its triggered position, which is Figure 7 is shown.

[0097] At the same time, the clamping part 30 also actuates the microswitch 26, more precisely the trigger 27, so that the remote signal switch 22 is actuated.

[0098] In the triggered position, the actuating element 42 extends in the vertical direction H almost over the entire edge 78 of the base plate 72. During the movement, the actuating element 42 releases the end of the fastening section 86 from the edge 78, whereby the locking of the display element 74 is released.

[0099] The display element 74 is therefore now moved by the spring 76 in the transverse direction Q into its triggered position.

[0100] In the triggered position, the second display surface 82 is offset from the first display surface 80 so that the first display surface 80 is no longer obscured.

[0101] In other words, only the first display area 80 is located in the display area 71, so that a red area can be seen through the viewing window 88.

[0102] The red first display area 80 indicates a defect in at least one of the disconnecting devices 38, so that the surge protection device 14 must be replaced.

[0103] In this way, both the remote signaling switch 22 and the indicator device 44 are actuated as soon as one of the isolating devices 38 is defective.

[0104] Both the display device 44 and the remote signaling switch 22 are triggered and actuated by the same assembly consisting of the locking element 58 and the pre-tensioning device 24, so that cases in which the displays do not match cannot occur.

[0105] In addition, the entire actuating mechanism is activated when the surge protection device 14 is inserted into the receptacle 20, so that no additional actions are necessary.

[0106] However, it is also conceivable that the overvoltage protection device 14 itself has a spring for generating the preload of the actuating element 42.

Claims

1. A surge protection device comprising at least one disconnecting device (38) provided in a housing (50), a heat-conducting element (40), an actuating element (42) for actuating an indicating device (44), and a locking element (58), the heat-conducting element (40) being in contact with the housing (50), the actuating element (42) being fastened to the heat-conducting element (40) by means of the locking element (58), and the fastening by the locking element (58) being configured such that when a predetermined temperature at the locking element (58) is exceeded, the locking element (58) is detached from the heat-conducting element (40) and / or from the actuating element (42) and releases the actuating element (42), characterized in that the surge protection device (14) has at least two disconnecting devices (38) each having a housing (50), and the heat-conducting element (40) being in contact with at least two of the housings (50).

2. The surge protection device according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating element (42) is movable between an arrested position and a released position, the locking element (58) fixing the actuating element (42) in place in the arrested position, and the actuating element (42) being adapted to be pretensioned in the arrested position.

3. The surge protection device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the surge protection device (14) has three or four disconnecting devices (38) each having a housing (50), the heat-conducting element (40) being in contact with at least two, in particular all of the housings (50).

4. The surge protection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one disconnecting device (38) has a spark gap (52) and the housing (50) surrounds the spark gap (52).

5. The surge protection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the locking element (58) includes a temperature-sensitive material (62), in particular a solder the melting point of which determines the predetermined temperature.

6. The surge protection device according to claim 5, characterized in that the locking element (58) comprises a component (60), in particular a circuit board, which is fastened to one of the actuating element (42) and the heat-conducting element (40) by means of the temperature-sensitive material (62), in particular wherein the component (60) is permanently fastened to the other of the actuating element (42) and the heat-conducting element (40).

7. The surge protection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the heat-conducting element (40) is a metal sheet, in particular made of copper, and / or in that the heat-conducting element (40) has at least one spring section (56) which urges the heat-conducting element (40) against the housing (50).

8. The surge protection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surge protection device (14) has a frame (36) and / or a device housing (32) to which the heat-conducting element (40) is fastened, to which the at least one disconnecting device (38) is fastened, and / or on which the actuating element (42) is guided.

9. The surge protection device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the surge protection device (14) has an indicating device (44) which includes an indicating area (71), a first indicating surface (80) fixed in the indicating area (71), and a movable second indicating surface (82), the second indicating surface (82) being movable between an arrested position, in which the second indicating surface (82) overlaps the first indicating surface (80), and a released position, in which the second indicating surface (82) is arranged offset with respect to the first indicating surface (80).

10. The surge protection device according to claim 9, characterized in that the second indicating surface (82) is formed on a movable indicating element (74), the indicating element (74), in the arrested position, being arrested and pretensioned by a spring (76) in the direction of the released position, wherein in the released position, the arresting of the indicating element (74) is released by the actuating element (42).

11. The surge protection device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the actuating element (42) and the indicating element (74) are for the most part arranged on different sides of the surge protection device (14).

12. A modular surge protection system comprising a base part (12) and a surge protection device (14) according to any of the preceding claims, the base part (12) having an accommodation (20) for the surge protection device (14) and a pretensioning device (24), the pretensioning device (24) having a spring (28) and a movable tensioning part (30) partially projecting into the accommodation (20), the tensioning part (30) engaging the actuating element (42) of the surge protection device (14) and the spring (28) pretensioning the actuating element (42) via the tensioning part (30) when the surge protection device (14) is inserted in the base part (12).

13. The modular surge protection system according to claim 12, characterized in that the surge protection system (10) has a remote signaling switch (22), the remote signaling switch (22) including the spring (28), in particular the pretensioning device (24).

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