Safety device and assembly containing the same

Abstract

The present invention relates to a safety device for surge protection devices. [Solution] The safety device 10 has a housing 16 in which a horn gap 24 is located, and the horn gap has two electrodes 26, 28 separated from each other by a gap 32 in the ignition section 30. The safety device has an adjustment mechanism 40 configured to increase the dielectric strength of the safety device by increasing the gap between the electrodes and / or the ignition gap 39. The adjustment mechanism is coupled to an actuation mechanism 64 configured to be operated manually or to be operated automatically as a result of at least one actuation event. The present invention further relates to an assembly comprising a safety device and a surge protection device.

Claims

1. A safety device (10) for a surge protection device (12), the safety device (10) having a housing (16) in which a horn gap (24) is located, the horn gap (24) having two electrodes (26, 28) separated from each other by a gap (32) in the ignition section (30), The safety device (10) includes an adjustment mechanism (40) configured to increase the dielectric strength of the safety device (10) by increasing the gap (32) and / or ignition gap (39) between the electrodes (26, 28). Safety device (10), wherein the adjustment mechanism (40) is connected to a trip mechanism (64) which is configured to be operated manually or to automatically trip the adjustment mechanism (40) as a result of at least one trip event.

2. The safety device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the adjustment mechanism (40) comprises an operating element (42) mounted at least partially movably within the housing (16).

3. The safety device (10) according to claim 2, wherein the operating element (42) has an initial position and an operating position in which the operating element (42) remains after its operation, and the dielectric strength permanently increases in the operating position.

4. The safety device (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the operating element (42) cooperates with at least one electrode (26, 28) in a manner that transmits force, changes the position of the electrode (26, 28) in at least a portion of the region, and in particular is connected to the electrode (26, 28) in a manner that transmits force.

5. The trip mechanism (64) includes a spring (66) that prepresses the functional element (68) to its initial position, and a cutting element (72) that locks the functional element (68) to its initial position. A safety device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that when the cutting element (72) is cut, the functional element (68) cooperates with the operating element (42).

6. The safety device (10) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the operating element (42) is configured as a rotatable lever (84) that mechanically acts on either of the electrodes (26, 28) to change the position of the electrodes (26, 28) in at least a portion of the area.

7. The safety device (10) according to claims 5 and 6, wherein a rotatable lever (84) has a base (86) that is rotatable about a rotation axis (D), and an operating arm (88) and an electrode arm (90) extend from this base, the operating arm (88) cooperates with a functional element (68), and the electrode arm (90) cooperates with electrodes (26, 28), and in particular the electrodes (26, 28) that cooperate with the lever (84) have an engaging portion (92) having an opening (94), and the electrode arm (90) engages with this opening (94) to change the position of the electrodes (26, 28) in at least a portion of the area.

8. The safety device (10) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that a trigger element (104) connected to an operating element (42) is positioned between at least a portion of the electrodes (26, 28), and in particular, the trigger element (104) is electrically conductively connected to either of the electrodes (26, 28).

9. The safety device (10) according to claim 8, wherein the trigger element (104) is configured as a bendable conductor (112) electrically connected to either of the electrodes (26, 28), and together with the other electrodes (26, 28) forms an ignition gap (39) in the ignition section (30), and the actuating element (42) is movably positioned between the electrodes (26, 28) to change the position of the bendable conductor (112) between the electrodes (26, 28) and enlarge the ignition gap (39), and in particular the bendable conductor (112) has a recess (120) that forms the ignition gap (39).

10. The safety device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one trip event is the generation of an arc in the horn gap (24), the entry of the arc into the arc extinguishing chamber (36), and / or an event in which the safety device (10) receives an external trip signal, particularly due to a defect in a surge protection device (12) connected in series with the safety device (10), thereby emitting an external trip signal.

11. An assembly (8) comprising a safety device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, and a surge protection device (12) connected in series with the safety device (10).

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