Surge protection element

Abstract

The invention relates to a surge protection element comprising a housing (2), a surge protection component (3), an overcurrent protection element (4), and an indicator device (5, 6), wherein the indicator device has a force-absorbing portion (51) and an indicator portion (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-absorbing portion, thereby initiating a movement of the indicator portion. A receptacle (8) for the overcurrent protection element is formed in the housing of the surge protection element, wherein the receptacle has an opening (81) through which the movable actuating element protrudes, and wherein a stop (82) is formed in the receptacle and an edge (91) is provided on the overcurrent protection element, by means of which edge the overcurrent protection element rests against the stop, wherein the stop is at a distance a from the force-absorbing portion and the edge is at a distance b from the front face of the actuating element such that the front face of the actuating element, in the first position, is at a predetermined distance x from the force-absorbing portion of the indicator device.

Description

[0001] Surge protection element

[0002] The invention relates to an overvoltage protection element comprising a housing, an overvoltage component, an overcurrent protection element, and a display device according to the preamble of patent claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to an overcurrent protection element for actuating a display device of an overvoltage protection element according to the preamble of patent claim 10.

[0003] The overcurrent protection element has a movable actuating element that moves from a first position to a second position when the overcurrent protection element is triggered. The movable actuating element of the overcurrent protection element is configured, in its second position, to apply a force to a force-absorbing portion of the indicator device in order to actuate the indicator device by initiating a movement of the indicator portion of the indicator device from a first position to a second position.

[0004] Surge protection elements and surge protection devices have been known in various designs for decades. They serve to protect systems, consumers, and end devices from overvoltages or excessive voltage spikes, which can be caused, for example, by lightning strikes or switching operations. Depending on the installation location and requirements, surge protection elements contain different overvoltage components. Surge components can include both surge-limiting components such as varistors and surge-switching components such as spark arresters, gas discharge tubes, or diodes, as well as combinations of these components.

[0005] Surge protection elements are often designed as "protective plugs" that, together with a device base, form a surge protection device. For installation, such a surge protection device is provided with connection terminals on the device base for the individual conductors, for example, the phase conductors LI, L2, L3, as well as the neutral conductor N and, if applicable, the ground conductor PE. For easy mechanical and electrical contact between the device base and the respective surge protection element, the surge protection elements have connection contacts designed as plug pins. Sockets connected to the connection terminals in the device base serve as mating contacts, allowing the surge protection element to be easily plugged onto the device base.

[0006] With such surge protection devices, installation and assembly are very easy due to the pluggable nature of the surge protection elements. In addition, such surge protection devices often feature visual status indicators to indicate the status of the surge components. The status indicator indicates whether the surge component located in the surge protection element is still functional or not. In practice, the status of the surge protection element is often monitored using thermal disconnect devices, which electrically disconnect the surge protection element if it becomes excessively hot, which can occur, for example, due to leakage currents.

[0007] DE 10 2009 036 125 A1 discloses a surge protection element with a thermal disconnection device, which monitors the condition of a varistor. For this purpose, a solder joint and a conductive connecting element are provided as a trigger element. The conductive connecting element is connected to an insulating separating element in such a way that, when the solder joint is opened, the insulating separating element is moved by spring force between a terminal of the varistor and the associated connection contact. The connecting element is preferably designed as a metal piece and arranged in the separating element formed by a rigid insulating plate.

[0008] The isolating element is moved by means of a release slide, which is actuated by a spring system. When the solder joint is severed, the force of the spring system moves the release slide from a first position to a second position. The electrically conductive connecting element is arranged in the first position of the release slide, and the insulating isolating element is arranged in the second position between the connection contact and the corresponding pole of the varistor. In addition, the surge protection element known from DE 10 2009 036 125 A1 features a visual status indicator formed by a colored display surface on a tab of the release slide.

[0009] Because the response time of thermal disconnect devices is relatively long, they are not suitable for protecting overvoltage components from prolonged mains-frequency overvoltages, which can lead to varistor breakdown. For this reason, in addition to thermal disconnect devices, fuses are also used in practice as overcurrent protection elements, which are connected in series with the overvoltage component to be protected.

[0010] Overcurrent protection elements in various designs are known in practice, which additionally feature an indicator. When such an overcurrent protection element is triggered, not only is the current path via the fusible link of the overcurrent protection element interrupted, but an actuating element connected to the fusible link also moves. This actuating element can be, for example, a spring-loaded bolt protruding from one side of 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 an indicator is that when an overcurrent occurs, the fuse not only interrupts the current path, but the triggering of the fuse can be indicated by the movement of the actuating element.

[0011] DE 10 2006 034 404 A1 discloses a fuse with a spring-loaded firing pin as an indicator, which is arranged in series with a surge protection device to protect a surge component. Melting of the fuse element interrupts the current path through the fuse and also causes the firing pin to move from a first position to a second position. The firing pin can be used as a visual indicator to indicate the status of the surge protection device on-site.

[0012] In a surge protection element known from practice comprising 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 status indicator from its first position to its second position. To this end, the actuating element applies a force to a locking element, pivoting the locking element into a position in which it no longer blocks the movement of the spring-loaded optical status indicator from its first position to its second position. The overcurrent protection element, designed as a fuse, is housed in a fuse holder and glued or soldered to secure it in the position required to act upon the locking element.

[0013] The need to mount the fuse in the fuse holder, align it with the blocking element, and then secure it by soldering or gluing increases the complexity of installing the surge protection element. Incorrect positioning of the fuse holder may also result in the optical status indicator not being correctly moved from its first position to its second position, resulting in an incorrect indication of the surge protection element's status.

[0014] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing an overvoltage protection element that avoids the aforementioned disadvantages. In particular, the assembly of the overcurrent protection element is to be simplified so that the indicator device can be reliably activated.

[0015] This object is achieved with the overvoltage protection element described above, having the features of patent claim 1. In the overvoltage protection element according to the invention, a receptacle is formed in the housing, in which the overcurrent protection element is at least partially arranged. The receptacle has an opening on the side facing the force-absorbing section of the display device, through which at least the movable actuating element of the overcurrent protection element protrudes, so that the actuating element, in its second position, can apply a force to the force-absorbing section of the display device.

[0016] In addition, a stop is formed in the receptacle, to which an edge is arranged or formed on the overcurrent protection element as a counter-stop, with which edge the overcurrent protection element rests against the stop in the receptacle. Due to the design of 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 to the force absorption section of the display device and the edge of the overcurrent protection element a distance b to the front side of the actuating element, wherein the distance a and the distance b are coordinated with one another in such a way that the front side of the actuating element, in the first position, has a predetermined distance x from the force absorption section of the display device.

[0017] By appropriately arranging or positioning the stop and the edge, the distance between the front of the actuating element and the force-absorbing section of the indicator device can be determined when the indicator device or its force-absorbing section is in a predetermined position in the housing. Since the distance x between the actuating element and the force-absorbing section influences how quickly and strongly the force-absorbing section is subjected to force F after the overcurrent protection element is triggered. A The distance x also influences how quickly the display section moves from a first position to a second position. By positioning the stop and the edge accordingly, the desired actuation of the display device can be ensured.

[0018] 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, so that the front side of the actuating element rests against the force-absorbing section of the display device in the first position without an air gap. Since permanent application of a force to the force-absorbing section of the display device should 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 manufacturing tolerances into account, so that the force-absorbing section is not deflected in the first position of the actuating element. This can result in a small distance x between the actuating element and the force-absorbing section, even if direct contact between the front side of the actuating element and the force-absorbing section of the display device is actually desired.

[0019] The edge provided on the overcurrent protection element can either protrude outwards from the outer surface of the overcurrent protection element or be directed inwards from the outer surface, for example formed by a groove. The stop is then formed in the receptacle in a corresponding manner, so that the edge rests against 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 provided on the side of the receptacle facing the force-absorbing section of the display device. This has the advantage that no separate stop needs to be formed in the receptacle, which simplifies the manufacture of the receptacle.

[0020] 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 it can be plugged onto the overcurrent protection element as a separate element and fastened to a cap or the outer surface of the overcurrent protection element. The annular element can, in particular, be a circumferential, closed ring. Such a closed ring can also be retrofitted to an existing overcurrent protection element particularly easily.

[0021] The design of the stop in the receptacle and the edge on the overcurrent protection element makes precise positioning of the overcurrent protection element relative to the force-absorbing section very easy. To ensure that the overcurrent protection element's edge permanently rests against the stop of the receptacle after insertion into the receptacle, the overcurrent protection element is preferably subjected to a force that presses the edge against the stop. This eliminates the need for gluing or soldering the overcurrent protection element, which would require an additional manufacturing step.

[0022] 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 disc spring. Advantageously, a spring element is arranged in the receptacle on the side of the overcurrent protection element facing away from the actuating element. The overcurrent protection element is subjected to a force FF by the spring element, which presses the edge against the stop in the receptacle. The spring element does not have to lie directly against the end face of the overcurrent protection element facing away from the actuating element; rather, 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 transferred to the overcurrent protection element.The further component may in particular be a component of an ignition circuit, for example a gas-filled surge arrester, which is also electrically connected to the overcurrent protection element.

[0023] The display device preferably consists of a spring element as a mechanical actuating element and an optical status indicator, which are mechanically coupled to one another. The force-absorbing section is formed on the spring element, and the display section is formed on the optical status indicator. The restoring force FR of the spring element is used to move the spring element from its first position, deflected from the rest position, to its second position. The mechanical coupling of the spring element to the optical status indicator also causes the optical status indicator, and in particular the display section, to move from its first position to its second position.

[0024] The spring element is preferably designed and arranged in the housing in such a way that it is movable from a first position to 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 against the restoring force of the spring element. When the movable actuating element in its second position presses the force-absorbing section on the spring element with a force F A When the spring element is acted upon, it disengages from the retaining element, so that the spring element moves into a second position due to its restoring force.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, the spring element is designed as a wire spring with a relatively small thickness or width. The wire spring preferably has a circular or approximately circular cross-section, with the diameter or circumference of the wire spring being significantly smaller than its length. This is advantageous for space-saving installation of the wire spring in the housing of the surge protection element.

[0026] The retaining element, which holds the spring element in its first position against the restoring force of the spring section, is preferably designed as a projection or edge whose end 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 edge also only needs to have a relatively small extension in order to hold the spring element in its first position against the restoring force of the spring section. Thus, only a slight pivoting of the spring element is required to release the spring element from the first position, so that the spring element requires only a small amount of installation space.

[0027] The stated object is achieved in an overcurrent protection element for actuating a display device of an overvoltage protection element with the features of patent claim 10. An edge is arranged or formed on the overcurrent protection element, which edge is intended to bear 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 distance is selected such that the end face of the actuating element, in the first position, has a predetermined, as small as possible distance x from the force-absorbing section of the display device. With regard to the advantages of such an overcurrent protection element, reference can be made to the corresponding statements regarding the overvoltage protection element according to the invention.

[0028] The overcurrent protection element is preferably cylindrical, with an annular element arranged or formed on a cap or the outer surface of the overcurrent protection element, the end face of which facing the actuating element forms the protruding edge. The annular element can be completely or partially circumferential. Alternatively, the annular element can also consist of several sections, which are then preferably arranged symmetrically 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 inwards from the outer surface of the overcurrent protection element.

[0029] In detail, there are several possibilities for further developing and designing the overvoltage protection element and the overcurrent protection element according to the invention. Reference is made to the dependent claims as well as to the description of an exemplary embodiment in conjunction with the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1, a side view of an overvoltage protection element according to the invention, with an optical status indicator in the first position,

[0030] Fig. 2 the overvoltage protection element according to Fig. 1, with optical status indicator in the second position,

[0031] Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the surge protection element according to Fig. 1,

[0032] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the overcurrent protection element with the actuating element in the first position and in the second position,

[0033] Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the overcurrent protection element with the actuating element in the first position and in the second position,

[0034] Fig. 6 the section of the overvoltage protection element according to Fig. 1, with the overcurrent protection element not yet mounted, from the side and in longitudinal section,

[0035] Fig. 7 the overvoltage protection element according to Fig. 1, with optical status indicator in the first position, from the second side, and

[0036] Fig. 8 shows the overvoltage protection element according to Fig. 1, with optical status indicator in the second position, from the second side.

[0037] The figures show a preferred embodiment of a surge protection element 1 with a housing 2, wherein a plurality of surge components 3 in the form of spark gaps are arranged in the housing 2. In the illustrated embodiment, 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 discharge tube, or other surge-switching or surge-limiting components, as well as a combination thereof, can also be arranged in the housing 2 as surge components. Within the scope of the present invention, it is not important which type of surge component or how many surge components the surge protection element 1 has.The overvoltage protection element 1 also has an overcurrent protection element 4 and a display device consisting of a spring element 5 as a mechanical actuating element and an optical status 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. A fusible element 44 is arranged inside the housing of the fuse and blows when the fuse is triggered. One end of the fusible element 44 is connected to the actuating element 7 when the fuse is not blown, whereby the actuating element 7 remains in its first position against the force of the spring 45, as can be seen from Fig. 5a. When the fuse is triggered, i.e. when the fusible element 44 blows, the actuating element 7 moves due to the force of the spring 44 from a first position according to Figs. 4a, 5a to a second position according to Figs. 4b, 5b.

[0038] To move the optical status indicator 4 from its first position (Figs. 1 and 7) to its second position (Figs. 2 and 8), the spring element 5, designed as a wire spring, is arranged in the housing 2 of the overvoltage protection element 1. The spring element 5 has a force-absorbing section 51 at one end, which is subjected to a force FA by the actuating element 7 when the overcurrent protection element 4 is triggered.

[0039] The surge protection element 1 shown in the figures is designed as a protective plug having two connecting contacts 10, 11 designed as blade contacts, which can be plugged into corresponding plug sockets of a device base not shown here. However, the surge protection element according to the invention does not have to be designed as a protective plug; rather, the surge protection element can also be a one-piece surge protection device that therefore does not have a separate device base. In its fully assembled state, the illustrated surge protection element 1 is also arranged in an outer housing (not shown here), with the connecting contacts 10, 11 protruding 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, depending on the status of the overvoltage protection element 1, the display section 61 of the status indicator 6 or a marking 21 on the upper side of the housing 2 is visible. From the illustration of the overvoltage protection element 1 according to Fig. 1, it can be seen 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) to its second position (Fig. 2), so that the force-absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5 is subjected to a force FA. This causes the spring element 5 to initially deflect and then, due to its restoring force, move from its first position (Fig. 7) to its second position (Fig. 8).

[0040] As can be seen in particular from the sectional view according to Fig. 3 and from the two views in Fig. 6, a receptacle 8 is formed in the housing 2, in which the overcurrent protection element 4 is or can be arranged. The receptacle 8 has an opening 81 on the side facing the force-absorbing 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 completely, but only partially, arranged in the receptacle 8.

[0041] Furthermore, a stop 82 is formed in the receptacle 8, which in the illustrated embodiment 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 rests against the stop 82 in the receptacle 8 in the assembled state. 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, facing 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 onto the overcurrent protection element 4 as a separate element and then fastened to a cap 42 or the outer surface 43 of the overcurrent protection element 4.

[0042] From Fig. 3 it can be seen that the stop 82 in the receptacle 8 is at a distance a from the force-absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5. From Figs. 4a and 5a it can be seen 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 rests directly on the force-absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5 in the first position of the actuating element 7 (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).

[0043] The fuse used as an overcurrent protection element 4 is cylindrical in shape overall, so that the receptacle 8 has a correspondingly tubular shape. On 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 illustrations in Figs. 6a and 6b.

[0044] To ensure that the overcurrent protection element 4 permanently rests with its edge 91 against the stop 82 after being inserted into the receptacle 8, 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 FF to the overcurrent protection element 4, which presses the edge 91 against the stop 82. The spring element 12 does not have to rest directly against the end face 41 of the overcurrent protection element 4 facing away from the actuating element 7; rather, other components can also be arranged between the spring element 12 and the overcurrent protection element 4.

[0045] In the illustrated embodiment of the overvoltage protection element 1, for example, a gas-filled surge arrester 13 is arranged between the end face 41 of the overcurrent protection element 4 and the spring element 12. On the side facing away from the overcurrent 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 shown in the figures. In the overvoltage protection element 1 shown in the figures, the optical status indicator 6 is moved from its first position to its second position by the spring element 5. If the spring element 5 is in the position shown in Fig.7, the spring section 52 is deflected from its rest position. During assembly of the spring element 5, the spring section 52 is deflected downward from the position shown in Fig. 8. To ensure that the spring element 5 remains in the first position despite the deflection of the spring section 52 from the rest position, a retaining element 15 designed as a projection is formed on the housing 2, the end of which engages over the spring element 5.

[0046] When the overcurrent protection element 5 is triggered, the force-absorbing section 51 of the spring element 5 is subjected to a force FA by the actuating element 7, which is directed perpendicular to the longitudinal extent of the force-absorbing section 51. This causes the spring element 5 to pivot about a first axis of rotation, which is arranged perpendicular to the direction of the force FA and perpendicular 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 from under 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 against its own restoring force.

[0047] 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 upward about a second axis of rotation from its first position to its second position due to the restoring force of the spring section 52. The second axis of rotation runs 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 Fig. 8 shows the spring element 5 in its second position.

[0048] From Figures 7 and 8 it can be seen that a pin-shaped section 62 is formed on the optical status indicator 6, which engages in the U-shaped driving section 53 of the spring element 5, so that pivoting of the spring element 5 from its first position to its second position leads to a corresponding movement of the optical status indicator 6. If the surge protection element 1 is located in the outer housing (not shown in the figures), the display section 61 of the optical status indicator 6, which has a marking, is not only pushed upwards by the movement of the spring element 5, but is also pressed slightly to the bottom right - in the illustration according to Figure 8 - by the top side of the outer housing. This position of the display section 61 of the optical status indicator 6 is shown in dashed lines in Figure 8.

[0049] Reference symbol

[0050] 1 surge protection element

[0051] 2 housings

[0052] 21 Marking

[0053] 3 Overvoltage component

[0054] 4 Overcurrent protection element

[0055] 41 Front side

[0056] 42 cap

[0057] 43 lateral surface

[0058] 44 fusible elements

[0059] 45 spring

[0060] 5 spring element

[0061] 51 Force absorption section

[0062] 52 spring section

[0063] 53 Takeaway section

[0064] 6 optical status indicators

[0065] 61 Display section

[0066] 62 pin-shaped section

[0067] 7 Actuating element

[0068] 71 front side

[0069] 8 Recording

[0070] 81 Opening

[0071] 82 stop

[0072] 83 Insertion opening

[0073] 9 ring-shaped element

[0074] 91 edge

[0075] 10 connection contact

[0076] 11 Connection contact

[0077] 12 spring element

[0078] 13 surge arresters

[0079] 14 Varistor

[0080] 15 Holding element

[0081] F A Force of the actuating element

[0082] F F Force of the spring element a distance b distance x distance

Claims

Patent claims 1. Overvoltage protection element (1) with a housing (2), with an overvoltage component (3), with an overcurrent protection element (4) and with a display device (5, 6), wherein the display device (5, 6) has a force absorption 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 to a second position when the overcurrent protection element (4) is triggered, wherein the end face (71) of the movable actuating element (7) is opposite the force absorption section (51) of the display device (5, 6) and wherein the movable actuating element (7) in its second position acts on the force absorption section (51) with a force (F A), whereby a movement of the display section (61) of the display device (5, 6) from a first position to a second position is initiated, characterized in that a receptacle (8) is formed in the housing (2), in which the overcurrent protection element (4) is at least partially arranged, wherein the receptacle (8) has an opening (81) on the side facing the force-absorbing section (51) of the display device (5, 6) through which 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) rests against the stop (82) in the receptacle (8), that the stop (82) in the receptacle (8) has a distance a from the force-absorbing section (51) of the display device (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 coordinated with one another such 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).

2. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the distance a and the distance b are selected such that the distance x is as small as possible.

3. 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).

4. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stop (82) in the receptacle (8) is formed by the edge of the opening (81).

5. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the overcurrent protection element (4) is actuated with a force (F F ), by which the edge (91) is pressed against the stop (82).

6. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that on the side of the overcurrent protection element (4) facing away from the actuating element (7), a spring element (12) is arranged in the receptacle (8), wherein the spring element (12) acts on the overcurrent protection element (4) with the force (F F ) is applied.

7. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the overcurrent protection element (4) is cylindrical and the receptacle (8) is tubular, wherein the receptacle (8) has an insertion opening (83) for inserting the overcurrent protection element (4) on the side opposite the opening (81).

8. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the display device (5, 6) has a spring element (5) and an optical status display (6) which are mechanically coupled to one another, wherein the force absorption section (51) is formed on the spring element (5) and the display section (61) is formed on the optical status display (6).

9. Overvoltage protection element (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the spring element (5) is movable from a first position into a second position, that the spring element (5) in the first position its rest position and is held in its first position by a holding element (13) against the restoring force of the spring element (5), and that the spring element (5) is disengaged from the holding element (15) when the movable actuating element (7) in its second position presses the force-absorbing section (51) with a force (F A ) is applied.

10. 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 to a second position when the overcurrent protection element (4) is triggered, wherein the movable actuating element (7) is designed to actuate a force-absorbing section (51) of the display device (5, 6) with a force (F A), 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) has a distance b from the end face (71) of the actuating element (7), which distance is selected such that the end face (71) of the actuating element (7) in the first position has a predetermined distance x from the force absorption section (51) of the display device (5, 6).

11. Overcurrent protection element (4) according to claim 1, characterized in that the overcurrent protection element (4) is cylindrical and that an annular element (9) is arranged or formed on a cap (42) or the outer surface (43) of the overcurrent protection element (4), the end face of which facing the actuating element (7) forms the projecting edge (91).

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