Act Communications, Inc.

James E Britton

James A Glaser

Ronald William Glaser

A surge suppressor for a radio frequency (RF) transmission line includes an a printed circuit board having a conductor for connection in series with a RF transmission line. The conductor has a capacitance for passing RF signals and blocking transients. To the printed circuit board are mounted a choke and a resistor, each of which is connected in series with the transmission line and in parallel to each other and to the capacitance of the conductor. The choke passes steady, direct current signals for powering equipment located on an antenna. The surge suppressor further includes first and second discharge stages connected to the conductor on opposite sides of the impedance. Each stage includes a discharge device connected to the conductor through a radio frequency choke or resonant circuit. The choke or resonant circuit blocks leakage of radio frequencies into the discharge devices. A gas discharge tube is used for the first stage, which is for connection to an antenna side of the surge suppressor. A solid state device, having a lower breakdown voltage than the gas discharge tube, is used in the second stage, which is for connection to voltage sensitive equipment. The resistor assists in isolating the first and second stages. The first stage further includes a second gas discharge tube having a breakdown voltage higher than the first gas discharge tube for use in warning of degradation of the first gas discharge tube.

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Bryan, OK, United States of America

James E Britton