Raychem Limited

Kenneth J Fien

Christian A Debbaut

William Joseph Curry

Kimberley Ann Jessup

A vent-safe protector for a telecommunications gas tube (102) includes two electrodes (108,140) (150',140) separated by a non-linear resistive material (134). Each electrode is connected to a gas tube protector terminal (108, 142) to provide an alternate discharge path if the gas tube (102) fails. The non-linear resistive material (134) is substantially non-conductive when the electrical potential between the electrodes is less than the material's breakdown voltage V.sub.B. Above that voltage it becomes conductive and supports a plasma discharge therethrough, effecting a sudden increase in conductivity between the electrodes for discharging high energy potentials with a voltage foldback functionally analogous to the foldback behavior of the gas tube protector.

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Cary, NC, United States of America

Kenneth J Fien