Reliance Comm/tec Corporation

Reltec Corporation

Relaince Comm/tec Corporation

Richard T Kaczmarek

Alexander G Gilberts

Janet A Bradshaw

Thomas G Volk

Jamie M Paske

Donald F Jaycox

Edward S Paluch

Ben Farb

Robert M Dominiak

Arnold M Ladd

Kenneth C Littlejohn

Wayne G Haines

Michael J Bascom

William L Weber

A protector unit for use in retrofitting connector blocks, such as a 300-type connector block or a C-50 frame includes a housing; a back-up, fail-safe assembly for providing a connection to ground; and a positive temperature coefficient limiter ('PTCR') for temporarily preventing the passage of current through the protector unit when an over-current condition is detected and for allowing the passage of current through the protector unit when the over-current condition is no longer detected. The back-up, fail-safe assembly permanently prevents the passage of current through the protector unit when a sustained over-current condition is detected.

Protector unit

A novel current-limiting line protector for a communications circuit is disclosed, and includes a first and second incoming conductive member, a one piece roll-formed conductive member conductively coupled to each incoming conductive member, a ground member, an S-shaped spring in slidable contact with the ground member, and a first and second diode and solder member combination conductively coupled to the first and second incoming conductive members and disposed between the spring and the incoming conductive members. Each diode and solder member combination maintains the spring and the respective incoming conductive member in spaced, non-conducting relation while each solder member remains substantially intact. However, when excessive current is conducted along either incoming conductive member, the respective solder member deforms allowing the spring to slide toward the respective incoming conductive member and along the ground member and form at least a portion of a conductive path from the respective incoming conductive member to the ground member. The line protector is non-resetting after the spring has displaced along the ground member.

Line protector for a communication circuit

The invention is a modular terminal block assembly. The modular terminal block assembly includes a base module in which communications company lines may be dressed and retained during the dressing operation. A connector module is provided for attachment over the base module and to engage the distribution lines retained in the base module with insulation displacement connectors (IDC) which are retained in the connector module. A protection module is provided for engagement with an opposite side of the base module so that protection can be provided on the lines without interfering with the connection termination of customer service line on the connector module. The modular terminal block assembly provides structures which allow the assembled modular terminal block to be retained on a standard U-shaped mounting frame or for attachment to a rod frame system. The protection module maintains protection on the lines while the terminal block assembly is in contact with the U-shaped frame and rod frame system. A half-tap assembly may be attached to the modular terminal block, independent of the service line assembly for the addition of a line to the terminal block. An environmental protectant is retained in the modular terminal block to protect the conductive connections retained therein from detrimental environmental effects.

Modular terminal block assembly

An arrester assembly which retains all the components thereof in an assembled condition is disclosed. The arrester assembly can be handled as an individual subassembly for use in a line protector. The arrester assembly includes a cup which has a base, at least one wall, and an open end. A sleeve is retained within the cup by an interference fit between the outside of the sleeve and the inside surface of the cup. An arrester element having a first face and a second face is retained within the sleeve with the first face in conductive contact with the base of the cup. A solder contact in the form of an elongated beam is positioned within the sleeve in abutting contact with the second face of the arrester element. The beam includes engaging structures which are forced past an inner ridge on an internal surface of the sleeve for retaining the beam in position in the sleeve. As such, the components of the assembly are retained in engagement allowing the arrester assembly to be handled as a single subassembly for use in a line protector.

Cup and diode assembly for overvoltage protectors and communications

A surge arrester assembly includes an electrically conductive container having disposed therein a surge arrester and a meltable element. The surge arrester has a first electrode in electrical contact with the container and a second electrode not in electrical contact with the container. The meltable element is an electrically conductive element in thermal contact with the surge arrester. The meltable element is located and configured so as to melt in response to a selectable level of thermal energy generated by the surge arrester, in such a manner as to create an electrical short circuit between the first electrode and the second electrode.

Surge arrester with thermal overload protection

A module for quickly and easily connecting and disconnecting electrical wires comprises a nonconductive housing having a first connector compartment for housing a first plurality of wire connectors and a second connector compartment for housing a second plurality of wire connectors. A plurality of actuators are independently and slidably mounted in the first and second connector compartments. Each of the actuators is associated with one of the wire connectors and is movable between a first position wherein a wire may be received in or removed from the actuator, and a second position wherein a received wire is electrically connected to the associated wire connector, whereby both incoming and outgoing wires may be quickly and easily connected to each other.

Quick connect/disconnect module

An arrester assembly for arresting over-voltage conditions in electric circuits and for isolating an arrester element from possibly harmful effects of external forces applied to the arrester assembly comprises a hollow cup and an arrester element located within the cup for arresting over-voltage conditions. A plastic sleeve is disposed within the cup surrounding the arrester element for isolating the arrester element from the possibly harmful effects of external forces applied to the assembly. A spring may also be provided within the cup for further isolating the arrester element from such effects.

Drop resistant cup-arrester assembly

An assembly for defining a sealed back-up air gap, for use with a line protector comprising an over-voltage arrester housed within a canister and defining a back-up air gap therebetween, comprises an electrical contact and a sealing member. A mounting arrangement is disposed on the electrical contact for positively positioning and retaining the sealing member on the electrical contact. The sealing member is engagable with the canister to form a seal for the back-up air gap, and with the contact while also mounting the contact for electrically conductive engagement with one electrode of the arrester. In one embodiment, the sealing member is an elastomeric O-ring. In another embodiment, the O-ring mount is formed by deformation of the electrical contact. In yet another embodiment, the O-ring is replaced by a flat, annular washer-shaped insulator, which is positively retained on the electrical contact.

Arrester assembly with sealed back-up air gap

A line protector for a communications circuit comprises a housing, an over-voltage arrester received in said housing and having axially opposite electrodes and a ground strip for coupling one of the electrodes to electrical ground. An over-current arrester has at least one line contact for electrically contacting a communications line. A conductive sleeve electrically contacts a second communications line to be joined with the first communications line, the sleeve also being assembled with the over-current arrester and with the over-voltage arrester, such that the over-voltage arrester is held within the housing. The sleeve has projecting fingers for completing an electrical circuit between the second communications line and the other of the electrodes of the over-voltage arrester. A ground assembly is assembled with the sleeve within the housing and generally intermediate the over-current arrester and the over-voltage arrester for contacting the ground strip and providing a ground surface in an area intermediate the over-voltage arrester and the over-current arrester for grounding the second communications line which is in electrical contact with the line contact upon occurrence of an over-current condition.

Line protector for a communications circuit

A line protector for a communications circuit comprises a generally cup-shaped housing; and a generally disc-shaped solid state overvoltage arrester having electrodes formed at axially oppositely facing surfaces thereof for connection to a line circuit and a ground circuit respectively. An elongate contactor extends into the housing for contacting a first one of the electrodes and projects outwardly of the housing for contacting one of the line circuit and the ground circuit. An insulator member receives and positions the solid state overvoltage arrester with the other of the electrodes thereof in contact with a closed end of the cup-shaped housing and with the first electrode in position for contacting the contactor. An elastomeric member surroundingly engages the contactor and is surroundingly engaged by the cup-like housing for retaining the contactor, the insulator member and the overvoltage arrester in asembled condition within the housing.

Solid state overvoltage protector assembly

A reusable cap for providing mechanical, electrical and environmental isolation of an electrical terminal. The cap includes a tubular body which has in it an opening for receiving the wire(s) connected to the terminal binding post. The tubular body has a neck. Seated in the neck is the mechanism for engaging the threads of the binding post. The mechanism, which is made of conductive material, is seated in the neck so as to be rotatable without causing rotation of the housing. The cap also includes a removable cover which can be placed over the mechanism. Removing the cover allows the binding post to be accessible through the mechanism for the purposes of testing.

Reusable terminal locking cap

A line protector for a communications circuit provides at least overvoltage protection. The overvoltage protection is obtained through a solid state arrester such as a diode. As the solid state arrester is not as long as the carbon electrode type or gas tube arrester which it replaces, the line protector includes a hollow conductive pedestal. The hollow conductive pedestal, which may be a deep drawn cup, provides sufficient flexibility to avoid damaging the arrester when the line protector is subjected to a drop test. The end of the pedestal adjacent to the solid state arrester is shaped to receive one electrode of the arrester, while the other end of the pedestal is shaped to provide a good contact to the grounding circuit of the protector.

Conductive pedestal for use with solid state overvoltage arrester

A line protector for a communications circuit. The protector has a three electrode gas tube, the end electrodes of which are connected to the protector's line input terminals. The middle electrode of the tube is connected to the protector's ground terminal. Decoupling devices such as positive temperature coefficient resistors are connected in series between the line input terminals and the protector's equipment terminals. The protector also includes an additional overvoltage arrestor in the form of two diodes connected between the protector's ground terminal and the equipment terminals. The diodes have a lower voltage rating than the gas tube. A conductive clip which is in firm engagement with the protector's ground terminal is used to removably hold the diodes.

A line protector. The protector has a conductive housing which has a surge arrester therein. The housing has an open end and a closed end. A nonconductive cap closes the open end to thereby form an enclosure. A line terminal has its shank extending outwardly from the nonconductive cap. The head of the terminal post is in the cap. The surge arrester communicates between the head and the conductive housing.

Line protector

A central office protector module which includes a light to provide a visual indication whenever the module shorts either of the lines protected by the module to groud as a result of either a sustained overcurrent or overvoltage condition on either line. The module includes a sixth or alarm pin in addition to the two line pins, two equipment pins and one ground pin usually included in the module. The module also includes two internal alarm terminals which are each associated with a respective one of the lines. The light is connected to those terminals and a source of voltage. The alarm terminals are connected to ground to complete the circuit to the light when the associated line is connected to ground within the module.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Richard T Kaczmarek