The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 05, 2002
Filed:
Oct. 12, 1999
William Goldbach, Spring Hill, FL (US);
Ronald Hotchkiss, Brooksville, FL (US);
Innovative Technology, Inc., Brooksville, FL (US);
Abstract
The disclosure describes a surge protection device that makes use of metal oxide varistors (MOVs) to limit the magnitude of electrical surges in single phase or multi-phase power distribution networks. Since MOVs generally fail in a low impedance mode when the electrical ratings of the devices are exceeded, current limiting and thermal limiting devices are connected in series with the MOVs to limit the effect of these failures to the surge protection devices. The physical configuration of the surge protection device limits the effects of a current limiter being activated by providing a barrier between the current limiter and the associated MOV. Filler material is also used to limit the effects of debris or plasma gas from an activated current limiter. Multiple surge protection devices may be connected in parallel to provide increased current handling capability, and visual indication of a failed surge protection device may be provided.