Patent ID: 8018705
Filing Date: 2011-09-13
Classification: H01T,H02H

Abstract:
1. A spark gap protection device in use connected between a line and an earth terminal to protect a load against transient or surge overvoltages and/or overcurrents, the spark gap protection device comprising multiple pairs of first and second spark gaps, each first spark gap being connected to at least one winding which is inductively coupled to an associated winding connected to the second spark gap of the pair of spark gaps, so that, in use, a surge current flowing across the first spark gap and through a winding connected to the first spark gap induces a voltage in the associated inductively coupled winding connected to the second spark gap of the pair of spark gaps, forcing the second spark gap to trigger, and further wherein the inductively coupled windings of each pair of spark gaps are connected to another winding which is in turn inductively coupled to a winding connected to inductively coupled windings of another pair of spark gaps, thereby for the spark gap protection device to divert a surge or transient current to the earth terminal distributing the surge current between the spark gaps.