Patent ID: 6606232
Filing Date: 2003-08-12
Classification: H01C,H01T

Abstract:
A surge protector having a conductive line terminal and a conductive ground terminal, the surge protector comprising:a conductive first protection element electrically connected to the line terminal; a conductive fusible element electrically connected to the line terminal, the fusible element having a predetermined melt temperature; a conductive failsafe ground electrically connected to the first protection element and the fusible element; and a conductive ground spring electrically connected to the failsafe ground and the ground terminal, the ground spring biasing the failsafe ground in the direction of the line terminal to provide at least a first electrical ground path between the line terminal and the ground terminal until the fusible element melts and to provide an electrical short-circuit path between the line terminal and the ground terminal once the fusible element melts, the ground spring comprising a first ground spring and a second ground spring, the first ground spring formed of a material having a greater electrical conductivity than the second ground spring and the second ground spring formed of a materiel having a greater biasing force than the first ground spring.