Patent Description:
The present disclosure relates to the technical field of surge protectors, and in particular, to a graphite surge protector.

A surge protector, also referred to as a lightning arrester, is an electronic apparatus that provides safety protection for various electronic devices, instruments, meters, and communication lines. When an electrical circuit or a communication line suddenly generates a peak current or voltage due to external interference, the surge protector can be conducted for shunting in a very short time, thereby avoiding damage to other equipment in the circuit caused by a surge. In prior applications, an overheating failure of the surge protector after withstanding the surge is not easily detected by operations and maintenance personnels in a timely manner. As a result, the surge protector cannot withstand a next surge, resulting in a short circuit, which causes a power supply accident and a loss. <CIT> discloses an excess voltage circuit breaker with a rotational disc, wherein movement of a connection electrode triggers the movement of the rotational disc, the spring, the latching plate which changes the state of the indicator. <CIT> discloses a surge protective device, wherein the surge protective device includes a first electrical terminal, a second electrical terminal, and an overvoltage protection circuit connected between the first and second electrical terminals. The overvoltage protection circuit includes a gas discharge tube and a current management circuit connected in series to the gas discharge tube. The current management circuit includes a varistor and a resistor that are connected in parallel between a first node of the current management circuit and a second node of the current management circuit. <CIT> discloses an SPD plug-in module, wherein the SPD plug-in module comprises a rectangular outer shell with an open bottom, and an inner cavity. The inner cavity is inserted into the rectangular outer shell in a drawer-like manner from the bottom surface of the rectangular outer shell, and comprises an inner shell and an SPD chip structure and a thermal separation structure fixed on the inner shell. The SPD chip structure is provided with a non-tripping electrode foot and a tripping electrode foot, which are respectively fixed to the middle and lower parts of the left and right side surfaces of the inner shell and extend out of the bottom surface of the inner shell. <CIT> and <CIT> disclose comparable surge protector devices based on an SPD chip structure with thermal overload disconnection.

<CIT> discloses a surge protector, wherein the surge protector comprises a shell, and a graphite assembly, a PCB assembly, a metal electrode and a compression sealing structure which are arranged in the shell, wherein a graphite clamping part matched with the graphite assembly is arranged in the shell, a positioning column is arranged on the shell, the positioning part is sleeved with a pressing sealing structure, one side of the shell is provided with a chamber for accommodating the PCB assembly, a tripping assembly is arranged on a pressing sealing part and makes contact with a metal electrode.

A technical problem to be resolved in the present disclosure is to provide a graphite surge protector, such that an overheating failure of the surge protector can be detected by operation and maintenance personnel in a timely manner, thereby avoiding a power supply accident and reducing a loss.

To resolve the above technical problem, the technical solutions adopted by the present disclosure are as follows:.

Further, preferably, the graphite surge protector further includes a touch rod and a microswitch disposed on an alarm module, where
the other end of the spring is fixedly connected to one end of the touch rod, and the other end of the touch rod is connected to a movable contact of the microswitch in the abutting manner.

Further, preferably, the alarm module includes a first printed circuit board and a second printed circuit board, where
the microswitch is disposed on the first printed circuit board, the first printed circuit board is electrically connected to the second printed circuit board through a connecting wire, and the second printed circuit board is provided with an external jack.

Further, preferably, the graphite surge protector includes a pin and a socket, where
all lead terminals of the graphite gap module are externally connected to the pin and the socket, the pin is connected to the socket in a plug/unplug manner, the socket is provided with an external interface, and different lead terminals of the graphite gap module are respectively connected to a live wire, a neutral wire, and a protective wire through the external interface.

Further, preferably, the socket includes a pin clip, a wire clip, a pin clip terminal, and a wire clip terminal; and
the pin is connected to the pin clip in the plug/unplug manner, the wire clip terminal is disposed on the wire clip, the pin clip terminal is disposed on the pin clip, the wire clip terminal is in buckle connection with the pin clip terminal, and the external interface is disposed on the wire clip.

Further, preferably, the graphite surge protector further includes a connection strip, where
the connection strip is clamped and fixed on different wire clips by using screws.

Further, preferably, the graphite surge protector further a transparent window, where
the transparent window is disposed in an overlapping direction of the first indicator plate and the second indicator plate.

Further, preferably, the graphite gap module is a graphite multi-gap structure.

In summary, the present disclosure has following beneficial effects: When a surge occurs, the graphite surge protector triggers the tripping apparatus on the graphite gap module, such that the power arm is pushed by the tripping apparatus to rotate around the bearing and drive the bearing to rotate. The bearing drives the indicator bracket to rotate, such that the first indicator plate makes a displacement and no longer overlaps with the second indicator plate, to form a physical indication. During inspection, operation and maintenance personnel can intuitively determine an overheating failure of the current surge protector based on relative displacement changes of the first and second indicator plates on the surge protector, and take a corresponding measure in a timely manner to avoid a power supply accident and reduce a loss.

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present disclosure or in the prior art more clearly, the following briefly describes the drawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art. Apparently, the drawings in the following description merely show some embodiments of the present disclosure, and those of ordinary skill in the art may still derive other drawings from these drawings without creative efforts.

For detailed description on the technical contents, objectives and effects in the present disclosure, the present disclosure is described below with reference to implementations and accompanying drawings.

Referring to <FIG>, a graphite surge protector includes a tripping apparatus, graphite gap module <NUM>, first indicator plate <NUM>, second indicator plate <NUM>, indicator bracket <NUM>, power arm <NUM>, and bearing <NUM>.

The first indicator plate <NUM> is disposed on the indicator bracket <NUM>. The second indicator plate <NUM> is overlapped under the first indicator plate <NUM>. The indicator bracket <NUM> is sleeved on the bearing <NUM>. The bearing <NUM> is fixedly connected to one end of the power arm, and the other end of the power arm is fixedly connected to the tripping apparatus. The tripping apparatus is disposed on a lead terminal of the graphite gap module <NUM>.

When the tripping apparatus trips, the power arm is pushed to rotate around the bearing <NUM>, and the first indicator plate <NUM> no longer overlaps with the second indicator plate <NUM>.

From the above description, it can be seen that the present disclosure has following beneficial effects: When a surge occurs, the graphite surge protector triggers the tripping apparatus on the graphite gap module <NUM>, such that the power arm is pushed by the tripping apparatus to rotate around the bearing <NUM> and drive the bearing <NUM> to rotate. The bearing <NUM> drives the indicator bracket <NUM> to rotate, such that the first indicator plate <NUM> makes a displacement and no longer overlaps with the second indicator plate <NUM>. During inspection, operation and maintenance personnel can intuitively determine an overheating failure of the current surge protector based on relative displacement changes of the first indicator plate <NUM> and the second indicator plate <NUM> on the surge protector, and take a corresponding measure in a timely manner to avoid a power supply accident and reduce a loss.

Further, the tripping apparatus includes: metal dome <NUM>, an alloy temperature sensing body, sliding member <NUM>, and spring <NUM>.

One end of the metal dome <NUM> is welded and fixed to the lead terminal of the graphite gap module <NUM> through the alloy temperature sensing body, and the other end of the metal dome <NUM> is configured to connect an external live wire, protective wire, or grounding wire. The metal dome <NUM> is connected to the sliding member <NUM> in an abutting manner. The sliding member <NUM> is fixedly connected to one end of the spring <NUM>, and the other end of the power arm is fixedly connected to the sliding member <NUM>.

The spring <NUM> is in a force accumulation state. The sliding member <NUM> pushes the metal dome <NUM> away from the graphite gap module <NUM> when the spring <NUM> is reset, and drives the power arm to rotate around the bearing <NUM>.

From the above description, it can be seen that the external live wire, protective wire, or grounding wire is electrically connected to the lead terminal of the graphite gap module <NUM> through the metal dome <NUM>. The one end of the metal dome <NUM> is welded onto the lead terminal of the graphite gap module <NUM> through the alloy temperature sensing body, to form an elastic buckle. The sliding member <NUM> and the spring <NUM> in the force accumulation state form an energy storage structure. When the overheating failure occurs, heat from the lead terminal of the graphite gap module <NUM> is transferred to the alloy temperature sensing body. The alloy temperature sensing body is melted due to an excessively high temperature, causing the metal dome <NUM> to detach from the lead terminal of the graphite gap module <NUM>. Under elastic force of the metal dome <NUM> and abutting of the energy storage structure, the metal dome <NUM> disconnects from the graphite gap module <NUM>, and the surge protector is disconnected from an external circuit to avoid some electrical accidents caused by a subsequent surge after the surge protector fails.

Further, the graphite surge protector further includes touch rod <NUM> and microswitch <NUM> disposed on an alarm module.

The other end of the spring <NUM> is fixedly connected to one end of the touch rod <NUM>, and the other end of the touch rod <NUM> is connected to a movable contact of the microswitch <NUM> in the abutting manner.

From the above description, it can be seen that the other end of spring <NUM> is also connected to the touch rod <NUM> for pressing against the microswitch <NUM>. When the overheating failure occurs on the surge protector, the spring <NUM> is reset, and the touch rod <NUM> is not sufficient to abut the microswitch <NUM> after losing the force of the spring <NUM>. As a result, the microswitch <NUM> changes from a normally closed state to a normally open state, thereby triggering the alarm module. A failure alarm is reported.

Further, the alarm module includes first printed circuit board <NUM> and second printed circuit board <NUM>.

The microswitch <NUM> is disposed on the first printed circuit board <NUM>, the first printed circuit board <NUM> is electrically connected to the second printed circuit board <NUM> through a connecting wire, and the second printed circuit board <NUM> is provided with external jack <NUM>.

From the above description, it can be seen that when the microswitch <NUM> changes from the normally closed state to the normally open state, a circuit structure composed of the first printed circuit board <NUM> and the second printed circuit board <NUM> is correspondingly changed, and this change information can be externally transmitted through the external jack <NUM>.

Further, the graphite surge protector includes pin <NUM> and socket <NUM>.

All lead terminals of the graphite gap module <NUM> are externally connected to the pin <NUM> and the socket <NUM>, the pin <NUM> is connected to the socket <NUM> in a plug/unplug manner, the socket <NUM> is provided with external interface <NUM>, and different lead terminals of the graphite gap module <NUM> each are connected to the live wire, a neutral wire, and the protective wire through the external interface <NUM> separately.

From the above description, it can be seen that the graphite gap module <NUM> on the surge protector achieves flexible combination through a plug/unplug design of the pin <NUM> and the socket <NUM> to meet different design requirements.

Further, the socket <NUM> includes pin clip <NUM>, wire clip <NUM>, pin clip terminal <NUM>, and wire clip terminal <NUM>.

The pin <NUM> is connected to the pin clip <NUM> in the plug/unplug manner, the wire clip terminal <NUM> is disposed on the wire clip <NUM>, the pin clip terminal <NUM> is disposed on the pin clip <NUM>, the wire clip terminal <NUM> is in buckle connection with the pin clip terminal <NUM>, and the external interface <NUM> is disposed on the wire clip <NUM>.

From the above description, it can be seen that the pin <NUM> is connected to the pin clip <NUM> on the socket <NUM> in the plug/unplug manner. The external neutral wire, protective wire, and live wire are all fixed to the socket <NUM> through the wire clip <NUM>.

Further, the graphite surge protector further includes connection strip <NUM>.

The connection strip <NUM> is clamped and fixed on different wire clips <NUM> by using screws.

From the above description, it can be seen that the connection strip <NUM> is configured to connect wire clips <NUM> on different sockets <NUM>. The connection strip <NUM> can connect sockets <NUM> corresponding to different graphite gap modules <NUM> together, which not only reduces wiring on the surge protector, but also establishes a physical connection between different graphite gap modules <NUM>, increasing overall structural stability of the surge protector.

Further, the graphite surge protector further includes transparent window <NUM>.

The transparent window <NUM> is disposed in an overlapping direction of the first indicator plate <NUM> and the second indicator plate <NUM>.

From the above description, it can be seen that the transparent window <NUM> is convenient for operation and maintenance personnel to observe a change in a relative displacement between the first indicator plate <NUM> and the second indicator plate <NUM>, to determine whether the surge protector fails.

Further, all graphite gap modules <NUM> are graphite multi-gap structures.

From the above description, it can be seen that the graphite multi-gap structure is designed to perform continuous multi-layer gap discharge, and each layer is insulated from each other, improving discharge capacity and thermal stability of the surge protector.

Referring to <FIG>, Embodiment <NUM> of the present disclosure is as follows:
A graphite surge protector includes a tripping apparatus, graphite gap module <NUM>, first indicator plate <NUM>, second indicator plate <NUM>, indicator bracket <NUM>, power arm <NUM>, and bearing <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The indicator plate <NUM> is disposed on the indicator bracket <NUM>. The second indicator plate <NUM> is overlapped under the first indicator plate <NUM>. The indicator bracket <NUM> is sleeved on the bearing <NUM>. The bearing <NUM> is fixedly connected to one end of the power arm, and the other end of the power arm is fixedly connected to the tripping apparatus. The tripping apparatus is disposed on a lead terminal of the graphite gap module <NUM>. When the tripping apparatus trips, the power arm is pushed to rotate around the bearing <NUM>, and the first indicator plate <NUM> no longer overlaps with second indicator plate <NUM>. In this embodiment, when a surge occurs, the tripping apparatus on the graphite gap module <NUM> is triggered, such that the power arm is pushed by the tripping apparatus to rotate around the bearing <NUM> and drive the bearing <NUM> to rotate. The bearing <NUM> drives the indicator bracket <NUM> to rotate, such that the first indicator plate <NUM> makes a displacement and no longer overlaps with the second indicator plate <NUM>. During inspection, operation and maintenance personnel can intuitively determine an overheating failure of the current surge protector based on relative displacement changes of the first indicator plate <NUM> and the second indicator plate <NUM> on the surge protector, and take a corresponding measure in a timely manner to avoid a power supply accident and reduce a loss.

As shown in <FIG>, the tripping apparatus includes: metal dome <NUM>, an alloy temperature sensing body, sliding member <NUM>, and spring <NUM>. One end of the metal dome <NUM> is welded and fixed to the lead terminal of the graphite gap module <NUM> through the alloy temperature sensing body, and the other end of the metal dome <NUM> is configured to connect an external live wire, protective wire, or grounding wire. The metal dome <NUM> is connected to the sliding member <NUM> in an abutting manner. The sliding member <NUM> is fixedly connected to one end of the spring <NUM>, and the other end of the power arm is fixedly connected to the sliding member <NUM>. The spring <NUM> is in a force accumulation state. The sliding member <NUM> pushes the metal dome <NUM> away from the graphite gap module <NUM> when the spring <NUM> is reset, and drives the power arm to rotate around the bearing <NUM>. The above is a specific structural design of the tripping apparatus, and an actual operating principle of the tripping apparatus is as follows:
One end of the metal dome <NUM> is welded onto the lead terminal of the graphite gap module <NUM> through the alloy temperature sensing body, to form an elastic buckle. The sliding member <NUM> and the spring <NUM> in the force accumulation state form an energy storage structure. When the overheating failure occurs, heat from the lead terminal of the graphite gap module <NUM> is transferred to the alloy temperature sensing body. The alloy temperature sensing body is melted due to an excessively high temperature, causing the metal dome <NUM> to detach from the lead terminal of the graphite gap module <NUM>. Under elastic force of the metal dome <NUM> and abutting of the energy storage structure, the metal dome <NUM> disconnects from the graphite gap module <NUM>, and the surge protector is disconnected from an external circuit to realize tripping.

In this embodiment, the graphite surge protector includes transparent window <NUM>. The transparent window <NUM> is disposed in an overlapping direction of the first indicator plate <NUM> and second indicator plate <NUM>. The transparent window <NUM> is convenient for operation and maintenance personnel to observe a change in a relative displacement between the first indicator plate <NUM> and the second indicator plate <NUM>, to determine whether the surge protector fails.

In addition, in this embodiment, the first indicator plate <NUM> and the second indicator plate may be set to different colors, such as red and green, to indicate normal and failure states of the surge protector.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, Embodiment <NUM> of the present disclosure is as follows:
A graphite surge protector further includes touch rod <NUM> and microswitch <NUM> disposed on an alarm module, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>. The other end of the spring <NUM> is fixedly connected to one end of the touch rod <NUM>, and the other end of the touch rod <NUM> is connected to a movable contact of the microswitch <NUM> in the abutting manner. In this embodiment, the other end of the spring <NUM> is further connected to the touch rod <NUM> for pressing against the microswitch <NUM>. When an overheating failure occurs on the surge protector, the spring <NUM> is reset, and the touch rod <NUM> is not sufficient to abut the microswitch <NUM> after losing the force of the spring <NUM>. As a result, the microswitch <NUM> changes from a normally closed state to a normally open state, thereby triggering the alarm module. A failure alarm is reported.

In this embodiment, the alarm module includes first printed circuit board <NUM> and second printed circuit board <NUM>. The microswitch <NUM> is disposed on the first printed circuit board <NUM>, the first printed circuit board <NUM> is electrically connected to the second printed circuit board <NUM> through a connecting wire, and the second printed circuit board <NUM> is provided with external jack <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, <FIG>, Embodiment <NUM> of the present disclosure is as follows:
A graphite surge protector includes pin <NUM> and socket <NUM> based on Embodiment <NUM> or Embodiment <NUM>, as shown in <FIG>. The socket <NUM> includes pin clip <NUM>, wire clip <NUM>, pin clip terminal <NUM>, and wire clip terminal <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, all lead terminals of the graphite gap module <NUM> are externally connected to the pin <NUM> and the socket <NUM>, and different lead terminals of the graphite gap module <NUM> are respectively connected to a live wire, a neutral wire, and a protective wire through the external interface <NUM>. The pin <NUM> is connected to the pin clip <NUM> in the plug/unplug manner, the wire clip terminal <NUM> is disposed on the wire clip <NUM>, the pin clip terminal <NUM> is disposed on the pin clip <NUM>, the wire clip terminal <NUM> is in buckle connection with the pin clip terminal <NUM>, and the external interface <NUM> is disposed on the wire clip <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, the graphite surge protector further includes connection strip <NUM>. The connection strip <NUM> is clamped and fixed on different wire clips <NUM> by using screws.

Claim 1:
A surge protector, comprising a tripping apparatus, a module, a first indicator plate (<NUM>), a second indicator plate (<NUM>), an indicator bracket (<NUM>), a power arm (<NUM>), and a bearing (<NUM>), wherein
the first indicator plate (<NUM>) is disposed on the indicator bracket (<NUM>), the bearing (<NUM>) is fixedly connected to one end of the power arm (<NUM>), the other end of the power arm (<NUM>) is directly connected to the tripping apparatus in a sliding and abutting manner, and the tripping apparatus is disposed on a lead terminal of the module; and
the tripping apparatus comprises a metal dome (<NUM>), an alloy temperature sensing body, a sliding member (<NUM>), and a spring (<NUM>); one end of the metal dome (<NUM>) is welded and fixed to the lead terminal of the module through the alloy temperature sensing body, and the other end of the metal dome (<NUM>) is configured to connect an external live wire, protective wire, or grounding wire; the sliding member (<NUM>) is fixedly connected to one end of the spring (<NUM>); the spring (<NUM>) is in a force accumulation state;
characterized in that
the surge protector is a graphite surge protector;
the module is a graphite gap module (<NUM>);
the sliding member (<NUM>) is a linear sliding member (<NUM>);
the indicator bracket (<NUM>) with the bearing (<NUM>) is sleeved over a pivoting point on a frame of the graphite surge protector;
the other end of the power arm (<NUM>) is directly connected to the linear sliding member (<NUM>) of the tripping apparatus in a sliding and abutting manner;
the metal dome (<NUM>) is connected to the linear sliding member (<NUM>) in an abutting manner;
the linear sliding member (<NUM>) is configured to push the metal dome (<NUM>) away from the graphite gap module (<NUM>) when the spring (<NUM>) is reset, and drive the power arm (<NUM>) to rotate around the bearing (<NUM>);
wherein the second indicator plate (<NUM>) is overlapped under the first indicator plate (<NUM>) in a non-tripped state; and
when the tripping apparatus trips and enters into a tripped state, the power arm (<NUM>) is pushed to rotate with the indicator bracket (<NUM>), and the first indicator plate (<NUM>) no longer overlaps with the second indicator plate (<NUM>) in the tripped state.