Patent ID: 8493170

Claim:
An overvoltage protection device having one or more parallel-connected overvoltage-limiting elements, which are located in one physical unit, such as varistors, diodes or means of this type configured in the form of a disc, comprising a switching device in order to electrically disconnect the overvoltage-limiting elements when they are thermally overloaded, and means for indicating and/or reporting the fault condition which then occurs, wherein the switching device is connected via a thermally separable means, such as an adhesive or a solder, to a connecting contact of the at least one overvoltage-limiting element and/or to an external clip contact or plug contact, and wherein the at least one connecting contact is located on one of the side faces of the overvoltage-limiting element configured in the form of a disc, characterized in that the switching device is in the form of a solid U-shaped switching fork ( 6 ), the fork tines ( 7 ) of which run essentially parallel to the side faces of the overvoltage-limiting element ( 1 ) and receive the latter in the space between the tines, furthermore the section ( 8 ) connecting the fork tines ( 7 ) is electrically connected to one of the external clip or plug contacts ( 4 ) and rests on a separating slide ( 10 ) which comprises at least one claw-type section ( 9 ) encompassing the end of the switching fork ( 6 ) located there, the separating slide ( 10 ) is subjected to a spring force preload, wherein the force vector in this regard is oriented to face away from the point of connection between the switching fork ( 6 ) and the external clip or plug contact ( 4 ), at least one of the fork tines ( 7 ) lies against the at least one connecting contact ( 2 ), where it is fixed by the thermally separable means, wherein, in the event of a disconnection, the separating slide ( 10 ) moves by carrying along the switching fork ( 6 ), with the point of connection between the fork tine ( 7 ) and the connecting contact ( 2 ) representing a fulcrum ( 12 ) with respect to the movement of the switching fork.