阅读说明：本技术 过电压保护设备 (Overvoltage protection device ) 是由 T.迈尔 H.萨格比尔 K.特拉赫特 于 2019-08-02 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种过电压保护设备(1),其带有：堆叠式火花隙(2),其中,堆叠式火花隙(2)由多个电极(3)和布置在这些电极(3)之间的绝缘元件(4)构成；用于影响所述堆叠式火花隙(2)的点火特性的点火电路(5)；第一导电的夹紧元件(6)和第二导电的夹紧元件(7),其中,夹紧元件(6、7)彼此相对地布置在所述堆叠式火花隙(2)的端侧(8)上；至少一个连接元件(9),利用该连接元件使得夹紧元件(6、7)相互连接；以及接通元件(13),该接通元件用于电接通所述堆叠式火花隙(2)。(The invention relates to an overvoltage protection device (1) having: a stacked spark gap (2), wherein the stacked spark gap (2) is formed by a plurality of electrodes (3) and an insulating element (4) arranged between the electrodes (3); an ignition circuit (5) for influencing the ignition characteristics of the stacked spark gap (2); a first electrically conductive clamping element (6) and a second electrically conductive clamping element (7), wherein the clamping elements (6, 7) are arranged opposite one another on an end side (8) of the stacked spark gap (2); at least one connecting element (9) with which the clamping elements (6, 7) are connected to one another; and a contact element (13) for electrically contacting the stacked spark gap (2).)

1. An overvoltage protection device (1) with: a stacked spark gap (2), wherein the stacked spark gap (2) is formed by a plurality of electrodes (3) and an insulating element (4) arranged between the electrodes (3); an ignition circuit (5) for influencing the ignition characteristics of the stacked spark gap (2); a first electrically conductive clamping element (6) and a second electrically conductive clamping element (7), wherein the clamping elements (6, 7) are arranged opposite one another on an end side (8) of the stacked spark gap (2); at least one connecting element (9) with which the clamping elements (6, 7) are connected to one another; and a contact element (13) for electrically contacting the stacked spark gap (2),

wherein three stacked spark gaps (2) are arranged side by side between two clamping elements (6, 7),

wherein the at least one connecting element (9) is electrically conductive and the two clamping elements (6, 7) are electrically connected to each other by means of the connecting element (9),

wherein each stacked spark gap (2) is connected to a connecting element (9) in an electrically conductive manner on an end face (8) serving as a connecting side (14),

wherein an insulator (15) is arranged between the contact side (14) of each stacked spark gap (2) and the clamping element (6, 7) arranged on the contact side (14), so that the contact side (14) of the stacked spark gap (2) is electrically insulated from the clamping element (6, 7),

wherein an end face (8) of each stacked spark gap (2) opposite to the connection side (14) is electrically conductively connected to a clamping element (6, 7) arranged on the end face (8), such that the three stacked spark gaps (2) form a star connection,

and wherein the ignition circuit (5) can be plugged onto at least one clamping element (6, 7) such that the ignition circuit (5) is held in a defined manner relative to the clamping element (6, 7) and the stacked spark gap (2).

2. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the ignition circuit (5) electrically contacts the at least one clamping element (6, 8) in the plugged-in state.

3. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the ignition circuit (5) contacts at least one electrode (3) in the plugged-in state via at least one contact (22), in particular via a spring contact.

4. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that each electrode (3) of the stacked spark gap (2), except for the first electrode (3) on the turn-on side (14) of each stacked spark gap (2), is contacted, in particular wherein the ignition circuit (5) comprises a capacitor (23), wherein each capacitor (23) is connected with one connection (24) to an electrode (3) of the stacked spark gap (2) and the other connections (25) of the capacitors (23) of the stacked spark gaps (2) are conductively connected to one another.

5. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a plug lug (26) is formed on at least one clamping element (6, 7) and passes through at least one correspondingly formed recess (27) in the ignition circuit (5), in particular through a recess (27) in a circuit board (28) of the ignition circuit (5), in particular wherein at least one projection (29) is formed on the plug lug (26) and overlaps an edge of the recess (27) of the ignition circuit (5) on the side of the ignition circuit (5) facing away from the clamping element (6, 7).

6. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the electrodes (3) of the stacked spark gap (2) are arranged in holding frames (30) which can be stacked one above the other in a planar manner, wherein the respective holding frame (30) has a recess (31) such that each recess (31) accommodates in each case one electrode (3).

7. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that a number of contact openings (32) which is equal to the number of recesses (31) is formed in each retaining frame (30), wherein each contact opening (32) is connected to one recess (31), so that an electrode (3) arranged in the recess (31) can be contacted with the ignition circuit (5) via the contact openings (32).

8. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that a gripping surface (37) is formed on an end face (36) of the holding frame (30).

9. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the stacked spark gap (2) is arranged in a housing (41), wherein the housing (41) is constructed in multiple parts and has a housing base (42) and a housing cover (43).

10. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that latching lugs (44) are formed on the housing base (42) and are inserted into corresponding latching recesses (45) on the housing cover (43) so that the housing cover (43) can be latched onto the housing base (42), wherein the latching lugs (44) are preferably formed on an end face (46) of the housing (41).

11. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in claim 9 or 10, wherein the electrodes (3) of the stacked spark gap (2) are arranged in a holding frame (30), and wherein a gripping surface (37) is formed on an end side (36) of the holding frame, characterized in that a recess (50) is formed on a side (49) of the housing (41) which is different from the end side (46) of the housing (41), and the gripping surface (37) of the holding frame (30) is arranged in the recess (50).

12. The overvoltage protection device (1) as claimed in one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that a contact opening (52) is formed in the housing base (42) and the contact elements (13) of the stacked spark gap (2) have contact regions (53) which are led out of the housing (41) at least partially through the contact opening (52).

Technical Field

The invention relates to an overvoltage protection device, comprising: a stacked spark gap, wherein the stacked spark gap is composed of a plurality of electrodes and an insulating element arranged between the electrodes; an ignition circuit for influencing an ignition characteristic of the stacked spark gap; a first electrically conductive clamping element and a second electrically conductive clamping element, wherein the clamping elements are arranged opposite one another on the end sides of the stacked spark gap; a connecting element with which the clamping elements are connected to one another; and a contact element for electrically contacting the stacked spark gap.

Background

From the prior art, a large number of overvoltage protection devices are known, which are used to protect electrical installations or lines from overvoltages, which may be caused, for example, by lightning or defects in the technical installation. In order to discharge the occurring overvoltage, the overvoltage protection device has an overvoltage arrester. For the overvoltage protection device in question, the stacked spark gaps implement overvoltage arresters which, above a threshold voltage, in the case of device protection, are generally higher than the operating voltage of the connected device, but lower than the dielectric strength against the surge voltage of the device, can conduct within fractions of a second and thus discharge the resulting overvoltage.

The stacked spark gap is composed of a plurality of electrodes and a plurality of insulators arranged between the respective electrodes, so that one insulator is present between each of the two electrodes. Usually, the insulator has an opening in the middle, in any case two electrodes forming a (partial-) spark gap. These basic electrode arrangements are repeated several times in succession in the stacked spark gap, so that the stacked spark gap comprises several partial spark gaps. These electrodes are usually constructed as graphite sheets, and these insulators are usually realized as insulating films made of plastic.

It is known from the prior art that a plurality of stacked spark gaps are connected to one another in a star-shaped connection, also referred to as a Y-connection in the case of three stacked spark gaps. The stacked spark gaps are then connected to one another in such a way that all of the stacked spark gaps each merge into a respective terminal, i.e., at a star point, wherein the other terminal of each stacked spark gap is in each case used for external contacting. Between the two outer terminals, there are thus always two stacked spark gaps connected in series. This arrangement is used, for example, for protecting dc voltage systems, in particular for protecting photovoltaic systems.

The ignition circuit mentioned at the outset serves to influence the ignition behavior of the stacked spark gap, for example in order to adjust the voltage profile along successively connected partial spark gaps. This makes it possible to specifically influence the triggering behavior of a part of the spark gap. For example, it is known to connect adjacent electrodes to passive electrical components for this purpose. In this context, however, it does not matter that the electrodes of the individual stacked spark gaps are connected exactly electrically by the ignition circuit.

In the overvoltage protection devices known to the applicant from practice, the stacked spark gaps are embedded in a plastic housing and are connected to one another by metal plates which pass transversely through guides in the plastic housing. A disadvantage of the known arrangement is that the tensile forces occurring in the event of an overvoltage must be absorbed by the housing, which leads to a tensioning. Furthermore, the number of individual electrodes of the stacked spark gap is limited by the size of the recess in the plastic housing into which the stacked spark gap is accommodated.

Disclosure of Invention

The object of the present invention is to provide an overvoltage protection device which, in addition to a compact, stable and user-friendly design, also ensures a high degree of flexibility with regard to the number of electrodes of the stacked spark gap.

This object is achieved-on the basis of the overvoltage protection device described in the opening paragraph-in the overvoltage protection device according to the invention by the features of claim 1 in their entirety. The overvoltage protection device according to the invention has three stacked spark gaps arranged side by side between two clamping elements. The stacked spark gaps are preferably also oriented parallel to one another. Furthermore, at least one of the connection elements is electrically conductive. Both the connecting element and the clamping elements connected to one another by the connecting element are electrically conductive, so that the two clamping elements are electrically connected to one another by the connecting element.

Each of the stacked spark gaps is connected in an electrically conductive manner to a respective contact element on the end side serving as the contact side. Furthermore, an insulator is arranged between the contact side of each stacked spark gap and the clamping element arranged on said contact side, so that the contact side of the stacked spark gap is electrically insulated from the assigned, i.e. adjacent, clamping element. The end face of each stacked spark gap opposite the contact side is electrically conductively connected to a clamping element arranged on this end face. Each stacked spark gap is thus electrically conductively connected to one clamping element and is arranged in each case electrically insulated relative to the other clamping element, so that the three stacked spark gaps overall form a star connection. In the assembly according to the invention, the intermediate potential, the star point, is thus formed by two clamping elements and at least one connecting element.

The ignition circuit of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention can be plugged onto at least one of the clamping elements, so that the ignition circuit is held in a defined manner relative to the clamping element and thus also relative to the stacked spark gap. By this measure, the ignition circuit according to the invention achieves an advantage when the ignition circuit on one side and the clamping element on the other side are brought into engagement by means of the connecting element and the stacked spark gap held thereby. The defined holding and positioning of the ignition circuit with respect to the clamping element and with respect to the clamping element also facilitates other electrical contacts which are produced when the ignition circuit is plugged onto the clamping element and in the plugged-in state.

In a preferred embodiment, the ignition circuit can be plugged onto both clamping elements. Preferably, the ignition circuit is realized in the form of a circuit board, which is equipped with the required electrical and/or electronic components. It is then straightforward to consider the respective corresponding holders and counter-holders to be realized on or with the circuit board and the clamping element of the ignition circuit for plugging the ignition circuit and the clamping element together. In one embodiment, a projection is formed on the clamping element, which projection passes through a recess in the printed circuit board of the ignition circuit in the plugged-in state of the ignition circuit.

The overvoltage protection device according to the invention combines a number of advantages by its design. On the one hand, by clamping the individual stacked spark gaps between the clamping elements, the number of electrodes can be selected arbitrarily for each stacked spark gap. The connecting element need only be adjusted in accordance with the longitudinal extension of the stacked spark gap. On the other hand, the overvoltage protection device according to the invention provides a clever solution in order to make the stacked spark gaps in a star connection in a compact space. In the event of an overvoltage, the resulting tensile forces are absorbed by the clamping element and the connecting element. Since it is also provided according to the invention that the ignition circuit is plugged onto at least one clamping element, the ignition circuit is held in a defined manner with respect to the stacked spark gap, which provides the ideal precondition for accurate contact with the stacked spark gap.

In a preferred embodiment of the overvoltage protection device, it is provided that the ignition circuit also electrically contacts the at least one clamping element in the plugged-in state. The ignition circuit thus also provides the star-shaped junction potential or the intermediate potential of the stacked spark gap, if this is required in terms of circuit technology.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention, the ignition circuit is in contact with at least one electrode in the plugged-in state via at least one contact. The contact is advantageously realized by a spring contact, thereby simplifying the contacting.

In order to be able to realize a controlled switching of the individual spark gaps of the stacked spark gaps, it is provided in a particularly preferred embodiment that each electrode of the stacked spark gaps, except for the first electrode on each switching side of the stacked spark gaps, is contacted by an ignition circuit. The ignition circuit can thus actually electrically influence each electrode if this is required in the circuit technology.

Preferably, the ignition circuit comprises a capacitor. Each capacitor is then connected in contact with an electrode of the stacked spark gap, except for the first electrode on the contact side of the stacked spark gap. The other terminals of the capacitors of the stacked spark gap are conductively connected to each other.

As already mentioned, the ignition circuit is plugged onto at least one clamping element according to the invention. For this purpose, in one embodiment of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention, a plug lug is formed on at least one clamping element and, in addition, a corresponding recess is formed on the ignition circuit. When the ignition circuit is plugged, the plugging lug penetrates through the notch on the ignition circuit. If the ignition circuit is plugged onto both clamping elements, plug lugs are formed on both clamping elements.

In a refinement, projections are formed on the plug-in lugs, which projections overlap the edge of the recess on the side of the ignition circuit facing away from the clamping element in the plugged-in state of the ignition circuit. This results in the ignition circuit being held in place in a fixed manner, so that reliable contact can be ensured. In particular, if the contact is designed as a spring contact, it is to be noted that the ignition circuit has no or very little play on the clamping element, so that the contact is not interrupted by the movement of the ignition circuit.

A particularly preferred development of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention relates to the realization of a stacked spark gap. As mentioned in the opening paragraph, the stacked spark gap is formed by a number of electrodes, wherein an insulating element is arranged between two adjacent electrodes. According to the invention, in order to realize a stacked spark gap, it is provided that the electrodes of the stacked spark gap are arranged in a holding frame which can be stacked flat above and below. In order to accommodate the electrodes, recesses are formed in the holding frame, wherein each electrode is arranged in a recess. Preferably, therefore, the outer contour of the recess matches the outer contour of the electrode. The holding frame according to the invention is characterized in that the electrodes of different stacked spark gaps are arranged side by side in the holding frame. Since three stacked spark gaps are arranged in the overvoltage protection device according to the invention, three electrodes are arranged side by side in the holding frame, wherein each electrode belongs to another stacked spark gap. In order to realize a certain number of electrodes for each stacked spark gap, a number of holding frames equal to the number of electrodes of each stacked spark gap are stacked one above the other. The insulating element is preferably realized by an insulating film which is applied to the electrodes of the holding frames before the next holding frame is stacked. By means of this design, the number of electrodes per stacked spark gap can be varied in a particularly simple manner. In this design, the stacked holding frames are then clamped between the clamping elements.

In order to also make it possible to contact the electrodes for the embodiment in which the electrodes are arranged in holding frames, an improvement of the overvoltage protection device is characterized in that a number of contact openings equal to the number of recesses is formed in each holding frame. Each contact opening is connected to a recess, so that an electrode arranged in the recess can be contacted via the contact opening with the ignition circuit, in particular with a contact of the ignition circuit, spring contact.

In a further preferred embodiment, provision is made for a gripping surface to be formed on the end face of the holding frame. This results in the following possibilities: the respective holding frames can be reliably gripped, thereby facilitating the stacking of the respective frames one on top of the other. On the other hand, a plurality of stacked holding frames form a large gripping surface, which facilitates the positioning of the stacked holding frames between the clamping elements. Further advantages of the formation of the gripping surface on the end side of the holding frame can be achieved in conjunction with the following embodiments of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention.

A further embodiment of the overvoltage protection device according to the invention provides that the stacked spark gap is arranged in a housing. According to the invention, the housing is constructed in multiple parts, namely, has a housing base and a housing cover. This design makes it possible to easily arrange a stacked spark gap, in particular a stacked spark gap arranged and in contact between the clamping elements, in the housing. In particular, the stacked spark gap is arranged in the housing bottom, the ignition circuit is then plugged in, and the housing cover is then positioned in order to close the housing. In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the housing base is formed with a latching lug. Corresponding latching recesses are formed in the housing cover, into which latching lugs of the housing bottom are inserted, so that the housing cover latches onto the housing bottom. Further preferably, the latching lugs and the latching recesses are formed on the end face of the housing.

If the electrodes are arranged in the holding frame, the holding frame is preferably arranged in the housing such that the longitudinal sides of the holding frame are arranged on the end sides. The end side of the holding frame is then directed towards the side of the housing. A very particularly preferred design is distinguished if the holding frame has a gripping surface in that a recess is formed on the side of the housing and the gripping surface of the holding frame is arranged in the recess or extends into the recess. The gripping surface of the holding frame thus forms the gripping surface of the entire overvoltage protection device, so that the overvoltage protection device can be easily gripped and mounted. Particularly preferably, the recess is formed by the cooperation of the housing bottom with the housing cover. It is further preferred that a separate housing gripping surface is also formed on the side of the housing base.

As mentioned in the opening paragraph, the stacked spark gaps are contacted by means of a contact element. Particularly preferably, the contact element has a contact region and a contact region. The contact region is in electrically conductive contact with a first electrode of the stacked spark gap. The switching region serves to switch the overvoltage protection device on from the outside. It is particularly preferred that the contact region is formed flat, so that as large a contact surface as possible is formed with the contacted electrode. The contact region is preferably angled. It is further preferred that a feed-through opening is formed in the bottom of the housing. Via these switching openings, the switching region of the switching element is at least partially led out of the housing, so that overall external access to the overvoltage protection device is possible.

Drawings

In particular, there are a large number of possible solutions available for improving and designing the overvoltage protection device according to the invention. For this, reference is made to the claims which follow claim 1 and to the description of the preferred embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. Shown in the drawings are:

fig. 1 is an exploded view of an overvoltage protection device;

FIG. 2 shows a view of a clamping element connected with a connecting element;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a stacked spark gap connection;

FIG. 4 shows a holding frame with electrodes and insulating elements;

FIG. 5 is the view of FIG. 2 with stacked spark gaps;

fig. 6 shows the overvoltage protection device of fig. 1 with the housing cover open;

fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view of an overvoltage protection device; and is

Fig. 8 shows the overvoltage protection device fully assembled.

Detailed Description

In these figures, the overvoltage protection device 1 or the individual components of the overvoltage protection device 1 are shown in general. For this overvoltage protection device 1, the overvoltage arrester is realized by a stacked spark gap 2. Each stacked spark gap 2 is formed by a plurality of electrodes 3, between which an insulating element 4 is arranged in each case.

Fig. 1 shows an exploded view of an overvoltage protection device 1 with three stacked spark gaps 2. In order to influence the ignition characteristic of the stacked spark gap 2, the overvoltage protection device 1 comprises an ignition circuit 5. These stacked spark gaps 2 are arranged between a first electrically conductive clamping element 6 and a second electrically conductive clamping element 7, wherein the two clamping elements 6, 7 are arranged opposite one another on an end side 8 of the stacked spark gaps 2. The clamping elements 6, 7 are connected to one another by a likewise electrically conductive connecting element 9. Both the clamping elements 6, 7 and the connecting element 9 are electrically conductive, so that the two clamping elements 6, 7 are electrically connected. In the illustrated design, the respective connecting element 9 is realized as a screw 10, which is passed through a recess 11 formed in the clamping element 6, 7 and is fixed with a nut 12.

The individual stacked spark gaps 2 are electrically contacted by means of a contact element 13. For this purpose, the stack spark gaps 2 are each electrically conductively connected to a switch element 13 on the end side 8 serving as the switch side 14.

The overvoltage protection device 1 is generally configured such that an insulator 15 is arranged between the contact side 14 of the stacked spark gap 2 and the clamping elements 6, 7 arranged on the respective contact side 10. The contact side 14 of the stacked spark gap 2 is thereby electrically insulated from the respective clamping element 6, 7.

An end face 8 of each stacked spark gap 2 opposite the contact side 14 is electrically conductively connected to the clamping elements 6, 7 arranged on this end face 8. Each individual stacked spark gap 2 is thus electrically conductively connected to one clamping element 6, 7 and is also arranged insulated opposite the other clamping element 6, 7. By this design it is achieved that the stacked spark gaps 2 form a star connection. The clamping elements 6, 7 and the connecting element 9 thus carry an electrical intermediate potential during operation of the overvoltage protection device 1.

The two outer, stacked spark gaps 2 face the first clamping element 6 with their contact sides 14 and are thus electrically conductively connected to the second clamping element 7. The central, stacked spark gap 2 faces the second clamping element 7 with its contact side 14 and is thus electrically conductively connected to the first clamping element 6. This results in a preferred arrangement of the switching elements 13, since two switching elements 13 are located on one side of the overvoltage protection device 1 and one switching element 13 is centrally located on the other side of the overvoltage protection device 1.

Overall, this design makes it possible to always have two stacked spark gaps 2 between two contact elements 13 and thus between two conductors, to which the overvoltage protection device 1 is connected via contact elements 14. The following circuit is thus produced with the stacked spark gap 2 conductive:

the contact element 14 passes through a spark gap stack 2, through the clamping elements 6, 7, to which the spark gap stack 2 is electrically conductively connected, through the connecting element 9, through the opposite clamping elements 6, 7, through the spark gap stack 2 electrically conductively connected to the clamping elements 6, 7, and to the contact element 14 arranged on the spark gap stack 2.

Fig. 2 shows a first electrically conductive clamping element 6 and a second electrically conductive clamping element 7, which are connected to each other by four electrically conductive connecting elements 9, i.e. four screws 10, and form a star-shaped junction of the star connection. These screws 10 extend from the outside of the second clamping element 7 through the recess 11 to the outside of the first clamping element 6. The screw head is thus located outside the second clamping element 7, while the screw is fixed outside the first clamping element 6 by means of the nut 12. By using a plurality of connecting elements 9, the stability of the shown structure is improved.

The insulating elements 15 are formed by insulating elements 16, 17, with which the contact side 14 of the stacked spark gap 2 is electrically insulated from the clamping elements 6, 7. On the side of the first clamping element 6 facing the end side 8 of the stacked spark gap 2, a first insulating element 16 is arranged. The insulating element 16 completely covers the clamping element 6, with the exception of a recess 18 formed centrally in the insulating element 16. By means of the recess 18, the end side 8 of the centrally arranged stacked spark gap 2 can be electrically conductively connected to the clamping element 6, while the contact sides 14 of the two outer stacked spark gaps 2 are electrically insulated from the clamping element 6 by the insulating element 16. On the side of the second clamping element 7 facing the end side 8 of the stacked spark gap 2, a second insulating element 17 is arranged. The insulating element 17 has two recesses 18, which are formed in the insulating element 17 in such a way that the end sides 8 of the two outer, stacked spark gaps 2 can be electrically conductively connected to the second clamping element 7 via these recesses 18. In order to improve the contact of the end face 8 with the clamping elements 6, 7, a contact element 21 is arranged between the end face 8 and the clamping elements. These contact elements 21 are dimensioned such that they can be inserted into the recesses 18. Furthermore, the contact element 21 is substantially adapted to the shape of the electrode 3, in order to ensure a large contact surface between the electrode 3 and the contact element 21.

The insulating elements 16, 17 are constructed in a frame-like manner. The outer contour 19 of the insulating elements 16, 17 is matched to the outer contour 20 of the clamping elements 6, 7. Overall, however, the insulating elements 16, 17 are designed such that they project slightly beyond the clamping elements 6, 7 at the edges, so that reliable insulation is ensured. Furthermore, a recess 11 for passing through the connecting element 9 is also formed in the insulating elements 16, 17. In the assembled state, the recesses 11 in the clamping elements 6, 7 are aligned with the recesses 11 in the insulating elements 16, 17.

The overvoltage protection device 1 is designed in such a way that an ignition circuit 5, which is realized here in the form of a circuit board equipped with electronic components, can be plugged onto the clamping elements 6, 7. As a result, the ignition circuit 5 is held in a defined manner relative to the clamping elements 6, 7 and also relative to the stacked spark gap 2. In the plugged-in state, the ignition circuit 5 also electrically contacts the clamping elements 6, 7. In addition, the ignition circuit contacts at least one electrode 3 in the plugged-in state via at least one contact 22. The contact of the electrode 3 by the contact portion 22 can be seen particularly clearly in fig. 7.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic connection diagram in which the ignition circuit 5 can be seen in contact with the electrodes 3 of the stacked spark gap 2. The ignition circuit 5 has a capacitor 23. Each capacitor 23 is connected to the electrode 3 through a contact 24. The other terminals 25 of the capacitors 23 of the stacked spark gap 2 are conductively connected to each other. In summary, all electrodes 3 except the first electrode 3 are contacted by the capacitor 23 at the turn-on side 14 of each stacked spark gap 2.

The star connection of the stacked spark gap 2 is also clearly shown in fig. 5. Each stacked spark gap 2 is connected via a contact element 21 to an intermediate potential which is carried (tragen) by the clamping elements 6, 7 and the connecting element 9 during operation; this relationship is only schematically shown. Between the two conductors +, -, PE there are two stacked spark gaps 2, respectively.

In order to be able to plug the ignition circuit 5 onto the clamping elements 6, 7, as can be seen in fig. 1, 2, 5 and 6, plug lugs 26 are formed on the clamping elements 6, 7. Corresponding recesses 27 are formed in the ignition circuit 5, through which the plug lugs 26 pass. The plug lugs 26 passing through the recesses 27 can be seen in fig. 6. Due to this perspective view, the recess 27 itself cannot be seen directly, but is marked with reference numeral 27. If the ignition circuit 5 comprises a circuit board 28 as in the example shown, the recess 27 is preferably formed in this circuit board 28. In order to hold ignition circuit 5 securely on clamping elements 6, 7, projections 29 are formed on plug lugs 26. In the plugged-in state shown in fig. 6, the projection 29 of the plugging lug 26 overlaps the edge of the recess 27 of the ignition circuit 5 on the side of the ignition circuit 5 facing away from the clamping elements 6, 7.

The particular feature of the overvoltage protection device 1 shown is the manner in which the individual stacked spark gaps 2 are realized. One particularity consists in that the individual electrodes 3 are arranged in a holding frame 30 which can be stacked one above the other in a planar manner. Such a holding frame 30 is shown in fig. 4. The holding frame 30 has three recesses 31, wherein one electrode 3 is positioned in each recess 31. That is, three electrodes 3 may be accommodated by the illustrated holding frame 30. The three recesses 31 are arranged next to one another in a plane and each have a contour adapted to the outer dimensions of the respective electrode 3. A holding frame 31 in each case accommodates an electrode 3 of a stacked spark gap 2. By stacking these holding frames 30, a total of three stacked spark gaps 2 are thus formed, wherein the number of electrodes 3 of each stacked spark gap 2 is equal to the number of holding frames 30 stacked one above the other, provided that one electrode 3 is arranged in each recess 31. Each holding frame 30 has the same number of contact openings 32 as the number of recesses 31, so that three contact openings 32 are formed in the holding frame 30 in each case with respect to the holding frame 30 shown. Each contact opening 32 is connected with the recess 31, that is to say the contact opening 32 is attached directly to the recess 31, so that the electrode 3 arranged in the recess 31 can be contacted via the contact opening 32. The respective electrode 3 can thus be brought into contact with the ignition circuit 5 via the contact opening 32. The contact openings 32 are preferably formed on a longitudinal side 33 of the holding frame 30, so that the individual electrodes 3 can be contacted from this side in a particularly simple manner. The projection 34 formed on the holding frame 30 and the correspondingly formed recess serve for simple fastening of the holding frame 30 stacked one above the other. When stacked, the convex portion 34 of one holding frame 30 overlaps the concave portion 35 of the holding frame 30 stacked thereon.

For easier handling of the holding frame 30, a gripping surface 37 is formed on the end face 36 of the holding frame 30. The gripping surface 37 is preferably formed on further projections 38, which are formed on the end face 36.

The holding frame 30 has a partially circumferential edge 39, against which the recess 31 is offset in a set-back manner. In this case, the edge 39 only partially surrounds it, so that it is interrupted at least in the region of the contact opening 32. This is not essential for the function of the edge 39, which serves as a support for the frame-like insulating element 4 inserted into the holding frame 30. When two holding frames 30 are stacked one above the other, an insulating element 4 is arranged between each two stacked electrodes 3, which are arranged in the holding frames 30. Each spark gap of a stacked spark gap is then formed by two electrodes 3 arranged one behind the other and an insulating element 4 arranged between these electrodes 3.

Both in the holding frame 30 and in the insulating element 4, a recess 11 is formed for the passage of the connecting element 9.

Fig. 5 shows a plurality of holding frames 30 stacked one above the other and having electrodes 3 and insulating elements 4, which are clamped between the first clamping element 6 and the second clamping element 7. The contact openings 32, via which the electrodes 3 of the stacked spark gap 2 are contacted, can be clearly seen. The ignition circuit 5 is plugged onto the plugging lugs 26 of the clamping elements 6, 7, the contact portions 22 then extending through the contact openings 32. The gripping surface 37 formed on the end side 36 of the holding frame 30 forms a large overall gripping surface. Between the clamping elements 6, 7 and the adjacent holding frame 30, an insulating element 16, 17 is arranged in each case. The clamping elements 6, 7 are connected to one another by a total of four connecting elements 9, only the lower two connecting elements 9 also protruding through the recess 11 into the holding frame 30. The two upper connecting elements 9 extend only through the recesses 11 into the clamping elements 6, 7 and the insulating elements 16, 17. For this purpose, both the clamping elements 6, 7 and the insulating elements 16, 17 have projections 40 which project beyond the holding frame 30 and in which recesses 11 are formed.

As can be seen from fig. 1, 6, 7 and 8, the overvoltage protection device 1 has a housing 41, wherein the housing 41 is constructed in multiple parts and has a housing base 42 and a housing cover 43. Fig. 6 shows the housing bottom 42 fitted with the elements of the overvoltage protection device 1, fig. 7 shows a sectional view of the fitted housing 41, and fig. 8 shows the entire overvoltage protection device 1 in the fully assembled state.

The housing 41 is of a box-like configuration as a whole. In order to connect the housing base 42 and the housing cover 43 to one another, a latching lug 44 is formed on the housing base 42. A latching recess 45 corresponding to the latching lug 44 is formed on the housing cover 43, into which latching lug 44 is inserted in the connected state. The housing cover 43 then latches onto the housing base 42.

The latching lugs 44 are formed on the end face 46 of the housing base 42. Preferably, the housing base 42 has an indentation (hinterspring) 47 formed on the outer side of the end face 46, wherein the latching lug 44 is then formed on the indentation 47. The housing cover 43 has tabs 48 corresponding to the indentations 47 of the housing bottom 42, on which the latching notches 45 are formed. The wall thickness of the webs 48 is equal to the size of the indentations 47, as can be seen in the sectional view in fig. 7, so that the housing base 42 and the housing cover 43 form a housing wall which is flat on the outside overall on the end side in the assembled state. The housing base 42 and the housing cover 43 are also designed such that, in the assembled state, a recess 50 is formed in each case on a side face 49 which is different from the end face 46. As can be seen in fig. 6 and 8, these recesses 50 are configured such that the gripping surface 37 of the holding frame 30 located in the housing 41 is arranged in the recess 50. This results in a structurally sound solution in order to be able to use the gripping surface 37 of the holding frame 30 as a gripping surface for the entire overvoltage protection device 1. In addition to the gripping surface 37 formed by the holding frame 30, further gripping surfaces 51 are formed on the housing base 42. A particularly simple removal of the holding frame 30 from the housing 41 can be achieved by these gripping surfaces 51.

In order to be able to very easily access the overvoltage protection device 1 in the fully assembled state, a switch-on opening 52 is formed in the housing base 42. The contact element 13 of the stacked spark gap 2 projects at least partially out of the housing 42 via the contact opening 52, in particular out of a contact region 53 of the contact element 13. The access opening 52 is preferably formed in the bottom of the housing bottom 42.

List of reference numerals

1 overvoltage protection device

2-stack spark gap

3 electrodes

4 insulating element

5 ignition circuit

6 first clamping element

7 second clamping element

End side of 8-stack spark gap

9 connecting element

10 screw

11 recess for connecting element

12 nut

13 contact element

Contact side of 14-stack spark gap

15 insulating member

16 first insulating element

17 second insulating element

18 recess

19 outer contour of the insulating element

20 outer contour of the clamping element

21 contact element

22 contact of ignition circuit

23 capacitor

First terminal of 24 capacitor

Second terminal of 25 capacitor

26 plug lug

27 recess

28 Circuit Board

29 projection

30 holding frame

31 recess

32 contact opening

33 longitudinal sides of the holding frame

34 projection

35 concave part

36 end side of the holding frame

37 gripping surface

38 projection

39 edge

40 projection for recess 11

41 casing

42 bottom of the housing

43 casing top cover

44 latch lug

45 latching recess

46 end side of the housing

47 retracted part

48 connecting piece

49 side of the housing

50 recess

51 gripping surface

52 opening of the valve

53 the area is switched on.