Multi-stage surge protector with switch-grade fail-short mechanism

摘要

A surge protector assembly may be provided with three terminals, a gas discharge tube having a first conductive end and a second conductive end opposite the first conductive end, a pair of metal oxide varistors conductively connected to the ends of the gas discharge tube, and a pair of bracket arms associated with the ends of the gas discharge tube. The bracket arms are movable between a steady-state position in which they cause the first and second terminals to be conductively separated from the third terminal and a shorting position in which they cause the first and second terminals to be conductively connected to the third terminal. The bracket arms are spaced from the ends of the gas discharge tube by a first distance when they are in their steady-state positions and by a second distance when they are in their shorting positions, with the first distance being greater than the second distance, and the bracket arms are spring-biased towards their shorting positions.