Abstract:
A preionizer for a surge voltage arrester, such as a lightening arrester, is formed by twisting the ends of a pair of wires, at least one of which is insulated except at its end, together so that the exposed ends of the wires form an ionizing gap that is essentially as long as the thickness of insulation between the two wires. After the ionizing gap is formed, an epoxy bead is used to encapsulate the twisted portion of the preionizer in order to maintain the desired gap spacing. The epoxy bead may also be utilized to position the ionizing gap adjacent a main gap or a trigger gap that is to have its sparkover level stabilized by the preionizing action of the twisted-wire preionizer of the invention.
Abstract:
A sparkgap assembly for a low-voltage lightning arrester is provided with a sparkgap-shunting capacitor mounting and connecting means that is an integral part of the sparkgap assembly. The integral capacitor mounting and connecting means comprises a highly reliable yet economically manufactured arrangement that is well adapted to mass production techniques for making lightning arresters.