Surge arrestor fail safe thermal overload mechanism

摘要

A spring member (32) and associated channel member (28) bias a solder billet (22) into engagement with a ground electrode (16) of the surge arrestor. When the solder melts in response to a thermal overload condition the channel member (28) causes molten solder from the billet to flow preferentially along a path establishing a low resistance short circuit between the electrodes. Flow of the solder to desired locations is enhanced by solder flux, which preferably is of rosin type having substantial dielectric properties.