US 12,191,058 B2
Surge arresters and related assemblies and methods
Senthil A. Kumar, Morrisville, NC (US); Eduardo Gastaldi, Apex, NC (US); and Harry Yaworski, Cary, NC (US)
Assigned to TE CONNECTIVITY SOLUTIONS GMBH, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed by TE CONNECTIVITY SERVICES GMBH, Schaffhausen (CH)
Filed on Jul. 14, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/928,357.
Prior Publication US 2022/0020513 A1, Jan. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. H01C 7/12 (2006.01); H01C 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC H01C 7/12 (2013.01) [H01C 17/00 (2013.01)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A surge arrester comprising:
a polymer body comprising:
a first leg having a first channel defined therein; and
a second leg perpendicular to the first leg and having a second channel defined therein, the second channel configured to receive a bushing;
a varistor assembly in the first channel, the varistor assembly comprising:
a plurality of varistor elements electrically connected in series and forming a stack of the plurality of varistor elements, wherein the stack has a first end surface, a second end surface, and an outer side surface extending between the first end surface and the second end surface;
a first end fitting at the first end surface of the stack;
a second end fitting at the second end surface of the stack;
a plurality of rods disposed around the outer side surface of the stack, each of the plurality of rods comprising a first end that is connected to the first end fitting and a second end that is connected to the second end fitting; and
a polymer fill layer between the outer side surface of the stack and the first leg of the body,
wherein the polymer fill layer completely surrounds the outer side surface of the stack and extends between the first end fitting and the second end fitting,
wherein the first channel defines a first longitudinal axis and the second channel defines a second longitudinal axis that is perpendicular to the first longitudinal axis,
wherein the polymer fill layer completely surrounds each one of the plurality of rods,
wherein the polymer body comprises an electrically insulating inner layer and an electrically conductive outer layer,
wherein each of the plurality of rods is spaced apart from the polymer body, and
wherein the first channel has a first diameter that is greater than a second diameter of the stack.