Importance

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Abstract

In a gas-filled arrester, a pair of main electrodes and a ground electrode are air-tightly fitted to an insulating tubular member. A springy, electrically-conductive short-circuiting element having an arcuate shape is fitted around the outer wall of the ground electrode. The short-circuiting element includes extension portions extending along the outer wall of the insulating tubular member to the respective main electrodes, and these extension portions are made to face the main electrodes by utilization of spring characteristics thereof with a certain gap maintained and with a thermally-fusible spacer interposed. With this construction, if the arrester is overheated, the spacer is thermally fused by heat and therefore the extension portions electrically contact the main electrodes due to the spring characteristics thereof. Since the main electrodes are thus short-circuited to the ground electrode, the arrester is prevented from failing.

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First Claim