The Pursuit of Truth

A line voltage surge protecting device for telephone systems which normally include means for grounding excessive currents caused by lightening and the like. The device includes a gaseous discharge element which becomes conductive when the voltage in the line being protected momentarily exceeds a predetermined value to conduct current to a source of ground potential. A temperature sensitive element responsive to heat generated by the gaseous discharge device during prolonged excessive current serves to short the gaseous discharge element to ground. The temperature sensitive element includes means resiliently biasing the gaseous element for movement serving to short the same. A soldered retaining means opposes such movement, and heat developed in the gaseous discharge device is transmitted to the soldered means by conduction to melt the solder to permit the shorting action to occur. The protective structure is disposed in a casing element having improved cover means facilitating accessibility for repair and resetting of the soldered means.