Attaching an isolated single stud fuse to an electrical device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11869739-B2
Application number	US-202318121898-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 15, 2023
Priority date	Mar 24, 2021
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

An electrical device assembly and method to attach an isolated single stud fuse assembly to an electrical device are disclosed. The electrical device assembly consists of multiple studs, one or more of which is replaced with the isolated single stud fuse. A conductive copper landing zone receives an electrically isolated steel stud. When the landing pad assembly is orbital riveted into a plastic housing of the electrical device, the stud is locked into the housing permanently. Electrical devices such as disconnect switches and power distribution modules, both of which include multiple studs, are good candidates for being adapted with the single stud fuse assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical device, comprising:
at least one first connector assembly configured for coupling to a first electrical circuit;
at least one second electrical assembly configured for coupling to a second electrical circuit, the at least one second electrical assembly including
a base receptacle configured for electrically coupling to the second electrical circuit;
an electrically isolated connector configured to be received and secured within the base receptacle, the electrically isolated connector is configured for securing the at least one second electrical assembly without being electrically connected to the second electrical circuit; and

a switching assembly including one or more busbars, the switching assembly having a first position and a second position, wherein, in the first position, the one or more busbars are configured to electrically couple the at least one first connector assembly and the at least one second electrical assembly by electrically coupling the at least one first connector assembly and the base receptacle, and, in the second position, the one or more busbars do not electrically couple the at least one first connector assembly and the base receptacle.

2. The electrical device according to claim 1 , further comprising a housing, the at least one first connector assembly and the at least one second electrical assembly being secured to the housing.

3. The electrical device according to claim 2 , wherein
the housing includes a first receiving receptacle;
the at least one first connector assembly includes
a first electrical connector being positioned within the first receiving receptacle and configured for coupling to the first electrical circuit, and
a first securing nut for securing the first electrical connector to the housing.

4. The electrical device according to claim 2 , wherein
the housing includes a second receiving receptacle;
the base receptacle includes a base connector configured to be secured within the second receiving receptacle, wherein the base connector is configured for electrically coupling to the one or more busbars in the first position of the switching assembly.

5. The electrical device according to claim 4 , wherein the base receptacle and the base connector are electrically conductive.

6. The electrical device according to claim 4 , wherein the base receptacle is orbitally riveted to the housing.

7. The electrical device according to claim 4 , further comprising a fusing assembly configured for coupling to the electrically isolated connector, wherein the fusing assembly is configured for electrically coupling the base receptacle and the second electrical circuit.

8. The electrical device according to claim 7 , wherein upon the switching assembly being in the first position, an electrical path is configured to be formed between the at least one first connector assembly, the one or more busbars, the base receptacle, and the fusing assembly.

9. The electrical device according to claim 7 , wherein the fusing assembly includes a fuse.

10. The electrical device according to claim 7 , wherein the fusing assembly is configured to be secured to the electrically isolated connector using a second securing nut, wherein, upon securing the fusing assembly, the fusing assembly is electrically isolated from the electrically isolated connector.

11. The electrical device according to claim 2 , wherein the switching assembly includes a lever assembly secured to the housing and coupled to the one or more busbars and configured to switch the switching assembly between the first and second positions.

12. The electrical device according to claim 11 , wherein switching of the switching assembly between the first and second positions includes rotating of the one or more busbars between the first and second positions using the lever assembly.

13. The electrical device according to claim 2 , further comprising
a plurality of first connector assemblies being secured to the housing;
a plurality of second electrical assemblies being secured to the housing;
the one or more busbars are configured to electrically couple one or more first connector assemblies in the plurality of first connector assemblies and one or more second electrical assemblies in the plurality of second electrical assemblies.

14. The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the at least one first connector assembly and the base receptacle are manufactured from at least one of: a copper, a copper alloy, a metal, a metal alloy, and any combinations thereof.

15. The electrical device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first electrical circuit and the second electrical circuit include at least one of the following: one or more electrical batteries, one or more electrical circuits, one or more electronic circuits, one or more fuses, one or more relays, one or more circuit breakers, one or more current sensing components, one or more controller area networks, one or more local interconnect network modules, and any combinations thereof.

16. A method, comprising:
providing an electrical device, having
at least one first connector assembly configured for coupling to at least one first electrical circuit;
at least one second electrical assembly configured for coupling to at least one second electrical circuit, the at least one second electrical assembly including
a base receptacle configured for electrically coupling to the at least one second electrical circuit;
an electrically isolated connector configured to be received and secured within the base receptacle, the electrically isolated connector is configured for securing the at least one second electrical assembly without being electrically connected to the second electrical circuit; and

a switching assembly including one or more busbars, the switching assembly having a first position and a second position; and

forming an electrical path by electrically coupling, using the switching assembly, the at least one first connector assembly and the at least one second electrical assembly by placing the switching assembly into the first position to electrically couple the at least one first connector assembly and the base receptacle.

17. The method according to claim 16 , further comprising disconnecting the electrical path by electrically uncoupling, using the switching assembly, the at least one first connector assembly and the at least one second electrical assembly by placing the switching assembly into the first position to electrically uncouple the at least one first connector assembly and the base receptacle.

18. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the forming includes forming the electrical path between the at least one first electrical circuit and the at least one second electrical circuit.

19. The method according to claim 18 , wherein at least one of the at least one first electrical circuit and the at least one second electrical circuit include at least one of the following: one or more electrical batteries, one or more electrical circuits, one or more electronic circuits, one or more fuses, one or more relays, one or more circuit breakers, one or more current sensing components, one or more controller area networks, one or more local interconnect network modules, and any combinations thereof.

20. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the electrical device includes a fusing assembly configured for coupling to the electrically isolated connector, wherein the fusing assembly is configur

Assignees

• Littelfuse Inc

Inventors

• Schwartz Geoffrey
• Bianchin Tiziano
• Tinto Massimiliano

Classifications

• H01H85/2045 Primary

  Mounting means or insulating parts of the base, e.g. covers, casings · CPC title

• H01H11/00

  Apparatus or processes specially adapted for the manufacture of electric switches (processes specially adapted for manufacture of rectilinearly movable switches having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboards, H01H13/88) · CPC title

• H01H69/02

  Manufacture of fuses · CPC title

• H01H85/0241 Primary

  Structural association of a fuse and another component or apparatus (switches with built-in fuses H01H9/10, spark-gap arresters H01H85/44, transformers and inductances H01F27/402, capacitors H01G2/14, lamps H01K1/66, semiconductors H10W20/493 or H10W42/80) · CPC title

• H01H85/143

  Electrical contacts; Fastening fusible members to such contacts · CPC title