Electric fuse with torque restricting terminals

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9196445-B2
Application number	US-201113176478-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2011
Priority date	Jul 5, 2011
Publication date	Nov 24, 2015
Grant date	Nov 24, 2015

Abstract

Electrical fuses include slip fit terminal elements coupled to the ends of a fuse element. The terminal elements may rotate relative to the fuse element ends as the fuses are bolted to circuit conductors and protect the fuse element from being damaged.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An electrical fuse configured to be fastened to a circuit conductor with a bolt, the electrical fuse comprising:
a housing;
a fuse element secured within the housing and having an end provided with a first through hole; and
a terminal element coupled to the fuse element at the end, the terminal element projecting from the housing and provided with a second through hole;
wherein the first through hole and the second through hole are aligned with one another; and
wherein the terminal element is rotatable relative to the end of the fuse element when the bolt is extended through the aligned first and second through holes, thereby mechanically isolating the end of the fuse element from torque applied to the bolt to fasten the fuse to the circuit conductor.

2. The electrical fuse of claim 1 , wherein the end of the fuse element is substantially planar.

3. The electrical fuse of claim 1 , wherein the terminal element defines a sleeve fitted over the end of the fuse element.

4. The electrical fuse of claim 1 , wherein the housing defines a clearance, the terminal element rotatable in the clearance to maintain the mechanical isolation when subjected to a predetermined amount of torque via the bolt.

5. The electrical fuse of claim 1 , wherein the housing is generally rectangular.

6. The electrical fuse of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises a base and a substantially rectangular cover.

7. The electrical fuse of claim 6 , wherein the base comprises a substantially planar bottom wall, and at least one wall projecting upwardly from the bottom wall, the fuse element extending over the at least one wall.

8. The electrical fuse of claim 7 , wherein the cover includes at least one wall formed with an opening therein, and the at least one wall of the base receivable in the opening.

9. The electrical fuse of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises opposing top and bottom walls and an end wall interconnecting the top and bottom wall, wherein the terminal element projects from the end wall of the housing at a location spaced from the top wall and the bottom wall.

10. The electrical fuse of claim 1 , wherein the terminal element comprises at least one notch, and the housing defines a clearance adjacent the at least one notch, wherein the at least one notch is rotatable within the clearance.

11. The electrical fuse of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first and second through holes is circular.

12. The electrical fuse of claim 1 , wherein the fuse element comprises an elongated conductor having a plurality of openings formed therein.

13. The electrical fuse of claim 12 , wherein the elongated conductor is fabricated from a substantially planar conductive body.

14. The electrical fuse of claim 13 , wherein the elongated conductor is formed with a first side edge extending substantially perpendicular to the body in a first direction.

15. The electrical fuse of claim 14 , wherein the elongated conductor is further formed with a second side edge extending substantially perpendicular to the body in a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

16. An electrical fuse comprising:
a housing;
a fuse element within the housing and having opposing first and second ends; and
a first and second terminal element coupled to the fuse element at the respective first and second ends, the first and second terminal element projecting from the housing and each having freedom to move relative to the respective first and second ends and also freedom to move relative to the housing when the fuse element is secured within the housing;
wherein when the first and second terminal elements are subjected to an applied torque to fasten the fuse to a circuit conductor, the first and second terminal elements are movable and thereby restrict a transmission of the applied torque on the first or second terminal element to the first or second ends of the fuse element; and
wherein the first and second terminal elements each include a pair of notches, and wherein the housing defines a clearance adjacent the respective notches of the first and second terminal elements.

17. The electrical fuse of claim 16 , wherein the first and second terminal elements are sleeves fitted over the respective first and second ends.

18. The electrical fuse of claim 16 , wherein the housing comprises a base and a substantially rectangular cover.

19. The electrical fuse of claim 18 , wherein the base comprises a substantially planar bottom wall, and spaced apart end walls projecting upwardly from the bottom wall, the fuse element extending over the spaced apart end walls and the first and second ends of the fuse element projecting beyond the respective spaced apart end walls.

20. The electrical fuse of claim 19 , wherein the cover includes opposite end walls having openings therein, and the end walls of the base are receivable in the openings of the end walls of the cover.

21. The electrical fuse of claim 16 , wherein the housing is substantially rectangular and includes opposing top and bottom walls and opposing end walls interconnecting the top and bottom walls, wherein each the first and second terminal elements project from one of the end walls at a location spaced from the top wall and the bottom wall.

22. The electrical fuse of claim 16 , wherein each first and second ends of the fuse element include a first opening, wherein the first and second terminal elements each include a second opening, and wherein the first and second openings substantially coincide.

23. The electrical fuse of claim 22 , wherein the first and second openings are concentric circular openings.

24. The electrical fuse of claim 16 , wherein the fuse element comprises an elongated conductor having a plurality of openings formed therein.

25. The electrical fuse of claim 24 , wherein the elongated conductor is fabricated from a substantially planar conductive body.

26. The electrical fuse of claim 25 , wherein the elongated conductor further is formed with a first side edge extending substantially perpendicular to the body in a first direction.

27. The electrical fuse of claim 26 , wherein the elongated conductor is further formed with a second side edge extending substantially perpendicular to the body in a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

28. The electrical fuse of claim 22 , wherein the first and second openings are configured to receive a shank of a bolt when the first and second terminal element are fastened to the circuit conductor.

29. An electrical fuse comprising:
a substantially rectangular housing comprising a top wall, a bottom wall, opposing side walls, and opposing end walls;
a fuse element secured within the housing and having opposing first and second ends, each of the opposing first and second ends provided with a first through hole configured to be fastened to a circuit conductor; and
a first and second terminal element coupled to the fuse element at the respective first and second ends, each of the first and second terminal elements provided with a second through hole and a pair of notches;
wherein each end wall of the housing defines a clearance adjacent the respective notches of the first and second terminal elements and wherein the first through hole of each of the first and second ends of the fu

Assignees

• Douglass Robert Stephen
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Douglass Robert Stephen

Classifications

• H01H85/0013 Primary

  Means for preventing damage, e.g. by ambient influences to the fuse · CPC title

• H01H85/10

  with constriction for localised fusing (H01H85/11 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01H85/15

  Screw-in contacts · CPC title

• H01H85/143 Primary

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

• H01H85/165

  Casings · CPC title