Compact dual element fuse unit, module and fusible disconnect switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9697976-B2
Application number	US-201514663505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2015
Priority date	Mar 20, 2015
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

An embodiment of a fuse module has been disclosed. The fuse module includes a housing and a fuse element assembly contained within the housing. The fuse element assembly includes at least one fuse element unit having a plurality of trigger mechanisms and a perforated strip electrically connected to the trigger mechanisms. Increased ampacity ratings in a more compact arrangement provides for fuse modules having increased current protection capability that, in turn, provides for improved disconnect switching capabilities.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuse module comprising:
a housing; and
at least one fuse element unit comprising:
a multi-layer perforated strip; and
a plurality of trigger mechanisms electrically connected to the multi-layer perforated strip;
wherein each layer in the multi-layer perforated strip is connected to more than one of the plurality of trigger mechanisms.

2. The fuse module of claim 1 , wherein the layers of the multi-layer perforated strip are electrically connected in parallel with one another.

3. The fuse module of claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer perforated strip comprises an end and a plurality of tabs disposed at the end such that each of the tabs electrically connects the multi-layer perforated strip to a respective one of the plurality of trigger mechanisms.

4. The fuse module of claim 1 , wherein the multi-layer perforated strip has a lengthwise dimension, a heightwise dimension, and a widthwise dimension; and wherein the multi-layer perforated strip comprises a plurality of layers spaced apart from one another in the heightwise dimension.

5. The fuse module of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of trigger mechanisms comprises a spring-loaded trigger.

6. The fuse module of claim 1 , wherein the housing has a substantially rectangular cuboid shape.

7. The fuse module of claim 6 , wherein the housing is a thermoplastic housing.

8. A fuse module comprising:
a housing; and
at least one fuse element unit comprising:
a multi-layer short-circuit protection element having a first end, a second end and a plurality of planar perforated strips extending between the first end and the second end; and
a plurality of overcurrent protection elements electrically connected to the first end of the multi-layer short-circuit protection element such that the multi-layer short-circuit protection element is electrically in series with each of the plurality of overcurrent protection elements, and wherein the overcurrent protection elements are electrically in parallel with one another.

9. The fuse module of claim 8 , further comprising a pair of terminal blades, wherein all of the plurality of overcurrent protection elements are electrically connected to the one of the pair of terminal blades.

10. The fuse module of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of perforated strips are connected in parallel to one another between the first end and the second end.

11. The fuse module of claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of overcurrent protection elements is a trigger mechanism.

12. The fuse module of claim 11 , wherein the trigger mechanism comprises a spring-loaded trigger.

13. The fuse module of claim 8 , wherein the housing has a substantially rectangular cuboid shape.

14. The fuse module of claim 13 , wherein the housing is a thermoplastic housing.

15. The fuse module of claim 8 , further comprising a first terminal blade and a second terminal blade projecting from a common side of the housing, wherein the plurality of overcurrent protection elements electrically connected to the first terminal blade and wherein the second end of the multi-layer fuse strip is connected to the second terminal blade.

16. The fuse module of claim 15 , wherein the first terminal blade and the second terminal blade extend in spaced-apart and generally parallel planes.

17. The fuse module of claim 15 , in combination with a fusible disconnect switch assembly configured to receive the fuse with plug-in connection and disconnection.

18. The fuse module of claim 15 , wherein each of the plurality of planar perforated strips extends in a spaced apart but generally parallel plane to at least one of the first terminal blade and the second terminal blade.

19. The fuse module of claim 8 , wherein the least one fuse element unit comprises a plurality of a multi-layer short-circuit protection elements each respectively connected to a different plurality of overcurrent protection elements.

20. The fuse module of claim 8 , wherein the fuse module has an ampacity rating of more than 100 A.

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Katarki Advait Madhusudan
• Von Zur Muehlen Patrick Alexander
• Douglass Robert Stephen

Classifications

• H01H85/36

  Means for applying mechanical tension to fusible member · CPC title

• H01H85/56

  the intermediate or auxiliary part having side contacts for plugging into the base, e.g. bridge-carrier type · CPC title

• H01H85/17

  characterised by the casing material · CPC title

• H01H2235/01

  Spiral spring · CPC title

• H01H85/12 Primary

  Two or more separate fusible members in parallel · CPC title