Mechanical disconnect switch with integrated fuse protection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9824840-B2
Application number	US-201414478416-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 5, 2014
Priority date	Sep 5, 2014
Publication date	Nov 21, 2017
Grant date	Nov 21, 2017

Abstract

A circuit protection assembly (CPA) is disposed between a source of power and a circuit to be protected. The CPA comprises a mounting block having a bore extending therethrough and a recess cavity on a first surface of the mounting block. A post having a first end is disposed within the recess cavity and a body portion extends through the bore. The body portion configured to receive a terminal and the second end configured to receive a securing mechanism. A fuse having a centrally disposed aperture is configured to receive the body portion of the post and to receive the terminal for connection to a circuit to be protected. An insulator disposed on the terminal and disposed beneath the securing mechanism. The insulator configured to isolate the post from the terminal and the fuse while allowing the securing mechanism to apply an amount of torque.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A circuit protection assembly for a mechanical disconnect switch having integrated fuse protection comprising:
a mounting block having a bore extending therethrough and a recess cavity on a first surface of the mounting block;
a post having a first end disposed within the recess cavity, a second end, and a body portion extending through the bore, the body portion configured to receive a terminal and the second end configured to receive a securing mechanism;
a fuse having a centrally disposed aperture, the fuse configured to receive the body portion of the post and to receive the terminal for connection to a circuit to be protected; and
an insulator proximately superposed on the terminal and proximately disposed beneath the securing mechanism, the insulator configured to isolate the second end of the post from the terminal and the fuse while allowing the securing mechanism to apply an amount of torque, the insulator including a tether coupled thereto.

2. The circuit protection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insulator is a washer and the mounting block is a mechanical disconnect switch.

3. The circuit protection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insulator is configured to include a glass mat washer.

4. The circuit protection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the insulator includes an extrusion portion extending along the body portion of the post and extending through the bore to isolate the second end of the post from the terminal and the fuse.

5. The circuit protection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the fuse comprises a second terminal in contact with the terminal and a fuse element electrically connecting the terminal and the second terminal of the fuse.

6. The circuit protection assembly of claim 5 , further including a bus plate disposed on the fuse below the terminal, the bus plate in contact with the terminal of the fuse.

7. The circuit protection assembly of claim 6 , wherein the bore is a first bore, the post is a first post, and the terminal is a first terminal, the circuit protection assembly further comprising:
a second bore extending through the mounting block; and
a second post having a first end in contact with the mounting block, a body portion extending through the second bore, and a second end configured to receive a third terminal disposed on the mounting block and a second end for connection to a circuit to be protected.

8. The circuit protection assembly of claim 7 , further comprising a cover extending from the first terminal of the fuse to the second terminal of the fuse, wherein the cover is disposed over the fuse element.

9. A circuit protection assembly comprising:
a mounting block having a recess cavity in an upper surface of the mounting block;
a fuse having an upper fuse terminal, a lower fuse terminal, and a fuse element disposed orthogonal to the upper fuse terminal and the lower fuse terminal, the upper fuse terminal having a centrally disposed aperture configured to align with the recess cavity such that the fuse is disposed partially around the mounting block, the fuse element is retained adjacent to a wall of the mounting block, the wall being disposed orthogonal to the upper surface and a lower surface of the mounting block, and the lower fuse terminal is retained adjacent to the lower surface; and
an insulator proximately superposed on the upper fuse terminal and proximately disposed beneath a securing mechanism, the insulator configured to isolate the securing mechanism from the fuse while allowing the securing mechanism to apply an amount of torque, wherein the insulator is a washer having a protective layer.

10. The circuit protection assembly of claim 9 , further including a post having a first end disposed within the recess cavity, a second end, and a body portion extending through the centrally disposed aperture, the body portion configured to receive a terminal and the second end configured to receive the securing mechanism, wherein the insulator configured to isolate the securing mechanism from the fuse while allowing the securing mechanism to apply an amount of torque.

11. The circuit protection assembly of claim 9 , wherein the washer includes an extrusion portion extending along the body portion of the post to assist in isolating the second end of the post from the terminal and the fuse while allowing the securing mechanism to apply the amount of torque.

Assignees

• Schwartz Geoffrey
• Scribner Dana
• Thomas Joe
• Littelfuse Inc

Inventors

• Schwartz Geoffrey
• Scribner Dana
• Thomas Joe

Classifications

• H01H2085/208

  specially adapted for vehicles · CPC title

• H01R9/245

  with built-in fuse · CPC title

• H01R4/56

  one conductor screwing into another · CPC title

• H01H85/2045

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

• H01R4/34

  Conductive members located under head of screw · CPC title