Fuse systems with serviceable connections

• US 20080030294A1
• Filed: 07/10/2007
• Published: 02/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Aptiv Technologies Limited (Aptiv PLC)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (Aptiv PLC)
• Inventors: Jozwiak, Andrew J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,710,236 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 337/159
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0275 Structural association with a printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0414 Surface mounted fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/266 with replacement of a fuse which is part of a printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0411 Miniature fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/046 Fuses formed as printed circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/2035 for miniature fuses with parallel side contacts

Abstract

A fuse system has both a non-serviceable fuse and a fuse terminal system for selectively installing a serviceable fuse. When installed, the serviceable fuse provides a current flow path parallel to the non-serviceable fuse.

Claims

1. A fuse system, comprising:

a non-serviceable fuse; and

a fuse terminal system having first and second terminals configured to selectively receive a serviceable fuse connected in electrical parallel with the non-serviceable fuse.

2. The fuse system of claim 1 further including:

a second non-serviceable fuse; and

a second fuse terminal system having third and fourth terminals for selectively connecting a serviceable fuse in electrical parallel with the second non-serviceable fuse.

3. The fuse system of claim 1 further including a housing that encloses the non-serviceable fuse and exposes the fuse terminal system to permit connection of a serviceable fuse externally to the housing.

4. The fuse system of claim 1 wherein the non-serviceable fuse is a solid state device.

5. The fuse system of claim 1 wherein the non-serviceable fuse is printed on a circuit board.

6. The fuse system of claim 1 wherein the non-serviceable fuse is a non-replaceable fuse surface mounted on a circuit board.

7. The fuse system of claim 1 further having an indicator that indicates whether a serviceable fuse has been ever been connected to the fuse terminal system.

8. The fuse system of claim 7 wherein the indicator is frangible material on the fuse terminal system which is removed when a serviceable fuse is connected to the fuse terminal system.

9. The fuse system of claim 7 further including:

a housing, at least partly enclosing the fuse terminal system, the housing having at least one aperture to permit passage of a portion of a serviceable fuse therethrough into the housing; and

wherein the indicator is frangible material extending across the at least one aperture, the frangible material being breakable upon passage of at least a portion of the serviceable fuse therethrough.

10. An electrical system, comprising:

an electrical circuit having at least one electrical component;

a non-serviceable fuse in electrical series with the at least one component; and

a fuse terminal system having first and second terminals for selectively connecting a serviceable fuse in electrical parallel with the non-serviceable fuse.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the fuse terminal system is physically remote from the at least one electrical component.

12. The fuse system of claim 10 wherein both the electrical component and non-serviceable fuse are physically remote from the fuse terminal system.

13. The fuse system of claim 16 wherein the fuse system includes a housing and non-serviceable fuse is internal of the housing and the fuse terminal system is external of the housing.

14. A method of protecting an electrical component from an electrical current above a threshold level delivered by a power source, comprising:

connecting a non-serviceable fuse between the power source and the electrical component; and

providing first and second terminals such that an electrical connection made between the first and second terminals would create a current flow path parallel to the non-serviceable fuse.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of installing a serviceable fuse between the first and second terminals after the non-serviceable fuse blows.