BATTERY FUSE ASSEMBLY

• US 20090066469A1
• Filed: 09/10/2007
• Published: 03/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rahman, Naeem, Czyz, Anthony, Ha, Cuong
• Granted Patent: US 7,924,137 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 337/158
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/025 Structural association with a binding post of a storage battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/383 with insulating stationary parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/003 casings for the fusible element
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/044 General constructions or structure of low voltage fuses, i.e. below 1000 V, or of fuses where the applicable voltage is not specified H01H85/046 - H01H85/048 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/17 characterised by the casing material
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/38 Means for extinguishing or suppressing arc by powder filling H01H85/18; by mechanical tension applied to fusible member H01H85/36
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A fuse includes a fusible element and a body member encased within a heat-resistant housing. The fusible element is configured to open an electrical circuit coupled to a storage battery in response to an over-current in the electrical circuit. The housing is configured to contain an arc generated by the fusible element in response to the over-current and to shield the arc and the fusible element from ambient particles. Thus, the fuse is ignition protected. The body member includes an insulating material configured to interrupt the arc. The housing includes an opening configured to receive a terminal of the storage battery or a terminal of a mounting plate. An insulating material disposed about a first end of the mounting plate terminal is configured to electrically isolate the fuse and a power supply cable in the electrical circuit from the mounting plate terminal.

Claims

1. A fuse, comprising:

a housing configured to receive at least one of a terminal of a storage battery and a stud of a mounting plate associated with the storage battery; and

a fusible element encased within the housing and comprising a fault element configured to open an electrical circuit coupled to the storage battery in response to an over-current in the electrical circuit,

wherein the housing is configured to contain an arc generated by the fault element in response to the over-current in the electrical circuit and to prevent the arc from mixing with ambient particles.

2. The fuse of claim 1, further comprising a body member encased within the housing and comprising an insulating material configured to interrupt the arc.

3. The fuse of claim 2, wherein the body member has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface, and

wherein the fusible element is substantially disposed about the side surface and includes an upper portion that engages at least a portion of the upper surface, a lower portion that engages at least a portion of the lower surface, and the fault element that engages the side surface.

4. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a heat-resistant plastic.

5. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a heat-resistant material selected from the group consisting of:

PolyPhenylene Sulfide and Polyethersulfone.

6. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the fault element includes a layer of electrically non-conductive plastic.

7. The fuse of claim 6, wherein the electrically non-conductive plastic comprises Silicone.

8. The fuse of claim 1, further comprising a ring terminal disposed proximate an upper surface of the housing and configured to engage a ring collar of a power supply cable coupled to the electrical circuit.

9. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the fuse has a substantially cubical shape.

10. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the housing is further configured to shield the fusible element from the ambient particles, and

wherein the ambient particles comprise water particles.

11. The fuse of claim 1, wherein the fuse is ignition protected.

12. A fuse, comprising:

a housing configured to receive at least one of a terminal of a storage battery and a stud of a mounting plate associated with the storage battery; and

a fusible element encased within the housing and comprising a fault element configured to open an electrical circuit coupled to the storage battery in response to an over-current in the electrical circuit, the fault element comprising a layer of electrically non-conductive plastic.

13. The fuse of claim 12, wherein the housing is configured to shield the fusible element from ambient water particles.

14. The fuse of claim 12, wherein the housing is further configured to contain an arc generated by the fault element in response to the over-current in the electrical circuit and to prevent the arc from mixing with ambient particles.

15. The fuse of claim 13, further comprising a body member encased within the housing and comprising an insulating material configured to interrupt the arc.

16. The fuse of claim 15, wherein the body member has an upper surface, a lower surface, and a side surface, and

wherein the fusible element is substantially disposed about the side surface and includes an upper portion that engages at least a portion of the upper surface, a lower portion that engages at least a portion of the lower surface, and the fault element that engages the side surface.

17. The fuse of claim 12, wherein the housing comprises a heat-resistant plastic.

18. The fuse of claim 12, wherein the housing comprises a heat-resistant material selected from the group consisting of:

PolyPhenylene Sulfide and Polyethersulfone.

19. The fuse of claim 12, wherein the electrically non-conductive plastic comprises Silicone.

20. The fuse of claim 12, further comprising a ring terminal disposed proximate an upper surface of the housing and configured to engage a ring collar of a power supply cable coupled to the electrical circuit.

21. The fuse of claim 12, wherein the fuse has a substantially cubical shape.

22. The fuse of claim 12, wherein the fuse is ignition protected.

23. A mounting plate, comprising:

an electrically conductive, elongated member having an upper portion and a lower portion, the lower portion comprising a bore configured to receive a terminal post of a storage battery;

a stud having a first end and a second end and extending through the upper portion of the elongated member, in a direction substantially perpendicular to the upper portion, the second end of the terminal being configured to receive a fuse and a power supply cable associated with an electrical circuit; and

an insulating material disposed about the first end of the stud and being configured to electrically isolate the fuse and the power supply cable from the stud.

24. The mounting plate of claim 23, wherein a portion of the insulating material extends beneath a lower surface of the upper portion of the elongated member.

25. The mounting plate of claim 24, wherein the portion of the insulating material extends between a plane perpendicular to a first end of the upper portion of the elongated member and another plane perpendicular to a second end of the upper portion of the elongated member.

26. The mounting plate of claim 23, wherein the upper portion of the elongated member comprises a member extending perpendicularly from the upper portion and configured to prevent movement of the fuse relative to the upper portion when the fuse is received about the stud.

27. The mounting plate of claim 23, wherein a portion of the insulating material extends radially about a circumference of the first end of the stud, proximate an upper surface of the upper portion of the elongated member.