RADIAL FUSE BASE AND ASSEMBLY

• US 20100148914A1
• Filed: 12/17/2008
• Published: 06/17/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Rahdar, Essie, Kim, Seong Kook
• Granted Patent: US 8,576,041 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 337/228
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/2085 Holders for mounting a fuse on a printed circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0411 Miniature fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/2045 Mounting means or insulating parts of the base, e.g. covers, casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/205 Electric connections to contacts on the base

Abstract

Radial fuses for protecting an electrical circuit include a nonconductive base provided with inverted flat faces sloped obliquely relative to one another that define a wider receiving area for installation of a fuse element. Restricted freedom of movement of the fuse element is accomplished, and greater fuse reliability is ensured.

Claims

1. A radial fuse for protecting an electrical circuit comprising:

a nonconductive base comprising a first end and at least one pair of cradle members extending from the first end, the pair of cradle members comprising inverted slope faces defining a receiving area of more than about 50°

for installation of a fuse element.

2. The radial fuse of claim 1, wherein the inverted slope faces are flat and linear.

3. The radial fuse of claim 1, further comprising a pair of axial leads extending through the base, one of the pair of leads extending between the at least one pair of cradle members.

4. The radial fuse of claim 3, further comprising a fuse element received between the cradle members and connected to the axial leads.

5. The radial fuse of claim 4, wherein the fuse element extends transversely to the axial leads.

6. The radial fuse of claim 1, wherein the base further comprises a cylindrical side wall.

7. The radial fuse of claim 1, further comprising a protective cap, the base fitted into the cap and enclosing the first end.

8. The radial fuse of claim 1, wherein the base comprises a second end opposing the first end, the second end exposed when the base is fitted into the cap.

9. The radial fuse of claim 1, further comprising axial leads and a fuse element configured to open a current path between the axial leads when specified current conditions occur in the electrical circuit, and wherein a gap of about 1 mm or less extends between the fuse element and the sloped faces to restrain movement of the fuse element.

10. The radial fuse of claim 1, wherein the inverted slope faces define a receiving area of at least about 60°

for installation of a fuse element.

11. An electrical fuse comprising:

a nonconductive base comprising a first end and opposed pairs of cradle members extending from the first end, each of the opposed pairs of cradle members comprising inverted flat and linear faces, the flat and linear faces being obliquely sloped and collectively defining a receiving area of at least about 60°

for installation of a fuse element;

a pair of axial leads extending through the base between the respective opposed pairs of cradle members; and

a fuse element soldered to proximal ends of the axial leads and extending between the opposed pair of cradle members, wherein the fuse element extends transversely to the axial leads.

12. The fuse of claim 11, further comprising a nonconductive cap, the base fitted into the cap and the cap enclosing the fuse element.

13. The fuse of claim 12, wherein the cap comprises a cylindrical side wall.

14. The fuse of claim 12, wherein the fuse element is configured to open a current path between the axial leads when specified current conditions occur in an electrical circuit, and wherein a gap of about 1 mm or less extends between the fuse element and the flat and linear faces to restrain movement of the fuse element.

15. The fuse of claim 12, wherein the base comprises a second end opposing the first end, and the second end is exposed when the base is fitted into the cap.

16. An electrical fuse comprising:

means for establishing an electrical connection to a circuit;

means for establishing an interruptible current path between the means for establishing an electrical connection to the circuit, wherein the means for establishing an interruptible current path structurally fails upon an occurrence of a specified current condition;

a nonconductive means for receiving the means for establishing an electrical current to the circuit and the means for establishing an interruptible current path, wherein the nonconductive means for receiving is configured to provide a gap of about 1 mm or less for the means for establishing an interruptible current path to move; and

means for enclosing the means for establishing an interruptible current path but leaving a portion of the nonconductive means exposed.

17. The electrical fuse of claim 16, wherein the means for receiving comprises inverted flat and linear faces, the flat and linear faces being obliquely sloped relative to one another and collectively defining a receiving area of at least about 60°

.

18. The electrical fuse of claim 16, wherein the means for enclosing comprises a cylindrical cap.

19. The electrical fuse of claim 16 wherein the means for establishing an electrical connection to a circuit comprises a pair of axial leads.

20. The electrical fuse of claim 19, wherein the means for establishing an interruptible current path extends transversely to the pair of axial leads.