THERMAL FUSE

• US 20110181385A1
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Seebacher, Daniel, Schulze-Icking-Konert, Georg
• Application Number:
  US13/003,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20110181385A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 337/290
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 37/761 with a fusible element forming part of the switched circuit H01H37/767 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermal fuse (1) for interrupting a power flow in modules, particularly for use in the automotive field, comprising: - a connecting element having a connecting region, - a fusible element (3) composed of fusible material and attached with one end to the connecting region (2) in order to establish an electrically conductive connection between the fusible element (3) and the connecting element (2), the connecting element (2) comprising an expansion region for accommodating melted fusible material, characterized in that the expansion region has an expansion surface (6) on which part of or all of the melted fusible material spreads as the fusible element melts, the expansion surface (6) having no positive curvature.

Claims

1. A thermal fuse (1) for interrupting a power flow in modules, comprising:

a connecting element (2) with a connecting region, and

a fusible element (3) composed of fusible material and attached by an end to the connecting region in order to provide an electrically conductive connection between the fusible element (3) and the connecting element (2);

wherein the connecting element (2) has an expansion region for accommodating molten fusible material, characterized in that the expansion region has an expansion surface (6) on which at least part of the molten fusible material spreads as the fusible element melts, wherein the expansion region (6) does not have a positive curvature.

2. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that two connecting elements (2) are provided, between which connecting elements (2) the fusible element (3) is accommodated, and ends of the fusible element (3) are attached to the corresponding connecting elements (2).

3. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the expansion surface (6) is a planar surface.

4. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the expansion surface (6) runs essentially perpendicularly with respect to a direction in which the fusible element (3) bears against the connecting element.

5. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the expansion surface corresponds to an internal surface of a beaker-shaped structure which has an internal diameter which is larger than a cross section of the fusible element (3) within the beaker-shaped structure.

6. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that a volume of the beaker-shaped structure corresponds to at least half a volume of the fusible material of the fusible element (3).

7. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that a base surface (9) of the beaker-shaped structure is larger than a cross-sectional area of the end of the fusible element (3).

8. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the expansion surface (6) corresponds to an internal surface of a funnel-shaped structure.

9. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that a tip of the funnel-shaped structure is flattened with a surface which is equal to or smaller than a cross-sectional area of the end of the fusible element (3).

10. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the expansion surface (6) corresponds to an internal surface of a hollow cone structure whose internal diameter at one point is larger than a diameter of the fusible element (3).

11. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the expansion surface (6) is a planar surface.

12. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that the expansion surface (6) runs essentially perpendicularly with respect to a direction in which the fusible element (3) bears against the connecting element.

13. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the expansion surface corresponds to an internal surface of a beaker-shaped structure which has an internal diameter which is larger than a cross section of the fusible element (3) within the beaker-shaped structure.

14. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 13, characterized in that a volume of the beaker-shaped structure corresponds to at least half a volume of the fusible material of the fusible element (3).

15. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 14, characterized in that a base surface (9) of the beaker-shaped structure is larger than a cross-sectional area of the end of the fusible element (3).

16. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the expansion surface (6) corresponds to an internal surface of a funnel-shaped structure.

17. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that a tip of the funnel-shaped structure is flattened with a surface which is equal to or smaller than a cross-sectional area of the end of the fusible element (3).

18. The thermal fuse (1) as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the expansion surface (6) corresponds to an internal surface of a hollow cone structure whose internal diameter at one point is larger than a diameter of the fusible element (3).