FUSE ASSEMBLY

• US 20110285496A1
• Filed: 05/17/2011
• Published: 11/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Littelfuse Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Littelfuse Incorporated
• Inventors: Bold, Gary M., Urrea, Julio
• Granted Patent: US 8,669,840 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 337/188
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/025 Structural association with a binding post of a storage battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0555 Input terminal connected to a plurality of output terminals, e.g. multielectrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/12 Two or more separate fusible members in parallel

Abstract

A circuit protection assembly employs a post arrangement that is easier to manufacture and has a built-in insulating fuse configuration. The circuit protection assembly is disposed between a source of power and a circuit to be protected. The circuit protection assembly includes 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. A fuse having a centrally disposed aperture is configured to receive the body portion of the post. The post has a second end configured to receive a terminal for connection to a circuit to be protected.

Claims

1. A circuit protection assembly comprising:

a mounting block having a bore extending therethrough and a recess cavity on a first surface of said mounting block;

a post having a first end disposed within said recess cavity and a body portion extending through said bore; and

a fuse having a centrally disposed aperture configured to receive said body portion of said post, said post having a second end configured to receive a terminal for connection to a circuit to be protected.

2. The circuit protection assembly of claim 1 further comprising a bus plate disposed on a second surface of said block below said fuse, said bus plate in contact with a first terminal of said fuse.

3. The circuit protection assembly of claim 2 wherein said bore is a first bore, said post is a first post, and said ring terminal is a first ring terminal, said assembly further comprising:

a second bore extending through said block; and

a second post having a first end in contact with said first surface of said block, a body portion extending through said second bore, and a second end configured to receive a second ring terminal having a first end in contact with said bus plate and a second end for connection to a circuit to be protected.

4. 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 said first and second terminals of the fuse.

5. The circuit protection assembly of claim 4 further comprising a cover extending from said first terminal of said fuse to a second terminal of said fuse wherein said cover is disposed over said fuse element.

6. A circuit protection assembly comprising:

a mounting block having an upper surface and a lower surface;

a plurality of posts each extending from the upper surface of said block;

a plurality of fuses each defined by a first and second terminals and a fuse element connecting said first and second terminals, each of the first terminals of said fuses having a centrally disposed aperture configured to receive a respective one of said plurality of posts; and

a bus bar extending along a length of said bottom surface of said mounting block, said bus bar defining said second terminal of each of said fuses.

7. The circuit protection assembly of claim 6 wherein said mounting block has a plurality of recesses in which at least a portion of corresponding fusible elements are disposed.

8. The circuit protection assembly of claim 7 wherein said recesses are partially defined by a side wall of said mounting block, each of said fusible elements disposed a distance away from said side wall to accommodate heat dissipation from each of said fusible elements.

9. The circuit protection assembly of claim 6 wherein said upper surface of said mounting block includes a plurality of recesses, each of said posts having a first end disposed at least partially within said corresponding recesses.

10. The circuit protection assembly of claim 6 further comprising a cover extending from said first terminal of said fuse to the second terminal of said fuse wherein said cover is disposed over said fuse element.

11. The circuit protection assembly of claim 6 wherein said mounting block includes a recess extending a length of said upper surface of said block, said recess configured to receive a first end of each of said plurality of posts disposed at least partially within said recess.

12. The circuit protection assembly of claim 11 wherein the recess is a grooved recess.

13. The circuit protection assembly of claim 6 further comprising a plurality of guards disposed between each of said plurality of posts on said upper surface of said mounting block.

14. The circuit protection assembly of claim 6 further comprising a power connection assembly located at a first end of said mounting block and configured to supply power to said bus bar.

15. The circuit protection assembly of claim 14 wherein said power connection assembly further comprises a fuse disposed between a power connection portion and said second terminal of each of said fuses.

16. A circuit protection assembly comprising:

a mounting block having an upper and lower surfaces and a recess cavity extending from the upper surface of said mounting block;

a unitary fuse assembly disposed at least partially around said mounting block, said unitary fuse assembly having a plurality of fuses each of which is defined by a portion of a bus plate disposed on the lower surface of said mounting block to form a first terminal of said fuse, a second terminal disposed at least partially on said upper surface of said mounting block and a fuse element connecting said first terminal and said second terminal;

a post assembly having a body and a plurality of posts extending from said body, said body configured to be slidably inserted at least partially within said recess cavity.

17. The circuit protection assembly of claim 16 wherein said recess cavity is a first recess cavity, said mounting block including a second recess cavity defined partially by a side wall of said mounting block and extending from near a top surface of said block to a bottom surface of said block, said fusible element disposed over said recess a distance away from said side wall of said mounting block.

18. The circuit protection assembly of claim 16 further comprising a power connection portion located at a first end of said mounting block and configured to supply power to said bus bar.