Electronic fuse tester

• US 4,525,664 A
• Filed: 01/03/1983
• Issued: 06/25/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1982
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bek-Tech Products Incorporated, SPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bek-Tech Products Incorporated
• Inventors: Trammell, Earl M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Krawczewicz, Stanley T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Solis, Jose M.
• Application Number:
  US06/455,193
• Time in Patent Office: 904 Days
• Field of Search: 337/241, 81/3.8, 324/158 F, 324/51, 324/52, 324/133
• US Class Current: 324/550
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/52 Testing for short-circuits, leakage current or ground faults
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/54 Testing for continuity
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/74 Testing of fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0216 Tools for controlling fuses or the line associated with the fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0208 Tools for inserting and removing fuses

Abstract

An electronic hand held fuse tester includes an elongated handle member to facilitate grasping of the device during use, a housing member integrally formed at one end of the handle, the housing member enclosing an electronic test circuit with light emitting diodes mounted to a PC board, the PC board mounted within the housing to a pair of pivotally mounted contact members, the contact members adapted to contact the ends of the fuse to be tested, and fixtures at the other end of the handle member to facilitate removal and insertion of replacement fuses.

Claims

1. A hand held device for testing a fuse as said fuse is mounted between a pair of fuse clips or the like, said device comprising a handle member to facilitate grasping of the device during its use, a housing member joined to said handle member, a PC board, a test circuit mounted to said PC board, means to mount said PC board within said housing, said PC board having electrically conductive contact surfaces, said test circuit having an illumination means, two contact members having electrically conductive contact surfaces, and means to mount said contact members to the housing, said PC board mounting means having means to urge said PC board contact surfaces against said contact member contact surface, at least one of said contact members being adjustably mounted to the housing to facilitate adjustment of the spacing between said contact members.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising a fuse puller and insertion means joined to said handle member, said housing being at one end of said handle member, said fuse puller and insertion means being at the other end of said handle member.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the fuse puller and insertion means includes a first fixture integrally formed as part of the handle member and a second fixture pivotally attached to said handle member.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the first fixture is adapted to insert and remove blade type fuses and insert barrel type fuses and the second fixture is adapted to remove barrel type fuses.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein said adjustably mounted contact member has means to pivot with respect to the PC board.

6. The device of claim 5 wherein said second contact member is adjustably mounted to the housing and has means to be adjusted with respect to the PC board, and further comprising stop means associated with the housing to limit the adjustment of said contact members.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the housing includes a bottom plate, the bottom plate having means to pivotally mount each contact member, said PC board mounting means including a pin and an aperture in the bottom plate, the PC board having means defining a mounting hole therethrough, each PC board contact surface having means defining a hole therethrough, and each contact member having a post so that each contact member is pivotally mounted to the bottom plate with its post extending therethrough and the PC board is mounted to the bottom plate with the pin being inserted through the mounting hole and into the aperture to thereby urge the contact member posts through the PC board contact surface holes, and the matching contact surfaces against each other.

9. The device of claim 7 wherein the post of each of said contact members have a knurl to pivotally lock them into place on the bottom plate, the knurl forming said contact member contact surface against which is urged the PC board contact member surfaces.

8. The device of claim 8 further comprising stop means associated with the housing to limit the pivot angle of said contact members and prevent their contact with each other.

10. A hand held device for testing a fuse as said fuse is mounted between a pair of fuse clips or the like, said device comprising a handle member to facilitate grasping of the device during its use, the handle having a housing member at one end and a fuse puller at its other end, a test circuit, a PC board, said test circuit being mounted to said PC board, two contact members, means to mount said PC board in said housing, means to pivotally mount said contact members in said housing, said PC board mounting means having means to urge said contact members into contact with the PC board and thereby bring them in circuit with the test circuit to thereby enable its energization while mounted therein, said test circuit having illumination means which illuminates in response to a voltage differential sensed between said contact members to thereby indicate a blown fuse.

12. The device of claim 10 wherein said housing includes a bottom plate, said contact members have means to snap into the bottom plate and extend therethrough, said PC board having means to mount onto said contact members, and said PC board mounting means includes a pin to mount the PC board to the bottom plate and urge it against the contact members.

13. The device of claim 10 wherein the illumination means includes a pair of light emitting diodes connected in reverse polarity.

14. The device of claim 10 wherein the fuse puller includes a first fixture integral with the handle and a second fixture pivotally attached to the handle, the first fixture being adapted for use with blade type fuses, the second fixture being adapted for use with barrel type fuses.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein the first fixture is formed at an angle to the handle.

16. The device of claim 12 wherein the bottom plate includes an integral stop means, said stop means being positioned between the contact members to physically limit the angle of rotation of each and prevent their being moved into contact with each other.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein each contact member has a nib for contacting the stop means and limiting its movement.

18. The device of claim 10 wherein the contact members are the only exposed parts of said device which are electrically conductive.

11. The device of claim 11 wherein said handle member is made of a polycarbonate molded plastic.