Automobile fuse with damage indicator

• US 4,695,815 A
• Filed: 05/07/1985
• Issued: 09/22/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chern Hwang
• Original Assignee: Chern Hwang
• Inventors: Hwang, Chern
• Primary Examiner(s): Broome, Harold
• Application Number:
  US06/731,385
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 337/242, 337/241, 337/266, 337/198, 339/147 P, 361/347
• US Class Current: 337/266
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/32 Indicating lamp structurally associated with the protective device
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 439/91 Observation aide, e.g. transparent material, window in housing

Abstract

An automobile fuse with damage indicator, in which two conductors of a small indicator bulb are connected in parallel with two conductors of a fusible link so that the bulb does not light as long as the fuse is in good condition; but will light immediately by current passing through the load after the fusible link is broken by an overload. The lighting of an indicator at the place where the fuse is installed directly indicates a burnt fuse, particularly at night or in a dark place and trouble shooting and replacement of fuse can be conducted quickly.

Claims

1. An automobile fuse with damage indicator means comprising

a cylindrical, transparent shell having an open end and a closed end;

a pin comprising a pair of conductors separated by an insulator, the pin having an upper end and a lower end, the upper end being inserted into the open end of the shell to form a sealed portion; and

disposed within the sealed shell portion, a fusible link and an indicator bulb in electrical connection with the pair of conductors.

2. The automobile fuse according to claim 1 wherein the pair of conductors are concentrically arranged and separated by the insulator to form a single electrical connection pin insertable into an electrical pin board.

3. The automobile fuse according to claim 2 wherein the conductors extend into the lower portion of the transparent shell and the indicator bulb has two electrically connected conductors, one to each of the pair of conductors in the pin.

4. The automobile fuse according to claim 3 wherein the fusible link is electrically connected in parallel circuitry with the indicator bulb and between the conductors of the bulb.

5. The automobile fuse according to claim 2 wherein the conductor forming the outer shell of the pin is radially expanded to form a base for sealing the transparent shell and the lower end of the conductor forming the inner shell is enlarged to form a pin having the same diameter along the longitudinal axis thereof.