Fuse holder assembly

• US 5,018,991 A
• Filed: 05/11/1990
• Issued: 05/28/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Triplex Manufacturing Co.
• Original Assignee: Triplex Manufacturing Co.
• Inventors: Robin, Gary I., Katz, Paul C., Pisciotto, Patrick A.
• Primary Examiner(s): DESMOND, EUGENE
• Application Number:
  US07/522,326
• Time in Patent Office: 382 Days
• Field of Search: 439/620-622, 439/271, 337/187, 337/188, 337/190, 337/205, 337/213
• US Class Current: 439/620.28
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0026 casings for the fuse and its base contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/201 for connecting a fuse in a lead and adapted to be supported by the lead alone
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/542 the intermediate or auxiliary part being provided with bayonet-type locking means

Abstract

A fuse holder assembly for a cylindrical fuse of the type including a fusible link retained in an insulative sleeve. The assembly includes first and second insulated conductors, first and second metallic terminal elements for attachment to the end of the conductors and including a receiving end for holding one end of the fuse. The assembly further includes first and second sleeves of resilient insulative material for receiving corresponding conductors in an interference fit with each sleeve being slidable along the outside surface of the conductor. A first cap of relatively rigid insulative material includes a barrel defining a cavity for receiving the first terminal element with the cap having a facing end portion and a remote end portion. The cap includes an intermediate internal ledge positioned between the end portions for abutting the fuse-receiving end of the terminal element, and a remote internal ledge positioned at the remote end portion of the cap for abutting a sleeve. The remote ledge defines an opening for passage of the first conductor. A substantially similar second cap is also provided for longitudinal movement towards the first cap thereby causing the fuse to be received in the fuse-receiving portions of the terminal elements and with the sleeves bearing against their corresponding remote ledges of the caps, to provide a degree of water resistance.

Claims

1. A fuse holder assembly for a fuse of the type including a fusible link retained in an insulative sleeve, made of a material such as glass or a ceramic, with a terminal cup, connected to an end of the link, at each end of the sleeve, said fuse holder assembly comprising:

first and second insulated conductors each having a conductive core and an insulative jacket positioned about said core;

a first metallic terminal element including a larger end for slidably receiving one of said terminal cups and a smaller end attached to the core of said first insulated conductor;

a second metallic terminal element including a larger end for slidably receiving the other terminal cup and a small end attached to the core of said second insulated conductor;

a first sleeve of resilient insulative material receiving in an interference fit said first conductor, said sleeve being slidable on the outside surface of the jacket of said first conductor;

a second sleeve of resilient insulative material receiving in an interference fit said second conductor, said sleeve being slidable on the outside surface of the jacket of said second conductor;

a first cap of relatively rigid insulative material including a barrel defining a cavity for receiving said first terminal element, said first cap having a facing end portion and a remote end portion, said first cap further including an intermediate internal ledge disposed between said end portions for abutting said larger end of said first terminal element and a remote internal ledge disposed at said remote end portion for abutting said first sleeve, said remote ledge defining an opening for passage of said first conductor; and

a second cap of relatively rigid insulative material including a barrel defining a cavity for receiving said second terminal element, said second cap having a facing end portion and a remote end portion, said second cap further including an intermediate internal ledge disposed between the last-mentioned end portions for abutting said larger end of said second terminal element and a remote internal ledge disposed at said second cap remote end for abutting said second sleeve, said second cap remote ledge defining an opening for passage of said second conductor.

2. A fuse holder assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein with the facing end portions of said caps engaging one another, said intermediate ledges are spaced a distance substantially equal to the spacing of said terminal element larger ends when holding said fuse whereby when said caps are moved toward each other the respective remote ledges engage and slide along a respective conductor jacket a respective sleeve until the facing end portions engage each other to hold said fuse from substantial longitudinal movement and with each sleeve closely adjacent its corresponding remote ledge to provide a degree of water resistance.

3. A fuse holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein said sleeves comprise O-rings.

4. A fuse holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein all of the aforementioned ledges are annular.

5. A fuse holder as set forth in claim 1 wherein the facing end portion of said first cap includes an annular extension, and wherein the facing end portion of the second cap comprises an annular depression for receiving said extension in an interference fit to provide a degree of water resistance.

6. A fuse holder as set forth in claim 2 wherein each of said first and second caps includes interlocking means at its facing end portion for locking said caps together upon relative rotation of said caps after engagement of said facing end portions.

7. A fuse holder as set forth in claim 6 wherein each interlocking means is substantially identical and comprises a plurality of regularly spaced locking arms, each locking arm including a support portion on the outer surface of its corresponding cap, and a locking finger extending normally to the longitudinal direction of its cap, said finger having a proximal end attached to said support arm with the remainder of said finger being unattached to said cap and terminating in a distal end, said distal end being resiliently deflectable.

8. A fuse holder as set forth in claim 7 wherein said distal end includes an enlargement extending toward the remote end portion of the corresponding cap and wherein a surface of the finger located between said proximal and distal ends and facing the remote end portion includes a depression for seating the enlargement of a mating locking finger of the other cap.

9. A fuse holder assembly for a fuse of the type including a fusible link retained in an insulative sleeve, made of a material such as glass or a ceramic, with a terminal cup, connected to an end of the link, at each end of the sleeve, said fuse holder assembly comprising:

a first metallic terminal element including a fuse-receiving end for slidably receiving one of said terminal cups and a conductor-receiving end for attachment to the core of a first insulated conductor;

a second metallic terminal element including a fuse-receiving end for slidably receiving the other terminal cup and a conductor-receiving end for attachment to the core of a second insulated conductor;

a first O-ring of resilient insulative material sized to receive in an interference fit said first conductor, said sleeve being slidable on the outside surface of said first conductor;

a second O-ring of resilient insulative material sized to receive in an interference fit said second conductor, said sleeve being slidable on the outside surface of said second conductor;

a first cap of relatively rigid insulative material including a barrel defining a cavity for receiving said first terminal element, said first cap having a facing end portion and a remote end portion, said first cap further including an intermediate internal ledge disposed between said end portions for abutting said fuse-receiving end of said first terminal element and a remote internal ledge disposed at said remote end portion for abutting said first O-ring, said remote ledge defining an opening for passage of said first conductor; and

a second cap of relatively rigid insulative material including a barrel defining a cavity for receiving said second terminal element, said second cap having a facing end portion and a remote end portion, said second cap further including an intermediate internal ledge disposed between the last-mentioned end portions for abutting said fuse-receiving end of said second terminal element and a remote internal ledge disposed at said second cap remote end for abutting said second O-ring, said second cap remote ledge defining an opening for passage of said second conductor, with the facing end portions of said caps engaging each other, said intermediate ledges being spaced a distance substantially equal to the spacing of said terminal element fuse-receiving ends when holding said fuse, whereby when said caps are moved toward each other the respective remote ledges engage and slide along a respective conductor a respective O-ring until the facing end portions engage each other to hold said fuse from substantial longitudinal movement and with each O-ring closely adjacent its corresponding remote ledge to provide a degree of water resistance.