Selective fused circuit continuity test apparatus

• US 5,153,523 A
• Filed: 11/23/1990
• Issued: 10/06/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert F. James
• Original Assignee: Samaniego, Joseph
• Inventors: Samaniego, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Harvey, Jack B.
• Application Number:
  US07/617,194
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• Field of Search: 324/507, 324/550, 324/133, 340/638, 340/639, 337/206, 337/209, 337/241, 337/265
• US Class Current: 324/550
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0216 Tools for controlling fuses or the line associated with the fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/32 Indicating lamp structurally associated with the protective device

Abstract

A fuse and circuit testing apparatus providing a fuse adapter for each of a multiplicity of fuses and accessory circuits, the adapter inserted into a receptacle and carrying the fuse, the circuit at one terminal of each fuse being isolated for selector switch continuity through either the accessory or a continuity testing circuit.

Claims

1. A fused circuit testing apparatus for an electrical power source in a system having at least one fuse receptacle adapted to receive a protective fuse at an electrical input terminal and with an electrical output terminal to an accessory circuit, and including;

a fuse adapter means having electrically isolated input and output terminals received in the input and output terminals of the fuse receptacle, the input terminal of the adapter being in electrical continuity with the input terminal of the receptacle, and the output terminal of the adapter being electrically isolated from the output terminal of the receptacle, said input and output terminals of the adapter receiving the fuse therebetween,

a selective test circuit means switching electrical continuity from the output terminal of the adapter means to the output terminal of the receptacle and alternately to a circuit continuity indicator means.

2. The fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the continuity indicator means is a switch and light emitting diode in series to ground.

3. The fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the selective test circuit means includes a control module extended by conductors from the electrically isolated output terminals of the receptacle and the adapter means.

4. The fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the selective test circuit means includes a mode selector switch means for disconnecting the output terminals of the receptacle and fuse adapter means and directly connecting a conductor from the continuity indicator means to the electrical power source.

5. The fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 4, wherein one of the conductors from the continuity indicator means to the electrical power source is in series through a protective fuse.

6. The fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the selective test circuit means includes a control module extended by conductors from the electrically isolated output terminals of the receptacle and the adapter means, and wherein the selective test circuit means includes a mode selector switch means for disconnecting the output terminals of the receptacle and fuse adapter means and directly connecting a conductor from the continuity indicator means to the electrical power source.

7. The fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein one of the conductors from the continuity indicator means to the electrical power source is in series through a protective fuse.

8. The fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 6, wherein one of the conductors from the continuity indicator means to the electrical power source is in series through a protective fuse replaceable in the control module.

9. A multi-fused circuit testing apparatus for an electrical power source in a system having a multiplicity of fuse receptacles and each adapted to receive a protective fuse at an electrical input terminal and each with an output terminal to an accessory circuit, and including;

a multiplicity of fuse adapter means and each having electrically isolated input and output terminals received in the input and output terminals of one of the multiplicity of fuse receptacles, the input terminal of each adapter being in electrical continuity with the input terminal of each receptacle, and the output terminal of each adapter being electrically isolated from the output terminal of each receptacle, said input and output terminals of each adapter receiving the fuse therebetween,

a selective test circuit means switching electrical continuity from the output terminal of each adapter means to the output terminal of the receptacle in which it is inserted and alternately to a circuit continuity indicator means.

10. The multi-fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the selective test circuit means is comprised of a sequentially positioned gang switch having a multiplicity of jumpers with shiftable contacts for continuity between output terminals of the adapter means and receptacle at each of said multiplicity of fuses, and an additional jumper with contacts for continuity through the circuit continuity indicator means.

11. The multi-fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein the continuity indicator means is a switch and light emitting diode is series to ground.

12. The multi-fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the selective test circuit means includes a control module extended from the multiplicity of receptacle adapter means fuses by conductors from the electrically isolated output terminals of each receptacle an adapter means.

13. The multi-fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the selective test circuit means includes a mode selector switch means for disconnecting the output terminals of a selected receptacle and fuse adapter means and directly connecting a conductor from the continuity indicator means to the electrical power source.

14. The multi-fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 13, wherein one of the conductors from the continuity indicator means to the electrical power source is in series through a protective fuse.

15. The multi-fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein the selective test circuit means includes a control module extended by conductors from the electrically isolated output terminals of the receptacles and adapter means, and wherein the selective test circuit means includes a mode selector switch means for disconnecting the output terminals of the receptacle and fuse adapter means and directly connecting a conductor from the continuity indicator means to the electrical power source.

16. The multi-fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein one of the conductors from the continuity indicator means to the electrical power source is in series through a protective fuse.

17. The multi-fused circuit testing apparatus as set forth in claim 15, wherein one of the conductors from the continuity indicator means to the electrical power source is in series through a protective fuse replaceable in the control module remote from the receptacle.