Fuse link and dual element fuse

• US 5,298,877 A
• Filed: 02/19/1993
• Issued: 03/29/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Haworth, Edward, Gurevich, Leon
• Primary Examiner(s): Broome, Harold
• Application Number:
  US08/020,101
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 337/161, 337/162, 337/163, 337/164, 337/165, 337/166, 337/290, 337/295, 337/401, 337/416, 337/405
• US Class Current: 337/164
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/045 cartridge type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/055 Fusible members

Abstract

We provide an overload fuse link that is generally used in cartridge type fuses along with a short-circuit fuse link. The overload fuse link is prepared from a solder alloy and is directly attached to the interior of one of the cartridge fuse terminals. The overload fuse link has an open bore opening at one end and a connector extending from the other end. The cartridge fuse which uses the fuse link also has an insulator through which the connector passes and the insulator separates the short circuit fuse link from the body section of the overload fuse link wherein when there is an overload, the fuse link connector electrically separates from the fuse link body section.

Claims

1. A one-piece alloy overload fuse link comprising a body having an opening at one end and a fuse link connector extending from the other end of said body, a bore formed in said body, said bore having an open end a closed end, said body opening forming the bore open end bore formed in said body wherein when there is an overload current said fuse link connector separates from said fuse link body.

2. The overload fuse link of claim 1 wherein said bore has a volume equal to at least 25% of the total volume of said fuse link body.

3. The fuse link of claim 1 wherein said bore has at least a portion thereof which is frusto-conical.

4. The fuse link of claim 2 wherein said bore has at least a portion thereof which is frusto-conical.

5. The fuse link of claim 4 wherein the bore has at least two sections with one section being substantially cylindrical.

6. The fuse link of claim 4 wherein the fuse link body has an upper flange which has a diameter greater than the inner diameter of a fuse cartridge and acts as a shoulder to rest on the fuse cartridge, a body section which tapers inwardly from the shoulder to provide a body section which has a diameter less than the inner diameter of said fuse cartridge, a substantially cylindrical fuse connector extending from the body section end opposite the flange end, said connector having a diameter less than the inner diameter of said fuse cartridge.

7. A cartridge fuse comprising:

a tubular casing, said tubular casing being an electrical insulating material, and said tubular casing having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first terminal attached to said proximal end of said tubular casing;

a second terminal attached to said distal end of said tubular casing;

a short circuit link having a first end and a second end, said first end being electrically attached to said second terminal;

a solder alloy overload fuse link, said overload fuse link having a body with an upper section and a body section, said upper section being electrically attached to said first terminal,

an open bore formed in said body section and extending through said upper section with said opening facing said first terminal and being spaced from said first terminal;

an insulator inside said tubular casing separating said body section from said short circuit fuse link;

a fuse link connector extending f rom said body section through said insulator towards said second terminal; and

said short circuit fuse link second end electrically attached to said fuse link connector,

wherein when there is an overload current, said fuse link connector electrically separates from said body section.

8. The cartridge fuse of claim 7 wherein the fuse connector is integral with said overload fuse link, said connector and said overload fuse link are constructed from a solder having a melting point of from about 90°

C. to about 150°

C., and said bore has a volume equal to at least 25% of the total volume of said fuse link body.

9. The cartridge fuse of claim 8 wherein said open bore has at least a portion thereof which is frusto conical.

10. The cartridge fuse of claim 9 wherein the bore has at least a portion thereof being substantially cylindrical.

11. The cartridge fuse of claim 7 wherein said short circuit fuse link is ribbon-like having a width less than the inner diameter of said tubular casing;

said overload fuse link and connector are one-piece, said overload fuse link has an upper flange section, said flange section resting on the proximal end of the tubular casing, said flange section being electrically attached to said first terminal, said body section being spaced from the innerwalls of said tubular casing for a substantial length thereof;

said insulator is a washer having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said tubular casing, said washer positioned to contact the body section within said tubular casing opposite said flange section; and

a fuse link connector extending through said washer towards said second terminal and forming means to attach said washer to said body section;

said short circuit fuse link second end contacting said washer.

12. The cartridge of claim 11 wherein said open bore has at least a portion thereof which is frusto-conical.

13. The fuse link of claim 12 wherein the open bore has at least one section being substantially cylindrical.

15. The cartridge fuse of claim 7 wherein said short circuit fuse link is ribbon-like having a width less than the inner diameter of said tubular casing;

said overload fuse link and connector are one-piece, said overload fuse link has an upper flange section, said flange section resting on the proximal end of the tubular casing, said flange section being electrically attached to said first terminal, said body section being spaced from the innerwalls of said tubular casing for a substantial length thereof;

said insulator is a washer having a diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said tubular casing, said washer positioned to contact the body section within said tubular casing opposite said flange section; and

a fuse link connector extending through said washer towards said second terminal and forming means to attach said washer to said body section;

said short circuit fuse link second end contacting said washer.

14. A cartridge fuse comprising:

a tubular casing, said tubular casing being an electrical insulating material, and said tubular casing having a proximal end and a distal end;

a first terminal attached to said proximal end of said tubular casing;

a second terminal attached to said distal end of said tubular casing;

a short circuit link having a first end and a second end, said first end being electrically attached to said second terminal;

a solder alloy overload fuse link, said overload fuse link having a body with an upper section and a body section, said upper section being electrically attached to said first terminal,

an insulator inside said tubular casing separating said body section from said short circuit fuse link;

a fuse link connector extending from said body section through said insulator towards said second terminal; and

said short circuit fuse link second end electrically attached to said fuse link connector,

wherein when there is an overload current, said fuse link connector electrically separates from said body section.