Wire protecting apparatus for automobiles

• US 5,606,483 A
• Filed: 12/20/1994
• Issued: 02/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Hara, Yasuhiro, Watanabe, Mitsugu, Sawai, Mamoru, Kurita, Kaoru, Nakamura, Tsuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JACKSON, STEPHEN W
• Application Number:
  US08/359,627
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 361/103, 361/106, 361/24, 361/25, 361/27, 361/115, 307/10.1
• US Class Current: 361/106
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/03 for supply of electrical power to vehicle subsystems or for circuit arrangements for charging batteries H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 9/026 Current limitation using PTC resistors, i.e. resistors with a large positive temperature coefficient

Abstract

A wire-protecting apparatus for automobiles in which at least one power-supplying lead for supplying an electric power to a load has at least one PTC element inserted in series with the power-supplying lead. The PTC element exhibits a high resistance at temperatures higher than a predetermined value when an overcurrent greater than a predetermined value flows through the load, thereby substantially shutting off the electric power to the load.

Claims

1. A wire-protecting apparatus for automobiles comprising:

at least one power-supplying lead for supplying an electric power to a load;

at least one PTC element inserted in series with said power-supplying lead, whereby said PTC element exhibits a high resistance at temperatures higher than a predetermined value when an overcurrent greater than a predetermined value flows through said load, thereby substantially shutting off the electric power to the load; and

a display means for detecting an overcurrent flowing through said PTC element to display an occurrence of an abnormal condition of the load, wherein said display means comprises an LED connected in parallel with said PTC element.

2. The wire-protecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said load is a motor.

3. The wire-protecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said PTC element is constructed of high density polyethylene.

4. The wire-protecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said PTC element is constructed of polyvinylidenefluoride.