Method for assembling a fuse holder

• US 5,655,292 A
• Filed: 06/02/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kuhlman Electric Corp. (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Smith, Stephen D., Dornbrock, Ronald F., Richerson, J. Donald, Fisher, John L., Cloyd, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): ECHOLS, PERCY W
• Application Number:
  US08/460,325
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 29/844, 29/845, 29/876, 29/877, 29/881, 29/882, 29/619, 29/623, 337/186, 337/201, 337/204, 337/205, 337/213
• US Class Current: 29/845
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0291 Structural association with a current transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0026 casings for the fuse and its base contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/22 Intermediate or auxiliary parts for carrying, holding, or retaining fuse, co-operating with base or fixed holder, and removable therefrom for renewing the fuse
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/102 Fuses mounted on or constituting the movable contact parts of the switch
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49107 Fuse making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49153 with shaping or forcing terminal into base aperture
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4921 with bonding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49217 by elastic joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49218 with deforming

Abstract

A fuse holder (2) for use in electrical apparatus includes a tubular body (6) having outer and inner ends (10, 16). A first electrical contact element (22) and a mounting flange (8) are secured to the inner and outer ends, preferably using resilient retaining rings (53, 68) engaging circular grooves (52, 20; 62, 20) formed in the opposed surfaces. A tubular second electrical contact element (32) is secured within the tubular body and preferably has a flexible electrical terminal strap (24) which extends out through an opening (23) formed in the tubular body. Fluid-tight seals are provided between the inner surface (14) of the tubular body and the outer surfaces (46, 58, 30) of the first and second electrical contact elements and the mounting flange assembly by using pairs of O-rings (38, 50 and 70); an adhesive (39) is also used to secure these elements to the body.

Claims

1. A method for assembling a fuse holder comprising the following steps:

selecting a cylindrical tubular body having an inner surface defining an open interior and open first and second ends;

forming an inner circular groove in the inner surface of said body at said first end of said body;

mounting a first electrical contact element, including a first cylindrical portion, to the first end of the body so that at least a part of the first cylindrical portion is within the open interior;

securing the first electrical contact to the first end of the body by engaging a resilient retaining ring, carried by the first cylindrical portion of the first electrical contact element, with the inner circular groove formed in the inner surface at the first end of the body;

mounting a cylindrical tubular second electrical contact element within the body at a chosen location;

securing the second electrical contact element at the chosen location;

mounting a mounting flange assembly, including a second cylindrical portion, to the second end of the body so that at least a part of the second cylindrical portion is within the interior; and

securing the mounting flange assembly to the second end of the body.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the forming step includes the step of holding the tubular body from said inner surface while forming the inner circular groove in the inner surface of the body.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of forming a second inner circular groove in the inner surface of said body at said second end of said body.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the mounting flange assembly securing step includes the step of engaging a resilient retaining ring, carried by the second cylindrical portion of the mounting flange assembly, with the second inner circular groove formed in the inner surface at the second end of the body.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the first electrical contact securing step includes the step of adhering the first cylindrical portion to the inner surface of the body with an adhesive.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the second electrical contact securing step includes the step of adhering the second electrical contact to the inner surface of the body with an adhesive.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the flange assembly securing step includes the step of adhering the flange assembly to the inner surface of the body with an adhesive.

8. A method for assembling a fuse holder comprising the following steps:

selecting a cylindrical tubular body having a body wall, an inner surface defining an open interior, open first and second ends and a terminal opening formed through the body wall at a chosen location between the first and second ends;

mounting a first electrical contact element, including a first cylindrical portion, to the first end of the body so that at least a part of the first cylindrical portion is within the open interior;

securing the first electrical contact to the first end of the body;

mounting a circumferentially unbroken cylindrical tubular second electrical contact element within the body at a chosen location by;

aligning the distal end of a flexible terminal, extending from the second electrical contact element, with the terminal opening; and

passing the distal end of the flexible terminal through the terminal opening;

securing the second electrical contact element at the chosen location;

mounting a mounting flange assembly, including a second cylindrical portion, to the second end of the body so that at least a part of the second cylindrical portion is within the interior; and

securing the mounting flange assembly to the second end of the body.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the second electrical contact mounting step includes the step of positioning the flexible terminal within an annular recess formed in an outer surface of the tubular second electrical contact element prior to inserting the second electrical contact element into the tubular body through a chosen one of the first and second ends.

10. A method for assembling a fuse holder comprising the following steps:

selecting a cylindrical tubular body having an inner surface defining an open interior and open first and second ends;

forming inner circular grooves in the inner surface of said body at said first and second ends of said body;

mounting a first electrical contact element, including a first cylindrical portion, to the first end of the body so that at least a part of the first cylindrical portion is within the open interior;

securing the first electrical contact to the first end of the body by engaging a resilient retaining ring, carried by the first cylindrical portion of the first electrical contact element, with the inner circular groove formed in the inner surface at the first end of the body;

mounting a cylindrical tubular second electrical contact element within the body at a chosen location by;

positioning a flexible electrical terminal within an annular recess formed in an outer surface of the tubular second electrical contact element prior to inserting the second electrical contact element into the tubular body;

inserting the second electrical contact into the tubular body through a chosen one of the first and second ends;

aligning a free, distal end of the flexible electrical terminal with the terminal opening; and

passing the distal end of the flexible electrical terminal through the terminal opening;

securing the second electrical contact element at the chosen location;

mounting a mounting flange assembly, including a second cylindrical portion, to the second end of the body so that at least a part of the second cylindrical portion is within the interior; and

securing the mounting flange assembly to the second end of the body by engaging a resilient retaining ring, carried by the second cylindrical portion of the mounting flange assembly, with the inner circular groove formed in the inner surface at the second end of the body.