Fuse box, fuse, and fuse block

• US 6,443,771 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Original Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
• Inventors: Sato, Takahiro, Kondo, Hiroki, Nakamura, Goro
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KHIEM M
• Application Number:
  US09/818,645
• Publication Number:
  US 20010027060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 524 Days
• Field of Search: 439/680, 439/681, 439/620-621, 439/698, 439/830, 439/831
• US Class Current: 439/620.27
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/208 specially adapted for vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/0417 with parallel side contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/2045 Mounting means or insulating parts of the base, e.g. covers, casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/24 Means for preventing insertion of incorrect fuse

Abstract

A fuse block 1 includes a fuse box 2 and a high voltage fuse 3. The fuse box 2 has a high voltage mounting part 6. The high voltage mounting part 6 is provided with an opening 6a, a plurality of surrounding walls 7a, 7b, and projections 8. Each of the projections 8 is projected from both the surrounding walls 7a, 7b which are adjacent to each other into an interior of the high voltage mounting part 6. A rated voltage fuse cannot be mounted to the high voltage mounting part 6 because of the presence of the projections 8. The high voltage fuse 3 includes a housing 10 having outer walls 14a, 14b and recesses 13. Each of the recesses 13 is formed by displacing both the outer walls 14a, 14b which are adjacent to each other. When the high voltage fuse 3 is mounted to the high voltage mounting part 6, the recesses 13 and the projections 8 will not interfere with each other.

Claims

1. In combination, a fuse box and a fuse for use therein, said fuse box comprising:

a body having oppositely spaced, substantially parallel surfaces and at least one first mounting part defined by a through-opening in said body extending between said surfaces, said through-opening having substantially rectangularly disposed side walls extending between said body surfaces,

said through-opening being arranged to receive from one end thereof, and to contain, a pair of receiving terminals disposed in mutually parallel relation with respect to each other,

one of said receiving terminals being supplied with electric power having a voltage higher than 32V,

blocking means disposed in at least one first mounting part including a projection extending from a wall of said through-opening, whereby said through-opening has a sectional profile through said through-opening containing an obstruction defined by said projection,

wherein said fuse for use in said fuse box includes a housing having recess means in an exterior surface thereof and defining a transverse sectional profile conforming with the sectional profile of said through-opening to permit reception of a fuse housing into the other end thereof and connecting means extending from a fuse housing for reception by said receiving terminals.

2. The fuse box as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first mounting part is defined by a plurality of surrounding walls continued from peripheral edges of said through-opening, and

said blocking means includes projections which are projected from said surrounding walls into said first mounting part.

3. The use box as claimed in claim 2, wherein said surrounding walls of said first mounting part include a pair of first surrounding walls which are opposed to each other in a direction in which said first receiving terminals are juxtaposed, and a pair of second surrounding walls which are continued from said first surrounding walls and opposed to each other in a direction intersecting the direction in which said first receiving terminals are juxtaposed, and

said projections project from both said first surrounding walls and said second surrounding walls which are adjacent to each other across said first surrounding walls and second surrounding walls.

4. A fuse comprising:

a pair of connecting terminals arranged in parallel to each other, one of said connecting terminals being used for supplying an electric power having a first voltage higher than 32V; and

a housing adapted to receive an end portion of said connecting terminals,

wherein said housing includes outer walls forming an outer shell, and at least one recess formed in at least one of said outer walls, said at least one recess extending from an end of said shell part way to the other end thereof.

5. The fuse as claimed in claim 4, wherein said outer walls of the housing include a pair of first outer walls which are opposed to each other in a direction in which said first connecting terminals are juxtaposed, and a pair of second outer walls which are continued from said first outer walls and opposed to each other in a direction intersecting the direction in which said first connecting terminals are juxtaposed, and

said at least one recess is provided at an intersection of said first outer walls and said second outer walls which are adjacent to each other.

6. In combination, a fuse block and fuse means for use therein, said fuse block comprising:

a body formed in a box-like shape having oppositely spaced, substantially parallel surfaces;

a first mounting part adapted to receive a pair of first receiving terminals arranged in parallel to each other and having one of said first receiving terminals being supplied with electric power having a first voltage higher than 32V;

a second mounting part adapted to receive a pair of second receiving terminals arranged in parallel to each other and having one of said second receiving terminals being supplied with electric power having a second voltage lower than said first voltage, said first and second mounting parts each being defined by a through-opening having surrounding walls extending between said body surfaces;

said fuse means including a first fuse having a pair of first connecting terminals which are arranged in parallel to each other and adapted to be respectively connected to said first receiving terminals, and a first fusible body which is adapted to fuse when the electric power whose amperage is higher than a value corresponding to said first voltage has been supplied, said first fuse being adapted to be inserted into one end of said through-opening and be detachably mounted to said first mounting part, and

a second fuse having a pair of second connecting terminals which are arranged in parallel to each other and adapted to be respectively connected to said second receiving terminals, and a second fusible body which is adapted to fuse when electric power whose amperage is higher than a value corresponding to said second voltage has been supplied, said second fuse being adapted to be detachably mounted to said second mounting part,

wherein said first mounting part includes blocking means formed by a projection which is projected from said surrounding walls into said first mounting part and defining a sectional profile through said through-opening, and

said first fuse includes said pair of first connecting terminals and a housing having a recess in an exterior surface thereof and defining a transverse sectional profile conforming with the sectional profile of said through-opening to permit reception of a fuse housing into the other end of said through-opening.

7. The fuse block as claimed in claim 6, wherein said surrounding walls of said first mounting part include a pair of first surrounding walls which are opposed to each other in a direction in which said first receiving terminals are juxtaposed, and a pair of second surrounding walls which are continued from said first surrounding walls and opposed to each other in a direction intersecting the direction in which said first receiving terminals are juxtaposed,

said outer walls of the housing include a pair of first outer walls which are opposed to each other in a direction in which said first connecting terminals are juxtaposed, and a pair of second outer walls which are continued from said first outer walls and opposed to each other in a direction intersecting the direction in which said first connecting terminals are juxtaposed,

said projection is formed by projecting from said first surrounding walls and said second surrounding walls which are adjacent to each other across said first surrounding walls and second surrounding walls, and

said recess is formed at an intersection of said first outer walls and said second outer walls which are adjacent to each other across said first outer walls and said second outer walls.

8. The fuse block as claimed in claim 7, wherein said projection and said recess come into alignment when said first fuse has been mounted to said first mounting part.