Fuse with fuse link coating

• US 6,507,265 B1
• Filed: 04/13/2000
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Ackermann, John Marvin
• Primary Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US09/549,143
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 337/296, 337/273-282, 337/163, 337/166, 337/234, 337/236, 337/238, 337/239, 337/260, 337/270
• US Class Current: 337/278
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/055 Fusible members
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/10 with constriction for localised fusing H01H85/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/38 Means for extinguishing or suppressing arc by powder filling H01H85/18; by mechanical tension applied to fusible member H01H85/36
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49107 Fuse making

Abstract

A fuse that includes an arc energy reducing coating to reduce arc energy during a short-circuit and/or a full voltage overload current interrupt is described. The fuse includes end conductor elements, and at least one fuse element secured between and making electrical contact with the end conductor elements. An elongate fuse housing, having a passageway extending longitudinally through the housing, extends between the end conductor elements. The fuse element extends through the housing passageway. An arc energy reducing coating at least partially coats each end portion of the fuse element.

Claims

1. A fuse comprising:

a first and a second end conductor element;

a fuse element secured between and making electrical contact with said end conductor elements, said fuse element comprising a first end, a second end, and a first weak spot adjacent said first end and a second weak spot adjacent said second end;

an elongate fuse housing comprising an inside surface defining a passageway extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end of said housing, said housing extending between said end conductor elements, said fuse element extending through said passageway; and

an arc energy absorbing silicone coating extending between said first end and said first weak spot and extending between said second end and said second weak spot, said coating incompletely covering said first weak spot and said second weak spot.

2. A fuse in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second end conductor elements comprise first and second end caps, said first end cap positioned over said first end of said housing and said second end cap positioned over said second end of said housing, said first and second end caps closing said passageway at either end to form a chamber inside said housing, said fuse element extending through said chamber.

3. A fuse in accordance with claim 2 wherein said fuse element comprises a strip, said strip comprising:

a plurality of bends along said strip, said bends dividing said strip into a plurality of substantially straight segments; and

a plurality of weak spots extending the length of said strip, said weak spots located along said substantially straight segments.

4. A fuse in accordance with claim 3 further comprising a plurality of contact locations between said strip and said inside wall of said housing, said contact locations configured so that upon occurrence of an arc, said strip interacts with said inside wall of said housing to extinguish the arc.

5. A fuse in accordance with claim 3 wherein each said bend forms an angle in said strip of about 90 degrees.

6. A fuse in accordance with claim 1 wherein said at least one of said first and second weak spots comprises an opening in said strip, said coating free from said opening.

7. A fuse in accordance with claim 1 wherein said silicone coating at least partially coats both sides of said strip between said first end and said first weak spot and between said second end and said second weak spot.

8. A fuse in accordance with claim 1 wherein said silicone coating at least partially coats one side of said strip between said first end and said first weak spot and between said second end and said second weak spot.

9. A fuse in accordance with claim 1 wherein said first and second end conductor elements comprise first and second terminal elements, said first terminal element positioned at said first end of said housing and said second terminal element positioned at said second end of said housing, said first and second terminal elements closing said passageway at either end to form a chamber inside said housing, said fuse element extending through said chamber, each said terminal element comprises a terminal blade extending outward from an end wall.

10. A fuse in accordance with claim 9 wherein said fuse element comprises a strip comprising a plurality of weak spots extending the length of said strip.

11. A fuse in accordance with claim 6 wherein said weak spots comprise openings, said openings free of said coating.

12. A fuse element for a fuse, said fuse element comprising:

a strip of conductive metal comprising a first end, a second end, and at least one weak spot extending between said first end and said second end; and

an arc energy absorbing silicone coating at least partially coating said strip between said first end and said second end and said at least one weak spot, part of said weak spot covered by said coating and part of said weak spot uncovered by said coating.

13. A fuse element in accordance with claim 12 wherein said strip further comprises:

a plurality of bends along said strip, said bends dividing said strip into a plurality of substantially straight segments; and

a plurality of weak spots extending the length of said strip, said weak spots located along said substantially straight segments.

14. A fuse element in accordance with claim 13 wherein each said bend forms an angle in said strip of about 90 degrees.

15. A fuse element in accordance with claim 12 wherein said at least one weak spot comprises an opening in said strip, said opening free of said coating.

16. A fuse element in accordance with claim 12 wherein said silicone coating at least partially coats both sides of said strip.

17. A fuse element in accordance with claim 12 wherein said silicone coating at least partially coats one side of said strip.

18. A fuse comprising:

a first conductor element and a second conductor element;

a fuse element extending between said first conductor element and said second conductor element, said fuse element comprising opposite ends and a plurality of weak spots extending therebetween; and

an arc energy absorbing coating covering said fuse element between said ends of said fuse element and said plurality of weak spots, at least one of said weak spots partially coated with said coating and partially free of said coating.

19. A fuse in accordance with claim 18 wherein said at least one of said weak spots comprises an opening in said strip, said opening free of said coating.

20. A fuse comprising:

a first conductor element and a second conductor element;

a fuse element extending between said first conductor element and said second conductor element, said fuse element comprising opposite ends and a plurality of weak spots extending therebetween; and

an arc energy absorbing coating covering said fuse element between said ends of said fuse element and a portion of a first weak spot adjacent each of said ends, said fuse element free of said coating between adjacent weak spots.

21. A fuse in accordance with claim 20 wherein at least one of said weak spots comprises an area of reduce cross sectional area in said fuse element.

22. A fuse in accordance with claim 21 wherein said at least one weak spot further comprises an opening in said fuse link, said opening free from said coating.