Fuse state indicator

• US 6,566,996 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies
• Inventors: Douglass, Robert Stephen, Darr, Matthew Rain, Henricks, Michael Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US09/537,518
• Time in Patent Office: 1,147 Days
• Field of Search: 337/241, 337/242, 337/244, 337/245, 337/265, 337/266, 337/206, 337/243, 439/488, 439/490, 439/491, 439/622, 324/507, 324/550, 324/691, 340/638, 340/639, 361/835, 81/38, 116/202
• US Class Current: 337/243
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/30 Means for indicating condition of fuse structurally associated with the fuse

Abstract

A fuse state indicator includes a fuse casing having a transparent lens, a combustible substance disposed adjacent the lens, and a base layer disposed adjacent the combustible substance and having a contrasting color relative to the combustible substance. A secondary fuse indicating circuit is electrically connected to a main fuse circuit in parallel with a main fuse link, and includes a secondary fuse wire link which is disposed adjacent the combustible substance. Heat created upon vaporization of the secondary fuse link ignites the combustible substance and reveals the base layer through the lens after combustion, thereby indicating a state of the fuse as operable or inoperable by the color visible through the lens. Combustion may be assisted with an energetic chemical compound applied to secondary fuse wire link and combustible substance.

Claims

1. A fuse state indicator for a fuse including a main fuse circuit and a main fuse link, said fuse state indicator comprising:

a transparent lens;

a readily combustible substance adjacent the lens;

a secondary fuse link adjacent said readily combustible substance, said secondary fuse link configured to be electrically connected in parallel to the main fuse link; and

a backing layer adjacent said secondary fuse link and at least partially concealed by said readily combustible substance when viewed through said transparent lens before the fuse has opened, said readily combustible substance substantially completely ignited and consumed after the fuse has opened.

2. A fuse state indicator in accordance with claim 1 further comprising an energetic chemical compound applied to said combustible substance and said fuse link.

3. A fuse state indicator in accordance with claim 2 wherein said energetic chemical compound comprises an oxidizer, a fuel, a binder and an adhesive.

4. A fuse state indicator in accordance with claim 3 wherein said oxidizer is potassium chlorate, said fuel is sulfur, and said adhesive is animal glue.

5. A fuse state indicator in accordance with claim 2 wherein said secondary fuse link comprises fuse wire.

6. A fuse state indicator in accordance with claim 2 wherein said combustible substance and said backing layer have contrasting colors.

7. A fuse state indicator in accordance with claim 6 wherein said combustible substance is white.

8. A fuse state indicator in accordance with claim 1 wherein said combustible substance is nitrocellulose cotton.

9. A fuse for protecting electrical components in a circuit, said fuse comprising:

first and second terminals for connection to the circuit;

a transparent lens;

a main fuse link electrically connected between said first and second terminals; and

a fuse indicator assembly comprising a secondary fuse link electrically connected between said first and second terminals, a combustible substance adjacent said secondary fuse link, said combustible substance adjacent said transparent lens, said combustible substance substantially completely combusted when said secondary fuse link operates, and a backing layer adjacent said secondary fuse link.

10. A fuse in accordance with claim 9 wherein at least a portion of said combustible substance visible through said transparent lens before said main fuse link is opened.

11. A fuse in accordance with claim 10 wherein said combustible substance and said backing layer have contrasting colors.

12. A fuse accordance with claim 11 wherein said combustible substance is white.

13. A fuse in accordance with claim 9 wherein said combustible substance is nitrocellulose cotton.

14. A fuse in accordance with claim 13 further comprising an energetic chemical compound applied to said combustible substance and said fuse link.

15. A fuse state indicator in accordance with claim 14 wherein said energetic chemical compound comprises an oxidizer, a fuel, a binder and an adhesive.

16. A fuse state indicator in accordance with claim 15 wherein said oxidizer is potassium chlorate, said fuel is sulfur, and said adhesive is animal glue.

17. A method of indicating an operated fuse, said fuse including a main fuse link electrically connected between first and second terminals, and a fuse indicator assembly including a transparent lens, a combustible substance, a secondary fuse link and a backing layer, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching said combustible substance adjacent the lens so that at least a portion of the combustible substance is visible through the lens;

electrically connecting the secondary fuse link to the first and second terminals in parallel with the main circuit and positioning the fuse link adjacent the combustible substance; and

attaching the backing layer adjacent the secondary fuse link, the secondary fuse link vaporizing and substantially completely combusting the combustible substance when current flows through the secondary fuse link after the main fuse link has opened, thereby revealing the backing layer and indicating a state of the fuse.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 further comprising the step of applying an energetic chemical compound to the secondary fuse link and the combustible substance, the energetic chemical compound igniting in response to heat generated in the secondary fuse link.

19. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said step of attaching the combustible substance comprises the step of forming a gap between the combustible substance and a surface of the lens to provide combustion air and insulate the lens from heat generated when the secondary fuse link opens.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein said step of electrically connecting the secondary fuse link comprises the step of attaching a fuse wire between first and second electrical contacts, such that the fuse wire is adjacent the transparent lens.