Fuse unit and manufacturing method therefor

• US 6,580,032 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2002
• Issued: 06/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems Limited (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Inventors: Sumida, Tatsuya, Taga, Shunji
• Primary Examiner(s): Reichard, Dean A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Estrada, Angel R.
• Application Number:
  US10/051,361
• Publication Number:
  US 20020058441A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 174/50, 174/58, 174/17.R, 174/59, 174/52.1, 174/60, 174/65.R, 174/17.08, 337/227, 337/229, 337/256, 337/186, 337/187, 337/833, 337/837, 337/255, 337/159
• US Class Current: 174/59
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0034 with molded casings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/025 Structural association with a binding post of a storage battery
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0555 Input terminal connected to a plurality of output terminals, e.g. multielectrode
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 69/02 Manufacture of fuses
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/044 General constructions or structure of low voltage fuses, i.e. below 1000 V, or of fuses where the applicable voltage is not specified H01H85/046 - H01H85/048 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/2045 Mounting means or insulating parts of the base, e.g. covers, casings
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49107 Fuse making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

An electrically conductive metal plate is stamped out to yield a fuse unit including an input terminal and several output terminals. The fuse unit further includes a predetermined locus where fuse element portions are to be formed later. A surface area of the fuse unit including the predetermined locus is then molded with an insulator material. Thereafter, the fuse element portions are formed at the predetermined locus by, for example, stamping. In this manner, the fuse unit can be manufactured easily at low costs, irrespective of the number and electrical capacity of the fuse element portions.

Claims

1. A fuse box containing a fuse unit, said fuse unit comprising an electrically conductive plate including an input terminal, at least one output terminal and at least one fuse element portion linking said input terminal and said at least one output terminal, said fuse unit further comprising an area molded with an insulator material, said area including at least one opening through which said at least one fuse element portion is exposed to an outside of said insulator material;

said fuse box configured to have a hollow tubular shape having a substantially rectangular cross-section, and a top opening and a bottom opening, said fuse box containing at least one partition wall extending in the longitudinal direction of said tubular shape, thereby forming several enclosures, each housing one of said at least one output terminal, said at least one partition wall including a slit extending from said top opening to a point half-way down in said longitudinal direction, said at least one slit housing said insulator material such that said input terminal extends perpendicularly to said longitudinal direction from said top opening.

2. The fuse box according to claim 1, further comprising a fuse cover including a cover plate and a cover joint, said cover plate covering said input terminal of said fuse unit and said cover joint covering said top opening of said fuse box.