Quick-connect positive temperature coefficient of resistance resistor/overload assembly and method

• US 6,943,661 B2
• Filed: 10/16/2001
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Heflin, Mark A., Struttmann, Ted P., Janicek, Alan J., Fuller, Kennett R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Easthom, Karl D.
• Application Number:
  US09/682,765
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071713A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,428 Days
• Field of Search: 338/22.R, 338/22.SD, 338/220, 338/221, 338/276, 439/357, 439/282, 174/50.2, 174/50.3
• US Class Current: 338/220
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 1/02 Housing; Enclosing; Embedding; Filling the housing or enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: H01C 1/14 Terminals or tapping points or electrodes specially adapted for resistors in general H01R; Arrangements of terminals or tapping points or electrodes on resistors

Abstract

A positive temperature coefficient of resistance resistor/overload (PTCR/OL) resistor assembly that can be quickly and easily electrically connected and disconnected from equipment without the need for special tools or equipment. In some arrangements of the present invention, a locking tab on the electrical connector can be secured against an angle on the PTCR/OL to prevent the electrical connection from being broken during shipping or operation equipment movement or vibration. When it is necessary to electrically disconnect the PTCR/OL from the equipment, the locking tab can be disengaged from the angle on the PTCR/OL by bending the tab until it releases from against the angle, and the electrical plug can then be disconnected from the PTCR/OL. The improved assembly provides increased isolation of incoming electrical wires with less material than previous devices. The improved assembly also provides for an easy method of using different terminals in the PTCR/OL, so that a variety of isolated electrical connectors can be utilized with the PTCR/OL with minimal modifications or changes.

Claims

1. A positive temperature coefficient of resistance current limiting assembly adapted for connecting to both nonlocking-type electrically isolated plugs and lockable-type electrically isolated plugs, comprising:

a positive temperature coefficient of resistance current limiting device having a body having a top, at least two adjacent sockets each having upstanding walls and at least one male terminal therein, a capacitor disposed on said top and a positive temperature coefficient of resistance resistor,

at least one male conductive terminal in each of the at least two adjacent sockets, each of said male terminals being at least configured to receive a female conductive connection element on an electrically isolated plug,

one of said two sockets having an interior cross-sectional size or shape that is different from the interior cross-sectional size or shape of the other socket and at least one of said sockets further being asymmetrical to facilitate connection of a cooperatively-shaped electrically isolated plug in only the proper orientation, and

an engageable member disposed on an upstanding wall of at least one of said sockets and outside of said sockets such that it will not interfere with insertion of a single-conductor electrically isolated plug into either of said sockets, the engageable member further being positioned so its middle is disposed generally between lines extending axially through said male terminals when viewed from the side but offset to the side of a line extending between said male terminals when viewed from above, said engageable member further having a lower edge adapted to lockably engage a locking tab of a lockable electrically isolated plug when a lockable electrically isolated plug is inserted into said sockets.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the capacitor has at least one male connector and there is at least one female receptacle on the positive temperature coefficient of resistance current limiting device for receiving the at least one male connector of the capacitor.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the electrically isolated plug further comprises a flexible arm with a locking tab of a size and shape such that the upper surface of the locking tab can be retainingly secured against the underside of the engagement member.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the flexible arm can be flexed so as to release the locking tab from pressing up against the underside of the engagement member.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the male connection terminal in the socket on the positive temperature coefficient of resistance current limiting device is electrically isolated from adjoining conductive parts.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the at least two adjacent sockets on the positive temperature coefficient of resistance current limiting device are of a different size to fit different size plugs to facilitate connection of the correct plug to the correct male conductive terminal.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the male conductive terminal is attached to at least one plate made of conductive material.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the male conductive terminal is attached to at least one plate made of conductive material by means of welding.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the male conductive terminal is attached to at least one plate made of conductive material by means of soldering.

10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one male conductive terminal is attached to a portion of a plate from which a previously existing male conductive terminal has been cuttingly removed.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein there is at least one upstanding wall disposed between said two male terminals.

12. The assembly of claim 11 wherein said at least one upstanding wall is shared by both sockets.