Method and apparatus for directly mounting fuses to transformer terminals

• US 7,601,030 B2
• Filed: 02/16/2007
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hammond Power Solutions Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Hammond Power Solutions Incorporated
• Inventors: Patel, Dhiru S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne; Jean F
• Application Number:
  US11/707,334
• Publication Number:
  US 20080197961A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 439/621, 363/171, 363/34, 363/36, 363/84, 363/125
• US Class Current: 439/620.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 2019/085 Transformer for galvanic isolation
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 21/12 discontinuously variable, e.g. tapped
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/29 Terminals; Tapping arrangements for signal inductances
• CPC Class Codes: H01F 27/402 Association of measuring or protective means

Abstract

A transformer which includes a primary winding having a plurality of primary winding taps, and a secondary winding having a plurality of secondary winding taps. A core is included on which the primary winding and the secondary winding are mounted. The primary winding and the secondary winding are electromagnetically coupled through the core. At least one terminal block is provided where each terminal block is connected to the primary winding taps or the plurality of secondary winding taps. Each terminal block includes at least a first row of terminals and a second row of terminals, and at least some of the first row of terminals are each connected to a corresponding one of the winding taps.

Claims

1. A transformer, comprising:

a primary winding including a plurality of primary winding taps;

a secondary winding including a plurality of secondary winding taps;

a core on which said primary winding and said secondary winding are mounted, said primary winding and said secondary winding electromagnetically coupled through said core; and

a terminal block

connected to one of said plurality of primary winding taps and said plurality of secondary winding taps, said terminal block comprises a first row of terminals and a second row of terminals electrically isolated from the first row of terminals, at least some of the terminals in said first row are each connected to a corresponding one of said winding taps.

2. The transformer of claim 1, further including at least one additional secondary winding, where each said additional secondary winding includes an additional plurality of secondary winding taps, each said additional secondary winding mounted to said core and electromagnetically coupled with said primary winding through said core, said terminal block being connected to said additional plurality of secondary winding taps.

3. The transformer of claim 1, further including at least one fuse, each of said at least one fuse including a first fuse end and a second fuse end, said first fuse end connected to one of a terminal in said first row of terminals, said second fuse end connected to one of another terminal in said second row of electrically isolated terminals.

4. The transformer of claim 3, further including a first fuse clip connecting said first fuse end to said terminal in said first row of terminals, and a second fuse clip connecting said second fuse end to said other terminal in said second row of electrically isolated terminals.

5. The transformer of claim 1, wherein said terminal block includes said first row of terminals one of approximately parallel to and skewed to said second row of terminals.

6. The transformer of claim 1, wherein said terminal block includes said first row of terminals horizontally offset from said second row of terminals.

7. The transformer of claim 1, wherein said terminal block includes said first row of terminals vertically offset from said second row of terminals.

8. The transformer of claim 7, wherein said first row of terminals is also horizontally offset from said second row of terminals.

9. The transformer of claim 1, further including at least one finger guard at least partially covering at least one said terminal block.

10. The transformer of claim 9, wherein at least one said finger guard is in a snap fit arrangement with at least one said terminal block.

11. The transformer of claim 10, wherein said snap fit arrangement comprises at least one lateral protrusion on at least one said terminal block, and at least one corresponding finger guard aperture in at least one said finger guard.

12. The transformer of claim 1, further including a housing in which at least one of said primary winding, said secondary winding and said core is placed, said housing being in a snap fit arrangement with at least one said terminal block.

13. The transformer of claim 12, wherein said snap fit arrangement comprises at least one ramped protrusion on said housing, and at least one corresponding terminal block aperture in at least one said terminal block.

14. The transformer as recited in claim 1, wherein the terminal block is mounted to the core.

19. The transformer as recited in claim 10, wherein the at least one terminal block is mounted to the core.

28. The transformer as recited in claim 14, wherein the at least one terminal block is mounted to the core.

15. An electrical system, comprising:

a controller including at least one electrical load component;

a transformer connected to said electrical load component, said transformer including;

a primary winding including a plurality of primary winding taps;

a secondary winding including a plurality of secondary winding taps;

a core on which said primary winding and said secondary winding are mounted, said primary winding and said secondary winding electromagnetically coupled through said core; and

at least one terminal block connected to one of said plurality of primary winding taps and said plurality of secondary winding taps, each of said at least one terminal block comprises a first row of terminals and a second row of terminals electrically isolated from the first row of terminals, at least some of the terminals in said first row are each connected to a corresponding one of said winding taps.

16. The electrical system of claim 15, further including at least one additional secondary winding, where each said additional secondary winding includes an additional plurality of secondary winding taps, each said additional secondary winding mounted to said core and electromagnetically coupled with said primary winding through said core, said at least one terminal block being connected to said additional plurality of secondary winding taps.

17. The electrical system of claim 15, wherein said controller is one of a programmable logic controller, a motor control center, and a control panel.

18. The electrical system of claim 15, wherein said electrical load component is at least one of a relay, a motor, and a contactor.

20. A transformer, comprising:

a primary winding including a plurality of primary winding taps;

a secondary winding including a plurality of secondary winding taps;

a core on which said primary winding and said secondary winding are mounted, said primary winding and said secondary winding electromagnetically coupled through said core;

a first terminal block connected to said plurality of primary winding taps, said first terminal block includes a first row of terminals and a second row of terminals at least one of horizontally offset and vertically offset from said first row of terminals, at least some of said first row of terminals each connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of primary winding taps; and

a second terminal block connected to said plurality of secondary winding taps, said second terminal block includes a third row of terminals and a fourth row of terminals at least one of horizontally offset and vertically offset from said third row of terminals, at least some of said third row of terminals each connected to a corresponding one of said plurality of secondary winding taps.

21. The transformer of claim 20, further including at least one additional secondary winding, where each said additional secondary winding includes an additional plurality of secondary winding taps, each said additional secondary winding mounted to said core and electromagnetically coupled with said primary winding through said core, said at least one terminal block being connected to said additional plurality of secondary winding taps.

22. The transformer of claim 20, further including at least one fuse, each of said at least one fuse connected one of between said first row of terminals and said second row of electrically isolated terminals, and between said third row of terminals and said fourth row of terminals.

23. The transformer of claim 22, further including a first fuse clip connecting a first fuse end of one fuse of said at least one fuse to a first terminal of said first row of terminals, and a second fuse clip connecting a second fuse end of said one fuse to a second terminal of said second row of electrically isolated terminals.

24. The transformer of claim 22, further including a first fuse clip connecting a first fuse end of one fuse of said at least one fuse to a first terminal of said third row of terminals, and a second fuse clip connecting a second fuse end of said one fuse to a second terminal of said fourth row of terminals.

25. The transformer of claim 20, wherein said first row of terminals are approximately parallel to said second row of terminals, and said third row of terminals are approximately parallel to said fourth row of terminals.

26. The transformer of claim 25, further including at least one fuse, each of said at least one fuse connected one of between said first row of terminals and said second row of electrically isolated terminals, and between said third row of terminals and said fourth row of terminals, each of said at least one fuse being oriented approximately perpendicular to a corresponding said row of terminals.

27. The transformer of claim 20, further including at least one finger guard at least partially covering at least one of said first terminal block and said second terminal block.

29. A transformer, comprising:

a primary winding including a plurality of primary winding taps;

a secondary winding including a plurality of secondary winding taps;

a core on which said primary winding and said secondary winding are mounted, said primary winding and said secondary winding electromagnetically coupled through said core;

a housing in which at least one of said primary winding, said secondary winding and said core is placed;

a terminal block in a first snap fit arrangement with said housing; and

a finger guard in a second snap fit arrangement with the terminal block, wherein the second snap fit arrangement comprises at least one lateral protrusion on the terminal block and a corresponding finger guard aperture in the finger guard.

30. The transformer of claim 29, wherein said first snap fit arrangement comprises at least one ramped protrusion on said housing, and at least one corresponding terminal block aperture in at least one said terminal block.