High Voltage Fuse With Universal Fuse Terminal

• US 20090160597A1
• Filed: 12/16/2008
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas & Betts International LLC (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Wood, Gene, Gardner, Dan
• Granted Patent: US 8,169,292 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 337/142
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 85/143 Electrical contacts; Fastening fusible members to such contacts
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49107 Fuse making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A high voltage fuse which includes at least one fuse terminal located at a distal end of the fuse housing. One face of the fuse terminal includes an elongated groove and an opposite face includes at least two elongated grooves. An aperture extends through the fuse terminal from the first face to the second face. The first face is adapted for use with an eyebolt connector component to attach a single conductor to be in direct contact with the fuse terminal. The second face is adapted for use with a parallel groove connector clamping component to attach a pair of conductors in direct contact with the fuse terminal. Alternatively, the grooves on the first and second faces may be provided on a single face of the fuse terminal. The fuse terminal may also serve the function of a spade connector. Thus, the fuse terminal provides improved versatility to allow a variety of connectors to be used therewith.

Claims

1. A high voltage fuse terminal extending from a distal end of a fuse housing, the fuse terminal comprising:

a first face having an elongated groove therein;

a second face including at least two elongated grooves therein; and

an aperture extending through the fuse terminal from the first face to the second face.

2. A high voltage fuse terminal as defined in claim 1, wherein the groove in the first face is centrally located thereon.

3. A high voltage fuse terminal as defined in claim 1, wherein the at least two grooves in the second face are spaced apart from one another.

4. A high voltage fuse terminal as defined in claim 3, wherein the second face includes two grooves, the grooves being substantially parallel to each other.

5. A high voltage fuse terminal as defined in claim 1, further comprising an eyebolt connector component dimensioned to be received in the fuse terminal aperture and means for securing the eyebolt to the fuse terminal, wherein the groove in the first face and eyebolt cooperate to secure a conductor to the fuse terminal.

6. A high voltage fuse terminal as defined in claim 1, further comprising a parallel groove connector clamping component and means for securing the clamping component to the fuse terminal, wherein the clamping component includes at least two grooves which cooperate with the at least two grooves in the second face of the fuse terminal to secure one or two conductors to the fuse terminal.

7. A method of attaching a conductor to a fuse comprising the steps of:

providing a fuse having at least one fuse terminal, the fuse terminal including a face having an elongated groove therein and an aperture extending from said face through the fuse terminal;

providing an eyebolt connector component having an aperture at one end thereof and means for securing the eyebolt to the fuse terminal;

placing the eyebolt connector component into the fuse terminal aperture;

placing a conductor into the aperture of the eyebolt; and

securing the conductor within the eyebolt aperture with said securing means and in direct contact with the fuse terminal.

8. A method of attaching up to two conductors to a single fuse terminal comprising the steps of:

providing a fuse having at least one fuse terminal, the at least one fuse terminal including a face having at least two elongated grooves therein and an aperture extending from said face through the fuse terminal;

providing a parallel groove clamping component having an aperture therethrough and a pair of grooves therein and means for securing the clamping component cap to the fuse terminal;

loosely positioning the clamping component over the fuse terminal face including the grooves;

selectively placing one or two conductors into one or two spaces formed by the grooves in the fuse terminal and the grooves in the clamping component; and

securing one or two conductors in direct contact with the fuse terminal with said securing means.

9. A fuse comprising:

at least one fuse terminal located at a distal end of a fuse housing, the fuse terminal including a first face having an aperture extending from the first face through the fuse terminal and means for receiving one of an eyebolt connector component and a parallel groove clamping component, said receiving means adapted to cooperatively secure at least one conductor to be in direct contact with the fuse terminal.

10. A fuse as defined in claim 9, wherein the receiving means comprises a groove and the fuse further comprises an eyebolt connector component dimensioned to be received in the fuse terminal aperture and means for securing the eyebolt connector component to the fuse terminal, wherein the groove in the first face and eyebolt cooperate to secure a conductor directly to the fuse terminal.

11. A fuse as defined in claim 10, wherein the fuse terminal further comprises a second face including at least two elongated grooves therein adapted to cooperate with a parallel groove clamping component, the aperture in the fuse terminal extending from the first face to the second face.

12. A fuse as defined in claim 9, wherein the receiving means comprises two grooves substantially parallel to each other and the fuse assembly further comprising a parallel groove clamping component and means for securing the clamping component to the fuse terminal, wherein the clamping component includes at least two grooves which cooperate with the at least two grooves in the second face of the fuse terminal to secure at least one conductor directly to the fuse terminal.

13. A fuse as defined in claim 9, wherein the first face includes two grooves substantially parallel to each other and adapted to receive a parallel groove connector component such that a conductor secured therein is in direct contact with the fuse terminal and further including means for receiving an eyebolt connector component such that a conductor secured therein is in direct contact with the fuse terminal.

14. A fuse as defined in claim 13, wherein the receiving means includes a pair of spaced apart arms.

15. A fuse as defined in claim 9, further including at least a threaded fastener and a nut to secure the conductor to the fuse terminal.