Abstract: A plug-in fuse assembly comprises a housing made of insulating material and having relatively closely spaced vertical side walls bridges by vertical end walls and a metal plug-in fuse element having laterally spaced, generally parallel confronting terminals at the bottom thereof projecting downwardly from the bottom of said housing and upwardly extending current-carrying extensions of said terminals and a unique S-shaped fuse link extending between said current-carrying extensions. The S-shaped fuse link has about a 45.degree. angled upper and lower leg of at least about one-half the length of the central leg thereof and a width to thickness ratio of about 1/2 or less which maximizes its volume without the position contraints placed on the fuse link.

Abstract: A plug-in fuse assembly comprises a housing made of insulating material and having relatively closely spaced vertical side walls bridged by vertical end walls and a metal plug-in fuse element having laterally spaced, generally parallel confronting terminals at the bottom thereof projecting downwardly from the bottom of said housing and upwardly extending current-carrying extensions of said terminals and a unique S-shaped fuse link extending between said current-carrying extensions. The current-carrying extensions have upper vertical outer margins which are inwardly offset from a given point to the tops thereof with respect to the corresponding vertical outer margins of the plug-in fuse element below the same, to provide clearance spaces for the downward passage of the vertical end walls of the housing, so that the overall width of the fuse is not significantly increased, if at all, by the housing end walls.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for assembling a thermally-actuated cut-off link having a casing, a closure, split along its length to form a slot, a power lead, one end of which extends from the casing through a neutral passage formed in the closure, the other end of which terminates in a pair of outwardly deformed, inwardly deformable contact arms forced into low-resistance contact with an inner conductive surface of the casing, a fusible pellet, and a spring-biased arm-deforming member which, responsive to deform the contact arms away from the inner conductive surface to interrupt the flow of current through the cut-off link. The closure is secured to the casing by crimping the casing to grippingly contact the power lead and to narrow the slot. Relatively viscous sealant, placed in an enlarged section of the closure passage is drawn into the narrowed slot by capillary action, and is thereafter cured.

Abstract: A configurable common terminal bus allows optional engagement of a preselected group of fuse terminals in a fuse holder array. One version of the bus permits substantial rotation of engaged rotatable fuse clip terminals. A breakaway array of fuse holders in conjunction with such a bus facilitates manufacture of fuse blocks with customized terminal groupings. The bus may be replaced after manufacture by one of different configuration to alter the common terminal grouping. The bus may be positioned to occupy a position below that occupied by the inserted fuses so as to be substantially shielded by the insulated portions of the fuse bodies from accidental contact with external objects.

Abstract: A fuse puller device comprises a pair of spaced confronting body portions respectively having confronting lower fuse-gripping jaw sections each formed by a wall terminating in a horizontally inwardly facing lip-forming projection adapted to underlie the overhung portion of a fuse housing head portion, the jaw sections respectively joining confronting finger-squeezable sections which effect a pivoting separation of the jaw sections when squeezed between the user's thumb and forefinger. The lip-forming projections have recesses which engage ribs on the fuse housing to center the fuse puller device. A fuse condition indicator unit mounted on the inner face of one of the jaw section walls has a pair of indicator terminals adapted to engage fuse continuity test terminals exposed on the head portion of the fuse housing to test whether or not there is continuity between the test terminals when the fuse puller device is applied over the head portion of the fuse.

Abstract: A method of assembling a normally-closed ambient thermally actuated switch comprises assembling into the open end of a casing a sandwich of elements including a meltable pellet, one or more springs, a backing member and a contact arm-deforming member which is released for movement under pressure of one of the springs when the pellet is melted at a given ambient control temperature. A power lead having resilient outwardly inclining contact arms at the inner end thereof and an axially outwardly facing shoulder is positioned in the casing so that the outer sides of the arms engage the backing member and the inner sides of the arms are confronted by the contact arm-deforming member.