With Fuse Patents (Class 361/642)
  • Patent number: 7116550
    Abstract: An electrical apparatus has an elongated housing with fuses located therein. Windows are provided in the housing to close apertures in registration with fuse locations to allow access to fuses by removing the window. Fuses may be carried on a circuit card removably engageable with a terminal block secured to a wall within the housing. A fuse compartment cover is removably secured to the housing. The window comprises a fuse condition indicator to allow determination of the condition of the fuse (i.e. blown or not blown) without having to open the window. Additionally, powered indicators such as LEDs visible through the windows may indicate the state of fuses. The housing may comprise a power distribution unit and may be rack mounted or mounted to a wall of a rack assembly. The windows are located on the housing to be removable free of engagement with the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2006
    Assignee: Server Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Carrel W. Ewing, Andrew J. Cleveland
  • Patent number: 6922332
    Abstract: An electric connection box includes upper and lower cases which accommodate therein bus bars, an insulator for the bus bars, fuses, and first relays. A relay module mounted with second relays is accommodated in the upper and lower cases. The electric connection box includes the relay module, but is compact in size, light in weight, low-priced, and low in heat generation due to contact resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignees: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Omron Corporation
    Inventors: Fumikazu Naimi, Kazuo Miyajima, Masami Takase, Koichi Shima, Kiyoshi Takezawa, Akihiko Hirata
  • Patent number: 6753754
    Abstract: A novel power block distribution block kit is disclosed. The blocks may use MAXI or AUG, or other types of commercially available type fuses. The present invention discloses a variably fusable power distribution block kit that permits custom configuration of the fuse to circuit relationships on a common base, and with a common cover to achieve higher circuit ratings with the same device, fuses, and component parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2004
    Assignee: Dobbs Stanford Corp.
    Inventors: Van Edward Black, Scott Andrew Ringo
  • Patent number: 6727797
    Abstract: A fused switch unit (1) is provided with a housing (2) in which a fuse plug (10) is arranged such that it can pivot to and fro between a switched-off position and a switched-on position. The fuse plug (10) has a grip part (11) and a retaining area (12) for a fuse link (20) and is capable of being pushed into the fused switch unit (1) as far as an operating position. Both the fused switch unit (1) and/or associated components (2, 30) as well as the grip part (11) of the fuse plug (10) each have a through-opening (15, 35). The through-openings (15, 35) are positioned such that they essentially do not overlap when the fuse plug (10) is in its operating position, and such that they are at least partially aligned with one another in order to hold an interlocking element (40) when the fuse plug (10) is in a position in which it is partially withdrawn from its operating position in the fused switch unit (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 27, 2004
    Inventor: Klaus Bruchmann
  • Patent number: 6724627
    Abstract: In the power distributor using a semiconductor switching element, input terminals 10I and 10L, output terminals 12A-12J, connected to the element, and more preferably, the board terminals 30 and 32, are structured by a metallic plate, and arranged on the same plane perpendicular to the plate thickness. The metallic plate can be integrated by the resin mold, thereby the structure can be greatly simplified. The metallic plate can be produced by a greatly simple method by which, after the punching out of the metallic plate and the molding of the resin mold, a predetermined portion of the metallic plate is cut and the semiconductor switching element is mounted, and it can contribute to also the reduction of the cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Onizuka, Isao Isshiki, Shigeki Yamane
  • Patent number: 6724291
    Abstract: A fuse block for cabinet mounting provides a shaft that may exit a side of the cabinet to be received by a handle mounted on that side. A finger attached to the inner cabinet door provides for an interlock by engaging with a bolt communicating with the shaft preventing inadvertent opening of the cabinet when the fuse block is connected to power and/or connecting the fuse block to power when the cabinet door is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Edward Byaliy, John Henry Schmidt, Jr., Thomas A Slamka
  • Patent number: 6717076
    Abstract: A medium voltage controller for electrical equipment, having cast fuse holders, a disconnect switch, a switch illuminator, low power current transformers, and an optical temperature measuring system. The fuse holder includes a cast housing with smooth rounded surfaces that reduce corona. The disconnect switch has cast components that provide terminal points, mounting surfaces, and contact surfaces. The switch illuminator provides illumination of the disconnect switch internals. The contactor assembly is mounted in a truck and moves on a rail system that includes a pull-down handle with rails. The truck rolls out of the cabinet on the extended rails for easy removal from the cabinet. The truck, and contactor assembly, is racked in by pushing the truck into the cabinet and then raising the handle, which forces the draw-out fingers to engage the contact stabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2004
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Antanas V. Narusevicius, Eldridge R. Byron, Eugenio A. Alvarez
  • Patent number: 6707369
    Abstract: In a casing (2), there are accommodated a power-source side bus-bar (5) connected to a power source, a plurality of load side bus-bars (7) having respective terminals connected to respective electrical loads, a plurality of power devices (8) interposed between the power-source side bus-bar (5) and the load side bus-bars (7) to control power supply for the electrical loads; and a circuit base plate (9) having a built-in driver circuit for transmitting control signals to the power devices (8). In the form of bare tips, the power devices (8) are arranged on and connected to the load side bus-bars (7) respectively. The power devices (8) are connected to the circuit baseplate (9) through wire bondings (11). The power devices (8) are also connected to the power-source side bus-bar (5) through wire bondings (12). Each load side bus-bar (7) has a tuning-fork type terminal (6) allowing an insertion of a plate-shaped terminal (50a) of a fuse (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Mitsuaki Morimoto, Yoshinori Ikuta
  • Patent number: 6671169
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power converter comprising several semiconductors (1) and direct voltage and alternating voltage buses (8/9, 4) for electric contact between the direct and alternating voltage connections (3, 2) of the power semiconductors (1). The buses are divided into two parts so that the alternating voltage bus (4) and the direct voltage bus (8/9) do not come into physical contact with each other. One advantage of the invention is that no creepage paths between the direct voltage and alternating voltage buses need to be taken into consideration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2003
    Inventor: Rodscha Drabon
  • Patent number: 6587028
    Abstract: A fused disconnect switch assembly includes a switch housing assembly and a pull out fuse assembly. The switch housing assembly includes a housing defining a fuse receptacle, first and second terminal contacts within the housing and located adjacent the fuse receptacle, and an alarm terminal extending from the fuse receptacle to an exterior of the fuse housing. The pull out fuse assembly includes a housing, a line side terminal extending from the housing, a load side terminal extending from the housing, and a primary fuse having first and second conductive end caps. The fuse end caps are coupled to respective line side and load side terminals of the pull out fuse assembly housing, and the first and second terminal contacts of the switch housing assembly receive the load side and the line side terminal blades of the pull out fuse assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2003
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Ronald Emil Mollet, Brian Corey Hall
  • Patent number: 6545861
    Abstract: A vehicle high voltage electrical distribution box including a housing and a lead frame assembly. The lead frame assembly is located in the housing. The lead frame assembly includes bus bars and an over molded frame which has been over molded onto the bus bars to connect the bus bars to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: FCI Americas Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Earl James Hayes, Raymond Bruce McLachlan, Thomas Dziurlikowski
  • Patent number: 6459353
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a fused switch housing (1) suited to accommodate at least one fuse adapter (2) having a first and a second contact surface (10). The fused switch housing (1) comprises a first and a second set of terminals (15) for respectively connecting the fused switch to a first and a second external circuit, stationary contacts (12, 15, 16), and at least one moving contact (13). The fused switch housing also includes switching means cooperating with each of said moving contacts (13) for making an electrical connection between each of said first terminals (15) respectively with each of said first contact surfaces (10) as well as for making an electrical connection between each of said second terminals (15) respectively with each of said second contact surfaces (10) so that at least one of said connections with said contact surfaces is openable by moving said at lest one moving contact (13) with the help of said switching means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2002
    Assignee: ABB Oy
    Inventors: Harri Mattlar, Ilmari Mäenp{umlaut over (aa)}
  • Patent number: 6456203
    Abstract: A power distribution panel having circuit elements such as KTK and GMT fuses removably mounted to a unit housing by means of module members, thereby allowing for ease of customization of the circuit elements of the power distribution panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: ADC Telecommunications, Inc.
    Inventors: David E. Schomaker, Carlos Arroyo Gonzalez, Delfino Hernandez, Luis Manuel Sanchez Aguilar, Narciso Delgado Guevara, Celsa Mora Curiel
  • Patent number: 6456187
    Abstract: A breaker apparatus comprises: a breaker switch including a pair of fixed electrodes standing upright on the breaker body, a plug detachably mounted on the breaker body, and a movable electrode provided on the plug for disconnecting and connecting between both fixed electrodes by being pulled out or pushed in to the both fixed electrodes; and a fuse mounted in parallel with the breaker switch, characterized in that a locking lever is pivotably mounted on one of the breaker body and the plug and the locking lever is pivoted to the locking position where the plug is locked in the fitted state, in that the breaker body is provided with a micro switch having a swinging strip for detecting whether or not the locking lever is pivoted to the locking position so that the micro switch is activated when the tip of the locking lever pivots along the length of the swinging strip and presses the swinging strip on the way to activate the micro switch, and in that the tip of the locking lever is formed so that the length is
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumoto Konda, Junji Muta, Tatsuya Sumitda, Yoshito Oka, Ichiaki Sano
  • Patent number: 6407656
    Abstract: In the breaker device, a pair of stationary electrodes 20, 21 are arranged on the front and the rear side of the protruding wall 18, that is, the pair of stationary electrodes 20, 21 are collected at one place. Therefore, the pair of stationary electrodes 20, 21 have a space round both the stationary electrodes in common. Accordingly, the size of the breaker device can be reduced. Further, when the radius of curvature of the continuity section 73 connecting the pinching pieces 71, 72 is made large, concentration of stress in the movable electrode 70 can be relieved. Therefore, the pinching forces of both the pinching pieces 71, 72 can be increased. Accordingly, it is possible to ensure a sufficiently high contact pressure between the movable electrode 70 and the stationary electrodes 20, 21.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd., Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazumoto Konda, Junji Muta, Tatsuya Sumida, Yoshito Oka, Ichiaki Sano
  • Patent number: 6396380
    Abstract: A fuse box for motor vehicles includes a housing that is adapted to contain electrical fuses mounted to a common busbar for connecting one end of the fuses directly to a pole of an electric battery in the vehicle. The housing includes lateral surfaces for providing torsional protection to the fuses against twisting or bending when the nuts holding the fuses in place are tightened. Screening zones are defined in the housing for screening off fusable portions of the fuses so that melted material is prevented from migrating into the housing beyond the screening zone where the melted material may cause damage. Mechanical coding structures are provided in the housing to ensure that only cable terminals having a shape corresponding to the coding structures can be installed in selected regions of the fuse box. This prevents inadvertent misuse of cross-connection of cables having inadequate or excessive current carrying capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2002
    Assignee: TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Girke, Karl-Heinz Wohlfahrt
  • Patent number: 6366449
    Abstract: A power supply shut-off apparatus includes a service plug 2 detachably mounted to a plug mounting portion 14 provided in an apparatus body 1, and the power supply-side switches between a conduction state and a nonconduction state between a load-side bus bar 3 and a power supply-side bus bar 4. When the plug housing 40 is mounted to the plug mounting portion 14 and the tilting lever 41 is tilted down substantially horizontally in a state where the tilting lever 41 of the service plug 2 is held in the substantially vertical state, the shaft 49 provided on the tilting lever 41 falls the movable lever 32 of the microswitch 15 so as to allow the microswitch 15 to detect the conduction state between the load-side bus bar 3 and the power supply-side bus bar 4.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Hashizawa, Hidehiko Kuboshima
  • Patent number: 6333845
    Abstract: A power-supply breaker apparatus of the present invention includes a fuse provided between a power supply and a load in an electric circuit, an apparatus main body for housing the fuse, a first bus bar whose one end is fixed to one fuse terminal of the fuse, a second bus bar having one end fixed to one of the power supply and the load, a plug housing chamber for housing the plug in the apparatus main body movably in a fitting/detaching direction, and a pair of plug side terminals which become conductive with each other in the plug. The other end of the first bus bar is extended so as to be composed as one terminal of the pair of main body side terminals, and the other end of the second bus bar is extended parallel with the first bus bar so as to be composed as the other terminal of the pair of main body side terminals. Respective terminal insertion widths of the pair of plug side terminals are wider than corresponding widths of the pair of main body side terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Hashizawa, Hidehiko Kuboshima, Masayuki Karamatsu
  • Patent number: 6326878
    Abstract: A fuse holder includes a base panel, a plurality of conducting blocks mounted on the base panel, a plurality of electric wires respectively connected to the conducting blocks, and a plurality of cartridge fuses respectively connected in parallel between the conducting blocks, wherein each conducting block has at least one smoothly arched clamping strip, each clamping strip having two clamping flanges extending from two opposite sides and curved radially toward each other and defining a smoothly arched clamping mouth for holding one conducting blade of one cartridge fuse, and two notches respectively disposed between the clamping flanges and the respective conducting block, the clamping flanges each having a plurality of radially extended splits, which separate the corresponding clamping flange into a plurality of fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Inventor: Shih-Tsung Liang
  • Patent number: 6327140
    Abstract: A power-supply breaker apparatus of the present invention includes a fuse provided between a power supply and a load in an electric circuit, an apparatus main body for housing the fuse, a pair of main body side terminals, a plug housing chamber for housing the plug in the apparatus main body movably in a fitting/detaching direction, and a pair of plug side terminals which become conductive with each other in the plug. The electric circuit is electrically conductive via the fuse, and the pair of main body side terminals are supported to the apparatus main body movably in a direction crossing substantially perpendicularly to the fitting/detaching direction, and one of the pair of the main body side terminals is connected with the power supply, and the other terminal is connected with the load. Moreover, when the plug is moved in the fitting/detaching direction, the pair of plug side terminals are freely fitted into and detached from the pair of main body side terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Hashizawa, Hidehiko Kuboshima, Masayuki Karamatsu
  • Patent number: 6317312
    Abstract: A power-supply breaker apparatus of the present invention includes a fuse provided between a power supply and a load in an electric circuit, an apparatus main body for housing the fuse, a first bus bar whose one end is fixed to one fuse terminal of the fuse, a second bus bar having one end fixed to one of the power supply and the load, a plug housing chamber for housing the plug in the apparatus main body movably in a fitting/detaching direction, and a pair of plug side terminals which become conductive with each other in the plug. The other end of the first bus bar is extended so as to be composed as one terminal of the pair of main body side terminals, and the other end of the second bus bar is extended so as to be composed as the other terminal of the pair of main body side terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Hashizawa, Hidehiko Kuboshima, Masayuki Karamatsu
  • Patent number: 6245994
    Abstract: An apparatus, such as a fuse box structure, containing circuitry capable of receiving and processing a current having a power of at least 0.1 megawatts, and associated method of fabrication, for use with a vehicle such as a railed vehicle, or with a static structure such as a building. The fuse box enclosure is made of a material having high impact resistance such that the fuse box enclosure is able to reliably remain intact when the fuse blows. The fuse box material is a plastic that has a hardness of at least D-50, or at least A-95, on the Shore scale. A preferred fuse box material is an ether-type urethane with a hardness of about D-75 on the Shore scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Fredrick Daniel McKenzie
  • Patent number: 6215636
    Abstract: The device comprises a busbar (1′) connected, on the one hand, to the source of electrical energy and, on the other hand, to a plurality of electrical contacts (3′i) each forming part of one of the circuits. According to the invention, several self-resettable fuses (5′i) for protecting said circuits are soldered to said busbar (1′), these fuses each consisting of a layer of a dispersion of an electrically conductive particulate material in a polymer, said layer being laminated between first and second, plane and parallel, electrodes electrically connected to the busbar (1′) and to said electrical contacts (3′i) of an associated circuit, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Automotive, S.A.
    Inventor: Roel Hellemans
  • Patent number: 6075435
    Abstract: A disconnect box is provided in the present invention that has a rear wall and perimetrically bounding side walls connected thereto. A line wire and a load wire are received in the disconnect box, which comprises a line terminal mounted in the disconnect box and to which the line wire is connected, a load terminal mounted in the disconnect box and to which the load wire is connected, and a fuse releasably secured in the disconnect box. The fuse has an operational position wherein the fuse contacts the line terminal and the load terminal thereby creating mechanical and electrical connection between the line wire and first load wire, and a non-operational position such that when the fuse is disconnected from the line terminal and the load terminal the mechanical and electrical connection between the line wire and the load wire is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2000
    Assignee: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventor: Walter Jeffcoat
  • Patent number: 6031446
    Abstract: A single piece fuse clip and switch blade contact receptacle is provided for use with an electrical switch, which may be a safety switch. The present invention provides an apparatus which eliminates the need for multiple connections, and which consolidates a switch blade receptacle portion with a fuse clip section in a single piece device employed in an electrical switching environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 29, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard D. Prohaska, Jerold Frantiza, Warren C. Sipe
  • Patent number: 5982267
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuse holder for supporting a plurality of fuses for electrical distribution equipment such as a distribution transformer. The fuse holder comprises a first end plate attached to a first distal end of the fuses; and a second end plate attached to a second distal end of the fuses. The first and second end plates have a plurality of relief cuts to permit an increased surface creep distance and are constructed of an electrically non-conductive material. A top plate, having wire routing openings for retaining wire bundles of the electrical distribution equipment, is attached to the top of the first and second end plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1999
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Guillermo Locht
  • Patent number: 5901045
    Abstract: A device for isolating a hazardous connection on a circuit board includes an elongated enclosure having a bore extending therethrough and a slot extending longitudinally from a first end of the enclosure. A component such as a fuse, having leads on both ends, is advanced through the bore until one of the leads, bent orthogonally to the enclosure, becomes secured in a distal end (pocket) of the slot. The length of the enclosure is determined such that when the lead is engaged in the distal end of the slot, a portion of the enclosure extends over the lead to isolate any connections made by that lead from external contact. In a preferred embodiment, a second slot is provided on the other end of the enclosure wherein a second lead may then be bent orthogonally to the device, and parallel with the first lead, to isolate both leads of the component. The protective device is advantageously transparent to allow for monitoring of the component being isolated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Cabletron Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernest Bencivenga, Ronald P. Fotino
  • Patent number: 5898566
    Abstract: An assembly for both distributing electricity and limiting the flow of current has a housing, input conductors, first output conductors, second output conductors, an insulating spacer block, and limiters. Portions of the input conductors and first output conductors overlay each other with the insulating spacer block therebetween. The limiters electrically connect the input conductors to the output conductors with pairs of limiters connected between a single input conductor and separate output conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Burndy Corporation
    Inventors: Rocco J. Noschese, Frederick D. Hooper
  • Patent number: 5886611
    Abstract: A fuse assembly (10) for mounting on a battery of a motor vehicle comprising a housing (12) of electrically insulating material having a base plate (22); a starter motor cable terminal (18) mounted on the base plate; a number of cable harness terminals (20); a fuse strip (14) secured on the base plate and including a busbar (36), a contact portion (40) adjacent the starter motor cable terminal, contact portions (38) making an electrical connection with each cable harness terminal, and fusible links (42) connecting the contact portions with the busbar; and a battery terminal clamp (16) having a mounting portion (26) positioned inside the housing and making an electrical connection with the busbar of the fuse strip, and a clamp portion (28) positioned outside the housing for making an electrical connection with a terminal post of the battery. Provides a compact fuse assembly for a motor vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Delphi Automotive Systems Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Thomas Schaller, Bernd Scholz, Stefan Kriegesmann, Holger Alksnat, Jurgen Dinger
  • Patent number: 5880665
    Abstract: A holder (10) for a fuse (18) of the type typically used in automobile and marine applications. The fuse includes a fuse element encased within a generally rectilinear insulative fuse body (20), with a pair of parallel coplanar conductive blades (22, 24) in contact with opposite ends of the fuse element and extending out the fuse body. The holder is a unitary molded insulative plastic piece having a base member (12), a capture plate (14), and a cover member (16). The capture plate and cover member are hingedly secured to the base member on opposite sides thereof, with the capture plate adapted to overlie the base member and the cover member adapted to overlie the capture plate. The base member includes pockets with retention wings (50) for holding wire- terminating receptacles (28) and the capture plate locks the receptacles in place by means of blocks (62) extending into the pockets. The capture plate includes apertures (58, 60) aligned with the receptacles for receiving therethrough the fuse blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Neil Yetter, Michael Scott Feher
  • Patent number: 5831814
    Abstract: An electrical distribution center comprises a main bus plate assembly that is sandwiched between upper and lower auxiliary bus plate assemblies of a known type. The main bus plate assembly comprises stamped metal circuit components having bus strips sandwiched between upper and lower insulation plates that are permanently secured together. The stamped metal circuit components have male blade terminals that protrude through slots of the upper and lower insulation plates. The slots have laterally flexible side wall portions that are spread apart by embossments of the stamped metal circuit components to retain these components during the assembly process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1998
    Assignee: General Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Brian David Hamill
  • Patent number: 5819405
    Abstract: Plug-in connectors primarily intended for connecting lighting fixtures into system circuitry, the connectors include selector mechanisms which allow selection of a hot conductor or conductors necessary for energization of the fixtures. The connectors of the invention allow selection of a specific circuit at the job site rather than pre-wiring of a fixture to a specific circuit during factory assembly, a given fixture then being rapidly installed by plugging of the connector into a tapping port in electrical cable extending between fixtures in an installation. The selection mechanism of the invention acts primarily to change the wiring configuration of the associated fixture with the hot leg or legs of the fixture being movable to adapt to a desired specific circuit. The invention further encompasses use of the apparatus of the invention in a method for rapidly wiring fixtures into system circuitry, thereby resulting in labor and job cost savings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: NSI Enterprises, Inc.
    Inventors: William Wade Marder, Ormand Gilbert Anderson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5808859
    Abstract: A circuit breaker box including a holder base having two wire holder shieldings and pairs of clamping spring plates in the wire holder shieldings, each of the clamping spring plates having a pair of vertical ribs disposed at an inner side, the vertical ribs having a thickness gradually increasing from a bottom side toward a top side; an input wire holder mounted in the first wire holder shielding to hold input lead wires, and a plurality of output wire holders mounted in the second wire holder shielding to hold output lead wires, the input wire holder and output wire holder having pairs of metal contact spring plates respectively inserted into the clamping spring plates of the holder base and stopped between the respective vertical ribs of the respective pairs of clamping spring plates for receiving fuse plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Inventor: Shih-Tsung Liang
  • Patent number: 5771151
    Abstract: A central electrical assembly with an electrical or electronics unit is specified, which can be used in particular for motor vehicles; the central electrical assembly being of modular construction. A contact supporting body forming one module and being used to accommodate contacts or plugs with contacts which produce the connection between electrical cables and the central electrical assembly, a relay and fuse box being another module, having at least one conductor track level and plug-in slots for accommodating electrical devices, the relay and fuse box and the electrical or electronics unit being connectable with a central lifting screw to the contact supporting body in such a manner that the connections are produced between the electrical cables and the central electrical assembly, in particular the conductor track levels and the plug-in slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Gheorghe Hotea, Martin Listing, Josef Woller
  • Patent number: 5670928
    Abstract: A fuse box including an insulative bottom shell having a locating block and fixedly mounted with a metal common receptacle, a cover shell covered on the bottom shell and secured thereto by hooks, a plurality of spring supported jacks mounted in respective through holes in the locating block of the bottom shell, a plurality of cartridge fuses respectively connected between the jacks and respective plug holes in the metal common receptacle, a plurality of first electric wire connectors respectively fastened to respective electric wires and then connected to the jacks by a respective screw joint, and a plurality of second electric wire connectors respectively fastened to respective electric wires and then respectively threaded into a respective screw hole in the metal common receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventors: Wen-Tzung Cheng, Wen-Huoh Cheng
  • Patent number: 5608372
    Abstract: A fuse locking construction for a fuse box, in which a fuse having a fuse member insert molded in a base made of synthetic resin and a pair of terminal plates projecting out of the base from the fuse member is inserted into a fuse mounting portion so as to be locked to the fuse mounting portion. The fuse locking construction includes a pair of locking projections which are, respectively, provided at opposite ends of an insertion mouth of the fuse box for the fuse mounting portion and retain opposite upper ends of the base at the time of completion of insertion of the fuse into the fuse mounting portion so as to lock the fuse to the fuse mounting portion; and a guide groove for guiding each of the terminal plates of the fuse in a direction for inserting the fuse into the fuse mounting portion or drawing the fuse out of the fuse mounting portion, which is formed on each of the locking projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5550708
    Abstract: Remote access disconnect and fusing arrangement including an assembly having a housing with at least one wall panel; an arrangement for ducting ac-power into the housing; the ac-power including at least two non-grounded hot conductors, a disconnect arrangement in the housing connected in series with the hot conductors; a distribution terminal assembly having a plurality of input terminals each connected to a respective one of the hot conductors, and a plurality of groups of output terminals, each group of output terminals connected in parallel to a respective one of the input terminals; a plurality of current limiting elements each having an element input connected to a respective one of the output terminals and an element output; and at least one female plug connector mounted on the wall panel, having a plurality of female receive terminals, each female receive terminal connected to a respective element output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Inventor: Steven L. Siems
  • Patent number: 5504655
    Abstract: An electric vehicle power distribution module including a chassis containing electric power distribution components. A battery connector is disposed on the chassis for electrically connecting the power distribution components to a battery. A safety cover is secured to the chassis and includes an aperature in a side wall for receiving an electric cable from the battery to be selectively engaged with the battery connector. The aperture is positioned with respect to the battery connector so as to preclude removal of the safety cover from the chassis without disengagement of the electric cable from the battery connector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Underwood, James H. DeOms, Todd M. Zaranski, Brian H. Smith
  • Patent number: 5274528
    Abstract: An assembly for both distributing electricity and limiting the flow of current has a housing, input conductors, first output conductors, second output conductors, an insulating spacer block, and limiters. Portions of the input conductors and first output conductors overlay each other with the insulating spacer block therebetween. The limiters electrically connect the input conductors to the output conductors with pairs of limiters connected between a single input conductor and separate output conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Burndy Corporation
    Inventors: Rocco J. Noschese, Frederick D. Hooper