Abstract: In fuses exceeding a certain voltage rating it is necessary to establish series multibreaks to interrupt small overload currents. An initial break is formed in the helically wound fusible elements near the center thereof where the temperature is highest. If the arc voltage along this initial break does not exceed the circuit voltage, even after a number of cycles of arcing, secondary or tertiary breaks must be formed in series to the initial break. This is achieved according to the present invention by providing one or more quarter-turns of reduced pitch where the spacing between contiguous groups of windings is reduced and a low temporary current flashover is allowed to occur which results in the formation of secondary and tertiary breaks.

Abstract: In fuses for a sufficiently elevated circuit voltage the single breaks formed near the center of the fusible element at the occurrence of small overload currents does not produce a sufficiently high arc voltage to bring the current down to zero. In such instances it is necessary to produce series multibreaks to achieve interruption of the overloaded circuit.The present invention describes new means to produce series multibreaks. In fuses according to this invention the fusible element is subdivided into a plurality of spaced elements in parallel to reduce the concentration of metal vapors. Each of the element forms a break near the center thereof. This occurs at different times t.sub.1, t.sub.2, t.sub.3, etc. even though the elements are identical. Each break-formation is accompanied by a concomitant increase of current in the remaining fusible elements, and each break-formation is accompanied by a concomitant voltage spike or voltage surge -- L(di/dt).

Abstract: An automatic pressure regulator of the rolling diaphragm type requiring but one single rolling diaphragm. The diaphragm is of the deep convolution type. The rolling wall of the diaphragm controls the effective cross-sectional area of an orifice means which, in turn, effects the regulation of pressure. The force created by the high pressure acts against a spring tending to move the rolling wall of the rolling diaphragm to the orifice closing position thereof. The effective area of the rolling wall of the rolling diaphragm is variable to compensate for variations of the force of the spring resulting from changes of its length.

Abstract: An electric fuse holder of the modular kind, i.e. formed by combining a plurality of identical fuse holder units. The fuse holder units are shaped in such a way that they can be joined together under pressure of wedge action merely by virtue of their geometry or configuration into a composite or multipolar fuse holder, i.e. in the absence of any additional fastener means.

Abstract: This invention relates to stopper devices, particularly stopper devices for closing bottles containing wine. It includes two parts, namely a hollow body of synthetic material defining a cavity open at the top and closed at the bottom and having a fluted flange at the upper end thereof. A bottle cap is mounted on said fluted flange and engages the flutes thereof to preclude relative rotary motion between said flange and said cap. The wall of said body of synthetic material includes an upper bulging portion and a lower cylindrical portion and a cylindrical stopper of cork is press-fitted into said lower cylindrical portion.

Abstract: Load-break switches and current-limiting fuses are often serially connected and placed one above the other. This arrangement is relatively bulky, and involves in particular relatively large requirements in respect to height.The present invention concerns an arrangement of parts wherein the load-break disconnect and the current-limiting fuse are electrically connected in series, but wherein they are arranged spatially in parallel, substantially in coaxial relation, the load-break switch or some of its constituent parts being arranged inside of the current-limiting fuse; or the load-break switch and the current-limiting fuse may be provided with contact means common to both of them.

Abstract: The driving coupling member and the driven coupling member of a flexible coupling are tied together by a plurality of flexible torque-transmitting members which are arranged in a circular pattern. Each torque-transmitting member consists of an endless, substantially elliptical loop of an elastic material, e.g. rubber, which may be re-inforced by an appropriate woven material. Resilient inserts are placed into the elliptical cavities defined by the torque-transmitting members, and these inserts are compressed when the torque-transmitting members are elongated as a result of the transmission of torques between both coupling members. The aforementioned resilient inserts expand when the amount of torque transmitted is reduced. The expansion and contraction of the aforementioned inserts are transmitted to containers of a fluid medium and cause said fluid medium to flow out of a contracting container into another container. The flow of fluid is controlled by a restricted orifice.

Abstract: A circuit breaker which is characterized by its simplicity and the reduction of its parts. The direction of its manual operation and the direction of the movement of its contacts are at right angles. The contact operating mechanism and the latching mechanism interact by abutment of an overdrawn over-center toggle link with the latch lever of the device.

Abstract: An electric fuse having blind metal fusion joints, e.g. solder joints, between the two ferrules and the fusible element, or the fusible elements, thereof. One of these conductive connection joints is situated adjacent the center region of the inner end surface of one of the two ferrules. The other of these conductive connection joints is situated between one of the rims of the casing and the peripheral region of the inner end surface of the other of the two ferrules.

Abstract: The electric time-lag fuse involves a substantially T-shaped shorting strip shorting the insulating gap formed between a pair of metal overlays on an insulating strip, and a helical tension spring having a variable diameter affixed with one of the ends thereof to said T-shaped shorting strip, and resting with the other end thereof against the annular surface of a tubular member.

Abstract: The fusible element of a fuse that needs series multibreaks for interrupting small currents is provided with a shunt current path including an arc gap in the center region thereof. That current path does not normally carry any current on account of the presence of the arc gap in it. The shunt current path shunts a portion of the fusible element including a so-called M-effect causing overlay. When that overlay becomes operative it causes formation of an arc gap in the fusible element which, in turn, causes a voltage to appear across the arc gap. When that voltage is sufficiently high the arc gap breaks down. The ensuing arc current is too small to allow formation of series breaks in the fusible element. The fusible element or the above shunt thereof are provided with beads that evolve gases under the action of the arc.

Abstract: A narrow strip of metal-clad material, as used in printed circuitry, is placed inside the casing of a fuse taking the place of the fusible conductor or element. The metal layer is, in part, removed from the strip by etching, or otherwise, leaving a central zone which is completely bare and two axially outer zones where the metal layer is substantially I-shaped. The axially inner ends of this I-shaped metal overlay are conductively interconnected by a spring-biased shorting strip which shorts said completely bare zone. The shorting strip is attached by soft solder to the axially inner ends of the I-shaped overlays and is spring-biased to a circuit interrupting position. The axially outer ends of the I-shaped overlays are connected by blind solder joints to terminal caps mounted on the ends of the casing of the fuse.

Abstract: An electric fuse suitable for motor-starting, i.e. having a considerable time-lag in the range of motor starting currents, and at the same time having a current-limiting action in the high fault current range, characterized by extremely small peak let-through currents and extremely small clearing I.sup.2.multidot. t values. To be more specific, fuses emboyding this invention have considerably smaller maximum peak let-through currents and considerably lower clearing I.sup.2.multidot. t values than Underwriter Laboratories Class RK5 fuses, and meet the maximum acceptable peak let-through current values and clearing I.sup.2.multidot. t values of Underwriter Laboratories Class RK1 fuses. This is achieved by combining specific time-lag means involving a minimum of mass with parallel current paths of greatly increased number and greatly decreased size.

Abstract: An insulating support for fusible elements in ribbon form having points of drastically reduced cross-sectional area which reduces the dimensional stability of the fusible elements to such an extent that they are not capable of supporting themselves. The support consists of a strip of electric insulating material arranged in spaced relation from, and parallel to, the fusible element. The strip has a plurality of arms projecting transversely from the former. Each of said plurality of arms supports the fusible element at a region situated between points of drastically reduced cross-sectional area thereof.

Abstract: An electric protective device capable of handling both short-circuit currents and minor overload currents of impermissible duration. The device for interrupting small overload currents of impermissible duration includes a cylinder, a plunger inside said cylinder, a spring biasing said plunger, heater means, a solder joint conductively connected to said heater means and said plunger, and a body of material evolving gases under the heat of an arc surrounding said solder joint, adjacent portions of said plunger and adjacent portions of said heater means.The process of manufacturing this device is preferably performed in two steps, namely arranging adjacent the solder joint of the device a sleeve-shaped body of melamine and an inorganic filler in a highly viscous putty-like form, and thereafter allowing said body to harden completely.

Abstract: In fuses embodying this invention each of the terminal elements has a port for the passage of fluid through the casing of the fuse during normal operation thereof, i.e. while the fuse is carrying current. A tubular fusible element conductively interconnects said port in each of said terminal elements. The fuse further includes a toroidal body of quartz sand filling the space between said casing and said tubular fusible element. The fusible element has perforations covered by annular structures of electric insulating material precluding said quartz sand from penetrating into said tubular fusible element during the normal operation of said fuse. The fuse is further provided with a pair of check valves which open during normal operation of said fuse and then allow the flow of fluid through said tubular fusible element and close on occurrence of a build-up of a predetermined amount of pressure inside of said tubular fusible element and then inhibit said flow of fluid.

Abstract: An electric fuse having blind metal fusion joints, e.g. solder joints, between the two ferrules and the fusible element, or the fusible elements, thereof. One of these conductive connection joints is situated adjacent the center region of the inner end surface of one of the two ferrules. The other of these conductive connection joints is situated between one of the rims of the casing and the peripheral region of the inner end surface of the other of the two ferrules.

Abstract: Electric fuses having supports for their fusible element or elements which supports are formed of bundles of glass fibers in form of cords, rovings, or the like glass fiber structures made up of fibers which extend but in longitudinal direction, i.e. do not include fibers which extend in transverse direction. The fibers are under considerable stress in longitudinal direction, so as to form a supporting structure of considerable dimensional stability. The terminal elements of the fuse are preferably in the form of terminal plugs and provided with means to control the stress to which the glass fibers are subjected. The latter may be impregnated with chemical compounds that evolve protective and arc-quenching gases under the heat of electric arcs.

Abstract: A flexible coupling includes a plurality of flexible torque-transmitting members arranged in a circular pattern around the axis of the coupling. Each member is of an elastomeric material and has two parallel stud-receiving passageways. The studs projecting through the radially outer passageways of the torque-transmitting members are supported on their axially outer ends by one part of the coupling. The studs projecting through the radially inner passageways are supported at their axially outer ends by the other part of the coupling. Thus torques are transmitted from one part of the coupling by way of the radially outer studs, the torque-transmitting members, and the radially inner studs, to the other part of the coupling, or vice versa.

Abstract: A door lock has both its dead bolt and spring latch released by the action of a single keeper. The keeper has two stable limit positions, i.e. it opens the strike case, or it closes the strike case. The keeper is held in its open position allowing the door to be opened and closed if the solenoid of the keeper was energized and if the dead bolt was in extended position at the time the door was opened. If the solenoid of the keeper is deenergized and if only the spring latch was extended, the keeper returns to locked condition once the latch bolt has cleared the strike, because the keeper is still biased to its second stable or closed position. In that position the keeper is then locked by the bias spring inside the keeper acting on the latch bolt.