Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a base housing comprising a contact cavity therein, first and second terminals at least partially located within said contact cavity, and a thermal trigger element fixedly coupled to said first terminal and in electrical contact with said second terminal in normal operation is provided. The thermal element is configured to activate and break electrical contact with said second terminal upon a predetermined current condition.

Abstract: A standoff for a printed circuit board assembly is described. The standoff comprises at least one surface configured for surface mounting to a printed circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical fuse includes a pair of terminal portions and a fusible link extending between the pair of terminal portions. The fusible link includes a fusing portion and a modifying portion in contact with the fusing portion. The modifying portion is formed of a material having a lower melting point than the fusing portion, and the fusible link includes a hole extending therethrough and defining an open-sided receptacle. A side of the open-sided receptacle forms one side of the fusing portion, and the modifying portion is disposed within the substantially open-sided receptacle.

Abstract: A fuse state indicator includes a fuse casing having a transparent lens, a combustible substance disposed adjacent the lens, and a base layer disposed adjacent the combustible substance and having a contrasting color relative to the combustible substance. A secondary fuse indicating circuit is electrically connected to a main fuse circuit in parallel with a main fuse link, and includes a secondary fuse wire link which is disposed adjacent the combustible substance. Heat created upon vaporization of the secondary fuse link ignites the combustible substance and reveals the base layer through the lens after combustion, thereby indicating a state of the fuse as operable or inoperable by the color visible through the lens. Combustion may be assisted with an energetic chemical compound applied to secondary fuse wire link and combustible substance.

Abstract: A power distribution block assembly includes an insulative body having at least a first modular body section and a second modular body section, and at least one electrically conductive bus member having a longitudinally-extending base and a plurality of terminal blades extending from the base. The base of the bus member has a site for electrical connection to a power source and a longitudinally elongated U-shape channel defined by opposite legs. A plurality of terminal blades extend from the legs of the channel and include a plurality of sites for electrical connection to a plurality of removable circuit elements. A plurality of separate connector elements are contained within the body, and each of the connector elements are configured to engage a terminal blade of the bus with a terminal of a respective one of the removable circuit elements.

Abstract: A terminal block assembly include a base assembly includes a terminal block housing and a terminal stud extending therethrough, a filter assembly coupled to the stud; and a ground assembly coupled to the base assembly and the filter assembly for dissipating filtered signals. The filter assembly is mechanically isolated from the base assembly and the ground assembly to prevent structural loading of the filter assembly.

Abstract: A vehicle electric power distribution apparatus is described which includes multiple stacked conductive layers. Electrically insulating material insulates portions of the conductive layers and conductive pins provide electrical contact between selected contact pads of different layers. At least some of the layers include contacts providing access to one or more external connectors. The apparatus is enclosed in a housing configured with multiple ventilation and mounting options and are further configured to retain connector housings between a top and bottom for the contacts described above. The housing further includes a cover hingedly connected to the top to form either a splash proof seal or ventilation.

Abstract: An opened fuse indicator includes a substantially transparent lens, a transparent base, and a dark colored backing layer. A sputtered metal layer is formed on the transparent base to provide a light-colored electrically conductive surface including a narrowed portion that forms a fuse link that is visible against the dark background of backing layer when viewed through the transparent lens. The conductive sputtered metal layer is electrically connected to a pair of fuse terminals to form a secondary fuse circuit in parallel with a main fuse circuit. Current directed through the secondary fuse circuit after the main circuit opens melts the sputtered metal layer so that it is no longer visible against the dark colored backing layer and the fuse is thereby indicated as opened.

Abstract: A power distribution apparatus includes a conductive plate (100), the conductive plate (100) including plurality of contact pads (101) that are interconnected by removable connecting links (102), each of the contact pads (101) including opening (106) for receiving a connector pin, a housing (811), for the conductive plate, the housing including plurality of connector receptacles (820), and plurality of connector pins selectively mounted on a portion of the receiving opening (106) on the conductive plate so as to align with the connector receptacles (820), wherein a portion of the connecting links (102) are removed to create a circuit on the conductive plate (100).

Abstract: A method for fabricating transient voltage protection devices is described wherein a gap between a ground conductor and another conductor is formed using a diamond dicing saw. Substrate material selection and includes specific ceramic materials designed to optimize performance and manufacturability. An overlay layer can be provided to minimize burring of the conductors during formation of the gap.

Abstract: A reversible double-throw air motor provides for forward and reverse operation by having a cylinder member rotate relative to a stationary valve plate between fixed forward and reverse positions of the cylinder member. The valve plate has diametrically opposite pressure ports and diametrically opposite exhaust ports at an end surface that faces the cylinder member. The cylinder member has a transfer passage associated with each quadrant of the inner surface, the transfer passages opening at wall ports at the inner surface close to each of the two bottom dead center lines. In the forward position of the cylinder, pressure is supplied from the pressure ports in the valve plate through two of the transfer passages to opposite quadrants while the other two quadrants are open to the exhaust ports in the valve plate. For reverse operation, the cylinder is rotated, which reverses the quadrants open to the pressure and exhaust paths.