Patents Examined by Jacob Crum
  • Patent number: 10283309
    Abstract: A panel fuse module for use with one or more fuses. The panel fuse module includes a housing with a first fuse contact and a second fuse contact. The first fuse contact is resiliently deformable and is mounted on a post of the housing. A movable fuse holder is provided which is moveable relative to the housing and relative to the first fuse contact. A cam member is provided on the movable fuse holder. As the movable fuse holder is moved from the first position toward the second position, the cam member cooperates with the first fuse contact to move the first fuse contact from a less-stressed first position to a more-stressed second position to allow the respective fuse of the one or more fuses to be inserted into the housing without engaging the first fuse contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2019
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Evan Lawrence Craig
  • Patent number: 10192704
    Abstract: A fuse employing a plurality of tuning fork terminal configurations with an improved current capacity within a smaller footprint and a housing design to provide the terminals with insert protection and strain relief.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: LITTELFUSE, INC.
    Inventors: Seibang Oh, Julio Urrea, James J. Beckert
  • Patent number: 10181383
    Abstract: An actuator system for operating a switch is described herein. The actuator system can include a shaft of a handle assembly. The shaft couples to a handle and a male coupling element and has a number of positions. Further, a coupling body of a switch assembly can be positioned in the number of positions. The coupling body engages the switch and has a female coupling element, which has a slotted portion that receives the male coupling element and an angled terminus that aligns the shaft to a first position as the shaft couples to the coupling body. The slotted portion receives and engages the male coupling element when the shaft is coupled to the coupling body. The slotted portion prevents the male coupling element from disengaging when the coupling body is in a second position, and disengages the male coupling element when the coupling body is in the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2019
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Joseph Michael Manahan
  • Patent number: 10163593
    Abstract: A temperature switch 1 includes first terminal unit 2 having a first terminal 5 and a first fixed contact 6, a switch body unit 3 including a bimetal element 22 in which both ends engage a movable plate 15 holding, via an tongue portion 17, first and second fixed contacts 6 and 8 arranged in an internal center portion of an insulation material 10 at prescribed intervals and also holding a movable contact 18 arranged above them, and a second terminal unit 4 having a second terminal 7 and the second fixed contact 8. The first terminal unit 2, the switch body unit 3, and the second terminal unit 4 are sequentially arranged in line. At an ambient temperature, the bimetal element 22 deforms into a convex shape in the contact direction so as to push out the tongue portion 17 and the movable contact 18 at the center of the convex shape, and the movable contact 18 is closed with respect to the first and second fixed contacts 6 and 8 so that a current flows between the first and second terminals 5 and 7.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: Uchiya Thermostat Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Takeda
  • Patent number: 10147573
    Abstract: A reflowable thermal fuse comprises a conduction element with first and second elastic portions, a sensor, a restraining element, a heating element and mounting pads. The first elastic portion is adapted to apply force on the conduction element in an activated state of the thermal fuse. The sensor is in mechanical communication with the first elastic portion of the conduction element. The restraining element is adapted to secure the second elastic portion of the conduction element and thereby prevent the second elastic portion from applying force on the conduction element in an installation state of the thermal fuse. Application of an activating current through the heating element causes heat generated and transferred to the restraining element and makes the restraining element to lose resilience, thereby releasing the second elastic portion and placing the thermal fuse in the activated state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: POLYTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CORP.
    Inventors: Tsungmin Su, Tongcheng Tsai, David Shau Chew Wang
  • Patent number: 10141151
    Abstract: The invention relates to a safety device (1), comprising: a fusible member (2) having a first segment (3), a second segment (4), and a connecting segment (5), which connects the first segment (3) to the second segment (4). The safety device (1) further comprises a separation element (6), configured to suppress a light arc between the first segment (3) and the second segment (4). The first segment (3) of the fusible member (2) extends along a first side of the separation element (6), the second segment (4) of the fusible member (2) extends along a second side of the separation element (6) located opposite the first side, and the connecting segment (5) of the fusible member (2) extends along a third side of the separation element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Ziegler, Gergely Galamb
  • Patent number: 10134556
    Abstract: An improved fuse element for use in a circuit protection fuse. The fuse element may include an insulating substrate portion and a conductive metallic portion disposed on at least one surface of the insulating substrate portion, wherein the metallic portion extends along, and is in continuous, intimate contact with the substrate portion. When the metallic portion melts and separates upon the occurrence of an overcurrent condition, the substrate portion bridges the resulting gap that is formed in the metallic portion and provides electrical arc suppression therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Ben Zheng, Style Liu, Marko Arciaga, Anthony Minervini
  • Patent number: 10128073
    Abstract: A thermal trip assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and a number of shunts. The thermal trip assembly includes a load conductor, a bimetal adapted to cooperate with the operating mechanism to open the separable contacts in response to a trip condition, and a bypass heater element structured to be electrically connected to the shunts. The bypass heater element directs the flow of electric current to at least partially bypass the bimetal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2018
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Craig Joseph Puhalla, Brian Scott Jansto, Richard Paul Malingowski, James Patrick Sisley
  • Patent number: 10115554
    Abstract: A fuse case and a case cover of a vacuum contactor including a truck, a main circuit unit, and a front cover covering a front side of the main circuit unit include a fuse connected to an upper terminal of the main circuit unit and blowing, when a fault current is generated in a circuit, to break the circuit, a fuse case opened in an upper side, accommodating the fuse, and having an insertion coupling part formed on a side surface thereof, and a case cover coupled to an upper side of the fuse case, coupled to the insertion coupling part in an insertion coupling manner, and covering a rear end portion of the fuse, wherein the case cover includes an upper surface portion and side surface portions, and the side surface portions include a first side surface portion and a second side surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2018
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Byeongsun Sim
  • Patent number: 10109445
    Abstract: A pressure resistant housing for an electric component, which pressure resistant housing is adapted for use in subsea applications. The pressure resistant housing includes a first ceramic body arranged to accommodate the electric component, which first ceramic body is provided with a first opening and a second opening, a first metal lid for closing the first opening, a first annular sealing member arranged to provide a fluid tight seal between the first metal lid and the first opening, a first clamp arranged to clamp the first metal lid to the first ceramic body, a second metal lid for closing the second opening, a second annular sealing member arranged to provide a fluid tight seal between the second metal lid and the second opening, and a second clamp arranged to clamp the second metal lid to the first ceramic body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2018
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Kai Hansen, Vitor Moritsugu, Dietmar Gentsch, Subbaiahthever Dukkaiappan
  • Patent number: 10104809
    Abstract: A system for managing heat transfer is provided by the present disclosure, which in one form includes a cavity having an inner wall portion, at least one heat-generating component disposed within the cavity, and a plurality of heat conducting members disposed adjacent one another. Each heat conducting member includes a resilient core and an outer shell wrapped around at least a portion of the resilient core. The outer shell is made of a material having a relatively high thermal conductivity, and the plurality of heat conducting members are positioned between the heat-generating component and the inner wall portion of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: AeroVironment Inc.
    Inventors: Uchenna Ofoma, Bart Dean Hibbs
  • Patent number: 10102994
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts, a trip mechanism, a first terminal member, and a second terminal member. The separable contacts are received in the housing and include a first contact and a second contact. At least one of the contacts is moveable with respect to the other to open and close the separable contacts. The trip mechanism can include a bimetal strip and selectively open the separable contacts. The first terminal member includes a first socket configured to receive a pin located on an associated bus structure. The first terminal member is electrically connected with the first contact. The second terminal member includes a second socket configured to receive another pin located on the associated bus structure. The second terminal can contact the bimetal strip and is electrically connected with the second contact. The first and second sockets can be received in the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRICAL & POWER
    Inventors: David Michael Geier, James Michael McCormick, Peter Nerstrom, Jeffrey Alan Muckefuse
  • Patent number: 10068736
    Abstract: A fuse holder (10) for a high-voltage system for accommodating an electric fuse link (13), comprising a bottom part (11) and a cover (12), which, when assembled, form a housing that serves to accommodate a fuse link (13). The fuse link (13) has two opposite terminal lugs (131), which can be fixed in the cover by means of fastening screws (14), so that, together with the cover (12), the fuse link (13) forms a unit, which is fastened on the bottom part (11) by means of the fastening screws (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Claus Gerald Pflueger, Gerhard Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10062531
    Abstract: A plastic lampholder with a thermostat includes a housing, a plastic bracket, a plastic threaded ring, a positive electrode plate, a negative electrode plate, a thermostat and a top cover and is installed to a downlight. The lampholder has two slots for plugging two electrodes of a power line by a bare line section, so that a power source is introduced to the lampholder. Both of the plastic bracket and housing of the lampholder are made of a plastic material and integrally formed, and the plastic threaded ring of the lampholder is integrally formed in the housing. Power is conducted through a thermostat to prevent the lampholder from burning by high temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Rich Brand Industries Limited
    Inventor: Te-Shui Peng
  • Patent number: 10026563
    Abstract: An integrated circuit, comprising an electrical-switching mechanical device in a housing having at least one first thermally deformable assembly including a beam held in at least two different locations by at least two arms secured to edges of the housing, the beam and the arms being metallic and situated within the same first metallization level and an electrically conductive body, wherein the said first thermally deformable assembly has at least one first configuration at a first temperature and a second configuration when at least one is at a second temperature different from the first temperature, wherein the beam is at a distance from the body in the first configuration and in contact with the said body and immobilized by the said body in the second configuration and establishing or prohibiting an electrical link passing through the body and through the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Rousset) SAS
    Inventors: Antonio Di-Giacomo, Christian Rivero, Pascal Fornara
  • Patent number: 10014142
    Abstract: An adjustable thermal trip mechanism for a circuit breaker is provided which can improve the reliability of over-current tripping by minimizing an influence upon thermal tripping even if an assembly error such as skewing or twisting occurs during assembly of bimetallic strips. The adjustable thermal trip mechanism for the circuit breaker comprises: a crossbar that is rotatable and has at least one power receiving portion for receiving rotary power; a bimetallic strip that can bend towards the power receiving portion when an over current occurs on the circuit; and an adjustment screw installed to face the power receiving portion, wherein the power receiving portion comprises a plurality of planar portions which are at different distances from the adjustment screw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2018
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kwangwon Lee
  • Patent number: 9953795
    Abstract: A fuse cutout insulator for use in power distribution systems includes three electrically conductive pieces spaced apart and encapsulated by a dielectric material. The conductive components include a top hood, bottom pin, and central pin. The central pin is generally tube shaped and includes an outwardly extending flange to facilitate attachment of the fuse cutout to a utility pole. The top hood and bottom hinge include the traditional components for operable holding of a fuse tube member. The top hood and bottom hinge are accepted in opposite ends of the central pins bore and sealed in spaced relationship during manufacturing by the dielectric material added for fabricating the weathersheds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventors: Jeffery Joseph Kester, Lloyd Ronald Beard, Sterlin Cochran, Bryant Haines, Charles Worthington
  • Patent number: 9953791
    Abstract: A sealed fuse in accordance with the present disclosure may include a tubular fuse body, a trench formed in an exterior of the fuse body, and an electrically conductive endcap that fits over an end of the fuse body and is fastened to the fuse body by an electrically conductive material having a lip portion that extends into the trench to provide a barrier that extends between the fuse body and the endcap. In an embodiment, the trench may be formed in an end face of the fuse body and may extend entirely around an opening in the end of the fuse body. In another embodiment, the trench may be formed in an outwardly-facing surface of a sidewall of the fuse body and may extend entirely around the fuse body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Ped Peterson Bruan, Grace Miranda, Edwin Aberin
  • Patent number: 9922789
    Abstract: A fuse (1) includes a fuse element (10) having a fusible portion (13) provided between opposed inner edges (11a, 12a) of flat plate portions (11, 12), and an insulating housing (50) covering the inner edge sides of the flat plate portions and the fusible portion in a state in which outer edge (11c, 12c) sides of the flat plate portions are protruded outward from slits at respective end walls (55, 58) of the insulating housing (50). The outer edge sides of the flat plate portions are formed as terminal portions (21, 22) each having a thickness twice as large as the thickness of the flat plate portion, and protrusions (11b, 12b) provided on upper and lower edges of the flat plate portions abut against inner surfaces of the end walls (55, 58) of the insulating housing (50).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Miyuki Fukunaga
  • Patent number: 9899171
    Abstract: In order to provide a method for isolating a circuit and a thermal link, wherein the link has a very low resistance and is suitable for high currents, in particular very high short load currents, and also has a high degree of reliability, in particular under difficult conditions, such as thermal and mechanical loading which lasts for a relatively long time, for example, the invention proposes that, during the phase transition of the material of the fusible element (10) from the solid to the liquid state, the volume of the fusible element (10) increases and the pressure increases and, owing to the increase in volume and the increase in pressure, the fusible element (10) is dislodged so as to break the electrical connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: VISHAY BCcomponents BEYSCHLAG GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Aurich, Ulf Zum Felde, Bernd Krueger, Laurent Mex, Wolfgang Werner