Abstract: The fuse holder for receiving a cylindrical fuse having conductive ends includes a cap having a fuse carrier disposed in part therein for receiving one end of the fuse and a barrel having a fuse cavity for receiving the cap and fuse. The barrel includes a bottom terminal extending through the barrel for contact with one conductive end of the fuse and a side terminal having tines extending through apertures in the side of the barrel for engagement with the fuse carrier which in turn is in electrical contact with the other end of the fuse. The body of the side terminal is disposed on the exterior of the barrel and, in conjunction with the wall of the barrel, isolates the interior of the barrel from the body of the side terminal such that only that portion of the side terminal required to complete the electrical path from the fuse carrier to the side terminal is exposed interior the barrel.

Abstract: An automobile fuse (10) for use in extreme temperature conditions such as the engine compartment of an automobile. Fuse (10) is a blade-type fuse with loads (42, 44) on fusible element (40) providing time delay characteristics to match the insulation damage curves of small diameter automobile cable harnesses. The lower portions of terminals (20) and (30) have been selectively plated with silver. The outer housing (50) has been laser etched.

Abstract: A fuseholder assembly includes a two pole fuseholder having load side and line side sections housing a pair of inline fuses which connect respective load and line side terminals, and a breakaway receptacle that releasably joins the line side terminals to corresponding line conductors. The line side section of the fuseholder includes a boss on one side thereof and the load side section and breakaway receptacle each include mating grooves formed therein. The boss is received within both grooves when the fuseholder assembly is properly assembled to polarize the fuseholder sections with respect to one another and to polarize the attachment of the breakaway assembly to the line side fuseholder terminals.

Abstract: A cartridge fuse including a tubular insulating body, integrally formed ferrule terminals secured over the respective ends of the insulating body, and a fusible strip extending within the insulating body electrically interconnecting the ferrule terminals.

Abstract: A cartridge fuse holder having a stationary electrical contact adapted to engage one of the end terminals of a cartridge fuse and a movable electrical contact adapted to engage the other end terminal of the fuse. The moveable contact includes a T-shaped electrical contact formed from an integral sheetmetal blank which is reciprocably mounted within the fuse holder in a fashion biasing it against its respective fuse terminal.

Abstract: A fuse holder for an indicating fuse has a generally U-shaped body with a pair of spaced flexible electrically conductive side walls extending from a base and forming a cavity therebetween for receiving a fuse. An electrically conductive finger projects from each of the side walls into the cavity at an acute angle. Upon insertion of a fuse, between the free ends of the side walls opposite the base and into the cavity, the fingers are pivoted towards the respective side walls, and the side walls are deformed with the free ends thereof being rotated towards the fuse, such that electrical contact is made with the fuse at four different locations, by the two fingers and the ends of the two side walls.

Abstract: A terminal adapter for a cartridge fuse accommodating the installation of the fuse in fuse holders of a different size and type while at time insuring the installation of the proper class of fuse in a particular application.

Abstract: An elongated fuse housing includes a fusible wire longitudinally extended and coaxially mounted within a housing having end terminals. A spring indicator unit is secured to one end and includes a relatively large diameter loosely wound section forming a helical compression spring in combination with an integral, coaxial and tightly wound elongated indicator coil which extends axially of the spring. The spring/indicator unit is located within the housing with the coil spring held compressed by the fusible wire. The one end terminal includes an opening aligned with the wire-wound indicator coil. Disruption of the fusible wire releases the coil spring which expands within the housing to rapidly separate the fuse wire and simultaneously move the elongated wire-wound indicator coil through the opening, thereby indicating operation of the fuse.

Abstract: An indicating fuse is provided with an indicator at the free end of a movable spring contact, the indicator being located at an angle with respect to the plane of the spring contact. Provision is made for lower rated fusing currents utilizing the same basic fuse structure by forming a slot in the flexible spring contact at the point of maximum bending. A rounded shoulder is formed on the fuse carrier body across which the spring contact member is bent to minimize breakage and damage. The flexible spring contact is integrally formed with a U-shaped terminal that mounts it on the fuse carrier body, a second substantially identical generally U-shaped terminal also being secured to the fuse carrier body to provide a fixed contact. Molded ribs are formed in the insulating material of the fuse carrier body adjacent the open ends of the U-shaped terminal members to prevent the terminals from pinching together to form an undesired tapered configuration.

Abstract: A panel mounted fuseholder has a cylindrical base and a head which fits into and locks unto the base by a shock proof, bayonet connection. The base has a rear terminal and a cylindrical side terminal for connection of the fuseholder in series with the circuit to be protected. The head has an insulative endcap and a conductive bayonet insert. A pair of "U" shaped fingers extend from one edge of the cylindrical side terminal to form the base side of the bayonet connection. The head side is formed by a pair "J" shaped arms which extend from one end of the bayonet insert. Protrusions extend from the interior surface of the bight of the "U" shaped fingers. The protrusions are dimensioned to make continuous contact with the outside surface of the "J" shaped arms when the arms are inserted within the fingers to thereby prevent loss of power to the protected circuit.

Abstract: A fuse clip comprises a U-shaped retaining member and a U-shaped clamp member. The retaining member has a base and spaced convex walls for supporting one end of a ferrule-type fuse, parallel slots being provided in the base. The clamp member has an end wall and spaced side walls with mounting tabs at the ends of the side walls which pass through the slots in the base of the retaining member. The clip is attached to a mounting member by inserting the tabs through slots in the mounting member and folding the tabs. A clamp screw in the end wall of the clamp member secures a wire conductor in place in direct contact with the retaining member. A spring helper clip may be utilized to bias the convex walls of the retaining member into secure engagement with the fuse.

Abstract: An in-line fuse holder capable of handling currents as high as 30 amps, adapted to accept miniature, relatively flat, plug-in fuses which have a pair of flat terminals and a fuse link visibly retained within a relatively flat plastic case. The in-line fuse holder has a relatively rigid casing in which a pair of generally U shaped contact clip assemblies are mounted for receiving the flat terminals of the plug-in fuse. The contact clips are of two piece construction with an inner clip of highly conductive material and an outer clip of highly resilient material. The outer clip fits over the inner clip to force the inner clip into low resistance contact with the fuse terminals.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device responsive to externally generated heat and method of manufacture of such device. The device includes a pair of spaced, coaxially aligned leads each entering a thermally conductive housing from an opposite end. The inserted ends of the coaxially aligned leads are bridged by a conductive member comprising the tail of a conical spring which surrounds one of the leads and is secured at a corresponding end of the housing. The circuit-completing spring tail is secured by fusible material to the inserted ends of each of the spaced-apart leads. In a normal, closed circuit condition, the spring is under tension. Upon heating, the fusible material softens, allowing the spring tail to break away from the inserted ends of the spaced-apart leads, the retracting force of the conical spring, pulling the spring tail from the other one of the leads to open the circuit.

Abstract: A miniature plug-in fuse assembly is provided in which a pair of conductive legs and a fuse link interconnecting them are integrally formed from fusible metal. An insulating casing wholly encloses the fuse link and a portion of the conductive legs, the casing having a hollow body with a cover which does not extend beyond the body in its longer dimension. The cover is secured to the body by a retaining arrangement employing the ends of the conductive legs, which also provides for the insertion of a test current to test the fuse link. Other ends of the legs extend through the body to provide plug-in members. The legs are fastened to the body by protruding lugs on the plug-in members and projecting stops on the portion of the legs in the casing. A method for making the fuse assembly of this invention involves a series of die stamping steps to form the legs and fuse link from a continuous strip of fusible metal and mounting the legs and fuse link in the casing.

Abstract: The dual element fuse of the present invention has at least one fusible element and at least one mass of heat softenable material; and that fusible element will respond to a short circuit to fuse and thereby assure opening of the circuit, whereas that mass of heat softenable material will respond to a long-continued relatively-low potentially-hurtful overcurrent to soften and thereby initiate opening of the circuit. That dual element fuse has a shunt element which shunts the mass of heat softenable material and which will fuse after that mass of heat softenable material has initiated opening of the circuit; and hence that shunt element will minimize arcing as that mass of heat softenable material initiates opening of the circuit.

Abstract: A fuse clip, for a ferrule-like terminal of an electric fuse, has a base from which two arms extend upwardly to grip that ferrule-like terminal. Securing projections extend downwardly from, and extend below the level of, the bottom of that base to enter openings in a circuit board; and hence no part of that base need be overlain by any part of a rivet, bolt or other fastener. The upper ends of those arms are located below the level of the top of the ferrule-like terminal. The upper surface of the base has a line contact with the lowermost portion of the ferrule-like terminal, and each of the two arms also has a line contact with that ferrule-like terminal which is displaced at least one hundred degrees from that lowermost portion of that ferrule-like terminal.

Abstract: The dual element fuse of the present invention has at least one fusible element and at least one mass of heat softenable material; and that fusible element will respond to a short circuit to fuse and thereby assure opening of the circuit, whereas that mass of heat softenable material will respond to a long-continued relatively-low potentially-hurtful overcurrent to soften and thereby initiate opening of the circuit. That dual element fuse has a shunt element which shunts the mass of heat softenable material and which will fuse after that mass of heat softenable material has initiated opening of the circuit. That shunt element has a current rating which is larger than the current rating of the mass of heat softenable material; and that shunt element has a current-interrupting characteristic which has the same shape as that of the current-interrupting characteristic of the fusible element.