Abstract: An underarm gang operated vacuum break switch (underarm switch) has an electrically live portion under a mounting arm, which provides advantages over the standard vacuum break switch, which have the electrically live portion above the mounting arm. Because the non-electrified mounting arm is above the electrified portion, the underarm switch is safer for perching birds and other wildlife. The nature of the underarm switch also provides other benefits including a disconnect blade that when opened creates a visual gap to ensure electrical discontinuity along with a safety locking arm tied to deactivating the underarm switch. Adding to the safety measures is a visual indicator that shows an electrician when the switch is live and safe to open the disconnect blade. Other safety measures include a shock absorber assembly and inertia slowing mass protecting electrical contacts within the vacuum break switch from failing.

Abstract: A switchgear unit switches high DC voltages, particularly for interrupting of direct current between a direct current source and an electrical device. The switchgear unit contains two connections which project from a housing and which are electrically conductively coupled by a conductor path, a contact system which is arranged between the first and second connections and an isolating apparatus that can be tripped by a thermal fuse. The thermal fuse contains a melting location which is arranged in the conductor path and which is connected first to the contact system and second via a moving conductor section to the first connection. The isolating apparatus is tripped and the connection between the conductor section and the contact system is broken at the melting location when an arc produced when the contact system is opened has caused the melting temperature of the melting location to be reached or exceeded.

Abstract: A rocker switch unit (1) with fuse comprising a housing (2); a rocker switch (3) lodged pivotally in the housing (2); at least a fuse lodged in the housing (2) and at least two connection elements (9) for connecting the rocker switch unit (1) with an external apparatus, wherein the two connection elements (9) are connected to each other by the fuse, when rocker switch (3) is in an ON-position. According to the invention the housing (2) provides at least one blind hole (4) for accommodating the fuse, wherein one terminal of the fuse serves as a first connection element for connecting the rocker switch unit (1) with the external apparatus. The rocker switch unit 1 can be used in any apparatus, in a network filter or as IEC entry plug.

Abstract: A disconnector for electric power equipment filled with dielectric liquid, especially transformers, applicable in protecting the operation of electric power equipment. The disconnector contains at least two cylindrical current-limiting fuses situated inside a tank, and each fuse is electrically connected with external phase power supply and through fixed contacts and moving contacts of the disconnector with the active part of the piece of electric power equipment. The disconnector is characterized in that the current-limiting fuses are placed in a common housing, in which a slide with a pilot is situated, and to the slide there are inseparably fixed moving contacts, which move together with the slide when the slide makes a to-and-fro motion. The to-and-fro motion takes place as a result of the operation of a tripping device situated in the current-limiting fuses and of the compression or stretching of springs fixed to the pilot and to a fixing disk.

Abstract: A heavy current coupling that includes an electrically conductive elastic fastening and fuse element supported by the housing. The fastening and fuse element is configured to electrically connect first and second contacts, with the first and second contacts being spaced from one another. Wherein the fastening and fuse element burns through when a predetermined maximum current is exceeded, thereby interrupting the electrical connection between the first and second contacts.

Abstract: An overheating protection system for a control unit includes an interrupter element, which, in its initial position defined with respect to a circuit board, electrically connects the opposite facing ends of at least one track on the circuit board, and an actuating element which is activated with the overheating of the transistor, and which on actuation against the interrupter element takes effect and releases it at least so far from the tract that the electrical connection is interrupted. A preassembled actuating unit for the interrupter element of the overheating protection is comprises an accommodation housing, in which an actuating element is accommodated and which can be brought into interaction with the interrupter element and which is held releasably by a one-piece latching element formed on the accommodation housing under pretension. An electrical heating device with a control unit protected against overheating is also provided.

Abstract: Self-shadowed microelectromechanical structures such as self-shadowed bond pads, fuses and compliant members and a method of fabricating self-shadowing microelectromechanical structures that anticipate and accommodate blanket metalization process steps are disclosed. In one embodiment, a self-shadowed bond pad (10) configured for shadowing an exposed end (44A) of a shielded interconnect line (44) connected to the bond pad (10) from undesired metalization during a metalization fabrication process step includes electrically connected overlaying first, second and third bond pad areas (42, 72, 92) patterned from respective first, second and third layers (40, 70, 90) of material deposited on a substrate (20). The exposed end (44A) of the interconnect line (44) abuts an edge of the first bond pad area (42).

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.

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.

Abstract: An overvoltage protective module comprising a base body made of plastic with embedded contact strips, overvoltage suppressers arranged on the top of the base body and provided with fuse elements, and contact springs which hold the overvoltage suppressers and the fuse elements on the base body and are used to make contact with the contact strips when a fuse element softens in response to an overvoltage. In order to simplify the structure of such an overvoltage protective module, the contact springs (5) are formed on a spring comb (7) which can be clamped onto the top (6) of the base body (1) and whose web (8) which holds the contact springs (5) has at least one spring contact (9) for making contact with a ground conductor (10).

Abstract: A transient voltage surge suppressor comprises a first series circuit formed of a normally-off voltage surge-responsive gas discharge tube and a first voltage clamping device connected across input terminals to which a line voltage is applied. It also includes a second series circuit formed of a first electrical energy absorbing impedance element and a second voltage clamping device connected across the first voltage clamping element, thereby forming a voltage-clamping, voltage divider circuit which clamps the voltage across the first voltage clamping element at a voltage level reduced in comparison with that obtained by the first series circuit alone. When the gas discharge tube turns on, it places both voltage clamping devices in the circuit simultaneously, so that the let-through voltage appearing across output terminals can be reduced to the voltage clamped by the voltage-clamping, voltage divider circuit.

Abstract: Electrical resistance heating element including a number of metal strips arranged in a meander-like pattern. In the resistance metal strips, which are made from a non-expensive base sheet material like lead, there is incorporated at least one fuse which will operate if the heat transfer from a randomly placed area of critical size (a critical area) is substantially blocked. The fuse or fuses are preferably constituted by a lead/tin alloy rolled into intimate contact with the lead base material.

Abstract: A current-responsive, resettable, violence-free low fault range vacuum-type switch interrupter is disclosed which is especially designed for series connection with a high fault range current limiting fuse (CLF) to achieve an improved, full range circuit protecting device adapted for use in padmounted, oil filled switch gear apparatus or the like. The resettable switch includes a spring-loaded, over center toggle motive assembly along with a current-responsive, temperature sensitive, bimetallic U-shaped latching element; in the event of a fault, the element deforms and releases the motive assembly to quickly open the vacuum contacts without the violence or oil contamination associated with fuse links. Manual opening of the contacts, and resetting thereof after either manual or fault-induced contact opening, is achieved through appropriate manipulation of an external, trip-free operating handle.

Abstract: A combination fuse has a current limiting section and a low current expulsion section with the expulsion section within the high current section. This arrangement makes it possible to increase the length of the expulsion tube as compared to the prior art and provide greater arc cooling without increasing the overall length of the fuse. In addition the fuse arrangement places one fuse terminal between the ends of the fuse rather than at one end as in the prior art, thereby reducing the strain on the mounting means and the tendency to vibrate. The expulsion section includes an expulsion tube with a standard fuse link inside. The expulsion tube is mounted within the casing of the current limiting section to an end closure at one end of the casing. The expulsion tube projects through an end closure at the other end of the casing. A connector terminal is mounted to the casing adjacent the end from which the expulsion tube projects.

Abstract: A combination dropout assembly adapted for use with protective cutouts in an electrical distribution system comprises a current limiting fuse electrically connected in series with an explusion-type fuse, and mechanically coupled in skewed relation to the latter, whereby the assembly provides reliable full range fault current protection yet is sufficiently compact in length to matingly span the gate between conductive terminals of conventional 15 KV class opengate cutouts found in many existing electrical distributioon systems. Overload and low to medium fault current protection is provided by the expulsion fuse, while high range fault currents are cleared by operation of the current limiting fuse.

Abstract: Pad-mounted double-fused switchgear especially adapted for use in underground distribution systems is provided which includes an oil tank having manually operable vacuum switch apparatus therein in conjunction with closely adjacent, series-connected, combination current limiting fuse-expulsion link protective fuse structure for maintaining the required momentary electrical rating of the overall switch apparatus notwithstanding of a relatively low-rated switch element, and for providing thermal protection for the switchgear. Double-fusing within the oil tank also serves to reduce electrical duty on upstream and downstream equipment, increases the interruption rating of the switchgear, and enhances overall system coordination.