Line Terminal Or Contact Structure Patents (Class 337/180)
  • Patent number: 11651877
    Abstract: A support arrangement for an electrical protection assembly for connection between an electrical power supply line and electrical equipment is provided. The support arrangement comprises a first insulator body and a second insulator body extending at right angles to the first insulator body, wherein the first and second insulator bodies are integrally formed into a unitary body. In an embodiment, the second insulator body extends from a lower end of the first insulator body, so as to define a unitary L-shaped support arrangement. In one version, the support arrangement comprises an L-shaped inner support frame around which the first and second insulator bodies are molded. The L-shaped inner support frame comprises a T-shaped metal connector having a first end from which a first fibre glass support arm extends, around which the first insulator body is molded, and a second end from which a second fibre glass support arm extends, around which the second insulator body is molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: THE TRUSTEES FOR THE TIME BEING OF THE LIVE LINE INTERNATIONAL TRUST
    Inventors: Kevin Philip Risi, Shaun Lawrence Risi, Philip Edward Lawrence Risi
  • Publication number: 20140232511
    Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed relating to a thermal overload protection apparatus and processes for protecting an electrical component. In one illustrative implementation, a thermal overload protection apparatus includes a switching element for short-circuiting connections of the component or for isolating an electrically conductive connection between at least one of the connections and a current-carrying element of the overload protection apparatus, an actuator for switching the switching element into a corresponding short-circuiting position or isolating position, and a tripping element that thermosensitively trips the actuator apparatus. and is formed as a separating element. According to further implementations, various other arrangements and methods for producing devices are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: PHOENIX CONTACT GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Durth, Thomas Meyer
  • Patent number: 8633795
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal fuse in a circuit structure, particularly a punched grid, having a plurality of circuit areas, having the circuit structure with connections sites (9) and having a fusible element (3), which is electrically and mechanically connected to the connection sites (9) of the circuit structure, a material of the fusible element (3) having a melting point, in order to melt at an ambient temperature greater than the melting point, such that material of the fusible element (3) collects at the connection sites (9) and the electrical connection formed by the fusible element (3) breaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Knab, Georg Schulze-Icking-Konert, Thomas Mohr, Stefan Kotthaus, Nikolas Haberl, Stefan Stampfer, Michael Mueller
  • Patent number: 8629749
    Abstract: The fuse assembly contains a first casing member with a first chamber, and a second casing member with a second chamber. An enclosed space is thereby formed by joining the first and second casing members together. A disconnection member is sandwiched between the first and second casing members. The disconnection member contains two electrodes and a fuse element between the two electrodes. Each electrode contains a first lateral section, a vertical section, and a second lateral section, jointly and integrally forming a C-like shape. The electrodes are positioned at two opposing ends of the second casing member and the fuse element is housed in the enclosed space. The enclosed space allows the fuse element to break off completely, thereby avoiding electrical arc and achieving enhanced usage safety.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Inventor: Hung-Chih Chiu
  • Publication number: 20140009255
    Abstract: Disclosed is a fuse appliance, which comprises a fuse carrier for carrying a fuse and a fuse appliance base. The fuse carrier is arranged, in a manually operable way, in a hollow cavity of the fuse appliance base that is formed by buckling and assembling a shell bottom and a shell cover, so as to remove or insert the fuse. Arranged on the two sides of the fuse appliance base are fixed contacts which come into contact with moving contacts arranged on the fuse carrier, and wiring terminals for electrically connecting the two contacts of the fuse appliance with a main circuit respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 12, 2012
    Publication date: January 9, 2014
    Inventor: Kejun Lu
  • Patent number: 8026786
    Abstract: A fuse module includes a wiring lug. The wiring lug includes a fuse clip member comprising a first pressure plate and a fuse clip, a lug box comprising a second pressure plate, and a securing member operably coupled to the lug box. The securing member operates between a first position and a second position to move the second pressure plate of the lug box with respect to the first pressure plate of the fuse clip member. The first pressure plate and the second pressure plate have a clamping relationship when the securing member is in the first position and have a non-clamping relationship when the securing member is in the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2011
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Matthew R. Darr, Jiehua Su
  • Patent number: 7786841
    Abstract: A fuse cutout assembly having enhanced safety features to aid in both removal and replacement of fuse tubes. The inventive assembly can be produced by making modifications to standard fuse cutout assemblies. The modifications include lengthening the trunnions of the lower contact assembly and adding reflectors as a further visual aid for positioning the lower contact portion of the fuse tube within the trunnion sockets. Additionally, a molded plastic guide placed proximate the lower contact area of the fuseholder of the cutout promotes “self guiding” of the fuseholder during replacement. Also, the pull ring is modified by the addition of protruding arcuate sections extending from a standard pull ring, the sections allowing the technician to engage the pull down ring without aiming the hook stick through the ring. Additional reflectors are strategically placed to facilitate replacement of the fuseholder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Inventor: John Kesting
  • Patent number: 7786412
    Abstract: A current-limiting device is provided with pressure relief facilities that are responsive to relieve internal pressures during operation of the current limiter. In a specific arrangement, the pressure relief arrangement includes a passage that is opened upon operation of the current limiter to communicate between the interior and the exterior of the current limiter. The passage includes a fusible material therein that is melted by the heating within current limiter under predetermined high-current fault conditions. In a specific arrangement, the passage is formed through a contact terminal of the current limiter. In one arrangement, the current-limiting device includes an adjoining exhaust section and the contact terminal extends into the adjoining exhaust section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventor: Glenn R. Borchardt
  • Patent number: 7683751
    Abstract: A fuse mounting assembly includes an epoxy-bonded glass-fiber core that is surrounded by a resilient sleeve having a number of radially extending members. Attached to an end of the core is a first mounting bracket and attached to another end of the core is another mounting bracket. Each of the mounting brackets is connected to a fuse which is structured to protect a power circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Robert Neville Parry, Collin Christopher Otis
  • Patent number: 7633370
    Abstract: A fuse mounting assembly includes an epoxy-bonded glass-fiber core that is surrounded by a resilient sleeve having a number of radially extending members. Attached to an end of the core is a first mounting bracket and attached to another end of the core is another mounting bracket. Each of the mounting brackets is connected to a fuse which is structured to protect a power circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Robert Neville Parry, Collin Christopher Otis
  • Publication number: 20090167479
    Abstract: A fuse cutout assembly having enhanced safety features to aid in both removal and replacement of fuse tubes. The inventive assembly can be produced by making modifications to standard fuse cutout assemblies. The modifications include lengthening the trunnions of the lower contact assembly and adding reflectors as a further visual aid for positioning the lower contact portion of the fuse tube within the trunnion sockets. Additionally, a molded plastic guide placed proximate the lower contact area of the fuseholder of the cutout promotes “self guiding” of the fuseholder during replacement. Also, the pull ring is modified by the addition of protruding arcuate sections extending from a standard pull ring, the sections allowing the technician to engage the pull down ring without aiming the hook stick through the ring. Additional reflectors are strategically placed to facilitate replacement of the fuseholder.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventor: John Kesting
  • Patent number: 6867679
    Abstract: A mounting for a circuit interrupter is provided that facilitates the easy removal and insertion of the circuit interrupter. The mounting includes upper and lower terminal and support arrangements that cooperate with upper and lower device mounting studs of a circuit interrupter. The device mounting studs also function as electrical circuit connection points to connect the circuit interrupter in an electrical circuit via respective upper and lower contact assemblies of the mounting. The upper and lower contact assemblies include resilient retention facilities for providing suitable electrical contact forces when engaged with the device mounting studs. The upper and lower terminal and support arrangements retain the circuit interrupter within the mounting and are selectively operable to release the circuit interrupter for removal from the mounting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: S & C Electric Co.
    Inventor: Jorge R. Montante
  • Patent number: 6653925
    Abstract: There is provided a method for insulating leads of a thermal fuse with an insulating tube that can reduce the quantity of the adhesive and prevent the defect of appearance and the lowering of the value of the product, by applying an adhesive on the circumference of the leads, and putting the insulating tube on the lead from the outer end of the lead while rotating the insulating tube, so that the adhesive is present inside the insulating tube. There is also provided a low-cost, downsized thermal fuse with excellent heat resistance, by using the alloy that has a melting point of 190° C. or above as the fusible alloy, and a copper wire plated with an Sn—Cu alloy for the lead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Anzen Dengu Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yoshio Asami, Shinichi Kato
  • Patent number: 6577222
    Abstract: A fuse is disclosed having terminal leads electrically connected by a fusible link, and insulated within a housing. The housing is preferably made from a material which burns cleanly and has improved ablative qualities to prevent accelerated arcing within the plasma generated by the housing during high energy periods. The desired material should have an arc resistance of about 60 to about 120 seconds, a CTI of about 250 to about 400 volts, an arc ignition resistance of greater than 120 arcs, an arc tracking rate of about 25 to about 80 millimeters per minute, and a hot wire ignition value of greater than 120 seconds. Such material being capable of increasing the voltage rating of a standard 32 volt fuse almost ten-fold to about 300 volts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2003
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: David J. Krueger, Seibang Oh
  • Patent number: 6486766
    Abstract: A shield for an electrical fuse, including an inner enclosure for housing the electrical fuse and a pair of outwardly flaring end portions extending from the opposite ends of the enclosure. The shield includes walls separating the inner enclosure from each of the outwardly flaring end portions, and a slot in the walls for the extension through that slot of at least a terminal portion of the electrical fuse. The shield may be made of a pair of identical housing pieces with mating tongue and groove elements disposed substantially along the peripheries of those pieces. Preferably, the tongue element of the housing pieces is disposed on the opposite side as the groove element of the housing piece. Each of the outwardly flaring ends, or alternatively the walls, may cooperatively form a seal to aid in preventing entry of moisture or dirt into the shield. A sealing portion that aids in forming the seal may comprise a resilient, compressible grommet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Littlefuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Carl S. Reid, Seibang Oh
  • Patent number: 6054915
    Abstract: A fuseblock is compact, and electrically conductive components of the fuseblock do not extend beyond a length of a fuse in the fuseblock. The fuseblock can be assembled easily and quickly without tools, and can be easily configured in different ways using the same components. The fuseblock can be snapped onto a mounting rail using mounting projections that are integral with the fuseblock. The fuseblock can include wire end connectors that each have two or more openings for receiving wire ends. The fuseblock also effectively conceals live electrical contacts from accidental touch when the fuseblock is closed and operational, and also when the fuseblock is opened to replace or inspect the fuse, thereby preventing a person servicing the fuseblock from accidentally receiving an electrical shock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2000
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Daniel Eugene Rowton, David R. Marach, Sean V. Ciesielka
  • Patent number: 5963121
    Abstract: The present invention relates to compositions for use in forming resettable electronic circuit protection devices or fuses, methods of forming resettable fuses using the compositions, and resettable fuses formed from the compositions. Resettable fuse compositions according to the present invention include a mixture of the reaction product of polyethylene glycol and a diepoxide having a molecular weight of at least 18,000, solvent, conductive particles, and optional solvent volatility adjusters. In a preferred embodiment, resettable fuses according to the present invention are formed by screen printing the compositions directly onto printed electric circuits to form fuses. During current overload conditions, the temperature of the resettable fuse material rapidly increases due to resistive heating generated by excessive current flow through the conductive particle chains or pathways.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Ferro Corporation
    Inventors: Vernon E. Stygar, Jesus E. Osuna, Brian T. Pointer, John J. Ekis
  • Patent number: 5929740
    Abstract: A female fuse includes two female terminal portions and a fuse link with a skived region. The fuse link can have first and second ends with first and second pellet regions, each pellet region having a pellet hole therein, the first and second pellet regions being substantially symmetrically spaced on opposing sides of a central axis of the female fuse. Such a fuse link also includes first and second art-forming strips substantially symmetrically connecting the first and second pellet regions to one another, an interior portion of the arc-forming strips being substantially formed from a die section which is independent of the die section which forms the exterior shape of the female fuse. The female fuse terminals each have female-forming terminal plates and female-forming side plates, the terminal plates each having a spring portions, the spring portions being formable into contacting springs for the male terminals. A female fuse housing is also provided for the female fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Seibang Oh, James J. Beckert, Theodore W. Humphrey, William P. Hendrickson
  • Patent number: 5883561
    Abstract: A secondary short preventing mechanism of a fuse is constituted by a pair of female terminal members in which male terminal receiving portions are formed at their longitudinally one ends respectively so that the male terminal receiving portions are to be engaged with and electrically connected to male terminal portions, and a fuse fusing portion is formed between their longitudinally other ends connected to each other; and a housing for housing the female terminal portions, and having a vertically extending insulation partition for horizontally separating the female terminal portions from each other. Each of the male terminal receiving portions has raised pressing contact portions which face each other at different levels, that is, at upper and lower positions in its longitudinal direction, the upper pressing contact portion being projected toward the insulation partition and having elasticity, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1999
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Goro Nakamura, Kenji Muramatsu, Naoki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 5854583
    Abstract: Automotive-type fuse for large currents, in which a generally rectangular metal strip of tin-plated zinc, with a central portion shaped to form a conductor of smaller conducting cross section, is provided, at each of its opposite ends, with a circular hole for the screw of an electrical terminal clamp, this hole being surrounded by an annular insert caulked into the strip, made of metal, such as copper with tellurium or with beryllium, with a modulus of elasticity and yield-point stress higher than that of zinc, to ensure the stability of the screw clamp, even under vibration, with a clamping pressure greater than the yield-point stress of zinc, by means of the elastic reaction exerted by the ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignee: Meccanotecnica Codognese S.p.A.
    Inventor: Antonio Falchetti
  • Patent number: 5623597
    Abstract: A secure data storage system for a computer has a data storage system with a data interface to the computer mounted on a heat sink structure within a fireproof enclosure. A heat transfer system connected to the heat sink structure and to a wall of the fireproof enclosure transfers heat from the heat sink structure to outside the fireproof enclosure. A thermostat controller mounted outside the fireproof enclosure, upon detecting a temperature indicating of a fire, causes the heat transfer system to cease transferring heat from inside the fireproof enclosure to outside the fireproof enclosure and blocks passage of heat from outside the fireproof enclosure to inside the fireproof enclosure via the heat transfer system. Both passive and active heat transfer systems are disclosed. In another aspect of the invention, security for entered passwords is provided by diverting password keystrokes from a keyboard to a special controller, bypassing the keyboard controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 22, 1997
    Assignee: Elonex IP Holdings Ltd.
    Inventor: Dan Kikinis
  • Patent number: 5300912
    Abstract: An electrical cutout with a modular product design is provided with a constructional configuration for the insulator wherein the insulator is light in weight, has sufficient mechanical strength, can be readily injection molded, and wherein the creep distance is statistically maximized. The electrical cutout has an insulator, an upper and lower line terminal assembly, and a fuse assembly. The insulator has an elongated central stem portion defining a longitudinal direction, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart skirts mounted to the stem portion and so as to lie in respective transverse planes which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The elongated central stem portion of the insulator has a non-solid cross-sectional configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1994
    Assignee: Utility Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy G. Tillery, Eugene H. Wood, Ronny D. Jergenson, Charles E. Rand, Michael G. Nolte, Kevin F. Bulson
  • Patent number: 4947148
    Abstract: A horizontally mounted electrical cut-out device is provided. The device includes an insulator electrically isolating a pair of terminals and a fuse assembly comprising a fuse carrier housing a fuse element removably connected between the terminals. The fuse assembly is pivotally connected at one end to one of the terminals to allow the other end of the fuse assembly to engage the other terminal when the fuse assembly is pivoted. The pivotal connection is such so as to permit the fuse assembly to drop automatically to an open position following an interruption resulting from an overload or fault thereby establishing an open circuit condition. This increases safety and provides a visible indication of the open circuit condition. A latch is provided on the other terminal to engage releasably the other end of the fuse assembly to maintain the electrical connection between the two terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Inventor: Francis D. MacDonald
  • Patent number: 4870387
    Abstract: An improved, integrally cast, synthetic resin insulator (22) especially adapted for use in an electrical cutout device (20) is provided which can be readily fabricated and gives greatly enhanced beam strength and arc track resistance characteristics. The preferred insulator (22) is cast using an epoxy resin such as bisphenol A filled with a relatively large quantity of glass beads and hydrated alumina. The filler fraction contributes to lowered viscosity, deaerability and improved settling properties while the resin is in an uncured state, and moreover enhances the arc track resistance and mechanical strength of the resin system after curing. The preferred insulator (22) is cast to present a longitudinal bow giving the insulator (22) an arcuate central axis. Further, the periphery of the insulator (22) is formed with a series of superposed, generally oval-shaped in cross-section, outwardly flaring skirts (30) interconnected by smooth transition regions (32) free of stress-inducing sharp corners.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Assignee: A. B. Chance Company
    Inventor: Robert W. Harmon
  • Patent number: 4480245
    Abstract: An electrical cutout having a support insulator with a line terminal and fuse support assembly at each end, each of which includes a line terminal, a fuse support element and means for their support on the insulator and also includes a contact element more highly conductive than the other elements of the assembly that extends from line terminal to the fuse support element for a continuous highly conductive path therebetween free of mechanical joints.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Charles H. Carothers, John E. Garau, Thomas P. Basa
  • Patent number: 4414527
    Abstract: An improved cutout which accepts a fuse tube of standard length, which is less costly to manufacture and which exhibits improved performance, has an offset, rather than a straight, recoil bar. The offset positions the end of the recoil bar closer to the short leg of a J Spring, and positions a hole in the end of the recoil bar, through which freely passes a pin interconnecting the legs of the J, closer to a convexity in the short leg. Operation of the cutout causes a fuse tube, one end of which is in the concavity, to experience random longitudinal and transverse thrust forces. The offset limits the transverse motion the short J leg and the fuse tube can experience to (a) limit bending forces on the tube and breakage thereof, and (b) prevent the fuse tube from disengaging the concavity before the longitudinal thrust thereof subsides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1981
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1983
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventor: Bruce A. Biller