Fuse Block Patents (Class 361/833)
  • Patent number: 6560123
    Abstract: An assembly for mechanically mounting and providing electrical connections to overcurrent protection devices having first and second male power plugs includes a non-conductive main structural support member having a plurality of plug passageways formed therein and one or more load busbar modules mounted thereon and also including a plug passageway formed therein, to enable the male electrical plugs to mate with sockets disposed in a conductive line busbar member mounted on said support member and with a socket disposed in a load busbar member included in each load busbar module. Each load busbar module includes a non-conductive housing and a releasable cover within which is mounted the load busbar member. A printed circuit board substrate is preferably also mounted to said support member to provide a support surface for auxiliary signal clip connectors disposed on one side of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: Astec International Limited
    Inventors: Christian de Varennes, Imad Ghanem, Rejean Lafontaine, Denis Mayer
  • Patent number: 6545428
    Abstract: A light fixture with a submersible enclosure for an electric lamp (e.g, HID lamp) is disclosed. The fixture includes a ballast for supplying power to a high intensity discharge lamp. A submersible enclosure seals the lamp from water in normal operation. The fixture includes a water-sensitive circuit having a conductance that increases in response to water that leaks into the enclosure for conducting current from the ballast and limiting the ballast voltage. Alternatively, the submersible enclosure may contain a power lead for supplying power to an electrical load such as a lamp ballast, a non-ballasted lamp, or a color wheel. The power lead includes a fuse region that corrosively reacts in the presence of leaked water in the container, so as to sufficiently wither away the fuse region and terminate power to the load. The foregoing alternative versions may advantageously be combined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Fiberstars Incorporated
    Inventors: John M. Davenport, Roger F. Buelow, II, David Y. Lin, Ray A. Buchina, Gregory P. Frankiewicz
  • Patent number: 6504468
    Abstract: A method for highly reliable and durable electrical power distribution and a fusing block assembly for distribution of large electric currents to electricity-consuming devices. The invention is a machined block (10) of conductive material into which threaded connectors (20) for input wires are affixed through the use of slip-joint ferrules (23) which allow the connectors (20) to be tightened securely to block (10) without twisting the wires. Threaded output connectors (30) hold fuses (70) which are joined to output wire connector assemblies (40). The output wire connector assemblies (40) also include slip-joint ferrules (51) which allow the connectors (40) to be tightened securely without twisting the wires.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2003
    Assignee: Monster Cable Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Kendrew Lee, Noel Lee, Rusty Everett
  • Patent number: 6359770
    Abstract: A telecommunications power distribution circuit board carries a fuse holder for a plurality of GMT fuses through which power is supplied to connectors on a terminal block. Power is supplied to the fuses through a distribution circuit on the board by way of bullet connectors that are attached to the circuit board and plug into holes in a power supply bus bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2002
    Assignee: Marconi Communications, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy Kolody, Scott C. Lewis, Richard E. Trifiletti, Duncan E. Estep, Steven T. McWilliams
  • Patent number: 6333846
    Abstract: A power supply shut-off apparatus 10 includes a fuse-accommodating box 14, a power supply-side bus bar 15, a load-side bus bar 16, and a plug 18 for connecting a power supply and a load through a fuse 13. A mounting portion 17 is provided with an insulation wall 11, a terminal 16a of the power supply-side bus bar 16 is located on one surface side of the insulation wall 19, and a terminal 11 of the fuse 13 is located on the other surface side of the insulation wall 19. The plug 18 is formed of a plug housing 49 and a terminal member 50 having a U-shaped cross section, the terminal member 50 is mounted astride the insulation wall 19 for electrically connecting the terminals 11, 12 of the fuse 13 to either one of terminals 15a, 16b of the power supply-side bus bar 15 and the load-side bus bar 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Shigemi Hashizawa, Hidehiko Kuboshima, Masayuki Karamatsu
  • Publication number: 20010002812
    Abstract: An electrically conductive metal plate is stamped out to yield a fuse unit including an input terminal and several output terminals. The fuse unit further includes a predetermined locus where fuse element portions are to be formed later. A surface area of the fuse unit including the predetermined locus is then molded with an insulator material. Thereafter, the fuse element portions are formed at the predetermined locus by, for example, stamping. In this manner, the fuse unit can be manufactured easily at low costs, irrespective of the number and electrical capacity of the fuse element portions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: June 7, 2001
    Applicant: ASAHI KOGAKU KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Tatsuya Sumida, Shunji Taga
  • Patent number: 6233160
    Abstract: A fuse box providing a weatherproof, waterproof long lasting enclosure which prevents moisture and especially air/water borne salt from corroding the within circuit block, fuses, and electrical wires, and which permits the easy addition of accessory circuits without destructive modification of the box. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of pass-through openings are formed between facing edges of a fixed section of a non-corrosive case with a removable cut-out clamping section which secures to compress the electrical wires when installed—with the fuse box than being covered by a removable water/vapor tight lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Inventor: James P. Shockley
  • Patent number: 6157287
    Abstract: A fuse system includes a fuse holder having an outer surface; a pair of fuse clips mounted inside the fuse holder, the pair of fuse clips being recessed from the outer surface of the fuse holder a predetermined distance; an insulative fuse housing; a fuse element mounted within the insulative fuse housing; blade terminals electrically connected to the fuse element and extending from the fuse housing; and an insulative sleeve on each of the blade terminals, the insulative sleeves extending from the fuse housing and covering a portion of each of the respective blade terminals and leaving a remaining portion of the blade terminals exposed; wherein the exposed portions of the blade terminals are less than the predetermined distance so that when the blade terminals make an electrical contact with the fuse clips, the exposed portions of the blade terminals are within the fuse holder and only the insulative sleeves are exposed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Robert Stephen Douglass, Matthew Rain Darr, Daniel Eugene Rowton
  • Patent number: 5903445
    Abstract: A first description of relevant characteristic of electrical elements is applied to a portion of a box containing the elements, preferably when the box is molded. When a second description is needed in lower volume as compared to the first description, a label having the second description is adhered over the first description to provide the desired display as well as to conceal the first description.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 11, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masayoshi Nakamura, Akihiro Oda
  • Patent number: 5898566
    Abstract: An assembly for both distributing electricity and limiting the flow of current has a housing, input conductors, first output conductors, second output conductors, an insulating spacer block, and limiters. Portions of the input conductors and first output conductors overlay each other with the insulating spacer block therebetween. The limiters electrically connect the input conductors to the output conductors with pairs of limiters connected between a single input conductor and separate output conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Burndy Corporation
    Inventors: Rocco J. Noschese, Frederick D. Hooper
  • Patent number: 5880665
    Abstract: A holder (10) for a fuse (18) of the type typically used in automobile and marine applications. The fuse includes a fuse element encased within a generally rectilinear insulative fuse body (20), with a pair of parallel coplanar conductive blades (22, 24) in contact with opposite ends of the fuse element and extending out the fuse body. The holder is a unitary molded insulative plastic piece having a base member (12), a capture plate (14), and a cover member (16). The capture plate and cover member are hingedly secured to the base member on opposite sides thereof, with the capture plate adapted to overlie the base member and the cover member adapted to overlie the capture plate. The base member includes pockets with retention wings (50) for holding wire- terminating receptacles (28) and the capture plate locks the receptacles in place by means of blocks (62) extending into the pockets. The capture plate includes apertures (58, 60) aligned with the receptacles for receiving therethrough the fuse blades.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Neil Yetter, Michael Scott Feher
  • Patent number: 5841337
    Abstract: A safety fuse system includes a safety fuse including a fuse casing having a bottom surface and opposing end surfaces at each end of the bottom surface; a fuse element inside the fuse casing; a pair of electrical contacts connected to the fuse element, the electrical contacts extending through openings in the bottom surface of the fuse casing to an exterior of the fuse casing; the openings being located at a distance from the opposing end surfaces so that the electrical contacts are remote from the opposing ends; a fuse holder including a fuse holder casing having a top surface, the top surface including apertures for receiving the electrical contacts of the safety fuse, the apertures being in alignment with the safety fuse openings when the safety fuse is engaged with the fuse holder; metal contacts within the fuse holder casing for receiving the electrical contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Robert Stephen Douglass
  • Patent number: 5777283
    Abstract: The present invention provides a switch mechanism module and a line base module, useable separately or in combination, for an interior assembly of an electrical distribution device having a plurality of modules. The electrical distribution device has an enclosure with a handle external to the enclosure for operator control. The switch mechanism module and line base module include a modular housing having a generally planar base with upstanding side walls around the circumference of the base. The side walls have a top edge defining a mating surface. The modular housing is demountably secured to at least one adjacent module with a manually operated securement which is integrally formed with the modular housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: David Emerson Greer
  • Patent number: 5771151
    Abstract: A central electrical assembly with an electrical or electronics unit is specified, which can be used in particular for motor vehicles; the central electrical assembly being of modular construction. A contact supporting body forming one module and being used to accommodate contacts or plugs with contacts which produce the connection between electrical cables and the central electrical assembly, a relay and fuse box being another module, having at least one conductor track level and plug-in slots for accommodating electrical devices, the relay and fuse box and the electrical or electronics unit being connectable with a central lifting screw to the contact supporting body in such a manner that the connections are produced between the electrical cables and the central electrical assembly, in particular the conductor track levels and the plug-in slots.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1998
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: Gheorghe Hotea, Martin Listing, Josef Woller
  • Patent number: 5767761
    Abstract: In a fusible link connection box, a pair of through holes through which terminal legs of a large male fusible link are to be respectively passed are opened in the bottom of a rectangular cup-like portion which is disposed in the upper portion of the base body, and a pair of terminal pieces to which a small female fusible link is to be connected are disposed within the through holes. The terminal pieces protrude from the upper ends of bus bars which are fastened together with lead wire terminals to terminal nuts which are attached to the sides of a center wall. The center wall vertically downward elongates from the bottom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Kenji Muramatsu, Toshiharu Kudo
  • Patent number: 5737190
    Abstract: A digital input/output circuit board includes a plurality of module receptacles for selectively mounting input modules or output modules, wiring terminals for attaching field wires to electrically connect the circuit board to field devices, a hot wiring terminal for attaching a hot power wire, a neutral wiring terminal for attaching a neutral power wire, and a device for selecting the status of each of the module receptacles as either an input or an output, to enable a computer connected to the circuit board to receive input signals to read the state of the field devices and to send output signals to activate other field devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1998
    Assignee: Frick York International
    Inventors: Arthur James Marshall, John Anthony Ecton, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5670928
    Abstract: A fuse box including an insulative bottom shell having a locating block and fixedly mounted with a metal common receptacle, a cover shell covered on the bottom shell and secured thereto by hooks, a plurality of spring supported jacks mounted in respective through holes in the locating block of the bottom shell, a plurality of cartridge fuses respectively connected between the jacks and respective plug holes in the metal common receptacle, a plurality of first electric wire connectors respectively fastened to respective electric wires and then connected to the jacks by a respective screw joint, and a plurality of second electric wire connectors respectively fastened to respective electric wires and then respectively threaded into a respective screw hole in the metal common receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 23, 1997
    Inventors: Wen-Tzung Cheng, Wen-Huoh Cheng
  • Patent number: 5608372
    Abstract: A fuse locking construction for a fuse box, in which a fuse having a fuse member insert molded in a base made of synthetic resin and a pair of terminal plates projecting out of the base from the fuse member is inserted into a fuse mounting portion so as to be locked to the fuse mounting portion. The fuse locking construction includes a pair of locking projections which are, respectively, provided at opposite ends of an insertion mouth of the fuse box for the fuse mounting portion and retain opposite upper ends of the base at the time of completion of insertion of the fuse into the fuse mounting portion so as to lock the fuse to the fuse mounting portion; and a guide groove for guiding each of the terminal plates of the fuse in a direction for inserting the fuse into the fuse mounting portion or drawing the fuse out of the fuse mounting portion, which is formed on each of the locking projections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 5592360
    Abstract: Bulk and accessibility problems in a motor control unit for installation in a motor control center are eliminated in a unit having a housing (10) in the shape of a rectangular solid and provided with a top wall (14), a bottom wall (16) spaced from the top wall (14), a rear wall (12) and a front (20). A plurality of motor control instrumentalities (24), (26), (36) are located within the housing (10) and are mounted to at least one of the walls (12), (14), (16) in close proximity to the rear wall (12). A side wall (22) is located to one side of the top, bottom and rear walls (12), (14), (16). A pivot (78) mounts the side wall (22) for pivotal movement about an axis generally parallel and in proximity to the rear wall (12). A disconnect switch (104) is carried by the side wall (22) to be disposed in the housing (10) in one position of movement of the side wall (22) relative thereto and a partial front wall (80) is provided for the housing and carried by the side wall (22).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Furnas Electric Company
    Inventors: Jayne G. Beck, Mark E. Bortner, Larry W. Eads, Felix M. Galvan, Jr., Daniel R. Mead, David J. Packard, George C. Pipis, Stephanie C. Robinson, Richard A. Brink
  • Patent number: 5559489
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuse holder as part of an integrated switch base assembly for attachment to a fusible switch having one or more phases between the line and load side of a circuit. The fusible switch has a switch base assembly for opening and closing a switch contact. The switch base assembly has a mounting surface. The fuse holder includes a generally planar base made of electrically-insulating material. The base has a top and bottom face. The top face has a plurality of upstanding walls integrally formed therewith which define a compartment corresponding to each phase. The bottom face has a contoured surface adapted to abut the mounting surface of the switch base assembly. A first and second fuse clip correspond to each phase and are secured on opposite ends of the top face within the compartment. A terminal connects to the load side of the circuit and electrically and mechanically connects to the first fuse clip. The fuse holder includes an elongated connector having two ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Conrad Weiden
  • Patent number: 5519586
    Abstract: A fuse holder assembly (100) has a pair of fuse clips (23) which provide electrical connection between a fuse (22) and a circuit in a printed circuit board (15). The fuse holder assembly (100) securely holds a fuse (22) adjacent to an edge of the printed circuit board and in spaced relation to the printed circuit board (15) for easy access to the fuse and for maximizing the area on the printed circuit board available for circuit components or edge connector contacts. Each fuse clip (23) has a mounting base (25) for mounting to the printed circuit board and for providing electrical connection with the circuit on the printed circuit board, and a retention clip (33) attached to the mounting base. A support (55,58) supports the retention clip and provides access (53,70) to the retention clip for installation and removal of a fuse within the retention clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Modicon, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy J. Byrd
  • Patent number: 5515023
    Abstract: An overcurrent protection module includes a base unit and a removable fuse holder. The base unit is mountable on a panel or a DIN rail so that a containing space for the fuse holder stands perpendicular to a plane of the panel or the DIN rail, and in line with a conventional wiring orientation. The fuse holder includes at least three fuse slots arranged in a single plane, so that in a position inserted in the base unit, the fuse slots are perpendicular to the plane of the panel or DIN rail. Line terminals are singularly located on a first side wall of the base unit and load terminals are singularly located on a second side wall, opposite to the first side wall. The overcurrent protection module according to the invention is simpler to mount and requires less surface mounting space than a conventional fuse block. The overcurrent protection module also provides protection from shock hazard by shielding an operator from contact with live terminals or fuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 7, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries
    Inventors: David R. Marach, Angelina M. Bernardi, Ruel E. Davis, Steven R. Goble
  • Patent number: 5508891
    Abstract: An enclosure for drawout circuit interrupters having instrumentation and control wiring includes a housing having circuit interrupter recesses; wiring tray recesses; wiring trays each of which hold the wiring for one of the circuit interrupters; drawout mechanisms for removing the trays from the tray recesses; and brackets for hanging the trays from the enclosure. The trays may have a molded plastic front panel. The trays may also have internal lances or holes for securing the wiring thereto, two rear holes for routing the wiring therethrough, and a bottom side having holes for mounting rails for securing terminal blocks or fuse blocks thereto. The rear holes may hold peripheral plastic conduits for protecting the wiring. The front panel may have recess pockets for holding a descriptive nameplate, and center punches to facilitate mounting instrumentation or control devices. The drawout mechanisms may have a rectangular guide bar beneath the trays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Neal E. Rowe, Richard M. Larson, William E. Wilkie, II
  • Patent number: 5489885
    Abstract: An automotive fuse inserting and attaching apparatus that has an aligning portion for aligning automotive fuses to be inserted and attached into a fuse box. The aligned automotive fuses are aligned in the same arrangement they assume when inserted and attached within the fuse box. The automotive fuse inserting and attaching apparatus includes a feeding portion for feeding predetermined automotive fuses to the aligning portion. The automotive fuse inserting and attaching apparatus further includes a hand-type inserting and attaching portion that is separable from the feeding portion, for inserting and attaching a group of automotive fuses into the fuse box by conveyably clamping with one hand the group of automotive fuses aligned by the aligning portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1996
    Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takashi Saga
  • Patent number: 5357184
    Abstract: A fuse system for a battery charger provides fuse links for safely charging a plurality of batteries in parallel connection. A fuse system is used with a power supply comprising a positive and a negative terminal. The positive and negative terminals of the power supply are connected respectively to separate positive and negative bus bars of the fuse system. A plurality of connectors separately connect the positive bus bar to the positive terminals on the batteries and separately connect the negative bus bar to the negative terminals on the batteries. Each connector includes a fuse link. The fuse link comprises a plurality of fusible conductors connected in parallel. A transparent cover over the fuse link protects the operator and enables the visual inspection of the condition of the fuse link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 18, 1994
    Assignee: Associated Equipment Corporation
    Inventors: Michael D. McGowan, Wayne R. Humphrey
  • Patent number: 5355274
    Abstract: A fused disconnect device constructed according to the present invention comprises a housing, a line side terminal, a load side terminal, a protection fuse holder assembly removably installed in a cavity of said housing, and a separate alarm fuse removably installed in said housing. The alarm fuse may remain installed in the housing regardless of the presence of the protection fuse holder assembly, so that an alarm will be generated whenever the inventive device has interrupted power to the load. In a first embodiment of the invention, the disconnect device is adapted for front-access mounting in a power distribution panel. In a second embodiment of the invention, the disconnect device is adapted for rear-access mounting in a power distribution panel. A third embodiment is adapted for use in higher-current applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1994
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: David R. Marach, Conrad Alfaro, Lawrence Happ
  • Patent number: 5274528
    Abstract: An assembly for both distributing electricity and limiting the flow of current has a housing, input conductors, first output conductors, second output conductors, an insulating spacer block, and limiters. Portions of the input conductors and first output conductors overlay each other with the insulating spacer block therebetween. The limiters electrically connect the input conductors to the output conductors with pairs of limiters connected between a single input conductor and separate output conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1993
    Assignee: Burndy Corporation
    Inventors: Rocco J. Noschese, Frederick D. Hooper