US1406434A - Fuse - Google Patents

Description

H. H. BAKER.

FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED NGV. I5, I9IB.

1,406,434.. y Patented Feb.14,1922.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD H. BAKER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES FUSE CORPORATION, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK, A CORFORATION OF NEW YORK,

FUSE.

To all whom t may concer/n.'

Be it knownthat I, HOWARD H. BAKER. a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York7 havevinvented new and useful Improvements in Fuses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a refillable fuse and has for its object the production of such a fuse which can be manufactured at coniparatively low cost, whichcan be readily dismembered and assembled for the purpose of replacing a blown kout fuse-link, which permits of quickly coupling the lfuse-link with the terminals so as to guard against any looseness of parts which mightk produce an imperfect contact or arcing, which is so de signed as to `practically prevent shocking, a person who is handling the fuse, and .which is improved in other respects so as to render the fuse as a whole more durable and not liable to get out of'order.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure .l is a longitudinal section showing one embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2' is a side elevation of the same with` the cover removed land the catches for holding the cover in section. Figures 3 and 4l lare cross sections taken on the correspondingly-numbered lines in Fig. 2. Figure 5 is a group of perspective views of the several parts of the fuse in a' dismembered con-v dition. j Figure 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of the fuse showing a modified form of the coupling clip for detachably connecting the fuse-link with vone of the terminals. Figure 7 is a perspective viewy of the form of couplingV clip shown in Fig. 6.-

Similar vcharacters of Yreference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views.

yIn its generalorganization, this Vfuse coinprises a hollow enclosing box or casing, two terminals' mounted on opposite ends of this box so that the outer ends of the same project beyond opposite ends of the box for conneetionwith the terminals of the fuse block while their inner ends are arranged within the boxyand means fordet-achably connecting, afuse link within the box to the inner endsof the terminal.

.Although these terminals maybe variously constructed, the same fare preferably made in the form of flat bars l which are constructed of` 'any suitable conducting maspeifieation of Letters Patenti V'nal wall 7, a comparatively wide flange 9 Patented Feb. 14, 1922. Serial No. 262,720.

terial, such as copper7 whicli'is of uniform thickness throughout its length. The box or enclosing casing is constructed of elec trick insulating material suoli as bakelite, and

`comprises a body 2 and a cover 3. The body 1s composed of an Outer longitudinal wall i. an inwardly-projecting.flange 5 arranged at one of the longitudinal edges of this wall, and two transverse flanges 6. 6, projecting inwardly from opposite ends of said wall, these several members of the body being preferably constructed integrally in any suitable manner from insulating material. The cover is composed of an outer longitudiprojecting inwardly from one of the longitudinal edges ofth'is'wall, a comparatively narrow flange 8 projecting inwardly from the other longitudinal edgeY of this wall, and two transverse flanges 10. l0, projecting inwardly from opposite ends of this wall, the several members of this cover being also preferably formed integrally of suitable insulating material in any suitable manner. ln the assembled position of thebody and cover of the box the inner edge of the narrow longitudinal flange of the cover engages with the inner edge of the longitudinal flange on the body.- the wide longitudinal flange of the cover engages with the unflanged longitudinal edge of the body and the corresponding transverse flanges of the cover and body engage with each other. thereby forming the hollow box or enclosing casing. It will be noted that by thus con` structing the sections of the box or casing in this manner, the same are of non-symmetrical form in cross section and the joints between opposite longitudinal sides thereof are out of line with each other transversely of the box.l so lthat it is impossible to assemble the body and cover in any other way excepting the correct way and thereby facilitating. this assemblage and enabling the cover to be quickly and definitely engaged at its opposite ends with the catches or retaining devices which are arranged on opposite ends of the body and are of different constructions as will be hereinafter fully described.

In order to center or align the cover and body relatively to each other when assembling them, and cause their outer surfaces to be held flush with each other, centering or aligning means are employed which in the preferred construction shown in the draw- Y ings, consist in-'providing tlieinner edge of Ythe wide flange andthe adjacent parts the transverse flanges of the cover with an inclined or beveled lface ll ivh'icli engages with a correspondingly inclined face orseat 12 on the inner side -of the unflanged edge ofthe body-Wall and the adjacent parts of the transverse flanges thereof, and the inner edge ofy the narrow longitudinal flange of the cover and theadjacent parts of itstrans- Y verseflanges is provided with an inclined or beveled face 13 which engages with accrrespondinglyinclined4 or lbeveled face le' on I Yends of the body andcover flush Vor in alignment is accomplished by providing the longitudinal flange of the body adjacent to the inner side of the Vcentral part of its beveled 'face with a notch or recess i5 and arranging a tongue or projection 16 on the narrow lone gitudinal flange of the cover adjacentto'tlie Vee inner side of `the'central part 0f the beveled face'thereonand engaging thelsame -withv said recess, thereby causing thecover and,

body when assembled to'be securely and reliably lield'against displacement relatively to each other both lengthwise and crossvvise and insuring the proper operationcf the parts which are mounted: on the body and co-operate With'the cover. l The corresponding pair of transverse flanges at thesame'ends of Vthe bcdyIa-nd Vcover of the box in effect Vforni a lieadfon thisendV of the enclosure and the opposing siiilaccsof these flanges on the body and cover are provided with notches or recesses l?, 1.8, which in the assembled pcsitionct Jthe coi-.fer and body 'together foren an opeiiing ci' Vslot in ivhich the central part of one of the terminals is arranged so thattlic inner end` of this terminal is, arrangedfivithl, inthe bciaiid ,the outer v`llend externally thereof. These terminalsinay be secured tothe body ofthe box iirany suitable man- -iiei-,but as sho'i'vn" `-Figs. 2,3 and 4;, cachot these terminals is preferably 'secured to `one of fthe. .transverse flanges" of uthe body bv vmeans of screivs` 2() "passing through' cned ings Ain thel central .part of term/mailand terminal While the threaded; sha-nhs Vofthe vscrews yengage .with threaded sockets `or sleeves 19 which are mounted in the! respective transverse flange of theY body and 'the 'adjacent part of the side `WallY thereof. Y

y 'Tliesethrea-ded sockets yare preferablv construct'ed:of metaland embedded inV thebodv casting' VJthe latter v laround thesesoclrets `during the manufacture Q the `shcvvn in Fig; thereby interlocking the Vsockets circumferentially with the body.

ofthe body.v or" theV same. In order to prevent these sockets Vfrom turning circumferentially, the peripheralV surfaces of the Vsaine are made of Y irregular. form, 'for instance, hexagonal, as

of these Vsockets is alsoV provided: with, a recess'2l in its: periphery which preferably has the form of an annular-groove into -ivnicli the adjacent part ofthe molded body enters in'theforrn or" 'a"l-re y,`.thereby positiif'ely anchoring or" interlocliingV the socket with the body and preventing the saine from being pulled ont ivhen the screw which enters the sanieis tightened for clamping the terminalV againstr the respective Vend Various means may Y tacliably connecting `opposite ends of the cover' With thecorrespondingends of the body, but those ivhich are shown. in the drawings have beenrfound satisfactory in practice and are therefore preferred.l fisV there shown. catch isfinoiintedv on each end of the bodyV for detachablyV engaging with `the correspondingend ofV the cover. lla-cli ofthese Ycatcliesfc'oinprises an" transverse plate 2L vhich engages ntheorrter beemployedjlor deendsof. the z body and' cei'fery andweirtends.

across the joint betiveen'the saine and is provided with a slot` 24 which receives the adjacent part of theresp'ective terminal', Va Y locking lip 25. projecting inivaidly'f `from the :front end Vof this plate and engaging `,with an outwardly-facingshoulder formed f on the outer side` of the'adjacent end of the covcri by producing a notch 27 intlie lat- Y ter.' an inner Yplate 29 arranged between the inner Vside of the rear part offsaidi outerV 'l plate and the adjacent transverscflan'ge of tle body, this inner platel being connected .at

jits rcai end with the rear endof/tlie outer pla-te ivliile its-front edge terminates inrear oi the slot 24 in tlielatter, and a longitudinal Vatta ching flange QS-extending longitudinally inward .from the fronte; edge of the linner plate and secured ,between the rear side of vthe central part vof thearljacent terminal and the front-sident the adjacent transverse flange of the bodyl by meansfof the'screws 20 which pass lthrough openingsO intliis 'flange'. Each ofthese catches is preferably.

constmirctedV integrallyof A'sheet metal although the same may be othervvi'seconstruct- Y. Y ed, if desired; One'. ofA the lips 25'` forV in- 'mfesllsi their Madsen-.hone Side of the* stance the one shown at theiipper VendV of Fig.. 1., forms a plain'hoolrlivhile `the otherV which. is shown at the lowerv end ofEig.-jl,

is/providedat its inner lorfree endwith a engaging the same from the coverivhendis- :.fneinb.ering the parts- 'Vllhenr Vvasseinbling `the coverandbody, one end of thecoveris lfirst engaged yvith the plain lip 25 and theirV the opposite end of the cover is pressed against the inclined flange 31 of the other li) 25. whereby the latter will be snrunfrY l c e,

lips 25. whereby the parts of the catches are retained within the surface dimensions of the body and cover, thereby avoiding any projection or obstruction on the exterior of the box or casing which might interfere with the proper manipulation of the fuse` and its application to or kremoval from the fuse block or switch *board with which the same is intended to co-operate.

.Although the fuse link which may be employed in connection with this fusegmay be of different forms, and still accomplish its purpose,l the same is preferably constructed of a strip of fusible metalso aslto form two comparatively wide and'flat end tabs 33, A33, a central section 34 of comparatively large area, `and two comparatively narrowv fila-- ments 35 connecting opposite sidesof the central section with the end tabs, as shown in Fig. 5. By this me'anstwo blow-outfspots or fusing regions are formed on the fuse link by the filaments which renders the fuse more sensitive andV increases the protection for the apparatus' with which this fuse is associated. 'n

Thile a` variety of means `may be employed for connecting the opposite ends vof' the fuse link with the inner ends of the terminals, those which are shown in the drawings are preferred and constructed as follows:

36, 36 represent coupling Vpins projecting laterally from the inner ends of the terminals through openings 37 in the end tabs of the fuse link so that the latterengages on one side with one side of the terminals. Each end of the fuse link is firmly clamped against the respective terminal so as to hold the same reliably in engagement therewith and produce a good electric contact by means of a coupling clip which is of substantially U- shaped form and provided with a front rigid jaw 38 engaging with the front side of the fuse link, Va rear resilient jaw 39 engaging with the rear side of the adjacent terminal, and a transverse web l() connecting the outer ends of these jaws. The front jaw of this Vcoupling clip is preferably made flat so as to produce a contact of large area with the fuse link and the rear jaw is preferably constructed of S-shaped formr so that upon slipping this coupling clip over the fuse link and the respective terminal, a resilient wedging engagement of the rear jaw will be exerted against the terminal which operates to hold the fuse link and terminal reliably in engagement over a wide area of contact and thus insure a good electrical connection between the same. In order to further increasefthe electrical contact between the fuse link and the clip, the end portions or tabs of the link are roughened, as shown at 4l, so that when the front dog or clip engages with the same, minute furrows or grooves .are formed or cut in the link which additionally operate to'insure a perfectly clean contact between the same. Then the coupling clips are applied to the vlink and terminals, the

webs of the clips are arranged so close to the adjacent wideV longitudinal flange of the kcover that the latter forms'a stop and prevents the clips, in the assembled position of the parts, from moving laterally out of engagement with the fuse link and terminals,

so that accidental disconnection of the fuse I link from the terminals is rendered impossible. Longitudinal ydisplacement of the clips relative to the fuse link and terminals may4 be prevented in numerous ways, 'for instance, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 5, this is accomplished by providing the front jaw of each clip with a slot 42 extending inwardly fromits freeend and engaging this slot with the coupling pin 36 on a terminal, f but if desired, this slot in the front aw 43 of theclip may be omitted, as shown in Figs.

6 and 7, in which case longitudinal displacement of the clip relative to the terminal and fuse link may be prevented by en- 3 'gaging thisA clip with the terminal and fuse link between the coupling pin 36 and the adjacent transverse flanges of thc body and cover of. the'box, as shown in Fig. 6.

In orderto render possible easy removal of theV clips from the link and terminals, either by means of the lingers or by means of a tool, a rib or shoulder lll is formed externally on each clip at the corner or junction between the front jaw and the web, as shown in Figs. 1,4, 5, 6 and 7.

When the cover of this box is removed, the internal parts of the fuse are fully exposed to view and amplel room is afforded for 'conveniently and efficiently applying a fuselink to the terminals or replacing the same by a new one when blown out. Furthermore, the enclosure which is thus produced for the fuse link and associated parts, is practicallyy air tight so that the same is unaffected by moisture and is also not liable to injure anything adjacent to the fuse link when it burns out, Moreover, the amount of metal which is exposed on the exterior of the box is reduced to a minimum which is a great ad- 'l5 fend with the corresponding end of the outer plate, andan inwardly projecting. flange fse-v cured to theV body, the outer ends of said body and cover being recessed to receive said vantage inasmuch asrit reduces to a mini- Vmum the liability of injuring an operator by shocks when manipulating the fuse in quarters which are dark or poorly lighted# l claim as my invention:

l. A fuse comprising a box and a cover,'terininals mounted at opposite :ends of the' box, and means or'detacliably connectingV opposite ends of the body and cover, comprising catches each of which has an outer plate mountedV on the body and provided with a lipengaging` with the cover and with a slot Which receives the adjacent terminal. Y l

2. A fuse comprising a boxhaving abody and cover,'terminals mounted at opposite ends ofthe box, Aandmeans for detachably Vconnecting opposite ends of the vbody and v cover, cdmprising cat-clics each' ,of which has an outerplate .provided with anopening receiving the adjacent terminal, a lip` 'at the front end ot said outer plate engaging with Y said cover, an inner platel connected at its rear end with the corresponding end ofthe.

catches. Y I

4:. 'A fusev comprising a box, terminals mounted on the boxand` provided with pins,

aA fuse link having openings Wliicli'receiveV said pins, and meansfor clamping-said link :upon said terminals comprisingJU-shaped coupling clips each ofyvhich forms twowjajvs having al body having a .laterally projecting rib. l

one of which engages with oneiend of said fuse'link andv the other `with onelof said terminals. i, j ,Y A fuse comprising a: box, terminals Vmounted oiiAt-hefbox and provided with pins,V Ya fuse link having openingswhich receive said pins,- andmeans for clamping said link upon said terminals, comprising lUlshaped coupling clips each of which ormstvvo'jaws one of which engages-With oneend of said fuse link and is provided with a slotwhich receives the adjacent pin, and the other engaging With oneY of said terminals.

(5.` A Vfuse comprisingia box, terminals mounted on: the box and 'providedv Witli'pins, l

a fuse link having openings which receive said pins,Y :and means for lclamping said linkv upjon said terminals, comprising U-shaped coupling clips each of Which forms tivo jaiysl 'one of Vwhich engages witlione. end of said fuse link and the,` other with one of said terminals and'fthe oiiiterfpart of said clip .7. iif'l'use comprising a fbox, terminals mounted on the boxvand provided*with pins, a fuse linkjhaving .openings which receive Said pins, and ineansfor clamping said link Y. upon' said terminals comprising U-shaped coupling clips each of. Which Yforms tvvoljaws eine oct Whicliis straight andy engages one end Y of said link and the other being of S-shaped 'crm and engagesby a spring action'withrV one of said terminals. i j

j 8. Ak fuse comprising a, ilcox,y terminals mounted onf the box and'providedV-With pins, a fusev link havingopenings .which receive upon said terminals comprising VU-shaped Ycoupling,clips each of which formstvvoj aws onefof which engages Witlione end of said fuse link and the other ivith one of said terminals and said clips being conlnedwinfengagement with saidV link and terminals by the adjacent surface parts of said box.

said pins, and means for clamping said link

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