US2325555A - Fuse device - Google Patents

Description

July 27, 1943. A, G. STEINMAYER 2,325,555

FUSE DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l Q i i 1 as I Z 3 22 2 g x L yf y/ z '5 X 25 '1 a "i A9 Q g S as INVfiiJZSR. 6} BY WM ATTORNEY.

July 27, 19 3- A. G. STEINMAYER FUSE DEVIC E Filed Aug. 3, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY.

Patented July 27, 1943 UNITED'STATES PATENT OFFICE 16 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in fuse devices.

It is an object of this invention to provide for an electrical transmission line a fuse device comprising electrical conductive means adapted to tensionally support a fuse link therebetween, one of the means being rigid and the other of the means-being resilient and biased away from the one.

Another object is to provide a fuse device having a pair of electrically conductive means, one being rigid and the other resilient and provided with a biasing member, each means including link receiving portions adapted to facilitate ease and speed of fuse link installation and provide positive alignment of parts after link installation operation.

A further object is to provide a fuse link including a current responsive element, a tubular protective member for the element, contact means adjacent one end of the member, and a moisture sealing mechanism mounted adjacent the protective member and adapted to seal the member against moisture and dirt.

A still further object is to provide a fuse device comprising a pair of conductor arms, fuse link holding means associated therewith, and a fuse link including spheroidal contacts, which contacts and holding means are interrelated in such a manner as to prevent damaging stresses to the link during and after link installation operation.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation, partly in section, showing the improved fuse device.

Fig. 2, 3, 4, and are views taken on the lines 2-2, 3-3, 4-4, and 55 respectively of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a view taken on the line 68 of Fig. 3 with a fuse link, fragmentarily shown, mounted therein.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevational view, partly in section, of the fuse link shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, partly in cross section, showing a modification of the fuse link shown in Fig. 7.

Like parts are designated by th same reference numerals throughout the several views.

Fig. 1 illustrates the fuse device comprising an insulator support I provided at the upper end with a terminal 2 secured thereto by means of a bolt 3 extending through the insulator with the thread end of the bolt in threaded engagement with the terminal at 4. The washer 5 adjacent the head end of the bolt and the curved base portion 6 of the terminal 2 are cushioned against the insulator by means of the thin gauge, arcuately curved, resilient metal members I. It may also be noted that the members I act to equalize the pressure exerted on the insulator by the bolt 3 when the bolt is drawn in holding relation with the terminal 2.

A lower terminal 8 is mounted adjacent the lower end of the support I by means of a bolt 9 extending through the aperture ID in th terminal 8 and through the insulator where a nut II is threaded thereon at I2 against the washer I3. The washer I3 and curved base portion Id of the terminal 3 are cushioned by the members It for like reasons heretofore described with reference to terminal 2.

Connectors I6 and i1, commonly used in the trade, are mounted on the terminals 2 and 8 respectively, to which line conductors, not shown, may be attached.

A hanger I8 shown fragmentarily is secured intermediate the ends of the support, by means of the strap I 9 and bolts 20. The hanger is adapted to be connected to a crossarm, not shown, or other suitable supporting means.

A rigid conductor arm 2| is threadedly mounted on the bolt 3 adjacent the terminal 2 and in cludes a casting having a base portion 22, threadedly apertured at 23, from which extends outwardly a pair of spaced parallel arms 24 converging into a hook-like fuse link holding means 25 extending upwardly at an angle relative to the arms 24.

The fuse-link holding means 25 includes a cone-like contact seat 25 and a fuse link passageway 21 extending rearwardly from the fuse link receiving aperture 28.

It may be noted that the conductor arm 2| is held in locked engagement with the terminal 2 by the rib portions 29 extending into slot 30 on the face of the terminal 2.

A lower conductor arm 3i mounted adjacent the lower terminal 8 comprises a pair of conducting members 32 and 33 made of resilient wire and each including a coil spring 34 and 35 respectively and a length of wire 36 and 31 extending outwardly from the springs 34 and 35 respectively into a hook-like fuse-link holding means 38 at 39 and 40 where the ends of the wire lengths 36 and 3! are secured by indents 4i made in any convenient manner as by a punch, not shown. It may be noted that the hook-like fuse-link holding means 38 includes a casting formed in a manner described with reference to the holding means 25 having a cone-like contact seat 42 and a fuse-link passageway 43 extending rearwardly from the fuse-link receiving aperture at.

It may also be noted that the wire members 36 and 37 are prevented from spreading outward- 1y from each other by means of the clamp 65 locked into engagement with the members 36 and 3! at as.

By referring to Figs. 4 and 5 it may be noted that each coil spring 36 and 35 extends rear wardly and upwardly into a supporting portion ll and 68 respectively and are received in the slot 49A on the terminal 8 where they are held therein by means of the bolt 9 against the washer 49.

Fig. 7 illustrates a fuse link adapted for use with the structure hereinbefore described and comprises a fusible section 58 including a fusible wire 5i and a strain wire 52, both secured within the tubular and 53 of the anchor pin 5 by flattening at 55. A flexible conductor 56 is secured to the lower end of the fusible section by any convenient means as solder 5?.

An insulating tubular member 58 is mounted over the fusible section 58 and closed at the upper end with a cup-shaped spheroidal contact 59 mounted in rigid relationship over the upper end of tubular member 58 and the anchor pin 54. A split tool receiving ring 60 is mounted through an aperture (not shown) on the pin adjacent the spheroidal contact 59 and the parts secured together by means of solder E i.

A spring sealing means, indicated generally by the numeral 52, is mounted on the conductor 56 adjacent the lower end of the tubular member 58 and includes a tubular sealing means 63 flanged at 6% and provided with a spring chamber 55 concentric with the conductor 56. A spring as is mounted in the spring chamber 55 and a tubular anchoring element (Bl, including a cup-like portion 68, is mounted on the conductor 55 With the cup-like portion 68 telescopically receiving the spring chamber 55 and compressing the spring 55 against the sealing means 53 which seals the end of the tube against moisture and dirt by engagement of the flanged portion as with the butt end of the member 58. It i may be noted that the anchoring element 6? is secured in locked engagement on the conductor 56 by flattening at 69.

The lower end of the conductor 56 is anchored to a tubular pin 19 in any convenient manner as by solder, not shown. A cup-like spheroidal contact ii is mounted on the pin 18 and a split too1 receiving ring 72 is secured through an aperture, not shown, on the pin it] and the parts secured together by solder 73.

Fig. 8 shows a method of securing the spheroidal contact iii to the insulating tubular mem ber 15 by swaging the contact at 76, thereby forcing the lower portion into the groove i? cut as indicated adjacent the upper end of the member i5. By securing the parts together in this manner the upper end of the member 15 is permanently closed by the contact l4 and thereby provides a more positive expulsion action for the member 75 during short-circuit operation.

The fuse link is mounted on the energized fuse structure by inserting the prong end of an ordinary hot line stick, not shown, in the ring 68 and guiding the lower spheroidal contact ll into the fuse link receiving aperture a l through the passageway 43. It may be noted that the lower conductor arm Si is biased into the position shown by the broken lines in Fig. 1, thereby conveniently locating the fuse-link holding means 38 for engagement with the contact H.

The fuse link is raised substantially vertically upwardly and inwardly toward the arm 2|, against the biasing action of the coil springs 34 and 35 until the tubular portion 58 of the link is located within the fuse-link receiving aperture by quickly removing the hook-end of the hot line stick from the ring 68, thereby allowing the cone contact 59 to be snapped by means of the biased conductor arm 3! into electrical contact with the fuse-link holding means 25.

It may be noted that the relationship between the spheroidal contacts and their corresponding fuse link holding means provides automatic adjustment and alignment between the fuse link and the conductor arms by permitting a universal-like movement of the spheroidal contacts in the holding means, thereby preventing damaging strains and stresses to the parts during and after fusing operation.

The universal-like movement may be observed by referring to Fig. 6 which shows the spheroidal contact 7| seated in the cone-like holdin means 38. It may be noted that the contact TI is pivotally seated in the holding means 38. It is further noted that this same pivotally seated relationship is provided between the contact 59 and the fuse link holding means 25, thereby permitting axial alignment of the fuse link parts relative to each other when mounted in circuit closing position,

When a short circuit occurs in the transmission line including the fuse device, the fusible section is ruptured and the lower conductor arm is biased into open circuit position separating the ends of the ruptured fuse section by withdrawing the conductor 58 from the tube 58. The tube acts as an expulsion cartridge blowing out any are established within the tube and the expanding gases within the tube forces the tube and upper contact from the fuse-link holding means 25. Ihe conductor arms 2| and 3| are now cleared of ruptured fuse-link parts. A new link may be mounted in circuit closing position between the arms 2| and 3| in the manner heretofore described.

From the foregoing description it is apparent that the objects of this invention have been accomplished by providing an improved fuse device comprising conductor arms, one being biased relative to the other and each including fuse link holding means adapted to provide automatic alignment of a fuse link held therebetween and facilitate rapid fuse link installation.

Further objects have been accomplished by providing a fuse link having a spring actuated sealing means.

I claim:

1. In a fuse structure comprising an insulating support and a pair of terminal arms mounted in spaced relation thereon, one of said arms being resilient and. biased away from the other of said arms, contacts on said arms and including a flared opening in each of said contacts, in combination with a fuse link stressed between said contacts and including a spheroid-like contact at each end of said link adapted for pivotal engagement with said flared openings.

2. A fuse device comprising an insulating support, conductor arms mounted on said support, one of said arms being resilient and biased away from the other of said arms, fuse-link receiving means carried by said arms, said means including cone-like contact portions, and a fuse link tensionally mounted between said arms and comprising a fusible section, a tubular insulating element surrounding said fusible section, spaced spheroid-like contacts electrically connected with said fusible section and adapted'for pivotal engagement with said contact portions, one of said contacts being mounted immediately adjacent one end of said tubular element, said tubular element preventing arcing between said contacts during energized circuit installation of said link.

3. A fuse device comprising aninsulating support, conductor arms mounted on said support, one of said arms being resilient and biased away from the other of said arms, fuse-link receiving means carried by said arms, said means including cone-like contact portions, and a fuse link tensionally -mounted between said arms and comprising a fusible section, a tubular insulating element surrounding said fusible section, spaced spheroid-like contacts electrically connected withsaid fusible section and adapted for pivotal engagement with said contact portions, one of said contacts being mounted immediately one end of and in rigid relationship with said tubular element, said tubular element preventing arcing between said contacts during energized circuit installation of said link.

4. A fuse device comprising an insulating support, conductor arms mounted on said support,

one of said arms being resilient and biased away from the other of said arms, fuse-link receiving means carried by said arms, said means including cone-like contact portions, and a fuse link tensionally mounted between said arms and comprising a fusible section, a tubular insulating element surrounding said fusible section, spaced spheroid-like contacts electrically connected with said fusible section and adapted for pivotal engagement with said contact portions, one of said contacts being mounted immediately one end of and in rigid relationship with said tubular element, and a sealing means including a flanged sleeve biased into sealing contact with one end of said tubular element, said tubular element preventing arcing between energized parts during installation of said fuse link.

5. A fuse device comprising an insulating support, spaced conductor arms mounted on said support, one of said arms being rigid and the other of said arms being resilient and biased for movement away from said rigid arm, fuse-link receiving means carried by said arms, said means including cone-like contact portions, and a fuse link tensionally mounted between said arms and comprising a fusible section, a tubular insulating element surrounding said fusible section, spaced spheroid-like contacts electrically connected with said fusible section and adapted for pivotal engagement with said contact portion.

6. A fuse device comprising an insulating support, spaced conductor arms mounted on said support, one of said arms being rigid and the other of said arms being resilient and biased for movement away from said rigid arm, fuse-link receiving means carried by said arms, said means including cone-like contact portions, and a fuse link tensionally mounted between said arms and comprising a fusible section, a tubular insulating element surrounding said fusible section, spaced spheroid-like contacts electrically connected with said fusible section and adapted for pivotal engagement with said contact portion, one of said contacts being mounted immediately adjacent the one end and in rigid relationship with said tubular element, said tubular element preventing arcing between energized parts during installation of said fuse link,

7. A fuse link comprising a fusible section, an insulating tube surrounding said section, a flared contact electrically connected with one end of said section and carried by one end of said tube, a flexible leader electrically connected with the other of said section, and a flared contact on said leader.

8. A fuse link comprising a fusible section, an insulating tube surrounding said section, a contact electrically connected to one end of said section and rigidly engaging the corresponding end of said tube, said contact flaring in an axial direction relatively away fromsald tube, a flexible leader electrically connected to the other end of said section and extending out of said tube, and a contact on said leader flaring in an axial direction relatively away from said tube.

9. In a fuse structure comprising an insulating support, spaced conductor arms carried by said support, one of said arms being rigid and the other of said arms being resilient and biased for movement away from said rigid arm, fuse link receiving means carried by said arms, said means including cone-like contact portions formed to provide a link receiving opening thereinto from one side thereof, in combination with a fuse link mounted through said opening and between said arms and comprising a fusible section, a tubular insulating element surrounding said fusible section, a flexible leader connected to said section, and spheroid-like contacts electrically connected with said fusible section, one being carried rigidly on one end of said tubular element and the other being carried by said leader, said contacts being adapted for pivotal engagement with said contact portions.

10. In a fuse structure, the combination with a pair of spaced arms supported in insulated relationship, one of said arms being movable toward the other and biased for movement away from said other arm, of a contact on each of said arms, at least one of said contacts comprising a hooklike contact surface open at one side laterally relative to said arms, and a fuse link normally holding said movable arm in biased position and including spaced contacts engaging the contacts on said arms, at least one of said spaced contacts on said fuse link being flared in a direction away from the other of said spaced contacts and normally wedged in engagement with said hook-like contact surface.

11. In a fuse structure, the combination with a pair of spaced arms supported in insulated relationship, one of said arms being movable toward the other and biased for movement away from said other arm, of a contact on each of said arms, at least one of said contacts comprising a hook-like contact surface flared in a direction away from the other of said contacts and open at one side thereof, and a fuse link normally holding said movable arm in biased position and including spaced contacts engaging the contacts on said arms, at least one of said spaced contacts on said fuse link being conoidal and engaged with said flared contact surface.

12. In a fuse structure, the combination with a pair of spaced arms supported in insulated rela- L asaaese .with one of said fiared'contact surfaces, the openings in said contact surfaces being adapted to admit portionsof said fuse link for mounting said conoidal contacts on said flared contact surfaces.

13. In a fuse structure, the combination with a pair of spaced arms supported in insulated relationship, one of said arms being movable toward the other and biased for movement away from said other arm, of'a contact on each of said arms, at least one of said contacts comprising a hook-like contact surface flared in a direction away from the other of said contacts and open at one side thereof, and a fuse link normally holding said movable arm in biased position and including a fusible section, a tubular insulating element surrounding said fusible section, spaced contacts electrically connected with said fusible section and engagingthe contacts on said arms, one of said spaced contacts being mounted immediately adjacent one end of said tubular eletact surfaces being adapted to admit portions of said fuse link for mounting said conoidal contacts on said flared contact surfaces.

7 15. Electrical apparatus comprising a circuitprotecting device having a pair of spaced contact terminals, at least one of which is of the ball type, and a support for said device'including a pair of spaced arms, each anchored at one end only and each having a free end-portion remote from its anchorage, at least one of said arms being spring-biased away from the other, said free end-portions being spaced apart and co-related to receive and support, conjointly, said cirwit-protecting device and operative to engage, respectively, the aforesaid contact terminals in a manner efiectiv to apply tension to said device, at least one of said free end-portions having a socket-like contact pocket operative to receive and make contact with said ball-type terminal, and a lateral slot leading into said pocket to provide lateral access thereto for said device, said ball-type terminal and said socket-like contact pocket being co-operative in the manner of a ball-and-socket joint.

16. In electrical apparatus, supporting structure for a circuit-protecting device comprising an insulator, a pair of conductive arms each an= chored at one end only to spaced points, respectively, along said insulator and supported therement, at least one of said spaced contacts on said 30 by, said arms projecting from said insulator and fuse link being conoidal and engaged with said each having a free end-portion, said free endfiared contact surface. portions being spaced apart and mutually co- 1%. In a fuse structure, the combination with operative to support the hereinafter specified a pair of spaced arms supported in insulated recircuit-protecting device, each of said free endlationship, one of said arms being movable toward 35 portions having a socket-like contact pocket and the other and biased for'movement away from said other arm, of a hook-like contact on each of said arms comprising a contact surface flared in a direction away from the other of said contacts and having an opening at one side thereof, and a fuse link normally holding said movable arm in biased position and including a fusible section, a tubular insulating element surrounding said fusible section, spaced conoidal contacts electrically connected with said fusible section and each positioned in engagement with one of said flared con-- tact surfaces, one of said spaced conoidal contacts being mounted immediately adjacent one end of said tubular element, the openings in said cona slot affording lateral access to said pocket, said contact pockets being mutually oriented complementally, and a circuit-protecting device having a pair of spaced ball-type contact terminals, said device being disposed between the free end-pontions of said arms with its said ball-type contact terminals seated in said contact pockets, one of said arms being spring-biased away from the other and thereby effective to apply tension to,

said device, each of said contact pockets being cooperative with one of said ball-type contact terminals, individually, in the manner of a ball-andsocket joint.

7 ALWIN G. STEINMAYER.

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