DE69825453T2 - Light-emitting display device of blown fuses and their causes in electrical circuits of motor vehicles - Google Patents

Description

The The invention relates to a light indicator for blown fuses in electrical circuits of motor vehicles. The task of the light indicator is to display the visual detection of a blown fuse which serve to protect the various components that are over the electrical circuit of a vehicle. The invention allows also determining if the fuse is due to a permanent short circuit actuated has been in the latter case, the onset of a new Backup before the damage is fixed, is avoided.

The Invention is preferably applied to UNE-26-416 type fuses, the most common Standard for Represents fuses of motor vehicles.

If in motor vehicles blown a fuse, it is time consuming and occasionally dangerous, this worthless security by another impeccable one Replace fuse. The corresponding inconvenience occur intensified, when such an incident occurs in the dark, being particularly size Difficulties then occur when the user self-secures replace. All the difficulties described above are partly due to the following circumstances: difficult access to Fuse area, high number of fuses, short distance between the fuses and high force required to overcome the pressure of the Einsetzkontakts must be exercised.

Obviously is therefore preparing to replace a backup for the average user Difficulties, especially if this process is done at night. For professional users the difficulties are less; the replacement takes but long, which undoubtedly affects the cost of a review and / or Repair of the vehicle has.

The Patent Document US-A-4 475 283 attempts the difficulties in the Detect a blown fuse in existing installations to overcome, at the same time removing the corresponding fuse to be relieved. According to that there The proposed proposal describes a device in which a light display, which is provided with electrical contacts, between two articulated bodies in the form of a clamp for gripping the upper part of a fuse is arranged. Such a solution facilitates the removal of the fuses, but does not allow multiple To arrange devices of the type proposed in neighboring position, what happens in the direction perpendicular to the level of the fuses is due.

The Patent document US-A-5 701 118 describes an apparatus in which a cap, the two electrical contacts connected to a light display includes, is adapted to the upper part of a fuse. however the thickness of the cap complicates the removal of the fuse in strong Dimensions, if several similar devices arranged side by side are.

According to the two the aforementioned cases The prior art covers the proposed devices only the blown state of the fuse and can not additionally distinguish whether a permanent short-circuit has occurred. In the latter Case should be the appropriate error can be corrected before the blown fuse is replaced.

The inventive light indicator allows a solution the problems mentioned above, since it allows, firstly, the burnt out quickly Second, the possible presence of a permanent Short circuit detected and finally the removal of the fuse by hand to a considerable extent facilitated.

Concrete expressed has the light indicator according to the invention the peculiarity of being attached to a fuse so it will not light so long as there is no current above a predetermined one Value is on the fuse acts.

There the electrical circuit of a motor vehicle with a sensitive Way constant voltage works, corresponds to the aforementioned condition the fact that the indicator light as a function of impedance of the circuit protected by the blown fuse, is activated or not, which is due to the markings of the fuse carrier base is recognizable.

On this way it is possible to obtain a first light signal, which is characterized by an impedance in the Circuit with a predetermined value (of desired level) is activated so far the fuse element has melted. This first signal represents an indication of the blown fuse dar.

A second light indicator leaves for a sufficiently low impedance of Circuit received, this display to a permanent short circuit indicates in the electrical system. This second signal is thus an indication of the presence of a short circuit from the permanent Type.

The Illuminated displays can by conventional Lamps, LED-type diodes or any other light-emitting ones Devices are provided.

The Activation of the illuminated display depending on the impedance value of the Circuit can preferably be made by talking to the Illuminate a ZENER diode of appropriate voltage and a Resistance, the intensity of electric current, at the corresponding value by the Light is on, so that this works correctly, limited, in series. Two the modules described above, connected in parallel are and of course for the different components have the appropriate values, provide the lights for one blown fuse and for the existence of a permanent Short circuit dar.

from Structure seen ago, there is one with the corresponding display equipped Securing from a body, as a carrier which is made of any type of suitable material can be and in particular designed according to the individual case is that he adheres to the characteristics of the wiring, for which he can be applied, is specially adapted. Such a Carrier body comprises inside a printed circuit board with the described light indicator, having the two terminals to the fuse element itself to keep. In this way, the fuse element can be replaced without the circuit board being the most expensive part represents the light-emitting device, must be replaced.

It is obvious that the assembly to be protected Circuit is connected in series and the display is switched off remains, as long as no current, the size of the specified value of Fuse exceeds is applied to the slightly melting metal strip. When a Electricity of excessive strength, the is caused by a breakdown, flows through, melts the Soft metal strips and the supply to the circuit is interrupted, causing a potential difference between the terminal strips, which causes the indicator to turn on. This will Finding the fuse, especially in poor visibility conditions and especially relieved at night.

The Display provided on a fuse represents a device which works in static and dynamic situations of the vehicle, when a current of excessive intensity occurs, being for a Interrupted care and a lighting of the corresponding position is reached.

• – die Handhabung der Sicherungen ist wesentlich vereinfacht;
• – die Reparaturzeit bei Wartungsarbeiten wird verringert;
• – die bei schlechten Lichtbedingungen auftretende Gefährdung wird verringert;
• – die Reparaturkosten für den Nutzer werden gesenkt;
• – die Position der betroffenen Sicherung lässt sich rasch ermitteln;
• – der wiederholte Einsatz von Sicherungen im Fall von ständigen Kurzschlüssen entfällt;
• – es besteht die Möglichkeit, die Vorrichtung in beliebigen Fahrzeugen ohne Veränderung der Eigenschaften des Fahrzeugs anzuwenden oder zu installieren;
• – die Nachweisvorrichtung weist verringerte Abmessungen und einen geringen Energieverbrauch auf;
• – die Vorrichtung bringt keine erhebliche Zunahme der Installations- oder Wartungskosten mit sich.

Here are some benefits that can be achieved in this way:

• - The handling of the fuses is much easier;
• - The repair time for maintenance is reduced;
• - The danger occurring in poor lighting conditions is reduced;
• - the repair costs for the user are reduced;
• - the position of the fuse concerned can be determined quickly;
• - the repeated use of fuses in the case of permanent short circuits is eliminated;
• It is possible to use or install the device in any vehicle without changing the characteristics of the vehicle;
• - The detection device has reduced dimensions and low energy consumption;
• - The device brings no significant increase in installation or maintenance costs.

to complement the following description and for a better understanding the features of the invention is a drawing as Bestanteil of Documents attached, which, however, has only exemplary character and includes no limitation.

1 is a schematic representation of the assembly of a fuse on which the light indicator according to the invention can be attached.

2 shows in a schematic way the circuit board for the detection device in the light display according to the invention.

In In the figures, the reference symbols have the following meanings:

1

base element

2

connecting strips

3

extraction tab

4

circuit board

5

mounting lever

6

insulation reinforcement

7

Security strips

8th

terminal

9

slot for securing the security strip

10

joint

11

elastic element

12

attack

How out 1 In which a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, it can be seen that the indicator for the blown fuse and its cause consists of a body 1 which serves as a carrier and an extraction tab 3 to facilitate handling. Inside is a small circuit board 4 with the various components that make up the electronic circuit. The PCB ensures the desired function and has two terminals 8th on, which are provided for receiving the fuse element itself. The fuse element consists of a soft metal strip of general "H" shape, whose horizontal finer branch represents the melting part. The fuse element has an insulating reinforcement 6 to prevent breakage of the horizontal melt load during handling of the fuse element.

An electrical circuit on the circuit board 4 is provided is in 2 shown. It can be seen that with the terminals 8th a diode bridge is connected, the object of which is to enable the insertion of the illuminated display according to the invention onto the fuse carrier base, without paying attention to the polarity of the arrangement. Such a device is familiar to the person skilled in the art. Between the two terminals of the diode bridge two circuits are connected in parallel, each of the two light signal functions, which are provided according to the invention, correspond: display a blown fuse and display of permanent short circuits. In both cases, the particular circuit is comprised of a ZENER diode, a light emitting LED, and a resistor connected in series, with the reverse voltage of the ZENER diode and the resistance value as a function of the impedance range of the vehicle's circuit having this designation provided is selected. In a first exemplary embodiment, the following values apply:
Z ₁ = 6.2V
LED ₁ = red
R ₁ = 470 Ω
Z ₂ = 3.3V
LED ₂ = green
R ₂ = 220 Ω

In a second exemplary embodiment, the two resistors R ₁ and R _{2 are} replaced by only one resistor R ₃ = kΩ, whereby the blocking voltage of the ZENER Z ₂ diode is increased to 4.7V.

The operation of the device according to the invention is described below: After the device according to the invention has been mounted on a fuse carrier base of the vehicle with replacement of the normal fuse, the LED diodes remain in the off state, since the current bridges through the horizontal branch of the "H" of the fuse element becomes. The voltage between the terminals of the circuit 4 is 0. If the fuse blows due to overloading the protected device, a temporary short circuit or simply mechanical stress due to vibration of the fuse strip 7 itself is due, arises between the terminals of the circuit 4 a voltage, and that is when the impedance of the circuit to be protected, connected to the terminals of the circuit board 4 occurs below a certain value. If the mentioned impedance is 500 Ω, this results in the voltage drop between the terminals of the circuit board 4 occurs, a value of 6V, while the second detection circuit remains off. If, however, there is an open short circuit, the voltage between the terminals of the circuit 4 greater. In the latter case, the red LED ₁ lights up to indicate a permanent short circuit.

To replace a fuse, the carrier body 1 at the extraction tab 3 taken to the removal of the connection strip 2 the corresponding contacts on the fuse carrier base, which is attached to the vehicle to allow. By pressing the fastening levers 5 inward against the action of the elastic elements 11 These are around their joints 10 rotated, causing the stops 12 from the mounting slots 9 the fuse element are removed and therefore a removal and replacement of the fuse is made possible.

For the skilled person, there are a number of variations that do not affect the basic characteristics of the invention and make it possible to adapt to different applications or to optimize the costs. Thus, the number of detection circuits arranged in parallel and consequently of the various signals can be greater than 2, which makes it possible to distinguish a plurality of impedance ranges. Furthermore, the clamping device for the fuse element can vary and the electronic components can instead of mounting on a printed circuit board in the carrier body 1 be embedded.

Claims (4)

A blown fuse indicator for its causes, for electrical circuits in vehicles, characterized in that it comprises: detecting means for triggering a light indicator in response to the impedance values of the circuit protected by the blown fuse, and the ones connected in series Zener diode, a light-emitting or light-emitting diode and resistor formed detector circuit, and which is designed so that the LED is triggered when the impedance values are below a certain value, An extraction tab ( 3 ) as an integral part of the body ( 1 ) of the illuminated display carrier, as well as means for fixing the actual fuse element Illuminated display for blown fuses and for their causes, for Electric circuits in vehicles, according to claim 1, characterized that there may be a plurality of detector circuits connected in series, the are designed to distinguish between different impedances Illuminated display for blown fuses and for their causes, for Electric circuits in vehicles, according to claim 2, characterized that she knows two detector circuits, one recognizes that the fuse has blown, the other recognizes an occurrence of a permanent short circuit. Light indicator for blown fuses and their causes, for electrical circuits in vehicles, according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening means of two fastening levers ( 5 ), since, at one point ( 10 ) are articulated due to the action of elastic elements ( 11 ) a stop ( 12 ) into one of the terminals ( 2 ) of the securing element located gap ( 9 ) introduce.