EP3261109B1 - Fuse device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a securing device.

Fuses are used in a variety of technical applications. In fuses usually a fuse wire is disposed in a housing, which is electrically conductively connected to a contact cap on both sides of the housing. The fusible wire is designed such that it melts exceeding a predetermined current and in this way the electrical contact of the two contact caps is interrupted. The fuse is designed for the respective place of use in a technical system in order to protect built-in components as well as living beings by excessive currents occurring.

The DE 10 2014 012 756 A1 describes a fuse with two on contact caps of the fuse attachable connection caps, each having an electrically conductive connection member. The respective connection member may be formed as a hook-shaped bent connection legs.

The DE 69 40 839 U shows a fuse with a sheath, which consists of a plastic sleeve, wherein a fuse link and within the sleeve conduit parts is potted with a synthetic resin.

The document WO 2015/091703 A1 relates to a security device, wherein a fuse 10 is connected to terminal caps, each terminal cap having a tab 10b, which is connected to a respective contact 3. The contacts 3 are connected to the cables 2 and cable seals 24 via crimp connection.

The document FR 2 983 361 A1 relates to a securing device, wherein two connectors 2, 3 are each connected to a flexible cable 4 to terminal caps 8 via terminals 11, wherein the terminals 11 are each crimped onto the cable core 10 of the flexible cable 4. The terminal caps 8 are each attached to the terminals 7 of a fuse 6 and electrically connected.

As mentioned, the fuse is typically introduced into an electrical circuit in which excessively high currents can occur. It is known the fuse in To arrange a fuse holder or solder them directly to the required location. In other applications, their contacts become electrically conductive Connected plugs so that they can each be integrated by means of a plug connection.

A disadvantage of known fuses are the complicated installation and the difficulty of installation. In addition, the components involved are often not sufficiently protected so that they often fail, in particular by failure of the electrical connection between the fuse and its associated components, and a complicated and costly replacement is necessary.

The invention is therefore based on the object by providing a safety device to improve the handling of the fuse and the electrically connected to it connectors while providing the components used reliable protection. Furthermore, a method for producing such a security device is to be provided.

With regard to the securing device, the abovementioned object is achieved according to the invention with a securing device according to claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims. The invention is based on the consideration that in typical application areas of the operation of technical systems, in particular in solar technology, the installation of fuses at suitable locations is extremely important to protect the installed electrical components from damage. Especially outdoors, weather-related or mechanical stress can lead to impairments of the components used.

As has now been recognized, both the protection of the individual components and handleability can be drastically improved by housing the fuse and connectors in a common housing. The security device, which includes both the fuse and the connector can be installed as a whole at the respective site. The electrical connections between the plug contacts and the integrated fuse are reliably protected in this way both against weather-related influences and against mechanical influences. The security device is effectively a combined fuse and plug connection device or a inline fuse, in which the fuse "inline" or between the connectors is arranged robust and protected. The entire inlinesicherung can be easily and conveniently replaced as needed.

More particularly, the invention relates to a security device with a fuse having a fuse body with two contact ends, on each of which a contact cap is attached to each of its two contact ends, which is each electrically connected to a connection element, wherein the connection element is electrically conductively connected to a plug contact wherein at least one plug contact is connected to a plug connector, and wherein the fuse is completely and the respective plug connector at least partially incorporated in a common protective body.

The connector / plug contact may be formed as a plug or socket. The securing device may have, for example, a plug and a socket. It may alternatively have two plugs or two sockets. The connector has a housing function for the Stecckontakt arranged in it and prevents the user from getting into contact with the current-carrying plug contact.

Advantageously, the fuse is complete and the respective connector at least partially embedded in the protective body. Under embedding is understood here in particular that the material of the protective body, the embedded components, in particular the fuse and partially the plug, so surrounds that their release from the material of the protective body is not possible without at least partial destruction of the material of the protective body and / or the embedded components, in particular the fuse and / or the respective plug. The material of the protective body surrounds the embedded components or directly adjoins them.

The protective body preferably comprises a region-wise connector and fuse applied by potting material. Fuse and connectors are embedded in this way in the potting material and in particular positively surrounded by him. In this way, a rigid and stable mechanical connection between the components are achieved and the reliable contacting of the plug contacts with the fuse is achieved.

The potting material advantageously consists essentially of a thermoplastic. The potting material is preferably such that it can be thermoformed at a temperature which is significantly higher than the room temperature, and is hard at room temperature.

The fuse is preferably a fuse with a fuse body disposed in a housing and electrically connected to two contact caps disposed at two opposite ends of the housing. The melting body is dimensioned such that it melts when in flowing a predetermined current through the current flowing in, so that the electrical connection between the two contact caps is interrupted.

In a preferred embodiment, the fuse is surrounded by a sealing sheath, which may also be formed as a sealing layer, which is covered by the protective body. The sealing sheath preferably surrounds both the fuse and the area of the respective connector at its end facing the fuse and, if present, at least partially the respective connection cap. The connection cap preferably has a connection sleeve, which is surrounded by the sealing sheath. In this case are fuse and sealing sheath so preferably embedded in the protective body, that the material of the protective body is applied directly to the Abdichthülle.

In a potting, the potting material is potted so that it surrounds the sealing sheath or this is embedded in the material. Furthermore, the respective connector is at least partially surrounded by the potting material or embedded in this. The Abdichthülle prevented in the process of potting the entry of potting material into the connector and thus serves the insulation or sealing.

The Abdichthülle is preferably formed by a shrinkage of the fuse and partially the respective connector or fuse and the respective ferrule and partially the respective connector with a Umschrumpfungsmaterial. In this way, preferably a shrink tube is used, which spatially includes the fuse or the fuse and the respective connection sleeve and partially the respective connector. The shrink-wrapping material advantageously consists essentially of plastic. Suitable plastics include polyefins, polyvinylidene fluoride, Vitan, PVC, PTFE, EVA.

The respective plug contact may be male or female. The respective plug contact is advantageously connected positively to the respective connector. This connection is particularly preferably carried out by a locking of the plug contact in the connector.

According to the invention, a respective cap is attached to the respective contact end of the fuse, which has an electrically conductive connection element, wherein the connection element is electrically conductively connected to a plug contact. The connection cap is formed according to the invention from a connection sleeve and the connecting element electrically connected thereto.

In a preferred embodiment, the respective connection element is designed as a hook-shaped bent wire, wherein the plug contact has a plug contact element, and wherein the plug contact element is crimped by a B-crimp connection to the hook-shaped connection element. The hook-shaped connecting element is preferably bent in a range of 180 ° that at least partially extend a first and a second wire piece parallel and adjacent to each other. The plug-in contact element is preferably formed as a flat wire or planar element, wherein a first part of the Stecckontaktelementes to the first piece of wire and a second, the first part adjacent, second part of the plug contact element is crimped to the second piece of wire, so that the plug contact element in the contour of Letter "B" is crimped around the terminal element. The plug-in contact element is preferably designed as a 180 ° bent or U-shaped flat wire.

According to the invention, the connection element is designed as a tab which is designed to receive a slip-on sleeve or a flat slip-on sleeve. In this case, a blade receptacle is attached to the tab, which is electrically connected to an electrical conductor, which is designed in particular as a strand or wire, wherein the electrical conductor is electrically connected to the respective plug contact. The connection between the blade receptacle and the electrical conductor and / or the connection between the electrical conductor and the plug contact is preferably a crimp, soldered or screwed connection.

According to the invention, a connector is attached to a plug contact at both ends of the fuse. The securing device can thus be used directly on both sides for a plug connection. According to the invention, a connection cap is provided at both contact ends of the fuse at both contact ends of the fuse, a connection cap and a plug contact are electrically conductively connected to one another. In a preferred embodiment, the securing device has a socket at one end of the protective body and a plug at the other end.

At least one connector is preferably formed as a PV (photovoltaic) connector. The PV connector can be designed as a plug or socket.

The advantages of the invention are in particular that the reliability of the installed components and their handling can be improved by the formation of a common device of fuse, plug contacts and connectors, so that the reliability of the operation of the technical system in which they are used is increased , Especially with solar systems, a reliable plug connection can be realized outdoors.

FIG. 1

eine Sicherung mit zwei Anschlusskappen;

FIG. 2

eine Anschlusskappe gemäß FIG. 1 in einer seitlichen Darstellung;

FIG. 3

eine Anschlusskappe gemäß FIG. 1 in einer ersten perspektivischen Darstellung;

FIG. 4

eine Anschlusskappe gemäß FIG. 1 in einer zweiten perspektivischen Darstellung;

FIG. 5

einen Steckkontakt mit einem Steckkontaktelement;

FIG. 6

die Sicherung gemäß Figur 1 und einen mit einem Anschlusselement verbundenen Steckkontakt gemäß FIG. 5;

FIG. 7

die Sicherung und den Steckkontakt gemäß FIG. 6 und einen Steckverbinder;

FIG. 8

die Komponenten gemäß FIG. 7 und einen weiteren Steckverbinder sowie eine Abdichthülle;

FIG. 9

eine Sicherungsvorrichtung mit einer Sicherung und zwei Steckverbindern und einem Schutzkörper in einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform;

FIG. 10

eine Anschlusskappe in einer weiteren Ausführung in einer ersten Darstellung;

FIG. 11

die Anschlusskappe gemäß FIG. 10 in einer zweiten Darstellung mit eingezeichnetem Schnitt A-A;

FIG. 12

die Anschlusskappe gemäß FIG. 11 im Schnitt A-A;

FIG. 13

die Anschlusskappe gemäß FIG. 10 in einer perspektivischen Darstellung;

FIG. 14

die Anschlusskappe gemäß FIG. 10 in einer Vorderansicht; und

FIG. 15

eine Sicherung mit einer Anschlusskappe gemäß FIG. 10 und einem Steckkontakt.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to a drawing. In it show in a highly schematic representation:

FIG. 1

a fuse with two connection caps;

FIG. 2

a connection cap according to FIG. 1 in a side view;

FIG. 3

a connection cap according to FIG. 1 in a first perspective view;

FIG. 4

a connection cap according to FIG. 1 in a second perspective view;

FIG. 5

a plug contact with a plug contact element;

FIG. 6

the fuse according to FIG. 1 and a connector connected to a connector according to FIG. 5 ;

FIG. 7

the fuse and the plug contact according to FIG. 6 and a connector;

FIG. 8th

the components according to FIG. 7 and another connector and a sealing sheath;

FIG. 9

a safety device with a fuse and two connectors and a protective body in a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 10

a connection cap in a further embodiment in a first representation;

FIG. 11

the connection cap according to FIG. 10 in a second representation with drawn section AA;

FIG. 12

the connection cap according to FIG. 11 on average AA;

FIG. 13

the connection cap according to FIG. 10 in a perspective view;

FIG. 14

the connection cap according to FIG. 10 in a front view; and

FIG. 15

a fuse with a connection cap according to FIG. 10 and a plug contact.

Identical parts are provided with the same reference numerals in all figures.

In FIG. 1 a fuse 2 is shown, which has a fuse body 8. The fuse 2 is preferably designed as a fuse having a fuse 8 arranged in the housing (not shown). The fuse 2 has at a first contact end or end 4 and a second contact end or end 6 each have a contact cap (not shown), which are each electrically conductively connected to the fusible conductor. At the end 4, a first connection cap 4 is attached to the contact cap, which has a connection sleeve 14 and a connecting wire 20, which is attached to the connection sleeve 14 or integrally formed with it. The terminal cap 10, which is placed in the manner of a fit on the contact cap of the fuse 2, is laterally and in perspective in the FIG. 2 to 4 shown. This means that the connection cap 10 can not be removed from the fuse 2 due to the fit or only with great difficulty.

The connecting wire 20 has a first section 26 and a second section 32 adjoining it, starting from the connecting sleeve. The second section 32 is bent over the first section 26 by 180 °, so that the connecting wire 20 is bent in a U-shape. At the end 6 of the fuse body 8 is attached to the contact cap a second cap 12 in fit. In FIG. 4 it is shown by the connection sleeve 14 provided cavity 38 which in the in FIG. 1 illustrated state, the contact cap of the fuse 2 receives. The connection cap 12 is formed in the same way as the connection cap 10.

The material of the connection caps 10, 12 is electrically conductive and preferably comprises silver or a silver alloy. The material of the contact caps is electrically conductive and preferably comprises nickel-plated brass and / or copper and / or aluminum.

In FIG. 5 a plug-in contact 50 is shown, which comprises a plug contacting element 56 and a plug-in contact element 62 electrically connected thereto. Plug contact element 62 is formed as a flexible plug contact surface or a plug contact wire, which is in particular isosceles B-crimped onto the connecting wire 20. In this case, a first portion 70 of the plug-in contact element 62 is crimped around the portion 32 of the lead wire 20 and crimped on a section 70 adjacent second portion 72 of the plug-in contact element 62 to the portion 26 of the lead wire 20. Plug contact element 62 is B-crimped in this way to the hook-shaped connecting wire 20 B-shaped or crimped, so that the plug-in contact element 62 viewed in the crimped state from a viewing direction 92 has a B-shaped contour or shape.

The FIG. 6 shows the fuse 2 with plugged connection caps 10, 12 and crimped to the connecting wire 20 plug contact 50 of FIG. 5 , On the connecting wire 32, which is conductively connected to the terminal cap 12, a plug contact 50 is fixed by B-crimping in the same way. The two plug-in contacts 50 can be of identical design or can also be designed differently depending on the plug used in each case.

In FIG. 7 a connector 80 is pushed onto the plug contact 50 and positively connected to the plug contact 50, in particular latched. Also, the other, not shown plug contact, which crimps with the connection cap 12 is connected to a second connector 86 (see FIG. 8th ) positively connected, in particular locked. The connector 80 comprises on its side facing the fuse 2 a corrugated sleeve portion 82. The sleeve portion 82 is preferably formed substantially radially symmetrical in the form of a cylindrical corrugated sleeve, which may be formed in particular as a thread.

In FIG. 8th the fuse 2 is surrounded by a sealing sheath 90. In the present case, the sealing sheath 90 is a heat-shrinkable tube that has shrunk around the securing device 2 and the two connecting sleeves 14, 26 of the connecting caps 10, 12 and sleeve sections 82, 88. The material of the sealing shell 90 is preferably substantially plastic. In addition, a second connector 86 is latched with a plug contact 50, which is attached to the end of the fuse 2 2 to the lead wire 32 and is crimped with this. The connector 86 preferably has in a region facing the fuse 2 a corrugated sleeve portion 88, which is preferably designed radially symmetrical in the form of a corrugated sleeve, in particular as a thread. Plug connector 86 is preferably designed as a plug, plug connector 80 preferably as a socket.

A securing device 100 in a preferred embodiment is shown in FIG FIG. 9 shown. The sealing sheath 90 and thus also the fuse 2 arranged therein and in some areas the plug connectors 80, 86 are surrounded by a common protective body 112. Preferably, the corrugated sleeve portions 82, 88 of the two connectors 80, 86 are surrounded by the protective body 112. The protective body 112 is preferably produced by encapsulation via sealing sheath 90 and sleeve sections 82, 88 of the two connectors 80, 86. The potting material is preferably a thermoplastic. The protection body 112 produced in this way is preferably cylindrical in its outer dimensions and, viewed radially, terminates essentially with the radial extent of the respective connector 80, 86. In alternative preferred embodiments, the protective body 112 may also, at least in regions, have a greater radial extent than the respective connector 80, 96. It may have a greater radial extent over substantially its entire length have or be performed centrally bulging. It can also be provided that the protective body 112 is substantially cylindrical and has radial ribs.

In this way, a comfortable and easy to handle security device 100 is realized, in which the fuse 2 is reliably protected against external influences and in which a strong bond between the two connectors 80, 86 is achieved. The fuse device 100 is suitable for applications in the solar technology and solar industry, in particular in the cabling range from the Spolarpanel to the inverter and generator junction boxes.

In the FIG. 10-14 an alternative preferred embodiment of a cap 114 is shown. The connection cap 114 has a connection sleeve 118 for receiving a contact cap of the fuse 2 and a lug 124 which is connected in an electrically conductive manner to the connection sleeve 118. A section along AA which is in FIG. 11 is drawn in, it is in FIG. 12 shown. The tab 124 is adapted to receive standard slip-on sleeves, which can be electrically connected in particular via a crimp connection with a stranded wire or a wire with a plug contact 50. For this purpose, the strand or the wire is crimped to a plug contact element 62 of a plug contact device 50 (see FIG. 15 ). The connection cap 114 permits a universal conversion of a standard fuse into a fuse with connection possibility for flat plug-in sockets.

In FIG. 15 It is shown how a plug contact 50 is attached to the connection cap 114. On the tab 124, a blade receptacle 150 is attached, which in particular is connected by a crimp connection with a strand 150, which in turn is connected in particular by a crimp connection with a Stecckontaktelement 62 of the plug contact 50 .. To form a securing device 100 of the plug contact 50 with a Connector positively connected. Likewise, with the other side of the fuse 2, a plug contact 50 and a connector electrically connected, wherein also Here a connection cap 114 is preferably used. As described above, then a shrink on fuse and partially the connector can be applied. Finally, the assembly is potted as described above with a potting compound, whereby the protective body 112 is formed.

The securing device 100 according to FIG. 9 is prepared in a preferred embodiment of a method as follows. First, a fuse 2 and two terminal caps 10, 12 are provided. The terminal caps 10, 12 are connected to the fuse 2, resulting in a configuration as shown in FIG FIG. 1 is shown. The respective connection wire 20, 32 of the connection cap is in each case connected to a plug contact 50, as in FIG FIG. 5 shown. This is preferably done by crimping a connecting part or plug-in contact element 62, which is part of the plug-in contact 50 .. Preferably, the respective plug-in contact element 62 is a U-shaped wire which is crimped isosceles to the connecting wire 20 or 32 in the form of a "B" (B-crimp).

The respective plug contact 50 is latched with a connector 80. The fuse 2 and partially the terminal caps 10, 12, in particular their respective connection sleeve 14, 26, are shrink-wrapped with a shrink tube, which forms a Abdichthülle 90 for the fuse 2 and the connectors 80, 86 and the encapsulation penetration of the potting material in the areas the plug contacts 50 and connectors 80, 86 prevented.

Finally, fuse 2 or sealing sleeve 90 and the corrugated sleeve sections 82, 88 are encapsulated with a potting material, so that a substantially cylindrical securing device 100 is formed. The fuse 2 or the sealing sleeve 90 and the connectors 80, 86 are embedded in this way in the potting material, whereby a particularly robust and reliable connection of the individual components is achieved.

Claims (8)

1. A fuse device (100) comprising

   • a fuse (2) having a fuse body (8) with two contact ends (4, 6),

   • two plug contacts (50),

   • two connection caps (10, 12, 114),

   • a protective body (112),

   characterized in that the fuse device (100) comprises two plug connectors (80, 86), two flat pin sockets (150) and two electrical conductors (156), and in that each contact end (4, 6) is in each case electrically conductively connected to one of the two plug contacts (50), wherein each of the plug contacts (50) is in each case connected to one of the two plug connectors (80, 86), and wherein the fuse (2) is inserted completely and the respective plug connector (80, 86) is inserted at least partially into the common protective body (112), wherein in each case one of the two connection caps (10, 12, 114), each having an electrically conductive connection element (20, 32, 124), is attached to the respective contact end (4, 6), and wherein the connection element (20, 32, 124) is electrically conductively connected to one of the two plug contacts (50), the respective connection element being designed as a tab (124) for a flat pin socket, and wherein in each case one of the two flat pin sockets (150) is fitted onto the tab, which is electrically conductively connected in each case to one of the two electrical conductors (156), wherein the respective electrical conductor (156) is electrically connected to the respective plug contact (50), and wherein the respective plug connector (80, 86) is designed as a plug or socket, and wherein in each case a plug connector (80, 86) is attached to one of the two plug contacts (50) at both ends (4, 6) of the fuse (2).
2. The fuse device (100) according to claim 1, wherein the fuse (2) is completely embedded and the respective plug connector (80, 86) is at least partially embedded in the protective body (112).
3. The fuse device (100) according to claim 2, wherein the protective body (112) comprises a potting material applied around some regions of the plug connector (80, 86) and the fuse (2) by potting.
4. The fuse device (100) according to claim 3, wherein the potting material consists of a thermoplastic.
5. The fuse device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fuse (2) and some regions of the respective plug connectors (80, 86) are surrounded by a sealing sheath (90) which is enclosed by the protective body (112).
6. The fuse device (100) according to claim 5, wherein the sealing sheath (90) is formed by shrink-wrapping around the fuse (2) and in some regions of the respective plug connector (80, 86) by a shrink-wrapping material.
7. The fuse device (100) according to claim 6, wherein the shrink-wrapping material is made of plastic.
8. The fuse device (100) according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the respective plug contact (50) is in a form-locking manner connected to the respective plug connector (80, 86).

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