GB2141595A

GB2141595A - Cartridge fuse assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2141595A
Application number: GB08415489A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Terence Victor Mcghie
Original assignee: Dorman Smith Fuses Ltd
Current assignee: Dorman Smith Fuses Ltd
Priority date: 1983-06-17
Filing date: 1984-06-18
Publication date: 1984-12-19
Also published as: GB8415489D0; GB2141595B

Abstract

In an electric cartridge fuse assembly comprising an insulating base and a fuse link carrier, the insulating base is divided longitudinally of its length into two separately formed base parts 1 which are permanently secured together and are each of such a shape that the electric fuse contacts and the means for electrically connecting the insulating base to a flexible electric cable or to an electrical busbar are permanently trapped in the base without the use of separately formed securing means. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An improved electric cartridge fuse assembly This invention relates to electric cartridge fuse assemblies of the kind comprising a base of electrically insulating material on which are mounted two electric fuse contacts each of which has means for electrical connection to a conductor of a flexible electric cable or to an electric busbar and, separately formed with respect to and detachably with the insulating base, a carrier of electrically insulating material on which an electric cartridge fuse link is so supported that, when the carrier is detachably engaged with the base, the terminals of the cartridge fuse link are,in direct or indirect electrical connection with the electric fuse contacts of the base. Electric cartridge fuse assemblies of this kind will hereinafter, for convenience, be referred to as "of the kind described".

According to the present invention, in an electric cartridge fuse assembly of the kind described, the insulating base is of elongate shape and is divided longitudinally of its length into two separately formed base parts which are permanently secured together and are each of such a shape and size that the electric fuse contacts and their associated means for electrical connection to a conductor of a flexible electric cable or to an electric busbar are permanently trapped in the base at their required positions without the use of separately formed securing means.

Preferably, the two base parts are made of thermoplastics material and are permanently secured together by ultrasonic welding, but in some circumstances, they may be permanently secured together by rivetting or any other convenient means of effecting a permanent connection.

For reasons of ease of manufacture and economy, preferably the two separately formed base parts are substantially identical.

The insulating base may be divided longitudinally of its length along its central axis but, preferably, the insulating base is so divided longitudinally of its length that one base part inter-engages with the other, one base part being appropriately orientated with respect to the other.

Preferably, the insulating base comprises a bottom wall and a continuous boundary wall upstanding from and extending around the perphery of the bottom wall. The bottom wall is preferably of substantially rectangular shape so that the upstanding boundary wall consists of two side walls and two end walls. At each end of the insulating base, preferably the end, side an bottom walls have inwardly extending shoulders or other projections which, when the two base parts are permanently secured together, define a compartment in which an electric fuse contact and its associated connecting means is permanently trapped.

The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of a preferred electric cartridge fuse assembly of the kind described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of one of the two substantially identical base parts of which the insulating base of the preferred electric cartridge fuse assembly is built up; Figure 2 is a plan view of the insulating base part shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the insulating base part taken along the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the insulating base part taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 1, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the insulating base part taken along the line V-V of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings, the preferred electric cartridge fuse assembly includes an elongate shaped insulating base formed from two substantially identical base parts 1, one being appropriately orientated with respect to the other, and which when inter-engaged define two compartments within which can be mounted two electric fuse contacts (not shown). Each of the electric fuse contacts has means for electrical contact with a flexible electric cable or electric busbar.

The insulating base parts 1 are formed from a thermoplastic insulating material and are so shaped that, when the two insulating base parts are permanently secured together, they form an insulating base having a rectangular shaped bottom wall 2, with an upstanding boundary wall 3 extending around its periphery. The boundary wall 3 comprises two side walls 4 and two end walls 1 each formed by end wall portions 7, 8 of the insulating base parts 1 when the two base parts are inter-engaged. Each of the insulating base parts 1 is provided with inter-engaging shoulders 5, 6, which, when the two base parts are secured together, define the compartments into which electric fuse contacts can be permanently trapped in their required positions.

The electric cartridge fuse assembly also includes a fuse carrier (not shown) made of electrically insulating material on which the cartridge fuse link is supported. The fuse carrier is detachably engageable with the insulating base and shaped so that when the carier is detachably engaged with the insulating base, the terminals of the cartridge fuse link are in electrical connection with the electric fuse contacts trapped in the insulating base.

1. An electric cartridge fuse assembly of the kind described in which the insulating

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An improved electric cartridge fuse assembly This invention relates to electric cartridge fuse assemblies of the kind comprising a base of electrically insulating material on which are mounted two electric fuse contacts each of which has means for electrical connection to a conductor of a flexible electric cable or to an electric busbar and, separately formed with respect to and detachably with the insulating base, a carrier of electrically insulating material on which an electric cartridge fuse link is so supported that, when the carrier is detachably engaged with the base, the terminals of the cartridge fuse link are,in direct or indirect electrical connection with the electric fuse contacts of the base. Electric cartridge fuse assemblies of this kind will hereinafter, for convenience, be referred to as "of the kind described". According to the present invention, in an electric cartridge fuse assembly of the kind described, the insulating base is of elongate shape and is divided longitudinally of its length into two separately formed base parts which are permanently secured together and are each of such a shape and size that the electric fuse contacts and their associated means for electrical connection to a conductor of a flexible electric cable or to an electric busbar are permanently trapped in the base at their required positions without the use of separately formed securing means. Preferably, the two base parts are made of thermoplastics material and are permanently secured together by ultrasonic welding, but in some circumstances, they may be permanently secured together by rivetting or any other convenient means of effecting a permanent connection. For reasons of ease of manufacture and economy, preferably the two separately formed base parts are substantially identical. The insulating base may be divided longitudinally of its length along its central axis but, preferably, the insulating base is so divided longitudinally of its length that one base part inter-engages with the other, one base part being appropriately orientated with respect to the other. Preferably, the insulating base comprises a bottom wall and a continuous boundary wall upstanding from and extending around the perphery of the bottom wall. The bottom wall is preferably of substantially rectangular shape so that the upstanding boundary wall consists of two side walls and two end walls. At each end of the insulating base, preferably the end, side an bottom walls have inwardly extending shoulders or other projections which, when the two base parts are permanently secured together, define a compartment in which an electric fuse contact and its associated connecting means is permanently trapped. The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of a preferred electric cartridge fuse assembly of the kind described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of one of the two substantially identical base parts of which the insulating base of the preferred electric cartridge fuse assembly is built up; Figure 2 is a plan view of the insulating base part shown in Fig. 1; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the insulating base part taken along the line Ill-Ill in Fig. 1; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the insulating base part taken along line IV-IV in Fig. 1, and Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the insulating base part taken along the line V-V of Fig. 1. Referring to the drawings, the preferred electric cartridge fuse assembly includes an elongate shaped insulating base formed from two substantially identical base parts 1, one being appropriately orientated with respect to the other, and which when inter-engaged define two compartments within which can be mounted two electric fuse contacts (not shown). Each of the electric fuse contacts has means for electrical contact with a flexible electric cable or electric busbar. The insulating base parts 1 are formed from a thermoplastic insulating material and are so shaped that, when the two insulating base parts are permanently secured together, they form an insulating base having a rectangular shaped bottom wall 2, with an upstanding boundary wall 3 extending around its periphery. The boundary wall 3 comprises two side walls 4 and two end walls 1 each formed by end wall portions 7, 8 of the insulating base parts 1 when the two base parts are inter-engaged. Each of the insulating base parts 1 is provided with inter-engaging shoulders 5, 6, which, when the two base parts are secured together, define the compartments into which electric fuse contacts can be permanently trapped in their required positions. The electric cartridge fuse assembly also includes a fuse carrier (not shown) made of electrically insulating material on which the cartridge fuse link is supported. The fuse carrier is detachably engageable with the insulating base and shaped so that when the carier is detachably engaged with the insulating base, the terminals of the cartridge fuse link are in electrical connection with the electric fuse contacts trapped in the insulating base. CLAIMS

1. An electric cartridge fuse assembly of the kind described in which the insulating base is of elongate shape and is divided longitudinally of its length into two separately formed base parts which are permanently secured together and are each of such a shape and size that the electric fuse contacts and their associated means for electrical connection to a conductor of a flexible electric cable or to an electrical busbar are permanently trapped in the base at their required positions without the use of separately formed securing means.

2. An electric cartridge fuse assembly as claimed in Claim 1, in which the two base parts are made of thermoplastics material and are permanently secured together by ultrasonic welding.

3. An electric cartridge fuse assembly as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, in which the two separately formed base parts are substantially identical.

4. An electric cartridge fuse assembly as claimed in any one of the preceeding Claims, in which the insulating base is so divided longitudinally of its length that one base part inter-engages with the other, one base part being appropriately orientated with respect to the other.

5. An electric cartridge fuse assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, in which the insulating base comprises a bottom wall and a continuous boundary wall upstanding from and extending around the perphery of the bottom wall.

6. An electric cartridge fuse assembly claimed in Claim 5 in which the bottom wall is of substantially rectangular shape so that the upstanding boundary wall consists of two side walls and two end walls.

7. An electric cartridge fuse assembly as claimed in Claim 6, in which the end, side and bottom walls have inwardly extending shoulders or other projections which, when the two base parts are permanently secured together, define a compartment in which an electric fuse contact and its associated connecting means is permanently trapped.

8. An electric cartridge fuse assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as claimed in the accompanying drawings.