GB2186447A

GB2186447A - Electrical fuses

Info

Publication number: GB2186447A
Application number: GB08701613A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Michael Linney
Original assignee: Wandsworth Electrical Ltd
Current assignee: Wandsworth Electrical Ltd
Priority date: 1986-01-27
Filing date: 1987-01-26
Publication date: 1987-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2007-01-26
Also published as: GB8601866D0; GB2186447B; GB8701613D0

Abstract

A wall-mounted electrical junction box or switch has a plug-in fuse carrier 3 provided with an illuminable indicator, in the form of a neon, for indicating the condition of the fuse 5. The carrier has a plastics housing 9 defining two chambers 13 and 14 respectively for the fuse 5 and neon. If a fault arises the fuse 5 blows and the neon is extinguished. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION An electrical component The invention relates to an electrical component, particularly such a component which has a fuse.

According to the invention there is provided a fuse carrier for an electrical component comprising an illuminable indicator for indicating the condition of the fuse.

According to a second aspect ofthe invention there is provided a plug-in fuse carrierfor an electrical component, comprising an illuminable indicator for indicating the condition of the fuse.

The indicator may be a neon indicator.

The neon may be connected to the fuse at one and and to the neutral terminal to complete a circuit.

The carrier may comprise two members mounted one within the other and secured togetherto form a single unit which has two chambers, one forthefuse and the otherforthe neon.

The other chamber may have an integral seating in which the neon is seated.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an electrical component including a plug-in fusecarrieras hereinbeforedefined.

The component may be a fused switch.

Electrical components embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure lisa side elevational view of an electrical component according to the invention; Figure2 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe component of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through one end, at 90 to the longitudinal view; Figure4is a transverse sectional viewthroughthe other end, at 90" to the longitudinal view; Figure 5shows a part-sectional view showing a connection of a neon indicator; Figure 6shows a plan view with a front part of a plug-in carrier according to the invention removed to show the neon indicator; Figure 7 is a plan view of the component of Figure 1;and Figure 8 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the component.

Referring to the drawings there is shown an electrical component such as a wall mounted electrical junction box 1 (Figure 1, Figure 7) or switch 2 (Figure 8) each of which is fused and has a fuse carrier 3 in the form of a plug-in fuse carrier comprising an illuminable indicator4, intheform of a neon, for indicating the condition of the fuse 5.

The component 1,2 has three terminals, ofwhich two 6 and 7 are shown mounted in a plastic housing 9which is mounted usually in an aperture in awall and has a cover plate 10with a rectangular opening for receiving the plug-in fuse carrier 3. The earth terminal is mounted on a grid plate. Thefusecarrier 3 according to the invention is a single unitformed from two plastic members 11 and 12 which are joined togetherto form two chambers 13 and 14, one 13 forthefuse 5 and one 14forthe neon 4. Thefuse 5 is a 13-amp replaceable fuse in the embodiments shown. The neon 4 is received securely in a seating formed integrally on the web 15 of the member 11 which is of channel shape in cross-section during manufacture as by injection moulding. The seating is not shown.

The member 12fits snugly within the channel section member 11 and has shorter limbs than the member 11,so that when they are assembled with the free ends of their limbs 16,17 substantially in the same plane, the web 18 of the member 12 is spaced fromtheweb 15 and defineswith itandthe limbs 17 the other chamber 14 in which the neon 4 is housed.

Theweb 18 acts as a partition between the two chambers 13 and 14, and has through holes 19 forming conduits for electrical connections or leads 20, 20' between the neon 4 and the fuse 5. The web 15 comprises a transparent or translucent panel, possibly coloured red, through which the neon 4 is viewablewhen illuminated.

The members 11 and 12 are joined together as by welding at 21 to form the integral plug-carrier 3.

In manufacture, the neon 4 is installed in its seating, the member 12 is inserted in the channel-section member 11 and the leads 20 are passed through the apertures 19 and are connected with the fuse 5 and neutral terminal 7 and the two members 11 and 12 are secured together at 21.

Stated in anotherwaythe neon isthusfedfromthe fused side ofthe line supply to neutral,the lead 20 being connected with the neutral terminal 20 and the lead 20' being connected to the load end ofthefuse 5. The fuse 5 is inserted and the carrier3 is readyto plug into the component 1,2, by pushing ittothe left as viewed in Figure 2,the sides of the member 11 springing into the rectangularopening,thefuseS automatically making electrical contact at each end with the live and line in and line line out contacts. The neon 4 9 lows and is visible if all is well. If a fault arises the fuse 5 blows, and the neon 4 is extinguished, giving an immediate visible indication thatthere is a fault and that the fuse has blown.

The retained carrier 3 can then be pulled out ofthe component 1,2 and the fuse replaced. The carrier 3 is then plugged back into the component 1,2 once more to give a visible idication ofthe state ofthe fuse, and hence of the circuit.

If it is not desired to include the neon 4, the member 11 may be opaque and without the seating.

The front plate 10 includes a cable outlet 22. The switch 23 (Figure 8) may be a rocker switch.

The invention above described with reference to the drawings is thus a fused connector unit with a neon in the fuse carrier.

1. Afuse carrier for an electrical component, comprising an illuminable indicatorforindicating the condition of the fuse.

2. Aplug-in fusecarrierforan electrical component, comprising an illuminable indicatorfor indicating the condition of the fuse.

3. A carrier according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, the indicator being a neon indicator.

4. A carrier according to Claim 3, the neon being

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

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION An electrical component The invention relates to an electrical component, particularly such a component which has a fuse. According to the invention there is provided a fuse carrier for an electrical component comprising an illuminable indicator for indicating the condition of the fuse. According to a second aspect ofthe invention there is provided a plug-in fuse carrierfor an electrical component, comprising an illuminable indicator for indicating the condition of the fuse. The indicator may be a neon indicator. The neon may be connected to the fuse at one and and to the neutral terminal to complete a circuit. The carrier may comprise two members mounted one within the other and secured togetherto form a single unit which has two chambers, one forthefuse and the otherforthe neon. The other chamber may have an integral seating in which the neon is seated. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided an electrical component including a plug-in fusecarrieras hereinbeforedefined. The component may be a fused switch. Electrical components embodying the invention are hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure lisa side elevational view of an electrical component according to the invention; Figure2 is a longitudinal sectional view ofthe component of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view through one end, at 90 to the longitudinal view; Figure4is a transverse sectional viewthroughthe other end, at 90" to the longitudinal view; Figure 5shows a part-sectional view showing a connection of a neon indicator; Figure 6shows a plan view with a front part of a plug-in carrier according to the invention removed to show the neon indicator; Figure 7 is a plan view of the component of Figure 1;and Figure 8 is a plan view of a second embodiment of the component. Referring to the drawings there is shown an electrical component such as a wall mounted electrical junction box 1 (Figure 1, Figure 7) or switch 2 (Figure 8) each of which is fused and has a fuse carrier 3 in the form of a plug-in fuse carrier comprising an illuminable indicator4, intheform of a neon, for indicating the condition of the fuse 5. The component 1,2 has three terminals, ofwhich two 6 and 7 are shown mounted in a plastic housing 9which is mounted usually in an aperture in awall and has a cover plate 10with a rectangular opening for receiving the plug-in fuse carrier 3. The earth terminal is mounted on a grid plate. Thefusecarrier 3 according to the invention is a single unitformed from two plastic members 11 and 12 which are joined togetherto form two chambers 13 and 14, one 13 forthefuse 5 and one 14forthe neon 4. Thefuse 5 is a 13-amp replaceable fuse in the embodiments shown. The neon 4 is received securely in a seating formed integrally on the web 15 of the member 11 which is of channel shape in cross-section during manufacture as by injection moulding. The seating is not shown. The member 12fits snugly within the channel section member 11 and has shorter limbs than the member 11,so that when they are assembled with the free ends of their limbs 16,17 substantially in the same plane, the web 18 of the member 12 is spaced fromtheweb 15 and defineswith itandthe limbs 17 the other chamber 14 in which the neon 4 is housed. Theweb 18 acts as a partition between the two chambers 13 and 14, and has through holes 19 forming conduits for electrical connections or leads 20, 20' between the neon 4 and the fuse 5. The web 15 comprises a transparent or translucent panel, possibly coloured red, through which the neon 4 is viewablewhen illuminated. The members 11 and 12 are joined together as by welding at 21 to form the integral plug-carrier 3. In manufacture, the neon 4 is installed in its seating, the member 12 is inserted in the channel-section member 11 and the leads 20 are passed through the apertures 19 and are connected with the fuse 5 and neutral terminal 7 and the two members 11 and 12 are secured together at 21. Stated in anotherwaythe neon isthusfedfromthe fused side ofthe line supply to neutral,the lead 20 being connected with the neutral terminal 20 and the lead 20' being connected to the load end ofthefuse 5. The fuse 5 is inserted and the carrier3 is readyto plug into the component 1,2, by pushing ittothe left as viewed in Figure 2,the sides of the member 11 springing into the rectangularopening,thefuseS automatically making electrical contact at each end with the live and line in and line line out contacts. The neon 4 9 lows and is visible if all is well. If a fault arises the fuse 5 blows, and the neon 4 is extinguished, giving an immediate visible indication thatthere is a fault and that the fuse has blown. The retained carrier 3 can then be pulled out ofthe component 1,2 and the fuse replaced. The carrier 3 is then plugged back into the component 1,2 once more to give a visible idication ofthe state ofthe fuse, and hence of the circuit. If it is not desired to include the neon 4, the member 11 may be opaque and without the seating. The front plate 10 includes a cable outlet 22. The switch 23 (Figure 8) may be a rocker switch. The invention above described with reference to the drawings is thus a fused connector unit with a neon in the fuse carrier. CLAIMS

4. A carrier according to Claim 3, the neon being connected to the output side ofthe fuse and the neutral terminal ofthe component to complete a circuitthroughthefuse.

5. A carrier according to Claim 4, comprising two members mounted one within the other and secured togethertoform a single uni which has two chambers, one forthe fuse and the otherforthe neon.

6. Acarrieraccordingto Claim S,theother chamber having an integral seating on which the neon is seated.

7. Aplug-infusecarrierforan electrical component, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

8. An electrical component including a plug-in fuse carrier according to any preceding claim.

9. An electrical component according to Claim 8, comprising amused switch.

10. An electrical component, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.