US1633971A - Fuse mechanism - Google Patents

Description

June 28, 1927.

'IIIIIIIIII H. G. BAXTER FUSE MECHANISM Filed Jan.20. 1921 WITNESSES:

INVENTOR ATTORNEY Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. a

HAROLD G. BAXTER, O1 BALDWDI', NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO, WESTINGHOUSE ELEC- 'IBIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ru'sn MECHANISM.

n Application filed January 20, 1921. Serial No. 438,572.

serves as a closure for openings provided in the panel cover opposite the fuse receptacles and wherein the fuse supports engage the standard fuse clips usually mounted upon the panelboard. By reason of this construction, the fuses are removed with the carrier or closure member without the use of tools and are, consequently, disconnected from contact with the live fuse clips before access to the fuses is obtainable. The fuses ma therefore, be conveniently replaced wit out danger of the operator coming in contact with the live terminals.

Another object of my invention is to provide a fuse carrier, havin the above characteristics, wherein simp e one-piece fuse clips are mounted on the inner side of the carrier and are provided with convolutions constituting a receptacle for the fuse and a contact portion similar in shape and dimensions to the shape and dimensions of a standard cartridge fuse for engaging standard fuse clips.

It has been customary to mount the fuse clips on a panel board opposite the openings provided in the cover for the purpose of permitting access to the fuses for inspection or replacement. In order to replace a fuse, a tool, commonly known as fuse tongs, was usually inserted through the openings in the cover.. In this method of operation, there is always danger of the tongs engaging one of the live fuse clips or terminals. This unsafe method of changing the fuses is avoided by the use of fuse carriers made and operated in accordance with my invention.

Another object of the invention is to pro-' ing the fuse carrier in disengaged relation to the fuse c1ips;

Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1, showing the fuse carrier in operative engagement with the fuse clips.

Referring to the drawings, 3 represents a portion of the insulating base or panel upon which various electrical fixtures, such as switches and fuses, are mounted. The front of the panel is protected by means of a cover 4 that is mounted in spaced relation with respect to the panel or base 3 and between which the usual electrical equipment is mounted.

The cover, which is usually made of sheet metal, is provided with an opening or openings 5 disposed opposite the fuse-clip members 6. The fuse-clip members 6 are of standard construction and each com rises a single piece of metal stamped in B-shape having resilient branches 7 so curved as to form a substantially circular lamp in which tridg'e fuse are inserted. Two fuse clips are usually mounted upon the base 3 by means of screws and are disposed in spaced relation in such a manner that they receive a support and a cartridge fuse between them. It is the usual practice to arrange the sets of fuse clips side by side upon the panel, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

It has been customary to insert the fuse members in the clips 7 and to close the opening 5 in the cover by a door that normally closes the opening and precludes access to the fuse members. This construction necessithe cylindrical contact members of a car tates the use of fuse tongs for replacing the.

tongs and, with this object in view, I have provided a fuse carrier 8 which comprises a block 9, made of insulating material, which is provided with a handle 10 that may be gripped by the operator when it is desired to change the fuses. The dimensions of the carrier are such that it completely closes the opening 5 when in operative position, as illustrated in Fig. 2.

The inner side of the carrier 8 is provided with two sets of fuse-supporting clips 11, each clip comprising a single piece of sheet metal of U-shape, the branches thereof being provided with convolutions constituting the supporting members 11 are in operative en agement with the clip members 6. In order to replace a fuse, it is necessary merely to withdraw the carrier 8 from the cover, which operation, disconnects the fuses from the fuse clip members 6. The fuses may then be conveniently replaced and the carrier again inserted. I

It will be obvious that the fuses 15 may be inserted between the free ends of the branches, forming the plug 14, and that two fuses may be placed in each clip in order to increase the capacity of the fuses in the circuit. The construction is extremely simple, it being practicable to readil mold the carrier member of plastic insu ating material, and the fuse supporting members 11 may be stamped from sheet metal by simple, inexpensive stamping operations.

While I have described and illustrated but one embodiment of my invention, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus illustrated without departing from the spirit and sec e of the invention, as set forth in the appen ed claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In a panel board, the combination with a board having a fuse clip thereon and a cover having an opening op site the fuse clip, of a carrier forclosing t e opening and provided with a clip for yieldingly and releasably supporting a fuse thereon, the said clip having portions extending beyond the fuse for on aging the interior of the fuse clip on the oard for preventing release of the fuse from the carrier when the carrier is in closed position.

2. A fuse carrier comprisin an insulating block and a clip havng yielt ling arms for gripping a cartndge fuse between them, the said arms having ielding extensions formed in conformity with the contact terminal of a standard fuse and adapted to yieldingly engage the interior of a cartridge fuse clip for supporting the said fuse in operative relation with the standard clip.

3. The combination with a pair of separate standard fuse receptacles disposed in spaced relation, of a fuse carrier havin fuse-supporting members disposed in spaced relation thereon for yieldin 1y engaging the said fuse receptacles whereby the carrier is supported in apredetermined relation with the receptacles, the said supportin members being provided with sockets for etachably receiving and supporting fuse elements in electrical engagement therewith.

4. The combination with a standard receptacle for a cartridge fuse having a pair.

of yielding contact arms for supporting a standard fuse between them, of a carrier for a cartridge fuse having contact arms for gri ping a fuse between them and havin yie ding contact portions extending beyond the fuse and conforming in contour to that of a standard fuse terminal, for an aging the interior of the receptacle, where y the contact arms of the carrier are pressed inwardly into conductive contact with the terminal of the fuse, and whereby the carrier is detachabl supported in a predetermined position wit respect to the receptacle.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this eleventh day of January 1921.

HAROLD G. BAXTER.

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