US1953136A

US1953136A - Fuse construction

Info

Publication number: US1953136A
Application number: US631607A
Authority: US
Inventors: Alwin G Steinmayer
Original assignee: Line Material Co
Current assignee: Line Material Co
Priority date: 1932-09-03
Filing date: 1932-09-03
Publication date: 1934-04-03
Anticipated expiration: 1951-04-03

Description

April 3, 1934-. A, 5, 5 1 E L953f135 FUSE CONSTRUCTION Filed Sept. 3, 1932 llgmw J Snvcutor Patented Apr. 3, 1934 PATENT OFFICE FUSE CONSTRUCTION Alwin G. Steinmayer, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor to Line Material Company, South Milwaukee, Wis, a corporation of Delaware Application September 3, 1932, Serial No. 631,607

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a construction of fuse, particularly for high voltage. V

In fuse constructions as heretofore made for use in the protection of high voltage lines it has been the practice heretofore to provide some means in certain forms of these fuses for allowingthe fuse to rock outwardly after the fuse link has been ruptured, to thereby increase the separation between the live side of the line and 1 the fuse structure.

These devices have heretofore been made either in the form of a stick type of circuit breaker, which requires a relatively large swing,

or in other types of fuses in which the fuse is located within the tube open to the weather at the top. a V

In view of the fact that fiber is the usual, and, in fact, a very highly serviceable material for the construction of the inner portion at least of fuse tubes, it has been found that devices of this nature collect water and the fiber, as is well known, absorbs the water in considerable quantity causing warping and other defects which renders the fuse unserviceable and inoperative.

This invention is designed to overcome the above noted defects, and objects of this invention are to provide a combined switch and fuse which is so-made that although a fuse tube is used and is so constructed that it swings outwardly to provide a wide space between the live portion of the line and the remainder of the fuse upon rupturing of the fuse link, nevertheless is protected from the collection of water within the tube, so that although a fiber tube or at least a fiber lined tube may be employed, nevertheless warping and distortion and other incident defects due to the collection of water is wholly avoided.

In high voltage fuses it is apparent that as these fuses are applied to-higher and higher voltages, the tubes become increasingly longer so that the leverage of the pivotally mounted tube increases greatly, and therefore whenthe fuse drops open under the previous constructions, it is clear that the insulators and associated parts are subjected to increasing strains. In addition to this defect, it is also well known that when a high voltage fuse ruptures, that although the fuse will clear, a metallic coating is formed on the inside wall of the fuse tube. This metallic coating although not being sufficient to necessarily cause instant leakage and often in no way impairing the operation of the fuse tubes on higher voltages, nevertheless results in leakage currents across the surfaces of the fuse tube, and also results in a corona discharge setting up intense radio interfer'ence.

This invention is designed to overcome these defects, and further objects of this invention are 1 to provide a high voltage fuse which is so-made that although a metallic coating may be formed in the fuse tube, that nevertheless a positive gap is always provided when the fuse blows by the outwardly swinging portion of the fuse structure which bodily moves away from one of the terminals or live portions of the line, and to so construct the high voltage fuse that although a relatively long or relatively heavy fuse tube and associated parts may be employed, that nevertheless no excessive strains are imparted to any portion of the mechanism.

Further objects are to provide means for preventing oscillation or swinging of the fuse tube after it has moved outwardly although it may be acted upon by a high wind, and to provide means which substantially locks the fuse in its open position so that there is no repeated oscillation, even at the instant of operation of the fuse, but instead in which there is a single outward swing and the tube thereafter locked in its open position.

Ingreater detail, further objects of this invention are to provide a high voltage fuse which may be of the expulsion type. which is pivoted adjacent its upper end, and in which an upper end is set outwardly, from the support beyond the lower end, so that the lower end mayswing outwardly, thereby avoiding any severe shock or stress as might have occurred if a fuse, particularly one having a long tube, were pivoted at the bottom and swung from the top around the bottom pivot.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the structure, with parts broken away.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Figure 1. I 3 Referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the fuse tube is indicated by the reference character 1. This fuse tube may be formed of fiber or may be formed of bakelite or other material provided with a fiber lining, as indicated at2 in Figure 1: The fuse tube carries an upper contact 3 and a lower contact 4.

The upper contact may have a threaded lower portion which receives the threaded upper end of the fuse tube, and may be of substantially rectangular construction adjacent its upper portion, as indicated in the sectional view, Figure 2. 0b-

viously it might also be round without departing from the spirit of this invention. At all events, it is provided with a pair of trunnions 5 which project outwardly from opposite sides of theupper contact and which are received within the hooked ends of the supporting ears or pivot supporting portions 6 of the upper terminal member '7, so that the entire structure may pivot about the upper trunnions.

The upper contact 3 is provided with a threaded upper end which receives the cap or enlarged, flat-topped nut 8, against which a spring 10 bears, such spring when the fuse is in circuit closed or operative position bearing upon a corner or edge of the enlarged, fiat-topped cap 8. Further, a contact spring of the brush type, as indicated at 11, is carried by the upper terminal member '7 and bears against the upper contact 3 at a point below the pivots 5, thereby tending to urge the fuse towards vertical position. It is preferable to so form the contact 11 that it will follow the contact 3 outwardly substantially to a vertical position of the fuse tube. This acts to prevent oscillation of the fuse tube after rupturing, and also tends to prevent the backward swinging of the fuse when subjected to high wind pressure.

However, a further means for preventing oscillation of the fuse tube after blowing is afforded by the coaction of the spring 10 and the fiattopped cap or upper member 8. Obviously the spring in the position shown in Figure 1 tends to urge the fuse tube towards vertical position. When this fuse tube rocks to vertical position, the approximately flattened lower portion 10' of the spring 10 bears against the flat top of the cap 8, and consequently this portion of the spring moves downwardly and resists subsequent upward motion, thereby tending to hold or look the fuse tube in a substantially vertical position.

A support or bracket 12 may be provided for the entire device and may carry an upper insulator 13 which carries the upper terminal member 7, and a lower insulator 14 which carries the lower terminal member 15. The lower contact 4 of the fuse is engaged by a brush spring or lower contact member 16 secured to the lower terminal member 5 and bearing against the lower contact 4 and urging the lower contact 4 of the fuse tube out wardly. The lower contact member 4 may be provided with a manipulating ring 1'7 and may be received loosely between guides 18 carried from the lower terminal member 15. The upper contact member 3 may be provided with a. lip or tongue 18 adapted to be received in the slot of a fuse pole.

The lower contact member 4 pivotally supports a latching member 19 which is provided with a flat face 20 bearing against the end of a locking spring or lip 21. The member 21 may or may not be resilient, as desired, and also the

members

19 and 21 may be formed induplicate on opposite sides of the fuse tube, if desired.

The latching member 19 is provided with a restraining arm 22 which is beveled upwardly and which engages the beveled face of an car 23 formed on the fuse link plate 24. This fuse link plate is pivotally mounted, as indicated at 25, be-,

tween ears carried by the lower contact 4 of the fuse tube and is held against outward swinging by looping a portion 26 of the fuse link around its lower'portion, the free end of the fuse link being clamped by means of a screw or bolt 27, as indicated in the lower portion of Figure 1.'

If desired, the fuse link plate or lever 24 may have a bottom intumed portion 28 which i notched at its outer end to receive the inwardly bending portion of the fuse link, as shown in dotted lines at the lower portion of Figure 1.

The upper end of the fuse link 26 may be provided with a disk or enlarged portion 29 which is clamped by the cap 8 against the upper portion of the contact 3, indicated in Figure 1.

When the fuse blows, the fuse link releases the fuse link plate or lever 24 and the cammed portion 23 thereof rocks out of engagement with the portion 22, allowing the latch 19 to rock about its pivot and disengage itself from the restraining member 21. This permits the lower end of the fuse to swing outwardly under the double urge of the spring contacts 11 and 16 as well as the spring 10, and also the urge of gravity.

As soon as the fuse tube swings outwardly to vertical position, the upper spring 10 bears against the flat top of the extended cap 8 and substantially locks the fuse in vertical position.

In addition to this, the spring 11 follows the upper contact 3 outwardly substantially to vertical position, and also aids in preventing oscillation of the fuse tube or inward motion of the fuse tube even when acted upon by high wind pressure.

Thus both the members 10 and 11 cooperate, though the member 10 acts substantially as a looking means to lock the fuse tube in vertical position.

It is to be noted particularly that the fuse tube may be made as long as desired, and consequent- 1y may be used for very high voltages, as there is no shock upon the mechanism irrespective of the size or length of the fuse tube, due to the outward swinging of the fuse tube.

Further, it is clear that by spacing the upper supporting portion outwardly from the lower supporting portion, it is possible to have the lower portion of the fuse tube swing outwardly from its lower contact.

Further, it will be seen that the device is of simple and reliable construction and is easy to produce.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail, it is to be understood that 120 such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

I claim:

1. A fuse comprising an upper terminal mem- 125 ber and a lower terminal member, a fuse having upper and lower contacts electrically connected to said terminal members, said fuse being supported from said upper terminal member, releasable latching means temporarily holding the lower contact in engagement with said lower terminal member, and a fuse link joining said upper and lower contacts and restraining said latching means from opening movement, said upper terminal member being offset with respect to said lower terminal member, said fuse tending toswing by gravity away from said lower terminal member.

2. A fuse comprising an upper terminal member and a lower terminal member set inwardly with respect to said upper terminal member, a fuse having upper and lower contacts electrically connected to said terminal members, said fuse being supported from said upper terminal member, releasable latching means temporarily holding the lower contact in engagement with said lower terminal member, a fuse link joining said upper and lower contacts and restraining said latching means from opening movement, said fuse tending to swing by gravity outwardly away 150 from said lower terminal member, and means tending to urge said lower contact away from said lower terminal member.

3. A fuse comprising an upper terminal member and a lower terminal member, a fuse having an upper and a lower contact, means pivotally joining the upper contact to said upper terminal member, said fuse tending to swing'by gravity away from said lower terminal member, a fuse link electrically connecting said upper and lower contacts, and latching means for temporarily holding said lower contact in electrical engagement with said lower terminal member, said latching means being restrained against opening motion by said fuse link.

4. A fuse comprising an upper terminal member and a lower terminal member, a fuse having an upper contact pivotally connected to said upper terminal member and having a lower contact, a fuse link electrically joining said contacts, latching means including a member held by said fuse link to prevent releasing motion of said latching means, said latching means temporarily holding said lower contact in electrical engagement with said lower terminal member, and spring contact means tending to urge said lower contact outwardly from said lower terminal mem ber.

5. A fuse comprising an upper terminal member and a lower terminal member, said upper terminal member being set outwardly with respect to said lower terminal member, a fuse pivotally supported from said upper terminal member and slanting inwardly and downwardly to said lower terminal member, said fuse having an upper contact electrically connected to said upper terminal member and having a lower contact temporarily electrically connected to said lower terminal member, a fuse link electrically joining said contacts, latching means temporarily holding the lower contact in engagement with said lower terminal member, and means cooperating with said latching means and restraining the opening motion of said latching means, said means being connected to said fuse link whereby when said fuse link ruptures, said means is released, -thereby permitting said latching means to move to releasing position, whereby the lower portion of said fuse swings outwardly from said lower terminal member.

6. A fuse comprising an upper terminal member and a lower terminal member, a fuse provided with an upper contact pivotally supported by said upper terminal member, said fuse having a lower contact normally electrically connected to said lower terminal member, said lower terminal member being set inwardly with respect to said upper terminal member, and said fuse being normally held in a downwardly and inwardly slanting position, a fuse link joining said contacts, latching means normally holding said lower contact in electrical engagement with said lower terminal member, said latching means being restrained against opening motion by said fuse link, and means for preventing swinging of said fuse after said fuse has blown and its lower end has rocked outwardly from said lower terminal member.

'7. A fuse comprising an upper terminal member and a lower terminal member, a fuse provided with an upper contact pivotally supported by said upper terminal member, said fuse having a lower contact normally electrically connected to said lower terminal member, said lower terminal member being set inwardly with respect to said upper terminal member, and said fuse being normally held in a downwardly and inwardly slanting position, a fuse link joining said contacts, latching means normally holding said lower contact in electrical engagement with said lower terminal member, said latching means being restrained against opening motion by said fuse link, said fuse having a flat upper end and a spring supported from said upper terminal member and cooperating with said flat upper end to prevent swinging of said fuse after said fuse has blown and has rocked outwardly away from said lower terminal member.

8. A fuse comprising upper and lower terminal members, a fuse pivotally supported from said upper terminal member, said fuse comprising a tubular body having upper and lower contacts normally electrically connected to said upper and 115 lower terminal members, a spring lip carried by said lower terminal member, a catch pivoted to said lower contact and slidable over said spring lip, said spring lip normally locking said catch,

a lever mounted on the outer side of said tubular 120 body and releasably holding said latch against releasing motion, and a fuse link passing outwardly through the lower end of said tubul'ar body and extending over the end of said lever and secured to said lever, said fuse being biased 125 towards swinging motion away from said lower terminal member.

ALWIN G. STEINMAYER.