US3579179A

US3579179A - Fuse connectors

Info

Publication number: US3579179A
Application number: US761473A
Authority: US
Inventors: Daniel Dumeige
Original assignee: AMP de France
Current assignee: AMP de France
Priority date: 1967-09-27
Filing date: 1968-09-23
Publication date: 1971-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 1988-05-18
Also published as: SE335171B; US3681740A; DE1788046A1; GB1175316A; NL6812993A; FR1547605A; JPS479972B1; BE721570A

Abstract

A fuse connector has a fuse contact formed from sheet metal with a body having an apertured extension, a resilient tongue in the aperture engaging an end of a fuse cartridge, side portions along the aperture embracing sides of the cartridge, and a bar joining the side portions serves to limit deflection of the tongue. A housing houses the fuse connectors to provide a connector assembly and it has hinged cover means for access to the fuse; commoning strips may be employed to connect the fuse connectors with other selected connectors of the connector assembly.

Description

United States Patent Inventor Appl. No.

Filed Patented Assignee Priority Daniel Dumeige Pontoise, France 76 1,473

Sept. 23, 1968 May 18, 1971 AMP de France Pontoise, France Sept. 27, 1967 France FUSE CONNECTORS 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl

Field of Search 258, 252 (F), 256 (C), 259 (F), 262 (F), 217;

339/217, 337/229 Int. Cl H01r 11/22,

HOlh 85/22 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,724,729 8/ 1929 Ruttenberg et al, 339/150X 2,738,485 3/1956 Batcheller 339/258 Primary Examiner-Marvin A. Champion Assistant Examiner-Lawrence J. Staab Attorneys-Curtis, Morris and Safford, Marshall M.

Holcombe, William Hintze, William J. Keating, Frederick W. Raring, John R. Hopkins, Adrian J. La Rue and Jay L. Seitchik ABSTRACT: A fuse connector has a fuse contact formed from sheet metal with a body having an apettured extension, a

resilient tongue in the aperture engaging an end of a fuse cartridge, side portions along the aperture embracing sides of the cartridge, and a bar joining the side portions serves to limit deflection of the tongue. A housing houses the fuse connectors to provide a connector assembly and it has hinged cover 4 means for access to the fuse; commoning strips may be employed to connect the fuse connectors with other selected connectors of the connector assembly.

PATENTED HAY 8197i 7 $579,179

sum 1 or z |NVEN TOR DANIEL oumzma PATVEVNTEDEMYVISVIVIQYI sumzu z' INVENTO R I DANIEL pumawz FUSE CONNECTORS This invention relates to fuse connectors for cartridge fuses.

Cartridge fuses are generally of two similar types. A first type comprises a cylindrical transparent envelope of glass or other insulator containing internally an axially extending wire filament forming a fuse element. The filament is connected at its ends to metal end caps closing ends of the cylinder. A second type comprises a cylindrical body of ceramic or insulating material carrying an external conductive strip fuse element secured at opposite ends of the body by cap portions integral with the strip.

A fuse connector for a cartridge fuse, according to the present invention, comprises a sheet metal body formed with an aperture defining a pair of sidearms between which a resilient tab portion projects, the tab portion being integral with the body at one end and at its free end being arranged to engage an end of the cartridge fuse while sides of the cartridge end are received between the sidearms, ends of the sidearms being integrally joined by a bar portion extending laterally of the tab portion adjacent its free end and arranged to limit deflection of thetab portion by engagement of the free end therewith.

The body of the connector is suitably formed as a plug or socket for mating with a complementary socket or plug and the plug or socket portion is suitably formed for mounting in a housing passageway. in this way, by engagement of the housing with a complementary housing, the fuse associated with a pair of connectors may be releasably connected into circuitry terminated at the complementary housing.

The invention also includes a fuse connector assembly comprising a pair of fuse connectors mounted in an insulating housing having a cavity confined by a pair of spaced sidewalls, the bodies of the connectors being mounted in respective passageways leading from the cavity and the apertured portions of the connectors being disposed within the cavity with bar portions of the connectors adjacent respective sidewalls. ln such assembly the housing is suitably formed with a hinged cover for the cavity. 7

An object-of the invention is to provide a fuse connector provided with a fuse-connecting portion having an apertured tab for electrical engagement with a fuse end.

Another object is the provision of a fuse connector having sidearms extending along sides of the tab thereby assisting in proper positioning of the end of the fuse into electrical engagement with the tab.

A further object is to provide a fuse connector having a channel-shaped fuse-connecting section which is provided with a base that is inclined rearwardly and outwardly, the base being apertured thereby forming a tab having a section extending substantially parallel with respect to a longitudinal axis of the connector.

An additional object is the provision of a fuse connector wherein the sidearms are connected by a bar in alignment with a free end of the tab to overstressed.

A still further object is to provide a dielectric housing for the fuse connectors to provide a fuse connector assembly with the housing having integrally formed hinged cover means for covering a cavity in which spaced fused connectors are disposed for electrically connecting with a fuse.

Other objects and attainments of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention; it is to be understood, however, that this embodiment is not intended to be exhaustive nor limiting of the invention but is given for purposes of illustration in order that others skilled in the art may fully understand the invention and the principles thereof and the manner of applying it in practical use so that they may modify it in various forms, each as may be best suited to the conditions of a particular use.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying partly diagrammatic drawings, in which:

prevent the tab from being FIG. 1 is a side view ofa fuse connector formed with a plug contact portion;

H6. 2 is a part sectional side view of the connector of FIG. 1 and taken along line 2-2;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a fuse connector assembly embodying a pair of connectors according to FIGS. 1 and 2; and

FlG. 4 is a fragmentary and cross-sectional side view of the assembly of HO. 3.

The connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 comprises a single piece of sheet metal rolled up from a blank to define a tubular body I. The body I has an open seam 2 and is formed at one end with a plug contact portion 3 having a latching detent 4 for releasably holding the body in a connector passageway of a housing in known manner.

The body I at its other end is formed with a cartridge fuseconnecting portion 5 defined by a channel section tablikc ex tension of the body 1 of greater width than the body I. As seen in FIG. 2, the base 6 of the channel section is inclined rearwardly and outwardly in relation to the length of the plug contact portion 3 and is formed with a rectangular aperture 7 extending through a major proportion of the extension length to define a pair of sidearms 8. The sidearms are of L-section having side portions perpendicular to the channel base and narrow flange portions generally parallel to the base of the channel section. The flange portions serve to stiffen the sidearms 8.

A rectangular tab portion 9 is formed within the aperture 7 with one end of the tab portion integral with the body extension and extending away from the body l within the aperture as a cantilever spring. As seen in FIG. 2, the tab portion 9 is bent up out of the aperture between the sidearms and at its free end is bent over to present an end edge 10 directed toward the base of the channel section.

The arms 8 at their ends remote from the body 1 are integrally joined by a bar portion 1] extending laterally of the arms 8. The bar portion is in alignment with the free end of the tab portion 9 so as to be engaged by the edge 10 and limit movement of the free end/The tab portion is formed with a circular aperture or opening 12 adjacent the free end for embracing the end of a cartridge fuse as illustrated in FlGS.-3 and 4.

The connector of FIGS. 1 and 2 is suitably used-in a fuse assembly as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in which a pair of such connectors are mounted in spaced relation in a housing 13 for receiving a cartridge fuse 14, shown in broken lines, between them. The housing I3 is suitably molded from insulating material and comprises a block formed at opposite sides with cavities l5 closable by hinged covers 16 integrally formed with the block. ln FIG. 3, one of the hinged covers 16 is in closed position while the other is open to reveal one of the cavities 15. The cavities 15 are separated by a central wall 17 containing a row of four connector receiving passageways 18, each arranged to receive a plug or socket connector terminating a wire lead. The wire leads, not shown, are arranged to extend from the apertures at the upper ends of passageways l8 and through apertures defined by cooperating recesses 19 in adjacent edges of the hinged cover 16. The cavities l5.are confined between opposite sidewalls 20 of the housing which at their outer edges are formed with inwardly directed ribs 21 for releasably retaining the hinged covers in a snap fit.

The fuse connectors are mounted in respective passageways 22, formed in the floors of the cavities 15 adjacent the sidewalls 20 with latching detents 4 engaging shoulders (not shown) in passageways 22. The plug contact portions 3 of the connectors project into a recess formed in the lower side of the housing 13 for receiving a complementary housing (not shown) containing socket connectors for mating engagement with the plug contact portions. The fuse contact portions of the connectors are disposed within the cavity 15 with the bases of the channel sections facing the adjacent sidewalls 20 of the housing. The bar portions 11 of the connectors engage the walls 20 to resist outward movement of-the upper ends on insertion of the cartridge fuse l4.

ln use, the cartridge fuse 14 is inserted downwardly into the cavity 15 to engage the ends of the fuse cartridge between the spaced bar'portionsll of the connectors. Sides 8 of the channel section assist in proper positioning of the fuse cartridge which is moved downwards to engage the edges of the tab portions 9. The tab portions 9 are deflected outward to admit downward movement of the fuse cartridge until the cartridge ends engage respective apertures 12 which serve to hold the fuse cartridge in position. The outwards deflection of the tab portion 9 of each connector is limited by engagement of the turned end 10 with the bar portion 11 to prevent overs tressing of the spring tab portion 9.

A pair of further connector passageways 23 is formed in the floor of cavity 15.. These passageways may contain further plug connectors. devoid of the fuse contact portions, which may be commone d to respective fuse connectors by commoning conductive strips mounted in the housing. In this way, the

fuse 14 may be connected in a plurality of circuits.

It will, therefore, be appreciated that the aforementioned and other desirable objects have been achieved; however, it should be emphasized that the particular embodiment of the invention, which is shown and described herein, is intended as merely illustrative and not as restrictive of the invention.

I claim:

1. A fuse connector comprising a sheet metal electrical contact part having a longitudinal axis, an integral body at one end of said contact part inclined outwardly away from said longitudinal axis of said contact part, said body having a floor and sidewalls defining an open channel, a resilient tab portion struck from said floor at a position adjacent said contact part, said tab portion extending substantially along said longitudinal axis of said contact part and having a free end remote from said contact part, said sidewalls being joined remote from said contactpart by a bar portion in alignment with the free end of said tab portion to limit deflection of said tab portion away from said longitudinal axis of said contact part upon insertion of a fuse end portion into said body through said open channel in a direction generally at right angles to said longitudinal axis of said contact part. I

2. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said contactpan is formed as a plug contact.

3. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said contact part is formed as a socket contact. 7

4. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said resilient tab portion is formed with an aperture for receiving an end portion of a cartridge fuse.

5. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said tab portion is turned to present an edge opposed to said bar portron.

Claims

1. A fuse connector comprising a sheet metal electrical contact part having a longitudinal axis, an integral body at one end of said contact part inclined outwardly away from said longitudinal axis of said contact part, said body having a floor and sidewalls defining an open channel, a resilient tab portion struck from said floor at a position adjacent said contact part, said tab portion extending substantially along said longitudinal axis of said contact part and having a free end remote from said contact part, said sidewalls being joined remote from said contact part by a bar portion in alignment with the free end of said tab portion to limit deflection of said tab portion away from said longitudinal axis of said contact part upon insertion of a fuse end portion into said body through said open channel in a direction generally at right angles to said longitudinal axis of said contact part.

2. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said contact part is formed as a plug contact.

3. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said contact part is formed as a socket Contact.

5. A fuse connector according to claim 1 in which said tab portion is turned to present an edge opposed to said bar portion.