US800822A - Fuse device. - Google Patents

Description

No. 800,822. PATENTED OCT. 3, 1905. G A. ROLFE.

FUSE DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20, 1902.

Witnesses: W lnventnn I I hsrlasAFlnlfs.

1 g Atturnsg.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. ROLFE, OF ADRIAN, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO ROLFE ELECTRIC CO., OF ROCHESTER, NEIV YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

FUSE DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 3, 19o5.

Application filed January 20, 1902. Serial No. 90,481.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES A. RoLEE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Adrian, in the county of Lenawee and State of Michigan, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fuse Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to fuse devices involving very fine or small inelosed fuses for use upon circuits normally carrying very small currents-such, for example, as telephone, telegraph, and like circuits.

Prominent objects of my invention are to simplify and improve the means by which such fuse devices can be attached to and detached from an outside line-wire, so as to permit the fuse device to act as a connection between the interior and exterior wires, to simplify and cheapen the construction of the device, and to allow it to be readily assembled and taken apart at will and to arrange for easy threading of the fuse within the inclosing case and the removal of the same therefrom.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view showing a fuse device embodying my invention and a portion of an exterior electrical construction with which the fuse is associated. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the fuse device itself. Fig. 3 is an end view of the same, the cap being removed. Fig. 4 is a view of the fuse threaded through the device.

In the device shown in the drawings for carrying out my invention I provide a tubular casing 1, made of insulating material. A convenient and cheap construction is to make it of wood and coat it with waterproof paint. The ends of this tube are provided with threaded sleeves 2 2, which are fitted into correspondingly-threaded end portions of the tube. The threaded sleeves are held firmly in position in the ends of the tube 1 by set-screws 3 3, which extend through the wall of the tube, so that their inner ends press against the sleeves 2 2, while their outer ends are exposed outside of the tube. One end of the tube, the

5 upper end, as shown in the drawings, is provided with a device for clamping upon an outside line-wire, which device conveniently consists of clamping members 4 1, having grooves 5, arranged opposite one another in the two members, so as to receive the linewire. These clamping members are arranged to lit upon the threaded sleeve 2 at that end of the device, so as to be loose and turn readily thereupon. Between the clamping device and the end of the tube 1 is a nut 6, which serves to finish off the end of the tube and also provide a bearing for the clamping members. Outside of the clamping device are a pair of set-nuts 7 7. At the other end of the device are three nuts 8 and 9 9 and a pair of washers 1O 10 between the nuts 9 9. The nut 8 is intended to fit close against the end of the tube 1, as the nut 6 does. Outside of the nuts 7 7 at one end and 9 9 at the other are caps 11 11, which fit over theends of the threaded sleeves 2 2, although, if desired, these caps can be dispensed with. WVithin the interior or bore of the tube 1 is arranged the fine fuse-wire 12, which extends from end to end of the device.

In accordance with my invention I provide a support 13, adapted to carry and support the fuse 12. As a simple arrangement, this is provided by a length of string sufficient to extend from end to end of the device and the fuse is wound about this length of string, as shown.

In assembling the device the fuse is threaded through the interior of the tube 1 by passing the support, with fuse wound about it, through the bore of the tube. The ends of the fuse are then soldered to the ends of the threaded sleeves 2 2 at the opposite ends of the tube. If caps 11 11 are used, these are then applied, covering up and inclosing the ends of the threaded sleeves 2 2. The device in this completed form is then ready for use and is applied for service, as shown in Fig. 1. In this figure the clamping members 4: 1 are ar ranged to clamp a line-wire 15, which is shown running to an insulator 16, which is understood to be suitably supported outside of a house or building. The clamp is fastened securely to this line-wire 15 by properly adjusting the set-nuts 7 7. From the lower end of the fuse device a conductor 17 leads to the interior of the building. This conductor is connected with the fuse device by means of the set-nuts 9 9, between which it is firmly clamped. When the fuse is blown, the caps 11 11 are removed and the support 13 for the fuse is withdrawn from the interior of the tube 1 and a new fuse, either on the same or another support 13, is inserted and soldered to the ends of the sleeves 2 2. The caps 11 11 are thereupon replaced and the device is again ready for operation.

It will be seen that the device is advantageous in the following respects. By making the clamping members 4 4 separate from the body of the device and mounting them loosely thereupon a twisting movement of the device relatively to the clamps is readily permitted. This allows the clamping members to be easily adjusted to the line-wire and also allows a slight relative twist between the clamp and the tube to take place by reason of movement of the line-wire or otherwise, and no harm results to the device. As heretofore constructed devices of this kind have had their clamping members secured rigidly to the tube, so that if the clamp or tube was twisted the clamp would become loose or would be twisted 0E and the fuse probably broken and the device rendered uselessf Furthermore, the arrangement of the fuse upon the support by which it is inserted and re moved from the interior of the tube is a great saving in labor, because it allows the fuses to be introduced within the interior of the tube in a very quick and easy manner, much quicker than could be done by attempting to thread such a fine wire through such a long tube. It is also advantageous because when a fuse has become blown the remaining portions of the fuse or melted metal are fully removed by the support when the same is withdrawn. Thus the interior of the tube is always kept perfectly clean, and injury cannot result from having bits of metal therein. Furthermore, the arrangement of the threaded sleeves 2 2 within the interior of the ends of the tube 1 instead of sleeves inclosing the end portions of the tube and the lockscrew holding these threaded sleeves in place allows the sleeves to be held firmly in proper position with respect to the tube and at the same time allows them to be released, so as to permit their removal whenever desired. Furthermore, the lock-screws 3 3 can be used as means for attachment of tags to devices of this kind, it being well known that tags showing the capacity or operating-point of the fuse or other matter are desirably used in connection with said devices. Again, the

ends of the tube are fully and completely sealed by the caps 11 11, which prevent moisture or other matter from obtaining access to the interior of the device. The construction herein shown can be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention.

hat 1 claim is- 1. In adevice of the class specified, the combination of an insulating-tube, a metallic sleeve inserted in the end thereof and projecting from such end, a fuse inclosed within the tube and extending into and connected with said metallic sleeve, a clamping device fitted loosely on the sleeve consisting of two jaws, and a holding device arranged on the sleeve outside of the clamping device, said holding device and clamping device being both fitted over the sleeve and the sleeve being extended through both of such devices so as to permit access to the fuse without removing the same, substantially as described.

2. In adevice of the class specified, the combination of an insulating-tube 1, a threaded sleeve 2 fitted into an end thereof and projecting from such end, a pair of clamping-nuts 4, t, loose on the sleeve 2, and threaded nuts 7, 7, outside of the clamping-nuts 1, 4c.

3. In a device of the class specified, the combination of an insulating-tube 1, a threaded metallic sleeve 2 inserted into the end of the tube land projecting therefrom, alock-screw 3 extending through the wall of the tube 1 and engaging the threaded sleeve 2, clamping devices 1, a, fitted loosely on the threaded sleeve 2, and threaded nuts 7, 7, on the threaded sleeve 2 outside of the clamping devices 4, 1, substantially as described.

4. A device of the class specified, comprising a tube of insulating material, a pair of threaded sleeves fitted into the ends thereof and projecting therefrom, lock-screws 3, 3 for locking said threaded sleeves in position, a fuse arranged within the tube and connected with said sleeves, a clamping device consisting of a pair of clampingmembers 1, 1, mounted loosely upon one of said sleeves, lock-nuts 7, 7 for clamping said clamping members together, and nuts 9, 9, on the other threaded sleeve for connecting a conductor therewith.

In a device of the class specified, the combination of an inclosiug casing, asleeve fitted into the same and projectingtherefrom, a lockscrew for locking said sleeve in position, a clamping device consisting of a pairof clamping members fitted loosely upon said sleeve, and means for compressing said clamping members together, substantially as described.

6. In a device of the class specified, the combination with an inclosiug tube, of a fuse inclosed therein, and a string by which the fuse is supported and carried, substantially as described.

7. A device of the class specified, comprising an insulating-tube 1, threaded sleeves 2, 2, fitting into the ends thereof, lock-screws 3, 3 for locking the sleeves 2, 2, a clamping device consisting of clamping members 4:, 1,

mounted loosely upon one of the sleeves 2, 2, In Witness whereof Ihereunto subscribe my a pair of lock-nuts 7, 7 for holding the clampname this 16th day of January, A. D. 1902. ing members 4, 4: in clamped condition, a sec- CHARLES A ROLFE.

ond pair of lock-nuts 9, 9 for connecting a 5 conductor with the other sleeve 2, and a pair Witnesses:

of caps 11, 11, fitted upon the outer ends of A. MILLER BELFIELD, the sleeves 2, 2, substantially as described. HARVEY L. HANSON.

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