High voltage, reinforced in-line fuse assembly, systems, and methods of manufacture
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsPatrick A. von zur Muehlen, Michael C. Henricks
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fuse assemblies, systems and methods of manufacture include reinforcement materials and arc absorbent materials to provide overcurrent protection for 1500 VDC power systems without enlarging the body of the fuse.
Claims25
A compact high voltage electrical fuse assembly for a high voltage, direct current electrical power distribution system, the compact high voltage electrical fuse assembly comprising:
- an in-line electrical fuse assembly comprising:
- an electrical fuse designed to provide a predetermined direct current voltage rating, the electrical fuse comprising:
- a cylindrical fuse body having first and second ends opposing one another;
- a first ferrule terminal coupled to the first end of the cylindrical fuse body;
- a second ferrule terminal coupled to the second end of the cylindrical fuse body;
- a fuse element establishing a circuit path inside the cylindrical fuse body between the first ferrule terminal and the second ferrule terminal;
- a first in-line wire crimp terminal coupled to an exterior of the first ferrule terminal;
- a second in-line wire crimp terminal coupled to an exterior of the second ferrule terminal;
- and
- a structural reinforcement material applied to and conforming with an exterior shape of the in-line electrical fuse assembly, the structural reinforcement material being sufficient to contain arc flash energy and prevent release of arc flash energy when the fuse element opens under a direct current load at a voltage 50% greater than the predetermined direct current voltage rating, and the structural reinforcement material:
- entirely covering and structurally reinforcing an exterior of the cylindrical fuse body;
- entirely covering and structurally reinforcing any exposed exterior of each of the first and second ferrule terminals that are not already covered by the first or second in-line wire crimp terminal;
- and
- incompletely covering and structurally reinforcing only a minor portion of an exterior of each respective one of the first and second in-line wire crimp terminals.
A method of manufacturing a compact high voltage electrical fuse assembly including an electrical fuse having a predetermined direct current voltage rating and including a cylindrical fuse body having opposing ends, a fuse element extending interior to the cylindrical fuse body, and first and second ferrule terminal elements on the respective opposing ends of the cylindrical fuse body and establishing a circuit path through the fuse element, the method comprising:
- attaching first and second in-line wire crimp connectors to the respective first and second ferrule terminal elements;
- and
- entirely covering an exterior of the cylindrical fuse body and any exterior portion of the first and second ferrule terminal elements that are not covered by the first or second in-line wire crimp connectors with a structural reinforcement material conforming to the shape of the cylindrical fuse body and the first and second ferrule terminal elements, while incompletely covering exterior portions of the first and second in-line wire crimp connectors with the structural reinforcement material conforming to the shape of the portions of the first and second in-line wire crimp connectors;
- whereby the compact high voltage electrical fuse reinforcement material contains arc energy when the fuse element opens to break the circuit path under a direct current electrical load at a voltage 50% greater than the predetermined direct current voltage rating of the electrical fuse.
A compact in-line electrical fuse assembly for a 1500 VDC power system, the in-line fuse assembly comprising:
- an electrical fuse having a voltage rating of 1000 VDC , the electrical fuse comprising:
- a cylindrical fuse body having first and second ends opposing one another;
- a first ferrule terminal coupled to the first end of the cylindrical fuse body;
- a second ferrule terminal coupled to the second end of the cylindrical fuse body;
- a fuse element establishing a circuit path inside the cylindrical fuse body between the first ferrule terminal and the second ferrule terminal;
- a first in-line wire crimp terminal coupled to an exterior of the first ferrule terminal;
- a second in-line wire crimp terminal coupled to an exterior of the second ferrule terminal;
- and
- a structural reinforcement material applied to and conforming with an exterior shape of the in-line electrical fuse assembly, the structural reinforcement material being sufficient to contain arc flash energy and prevent release of arc flash energy when the fuse element opens under a current load in the 1500 VDC power system,
- wherein the structural reinforcement material is applied to:
- entirely cover and structurally reinforce an exterior of the cylindrical fuse body with the structural reinforcement material:
- entirely cover and structurally reinforce any exposed exterior of each of the first and second ferrule terminals that are not already covered by the first or second in-line wire crimp terminal with the structural reinforcement material;
- and
- incompletely covering and structurally reinforcing only a portion an exterior of each respective on of the first and second in-line wire crimp terminals with the structural reinforcement material.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.