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US 11,404,233 B2Granted
Fusible switching disconnect modules and devices with tripping coil
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsMatthew Rain Darr, Hundi Panduranga Kamath
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fusible switch disconnect device includes a housing adapted to receive at least one fuse therein, and a switchable contact for connecting the fuse to circuitry. A tripping mechanism and control circuitry are provided to move the switchable contact to an open position in response to a predetermined electrical condition.
Claims21
A fusible switch disconnect device comprising:
- a housing including first and second side surfaces opposing one another and extending generally parallel to one another, the housing further including a fuse receptacle accessible from the first side surface, the fuse receptacle adapted to directly receive and engage a removable electrical fuse without utilizing a separately provided fuse carrier, the removable electrical fuse including first and second terminal elements and a fusible element electrically connected therebetween, the fusible element defining a circuit path and being configured to permanently open the circuit path according to predetermined electrical current conditions experienced in the circuit path;
- line side and load side terminals in the housing and electrically connecting to the respective first and second terminal elements of the removable electrical fuse when the removable electrical fuse is directly received and engaged with the housing;
- and
- a switch assembly in the housing and comprising:
- at least one switchable contact provided between the line side terminal and the first terminal element of the removable electrical fuse, the at least one switchable contact selectively positionable along a linear axis between an open position and a closed position to provide a switchable connection between the line side and load side terminals in the housing and through the circuit path of the fusible element while the removable electrical fuse is directly received and engaged with the housing, wherein the linear axis extends perpendicularly to at least one of the first and second opposing side surfaces of the housing, and wherein the at least one switchable contact is mechanically biased toward the open position by an applied force of at least one bias spring;
- and
- a disconnect mechanism contained within the housing, the disconnect mechanism automatically operable in response to actual electrical current conditions and before the removable electrical fuse permanently opens to cause the at least one switchable contact to move along the linear axis from the closed position to the open position;
- wherein the applied force of the at least one bias spring ensures a predetermined contact separation in the open position;
- and
- wherein the applied force of the at least one bias spring resists an inadvertent reclosure of the at least one switchable contact to the closed position.
7 more elements
A fusible switch disconnect device comprising:
- a housing adapted to receive and engage at least a portion of a removable electrical fuse along a linear fuse insertion axis,
- wherein the removable electrical fuse includes a fuse housing, first and second terminal elements coupled to the fuse housing, and a fusible element electrically connected between the first and second terminal elements, the fusible element defining a circuit path and being configured to permanently open the circuit path in response to predetermined electrical condition experienced in the circuit path, and
- wherein the housing is configured to engage the fuse with a portion of the fuse housing being exposed when the fuse is received and engaged with the housing;
- line side and load side terminals in the housing and electrically connecting to the respective first and second terminal elements of the fuse when the removable electrical fuse is received and engaged with the housing;
- a switch including at least one switchable contact in the housing, the at least one switchable contact provided between one of the line side terminal and load side terminal and a corresponding one of the first and second terminal elements of the fuse, the at least one switchable contact selectively positionable along a first linear axis extending parallel to the fuse insertion axis between an open position and a closed position to switchably connect or disconnect an electrical connection between the line side terminal and the load side terminal and through the circuit path of the fusible element;
- at least one bias element applying a biasing force upon at least one switchable contact that resists movement of the at least one switchable contact from the open position toward the closed position;
- and
- a disconnect mechanism in the housing, the disconnect mechanism including an electromagnetic coil operable along a second linear axis different from the first linear axis to cause the at least one switchable contact to move to the open position along the first linear axis in response to a predetermined electrical condition while the line side terminal is connected to energized line circuitry, while the fuse is engaged, and while the at least one switchable contact is in the closed position.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.