Surge protective device including bimetallic fuse element
AssigneeRipd IP Development Ltd
InventorsZumret Top{hacek over (c)}agić, Robert Rozman, Andrej Mesari{hacek over (c)}, Bla{hacek over (z)} Rozman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical fuse assembly includes electrically conductive first and second electrodes, and a bimetallic fuse element. The bimetallic fuse element electrically connects the first and second electrodes. The bimetallic fuse element is configured to disintegrate, and thereby disconnect the first electrode from the second electrode, in response to a current exceeding a prescribed trigger current of the bimetallic fuse element for at least a prescribed duration.
Claims28
A fused surge protective device (SPD) module, comprising:
- a first electrical terminal;
- a second electrical terminal;
- an overvoltage protection circuit connected between the first electrical terminal and the second electrical terminal;
- and
- a bimetallic fuse including a bimetallic fuse element connected in series with the overvoltage protection circuit between the first and second electrical terminals;
- wherein the bimetallic fuse element includes:
- a first metal layer having a first coefficient of thermal expansion;
- and
- a second metal layer having a second coefficient of thermal expansion;
- wherein the first coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion;
- wherein the bimetallic fuse element is configured to disintegrate in response to a current flowing through the bimetallic fuse element to thereby disconnect the first electrical terminal from the second electrical terminal;
- wherein the bimetallic fuse element is configured to bend in a deformation direction, due to the difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the first and second metal layers, in response to heat generated in the bimetallic fuse element by the current flowing through the bimetallic fuse element;
- and
- wherein said bending assists in extinguishing electrical arcing from the bimetallic fuse element.
A protected electrical power supply circuit comprising:
- an overvoltage protection circuit;
- and
- a bimetallic fuse element connected in electrical series with the overvoltage protection circuit;
- wherein the bimetallic fuse element is configured to disintegrate, and thereby interrupt the protected electrical power supply circuit, in response to a short circuit current flowing through the bimetallic fuse element from the overvoltage protection circuit exceeding a prescribed trigger current of the bimetallic fuse element for at least a prescribed duration;
- wherein the bimetallic fuse element includes:
- a first metal layer having a first coefficient of thermal expansion;
- and
- a second metal layer having a second coefficient of thermal expansion;
- wherein the first coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion;
- wherein the bimetallic fuse element is configured to bend in a deformation direction, due to the difference in the coefficients of thermal expansion of the first and second metal layers, in response to heat generated in the bimetallic fuse element by the short circuit current flowing through the bimetallic fuse element;
- and
- wherein said bending assists in extinguishing electrical arcing from the bimetallic fuse element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.