US 4,536,046 AGranted

Pull out fusible switches

AssigneeBoltswitch, Inc.

InventorJohn W. Erickson

Life of this patent

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Abstract

Assembly systems for compact N-pole fusible pull out switches of different ratings use the same two part insulator bases and the same insulator pull out heads in all switches. In one system, for switches of a given current rating but two different voltage ratings, there are two types of fixed contacts in the base but the contacts are the same for both voltage ratings; the fuseholder/stab contact members in the head are all the same for both switch ratings, and all mounting hardware and incidental hardware is the same for all switches. The voltage ratings are differentiated from each other only by different base terminals and by different insulator barriers over the base contacts. In another system covering six switch ratings (three different current ratings and two different voltage ratings) the two part insulator bases, the insulator heads, and the base terminals are all the same and all mounting hardware and incidental hardware is the same for all rating combinations; the six different voltage/current ratings are differentiated from each other only by different fixed contacts in the base, by different fuseholder/stab members in the head, and by different insulator barriers. The second system has only three set of fixed contacts each used for two different rating combinations. Both systems preclude misassembly and misapplication in the field. A particularly compact fuseholder/stab construction is provided for high current ratings.

Claims33

Dependent claims

An assembly system for N-pole fusible pull out switches of M different voltage/current switch ratings comprising:

a plurality of essentially identical insulator bases each including N line terminal mounts aligned one for one with N load terminal mounts, with the line terminal mounts at one end of the base and the load terminal mounts at the opposite end of the base;
a multiplicity of conductive terminals each mountable on any terminal mount in the base;
a multiplicity of conductive base contacts each mountable on a terminal in M sets of different line and load contact positions, one set for each switch rating;
a multiplicity of insulator barrier means of M types, each barrier means comprising a cover for a base, the barrier means of each type having 2N spaced connect apertures individually aligned with the line and load contact positions for one of the switch ratings and 2N similarly spaced disconnect apertures displaced from its connect apertures;
a plurality of essentially identical insulator base extensions each mountable on a base over a barrier means and defining a head receptacle;
a plurality of essentially identical insulator heads each including 2N fuseholder/stab mounts, each head being insertable into a base extension head receptacle in a connect orientation or in a disconnect orientation displaced 180.degree. from the connect orientation;
and a multiplicity of conductive fuseholder/stab members, each fuseholder/stab member including a stab engageable with a base contact to complete a circuit connection, including fuseholder/stab members mountable on the mounts of a head in M different alignments each corresponding to the connect/disconnect aperture alignments of one type of barrier means;
each barrier means blocking insertion of any head into a head receptacle in either orientation, unless the alignment of the fuseholder/stab members in the head corresponds to the aperture alignment of that barrier means.

5 more elements

An N-pole fusible pull out switch comprising:

an insulator base including N line terminal mounts aligned one for one with N load terminal mounts, with the line terminal mounts at one end of the base and the load terminal mounts at the opposite end of the base;
2N essentially identical conductive terminals each mounted on a terminal mount in the base;
N conductive line contacts each mounted on a line terminal;
N conductive load contacts each mounted on a load terminal, the load contacts constituting flopovers of the line contacts;
insulator barrier means mounted on and comprising a cover for the base, the barrier means having 2N spaced connect apertures individually aligned with the line and load contacts and 2N similarly spaced disconnect apertures displaced from the connect apertures;
an insulator base extension mounted on the base over the barrier means and defining a head receptacle;
an insulator, including 2N fuseholder/stab mounts, insertable into the base extension head receptacle in a connect orientation or in a disconnect orientation displaced 180.degree. from the connect orientation;
2N conductive fuseholder/stab members, each including a stab for engaging a line or load contact to complete a circuit connection, each fuseholder/stab member mounted on one of the mounts in the head in an alignment corresponding to one pair of connect and disconnect apertures in the barrier means.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/594,905Filed 29 Mar 1984
Granted: 20 Aug 1985
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

H01H 85/56
Protective devices wherein the fuse is carried, held, or retained by an intermediate or auxiliary part removable from the base, or used as…: the…
H01H 85/205
Bases for supporting the fuse; Separate parts thereof: electric connections to contacts on the base
H01H 85/24
Details: means for preventing insertion of incorrect fuse
H01H 2085/2065
Bases for supporting the fuse; Separate parts thereof: with base contacts adapted or adaptable to fuses of different lenghts; bases with…