Hermetic terminal with terminal pin assemblies having fusible links and motor compressor unit including same

In a hermetic motor compressor unit having a housing with an opening therein and an electric motor operatively disposed within the housing, a hermetic terminal adapted for carrying electric current from the exterior of the housing to the interior thereof, comprising:

• a metallic body member closing the housing opening and having a plurality of collar portions defining pin openings in said body member communicating from the exterior of the housing to the interior thereof;
• a plurality of current conducting pin assemblies respectively disposed in said pin openings passing through said body member, each said pin assembly comprising an inner electrically conductive pin segment disposed at least partially inside the housing, an outer electrically conductive pin segment disposed at least partially outside the housing, a ceramic cylindrical sleeve at least partially disposed within said collar portion and interconnecting said inner pin segment and said outer pin segment, said inner and outer pin segments being telescopingly received within opposite ends of said intermediate pin segment, said sleeve defining a closed cavity with said inner pin segment and said outer pin segment, and an electrically conductive fusible link within said closed cavity having opposite ends for fusibly electrically interconnecting said inner pin segment and said outer pin segment, said opposite ends of said fusible link being disposed within respective counterbored portions of said inner pin segments and outer pin segments and being connected thereto by respective brazed joints;
• and
• an electrically insulating seal means, disposed intermediate and interconnecting each of said pin assemblies and a corresponding said collar portion, for sealingly closing each of said openings in said body member.