Capacitor circuit interruption
AssigneeAerovox Incorporated
InventorsJeffrey A. Bentley, Thomas A. Murphy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A capacitor in which the interruption mechanism includes an actuator that moves in response to a predetermined physical condition to cause electrical disconnection of the capacitive element, and in which the actuator has a range of motion through a limited number of stable positions and is mechanically pre-biased to move toward one of the stable positions when not already in one of the stable positions. In another aspect the capacitor housing includes an integral rim around the terminals that is filled with dielectric resin to insulate the terminals from the space surrounding the capacitor housing.
Claims19
A capacitor comprising
- a capacitive element,
- a housing containing said element,
- a central portion of a wall of said housing capable of moving outwardly in response to a buildup of internal pressure within said capacitor, said outward movement including an abrupt outward movement in which said central wall portion moves rapidly between two positions in response to an increase in internal pressure, said central wall portion being made of polymer, and being connected to adjoining portions of said housing by a surrounding annular portion also made of polymer, said annular portion abruptly undergoing a change in shape during said abrupt outward movement,
- means for retarding movement of said capacitive element in the direction of said outward movement during said pressure buildup,
- at least one terminal in said housing for making an electrical connection to said capacitive element, said terminal being supported on said wall portion,
- a wire electrically connecting said capacitive element to said terminal, said wire having a preweakened region,
- said abrupt outward movement providing sufficient tensile force to break the preweakened region in said wire and separate the broken ends of said wire to prevent reconnection.
A capacitor comprising
- a capacitive element,
- a housing containing said element,
- a first portion of a wall of said housing capable of moving outwardly in response to a buildup of internal pressure within said capacitor,
- at least one terminal on said housing for making said electrical connection to said capacitive element, said terminal being supported on said first wall portion,
- said capacitive element being held down and prevented from moving in said outward direction during said pressure buildup by a direct connection of said capacitive element to a second wall portion of said housing located on the other side of said housing from said first wall portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.