Electric fuse

An electrical fuse having a current carrying fuse element which opens to interrupt the flow of current at a predetermined magnitude of current flow, said fuse comprising:

• a housing which encases said fuse element in a fuse element chamber, said housing being formed by a wall with a first portion having a first predetermined thickness and a second portion having a second predetermined thickness, said second predetermined thickness being less than said first predetermined thickness to form a predetermined rupture location;
• pressure relief means for relieving pressure created within said fuse chamber by the expansion of gases when said fuse element opens, said pressure relief means being formed in said housing at the predetermined rupture location by a rupture of said housing at the predetermined rupture location, said rupture forming a passageway which connects an interior of said fuse element chamber to an exterior of said housing, said passageway being adapted to permit gases heated within said fuse element chamber when said fuse element opens to escape from said fuse element chamber to the exterior of said housing;
• and
• filter means located within said housing adjacent said passage way for filtering said gases prior to escaping through said passageway.