Fuse opening linkage apparatus for immersion detection circuit interrupter
AssigneeRocom Electric Company Ltd.
InventorsKelvin K. W. Yao, Wan Y. Keung
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The interrupter includes and apparatus having a pair of oppositely rotatable, spring loaded, sharp edged elements positioned above a pair of wire fuses. Such fuses complete the current path in respective conductors of a two conductor electrical appliance power system. Each edged element is retained by a latching tension of the other fuse, so that opening of either of the two fuses releases the element above the other fuse, causing such element to rotationally descend and apply a cutting force to the other fuse and thus assist in its opening to assure that both conductors of the power system are opened in an immediately successive manner in response to a current overload.
Claims20
An interrupting apparatus for a power circuit including at least two conductors for conducting electrical power from a line source to an appliance circuit, within a housing, and having an electrical shock protection device, including a sensor, within said housing, and having automatic means connected to said conductors to initiate an overcurrent in response to an immersion of the appliance circuit in water or other conductive liquid, said apparatus including an interrupting means for opening said at least two conductors, said interrupting means having at least a pair of wire fuses, respectively in said at least two conductors, and force means for assuring the immediate opening of both of said fuses to disconnect the appliance circuit from the line source, the improvement wherein said force means includes a primary force means and a secondary force means, said secondary force means being operatively associated directly with said pair of fuses, said force means including latching means for maintaining said primary force means inoperative and clear of contact with said pair of fuses, one said fuse being opened by an overcurrent, releasing said latching means of said primary force means adjacent to another said fuse link so that said primary force means forcibly completes the opening of said another fuse.
In a power circuit including at least two conductors for conducting electrical power from a line source to an appliance circuit, contained in a plug housing and including a pair of fuses respectively in said at least two conductors together with force means for providing first and second forces to assure the immediate opening of both of said fuses to disconnect the appliance circuit from the line source, the improvement in which said first force which is of larger magnitude than said second force is held in a latched position adjacent to each of said fuses by said second force restrained by another said fuse, said first force being released by the opening of said another fuse so that whichever said fuse that responds first to an overcurrent, opens and releases the latching of said first force adjacent to its said fuse so that it may apply its force to its said fuse and assure its opening.
An interrupting apparatus for a power circuit including at least two conductors for conducting electrical power from a line source to an appliance circuit within a housing, and including an electrical shock protection device having a sensor, within said housing, and having automatic means connected to said at least two conductors to initiate an overcurrent in response to an immersion of the appliance circuit in water or other conductive liquid, said apparatus including an interrupting means remote from said housing for opening said at least two conductors, said interrupting means having at least a pair of wire fuses respectively in said at least two conductors, and force means for assuring immediate opening of both of said fuses to disconnect the appliance circuit from the line source, the improvement wherein said force means includes a primary force means and a secondary force means, said secondary force means includes a pair of conductive elements operatively associated directly with respective said pair of fuses, said secondary force means further including each of said conductive elements including latching means for maintaining said primary force means inoperative and, during normal use, clear of contact with said pair of fuses, one said fuse being opened by an overcurrent which causes a release of its said latching means and release of said primary force means adjacent to another said fuse link so that said primary force means forcibly completes opening of said another fuse.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.