Knife blade fuse having an electrically insulative element over an end cap and plastic rivet to plug fill hole

A fuse comprising:

• an elongate body forming a cavity, and at least one fill hole extending to the cavity;
• a pair of metallic terminals mounted at opposite ends of the body;
• at least one fuse element disposed within the cavity and electrically coupled between the terminals;
• an arc-quenching filler material contained within the cavity;
• and
• a plastic drive rivet tightly disposed in the at least one fill hole to form a seal therewith, the drive rivet including a flange of greater diameter than the fill hole and abutting an exterior surface of the body, a plurality of fingers of one-piece construction with the flange and extending axially through the fill hole such that a maximum outer diameter defined by the fingers is larger than a diameter of the fill hole to form an interference-fit therewith, and a plunger disposed between the fingers to prevent movement of the fingers toward one another.

A method of providing arc-quenching for a fuse, the fuse comprising a body forming a cavity and having at least one fill hole extending to the cavity, a pair of metallic terminals mounted at opposite ends of the body, and at least one fuse element disposed within the cavity and electrically coupled between the terminals;

• the method comprising the steps of:
• A) filling the cavity with an arc-quenching filler material introduced through the at least one fill hole;
• B) inserting a plurality of fingers of a plastic drive rivet axially through the fill hole such that a flange of the drive rivet, which is of one-piece construction with the fingers, abuts an exterior surface of the body, and
• C) driving a plunger of the rivet, which is of one-piece construction with the flange, axially inwardly through the flange and between the fingers to press the fingers radially outwardly such that a maximum diameter defined by the fingers is larger than a diameter of the fill hole to form an interference-fit therewith.