Fuse with fuse link coating
AssigneeCooper Technologies Company
InventorJohn Marvin Ackermann
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuse that includes an arc energy reducing coating to reduce arc energy during a short-circuit and/or a full voltage overload current interrupt is described. The fuse includes end conductor elements, and at least one fuse element secured between and making electrical contact with the end conductor elements. An elongate fuse housing, having a passageway extending longitudinally through the housing, extends between the end conductor elements. The fuse element extends through the housing passageway. An arc energy reducing coating at least partially coats each end portion of the fuse element.
Claims11
A method of fabricating a fuse, the fuse including end conductor elements, a fuse element secured between and making electrical contact with the end conductor elements, an elongate fuse housing extending between the end conductor elements, and an arc energy absorbing coating at least partially coating a first and a second end portion of the fuse element, the housing comprising an inside surface defining a passageway extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end of the housing, the fuse element including a plurality of weak spots having a reduced cross sectional area, and the fuse element extending through the passageway, said method comprising:
- applying the coating to the first and second end portions of the fuse element and incompletely covering at least one of the weak spots with the coating;
- coupling the fuse element to the end conductor elements;
- and
- coupling the end conductor elements to the housing.
A method of fabricating a fuse, the fuse including end conductor elements and a fuse element having first and second end portions, the fuse element including at least one weak spot adjacent one of said first and second end portions, the fuse element secured between and making electrical contact with the end conductor elements within a fuse housing, said method comprising:
- applying an arc energy absorbing coating to the first and second end portions of the fuse element while incompletely covering the weak spot with the coating and leaving a center portion of the fuse element between the first and second end portions free from said coating;
- positioning the fuse element within the housing;
- and
- electrically connecting the fuse element to the end conductor elements.
A method of fabricating a fuse, the fuse including end conductor elements, a fuse element secured between and making electrical contact with the end conductor elements, an elongate fuse housing extending between the end conductor elements, and an arc energy absorbing coating at least partially coating a first and a second end portion of the fuse element, the housing comprising an inside surface defining a passageway extending longitudinally from a first end to a second end of the housing, the fuse element extending through the passageway, said method comprising:
- applying the coating to the first and second end portions of the fuse element;
- coupling the fuse element to the end conductor elements;
- coupling the end conductor elements to the housing;
- wherein the fuse element includes a first end, a second end, and a plurality of weak spots having a reduced cross sectional area positioned between said first end and second end, said applying the coating to the first and second end portions of the fuse element comprises applying the coating between the first end and a respective one of said weak spots closest to the first end, and applying the coating between the second end and a respective one of said weak spots closest to the second end;
- wherein said applying the coating between the first end of the fuse element and a respective one of said weak spots closest to the first end comprises applying the coating such that a first portion of the weak spot closest to the first end of the fuse element is covered with the coating and a second portion of the weak spot closest to the first end of the fuse element is uncovered by the coating, the second portion farther from the first end of the fuse element than the first portion;
- and
- said applying the coating between the second end of the fuse element and a respective one of said weak spots closest to the second end of the fuse element comprises applying the coating such that a first portion of the weak spot closest to the second end of the fuse element is covered with the coating and a second portion of the weak spot closest to the second end of the fuse element is uncovered by the coating, the second portion farther from the second end of the fuse element than the first portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.