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CA1090854A - Circuit fuse cover indicator - Google Patents

Circuit fuse cover indicator

Info

Publication number
CA1090854A
CA1090854A CA286,946A CA286946A CA1090854A CA 1090854 A CA1090854 A CA 1090854A CA 286946 A CA286946 A CA 286946A CA 1090854 A CA1090854 A CA 1090854A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
fuse
emitting diode
light emitting
blown
cover
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA286,946A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Raul Guim
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
LED ALERT Inc
Original Assignee
LED ALERT Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by LED ALERT Inc filed Critical LED ALERT Inc
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1090854A publication Critical patent/CA1090854A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H85/00Protective devices in which the current flows through a part of fusible material and this current is interrupted by displacement of the fusible material when this current becomes excessive
    • H01H85/02Details
    • H01H85/30Means for indicating condition of fuse structurally associated with the fuse
    • H01H85/32Indicating lamp structurally associated with the protective device

Landscapes

  • Fuses (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
The present invention relates to a circuit fuse cover indicator wherein the fuse cover having a light transmitting area has a light emitting diode which lights up when the fuse is blown to thus indicate that the fuse is blown. It consists of a light emitting diode, or L.E.D., and resistor in series therewith, and arranged to be placed in parallel with the fuse, so that the blown fuse automatically diverts the current to the L.E.D. to light up, the cover including a heat insulating wall or septum protecting the L.E.D. from the heat of the blowing fuse.

Description

1~90~3~4 The present invention relates to a circuit fuse cover indicator wherein the fuse cover having a light transmitting area has a ligh-t emitting diode which lights up when the ~use is blown to thus indicate that the fuse is blown. It consists of a light emitting diode, or L.E.D., and resistor in series therewith, and arranged to be placed in parallel with the fuse, so that the blown fuse automatically diverts the current to the L.E.D. to light up, the cover includiny a heat insulating wall or septum protecting the L.E.D. from the heat of the blowing fuse.
There have been many blown fuse indicators patented that use a light to indicate the fuse is blown, such as Patents Nos.
1,957,546, 1,927,226; 3,139,499; 3,047,695; 3,464,048; 3,161,748;
2,225,912; 2,175,919; 2,577,899; and 3,794,948, but they all have the common problem that they are ~airly expensive and hence con~ercially impractical, using a regular small light bulb or small neon light, all using the fulI standard current, and have been shown in both cartridge type and screw plug type.
The present invention provides a fuse cover having an L.E.D. located therein, heat insulated from the heat of the blowing fuse.
The present invention also provides an improved cover for a fuse, both of the cartridge type and of the screw plug type, which has an L.E.D. located in the cover with a light transmitting portion over the L.E.D. and a heat insulating wall or septum protecting and separating the L.E.D. from the heat of the blowing fuse.
The present invention further provides a fuse cover having a built in L.E.D. blown fuse indicator.
The present invention also provides a fuse cover-having a built in L.E.D. and a resistance in circuit therewith ready to be connected in parallel on both sides of the fuse element so that, when connected up, the current then goes through the b~

resistance aEter the fuse has blown, to indica-te, by lighting up, that the fuse has blown, a heat insulating septum being also necessarily included so that the heat of the blowing fuse will not burn out the L.E.D.
The present invention utilizes an L.E.~. of the type shown in U.S. Pa-t. No. 3,737,647, using it in circuit wi-th a resistor and arranged to be connected in parallel with a fuse and separated from the fuse by a heat insulating septum or wall, so that the heat o~ the blowing fuse cannot damage the L.E.D.
The present invention also provides a fuse cover, both of the cartridge type and the screw plug type, which has a heat insulating septum beneath the L.E.D. and a built-in resistor with connections ready -to be secured to both sides of a fuse in parallel therewith.
According to the present invention there is provided in a conventional fuse device blowable by an excessive electric current and having a light transmitting cover, a fuse element inside said cover, and circuit co~pleting means connected to said fuse element and connectable to a power circuit; the improvement consisting of a blown fuse indicator comprising a light emitting diode, and resistor means ln series with said light emitting diode, said light emitting diode and said resistor means being connected to said circuit completing means in parallel with said fuse element, said light emitting diode being located in said light transmitting cover, and heat insulating means in said cover protecting said light emitting diode from the heat of the fuse element when it blows, whereby, when the fuse element does blow, the circuit thereto is diverted throuyh said resistor means and said light emitting diode to indicate tha-t the fuse element has blown.
The present invention will be further illustra-ted by way of the accompanying drawings in which, "` ~0~0~5q~

Fig. 1 is a diagram of the circuit provided in the fuse covers according to one embodiment of this invention.
Eig. 2 is a perspective elevation of one form of resistor and L.E.D. to be placed in a cartridge fuse cover.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of a cartridge type of fuse using the straight line resistor and L.E.D. of Fiy. 2.
Fig. 4 is a section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3.
Fiy. ~ is a section on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is an elevation of a cartridge having a spiral L.E.D.
Fig. 7 is a top elevation of a fuse cover of the screw -plug type.
Fig. 8 is a showing of the L.E.D. resistor and circuit connectors in the fuse cover of Fig. 7.
Fig. 9 is a section on line 9-9 showing the cover included in a completed screw type plug.
Fig. 10 is a section on line 10-10 of Fig. 9.
There is shown at 10 the circuit built-in in the fuse cover of this invention. This circuit 10 includes a light emitting diode 12, hereinafter referred to as an L.E.D. In series with the L.E.D. 12 is a resistor means which may consist of two individual resistors 14, although, obviously, a single resistor of appropriate size may be substituted in series on one side of the L.E.D. The circuit connections 16 pass through a heat insulatiny septum or wall 18 and connect at 20 in parallel with the fuse element 22 and then to the load 24.
As long as the fuse element 22 is intact, the resistor means 14 prevents any current from reaching the L.E.D. 12 , but should the load 24 become too great, the fuse element 22 will blow, cutting thecircuit16 tothe load 24 and preventing damage thereto.
However, resistor means 14 now will permit a cut down amount of current to flow therethrough to the L.E.D. 12, the minia-ture current now reaching the L.~.D. 12 being the proper amount to cause the L.E.D. 12 to emit light and thus indicate the fuse 22 has blown. The heat insulating septum 18 insulate~
the L.E.D. 12 from the heat of the blowing fuse 22 and permits the L.E.D. to remain operative and continues to emit light, and thus aet as an indicator that the particular fuse has blown, and should be replaced after the cause for the load to blow the fuse has been corrected.
When a number of fuses are in a large or even small group, it is very difficult to ascertain the particular blown fuse, and even more difficult to correet the cause for the fuse to have blown when not knowing whieh fuse has blown, and the usual "trial and error" substitution of new fuses throughout the fuse panel is often lengthy and difficult, as the new fuse placed in the panel merely also blows, which, in a dark location, where most fuse panels are often located, makes it difficult and tedious to locate the blown fuse. With this invention in operation, the blown fuse is visually located at once, enabling the overload ~ to be corrected before a new fuse is inserted in the fuse panel.
~n Figs. 1 through 6, inclusive, this inventiorl has been included in a cartridge type of fuse 28 in Figs. 2 through 5 and also a fuse cartridge 40 in Fig. 6.
The cartridge 28 has its usual contact rings 30 at each end for fitting into the usual cartridge fuse holder (not shown). The rings 30 are in circuit with the fuse element 32 loeated within a heat insulating cartridge cylinder 34 usually made of heavy eardboard or other eleetricity insulating cylinrical material which is also hea-t insulating as far as the particular fuse element 32 therein is concerned.
The resistor 14 is crimped under the contaet rings 30 of the cartridge 28 and thus in electrical circuit therewith, the surface of the eartridge 28 being ehanneled a-t 36 to permit iO~8~9~
the L.E.D. 12 and resistors 14 to be located therein. A light transmitting cylinder 38 of glass or other light transmittiny materials is placed about the cartridge 34 before the contact rings are clamped about the ends of the cartridge 34 and crimped into holding contact therearound into electrical contact with the resistors 14.
This staightline configuration of resistors 14 and L.E.D. 12 require that the cartridge fuse 28 be always installed so that the L.E.D. be in the front in visible condition, and the directions accompanying the same will so direct.
However, the installer is seldom the same person who would have to find the blown fuse, and human nature being what it is, carelessness on the part of the installer could eliminate the advantage of this invention. To prevent -this, the cartridge - 40, in Eig. 6, has its L.E.D. 42 made in aspiral as shown, connected by its resistors 14' to its contact rings 30', and similarly countersunk under its glass cylinder 38' about the electricity and heat insulating cartridge wall 34', the spiral L.E.D. being countersunk in a channel in cartridge wall 34' with the L.E.D. 42 visible, when lit up, through its transparent cylinder 38', irrespective of any rotation of the cartridge 40 in its holder. Obviously, the L.E.D. cartridge fuse of this invention may be used anywhere conventional cartridge fuses are now in use, in homes, vehicles, industrial plants, etc.
In Figs. 7 through 10, this same invention ~s sh~wn as embodied in a screw plug type of fuse 43. In this plug 43, there is provided the usual plug body 44 of glass or other electricity insulating transparent material having a metal screw 46 thereaboutand enclosing an electricity insulating inner body 48 and provided with a central metal corltact 50 to which a circult line 52 connected through the fuse element 54 and the circuit line 56 ontothe metal screw 46, thus completing the usual circuit through its fuse element 54 until an overload or short circuit causes fuse element 54 to blow and interrupt the circuit to the blown fuse and divert the circuit to the L.E.D. 5~ th~ough resistor means 60.
As shown in Fig. 8, an L.E.D. 58 is in series circuit through resistors 60 and circuit connectors 62 and 64, circuit connector 62 is connected to central plug contact 50, while circuit connector 64 is connected to screw 46, thus placing L.E.D. 58 in parallel with the fuse element 54.
As shown in Fig. 9, a heat and electricity insulating wall or septum-66 of any suitable material is inserted within the plug body 44 and fitted against the bottom of the L.E.D.
58 and resistors 60, thus protecting the L.E.D. 58 from being damaged or ruined by the heat of the blowing fuse element 54.
Due to the resistors 60, no current reaches the L.E.D. 58 as long as the fuse element 54 is intact or not blown. When the fuse element 54 is blown, however, the resistors 60 permit just enough electricity to pass therethrough to the L.E.D. 58 to cause it to light upand remain lit without being damaged until it is manually removed, after first eliminating the cause of the overload that blew the fuse element.

Claims (2)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. In a conventional fuse device of the cartridge types blowable by an excessive electric current and having a light trans-mitting cover, a fuse element inside said cover, and circuit completing means connected to said fuse element and connectable to a power circuit; the improvement consisting of a blown fuse indicator comprising a light emitting diode, and resistor means in series with said light emitting diode, said light emitting diode and said resistor means being connected to said circuit completing means in parallel with said fuse element, said light emitting diode being located in said light transmitting cover, and heat insulating means in said cover protecting said light emitting diode from the heat of the fuse element when it blows, whereby, when the fuse element does blow, the circuit thereto is diverted through said resistor means and said light emitting diode to indicate that the fuse element has blown, said light emitting diode being wound in a spiral about said cartridge type fuse device whereby said light emitting diode will be visible when lit irrespective of its rotational position.
2. A device as claimed in claim 1, said resistor means comprising a resistor element connected in series with each end of said light emitting diode.
CA286,946A 1976-09-16 1977-09-16 Circuit fuse cover indicator Expired CA1090854A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US72392176A 1976-09-16 1976-09-16
US723,921 1976-09-16

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1090854A true CA1090854A (en) 1980-12-02

Family

ID=24908261

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA286,946A Expired CA1090854A (en) 1976-09-16 1977-09-16 Circuit fuse cover indicator

Country Status (6)

Country Link
JP (2) JPS5336659A (en)
CA (1) CA1090854A (en)
DE (1) DE2741779A1 (en)
FR (1) FR2365202A1 (en)
GB (1) GB1549932A (en)
HK (1) HK5981A (en)

Families Citing this family (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS5690721A (en) * 1979-12-20 1981-07-23 Diesel Kiki Co Ltd Air-conditioning device for vehicle
JPS56131413A (en) * 1980-03-14 1981-10-15 Diesel Kiki Co Ltd Car air-conditioner
JPS56131417A (en) * 1980-03-18 1981-10-15 Diesel Kiki Co Ltd Car air-conditioner
JPS58110317A (en) * 1981-12-23 1983-06-30 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd Vehicle air conditioning system
US4514723A (en) * 1983-04-14 1985-04-30 Leal David T Method and apparatus for depicting inoperative electrical fuses
DE3427540A1 (en) * 1984-07-26 1986-02-06 Dr.Ing.H.C. F. Porsche Ag, 7000 Stuttgart FUSE CHECKING DEVICE
DE3513833A1 (en) * 1984-11-14 1986-05-22 Karl-Walter Prof. Dr.-Ing. 5910 Kreuztal Bonfig FUSE PROTECTION INSERT WITH OPTOELECTRICAL DISPLAY DEVICE
GB8517590D0 (en) * 1985-07-12 1985-08-21 Bosley S S Indicating fuse
US4725686A (en) * 1985-11-22 1988-02-16 William H. Rorer, Inc. Benzodiazinone-pyridazinone and hydroxy-pyrazolyl compounds, cardiotonic compositions including the same, and their uses
GB8601866D0 (en) * 1986-01-27 1986-03-05 Wandsworth Electrical Ltd Electrical component
EP0313709A1 (en) * 1987-10-30 1989-05-03 Angelos-John Maltabes Status-indicating fuse for D.C. current electrical systems
GB2268341A (en) * 1992-07-01 1994-01-05 Ally Amir Dhanani Electric fuse
RU2167774C1 (en) * 2000-06-27 2001-05-27 Цветков Алексей Анатольевич Automobile safety device
USD559203S1 (en) 2006-11-14 2008-01-08 Littelfuse, Inc. Indicator for a fuse

Family Cites Families (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1972569A (en) * 1932-05-02 1934-09-04 Miller David Renewable fuse
US1927336A (en) * 1932-07-30 1933-09-19 Engineering Appliance Corp Cartridge fuse
US2206786A (en) * 1939-03-06 1940-07-02 Fuse Indicator Corp Indicating plug fuse
FR982634A (en) * 1949-01-19 1951-06-13 Fuse checking device
FR2232830A1 (en) * 1973-06-06 1975-01-03 Piatou Robert Indicating circuit for defective electric fuses - for use with electroluminescent diode, increases reliability
NL7503428A (en) * 1975-03-21 1976-09-23 Hazemeijer Bv Warning device for safety fuse in AC circuit - has series circuit of capacitor, gas discharge lamp and limiting resistor in parallel with fuse
DE2551447B2 (en) * 1975-11-15 1980-05-22 Siemens Ag, 1000 Berlin Und 8000 Muenchen Circuit arrangement for displaying a destroyed fuse by means of a light-emitting diode
US4025888A (en) * 1975-12-29 1977-05-24 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Fuse and visual indicator mounting apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2365202B1 (en) 1981-09-18
JPS5336659A (en) 1978-04-05
FR2365202A1 (en) 1978-04-14
JPS56174445U (en) 1981-12-23
HK5981A (en) 1981-03-06
GB1549932A (en) 1979-08-08
DE2741779A1 (en) 1978-03-23

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