US1761466A - Refillable fuse - Google Patents

Description

Jun 3, 1930. J. CLEMENS 1,761,466

REFILLABLE FUSE Filed Jan. 25, 1927 rrics JOHN G. CLEIV'ENSS, GF EG'GERTSVILLE, NEW YORK, ./SlG-NOR 'O .PlElCl RENEWABLE ENQ, F BUFFALO, NEW" YQBK REFILLABLT- FUSE Application filed January 25, 1927.

This invention relates to reiillable fuses of the kind having a fuse link which when burned out can be replaced by another fuse link.

Fuses of this kind as heretofore made have generally been provided with a body portion made of fiber or other insulating material, which while not readily combustible, is nevertheless damaged or charred by llame resulting from the burning of the fuse link and also by the heat generated in the fuse link, so that the body portions of these fuse links eventually become weakened due to charring of the material of which the body portions are made. To make these body portions of non-combustible insulating material involves difficulties in that such material ordinarily cannot be provided with screw threads and cannot be bored or machined in such a manner as to provide Ventilating passages for the gaseous products of combustion resulting from the blowing of the fuse link.

The objects of this invention are to provide a fuse of this kind made entirely of noncombustible material. or material which is not .damaged by the temperatures resulting from Jthe blowing of fuse link; also to provide a fuse of this kind in which a chamber or pasfor the gaseous products of combustion is provided in a metallic portion arranged exterior to the non-conducting body ofthe fuse; also to provide a fuse of this kind with means of novel construction for securing the ends of the removable fuse link to metallic terminals of the fuse, also to provide the insulating body portion of the fuse with means of improved construction by which the fuse may be handled without touching the conducting portion of the fuse; also to improve the construction of fuses of this kind in other respects hereinafter specified.

ln the accompanying drawings,

Fig. l is a longitudinal, central sectional elevation of a relillable fuse embodying this 5 invention.

F ig. 2 is a side view of the body of the fuso.

Fig. 3 is aside view., on a reduced scale, of the completed fuse.

i Fig. 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view of a 9) fuse showing the several parts of the fuse Serial No. 163,411.

separated from each other to show their structure and the manner of assembling the fuse.

F ig. 5 is a transverse, sectional elevation of `the fuse on line 5 5, Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of a body of modified construction.

A represents in general the tubular shell or body of the fuse which is made of insulating and non-combustible material. Lava has been found to be higl'ily satisfactory for this purpose, but other materials may be employed in forming the body portion. li" the body portion is made of lava or similar noncombustible insulating material, it is not praccical to do any intricate machine work on the body portion and also it is not possible to form these body portions in molds which are intricate, since this material cannot readily be forced into crevices or recesses in such molds. rlhe barrel or body portion of the fuse, as shown in Figs. l-, includes the usual tubular portion a, and a radially extending integral flange a, which serves as a linger hold for the fuse. The insulating body of the fuse is also provided with a portion which is adapted to hold the metallic parts of the fuse securely in place on the body. For this purpose, in the particular construction shown, an annular shoulder o2 is formed near each end of the tubular portion a, the shoulder o2 being formed by means of an annular groove extending around the tubular portion a of the body or housing A. In order to prevent rotation of the shells or metal portions of the fuse on the body, the tubular portions a of the body are provided with longitudinal grooves or keyways L3 in the outer surfaces thereof, which cooperate with corresponding parts, hereinafter to be described, on the metal portions of the fuse. V.tiny other projections or depressions on the body portion for holding the metal portions of the fuse against endwise displacement and against turning thereon may be provided.

ln order that a fuse of this kind may be able to withstand tests and inspection while the fuse link is burned by a severe overload of electric current, it is desirable that means be provided for causing the gaseous products of combustion, after flowing outwardly in opbe burned "epeatedly without causing any damage whatever lto any portion of the `fuse, si the body portion which is subjected to the greatest heat, is made of non-combustible material, and also the heat developed in the Yliuse link during the normal use thereo'l' will not tend to char the body portion of 'the fuse, so that the fuse may be used indelinitely without being weakened or damaged in any man ner.

l claim as my invention l. A relillable l'use including a substantially tubular body of non-combustible insulating material having annular shoulders, a 'fuse link extending through said body, vent shells arranged about said body and having passages extending lengthwise of the outer surl'ace of said body for the gaseous products of combustion resulting from the fusing et .aid link and having portions pressed into engagement with said shoulders to secure said vent shells to said body, and means connected with said vent shells to secure the ends of said `fuse link thereto.

2. A retillable fuse including a substantially tubular body oit non-combustible insulating material, a fuse link arranged in said tubular body, terminal members with which the ends ol" said fuse link are connected and which are supported on said body, a pair oit vent shells mounted on said body and communicating with the opposite ends of said body to receive gaseous products of combustion therefrom and discharge the same to the atmosphere, said shells having parts which are pressed into locking engagement with corresponding parts on said body.

3. A retillable fuse including a substantially tubular body of non-combustible insulatmaterial, a fuse link extending lengthwise through said body, a pair of metallic vent shells mounted on said body and having vent passages communicating with the opposite ends el" said body to receive gaseous products et combustion trom the ends thereof and conduct the same in a reverse direction along the periphery oil said body to the atmosphere, and Contact means supported on said body and with which the ends of said inse link engage.

4C. A reiillable fuse including a substantially tubular body non-combustible insulating material, a fuse link arranged in said tubular body, a pair ot' metallic shells mounted on said body and having annular vent passages arranged substantially concentrically about said body and communicating at their outer ends with the opposite ends oi said body to receive gaseous products of combustion therefrom and discharge the same adjacent to their inner ends to the atmosphere, and terminal members with which the ends of said fuse link are connected and which are supported on said vent shells.

5. A relillable fuse including a substantially tubular body et non-combustible insulating material, a fuse link arranged in said tubular body, terminal. members with which the ends of said fuse link are connected and which are supported on said body, a pair of metallic vent shells extending about said body and having an inner wall arranged adjacent to the outer Wall of the tubular port-ion ol the body, and an outer wall spaced at a distance therefrom to form a annular vent passage through which products ot combustion pass from the ends of said tubular body, said outer walls of said vent shells being provided with apertures through which products of combustion pass to the atmosphere.

6. A relillable fuse including a substantially tubular body oi' non-combustible insulating material, a ituse link arranged in said tubular body, terminal members with which the ends of said fuse link are connected and which are supported on said body, a pair of metallic vent shells extending about said body and having an inner wall arranged adjacent to the outer wall ot the tubular portion of the body, an outer wall spaced at a distance therefrom o iorm an annular vent passage through which products of combustion pass from the ends ol" said tubular body, said out-- er walls of said vent shells being provided `with apertures through which products of combustion pass to the atmosphere, and a shoulder near each end of said body, the inner wall of each of said vent shells being` pressed into engagement with said shoulder to retain the vent shells on said body,

7. A relillable fuse including a substantially tubular body ot non-combustible insulating material, metallic vent shells extending around parts ot said body and adapted to receive products ot combustion discharged troni the ends of said body, bushings secured to said shells, `terrules, each having a threaded engagement with a bushing, and a fuse link extending through said body and having its ends secured between said bushings and said errules.

8. A reiillable fuse including a substantially tubular body of non-combustible insulating material and having an integral outwardly extending annular flange arranged intermediate ot the ends of said body, metallic vent shells mounted on opposite sides ot said flange and surrounding said body and provided with passages communicating with the ends of said body for receiving products of combustion and discharging," the same to the atmosphere, a fuse link extending through body, and terminals mounted on said metallic shells to which the ends or" said fuse link are secured.

9. A rehllable fuse including a substantially tubular body of non-.combustible insulating material and adapted to contain a i''use link, metallic members secured to and arranged about the walls ot said body and havllO ing vent passages Communicating at their outer ends With the ends of said body and having vent openings near the inner ends of said members, and un annular member of n- 5 sulating material projecting outwardly from smid body and spaced between the inner ends of said metallic members.

J OHN CLEMENS.

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