US1737329A - Electric fuse holder for automobiles - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 26, 1929. J, w, PATRlcK 1,737,329

ELECTRIC FUSE HOLDER FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed DOO. 22. 192? Patented Nov. 26, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC FUSE HOLDER FOR AUTOMOBILES Application led December 22, 1927, Serial This invention relates to electric fuse holders for automobiles and its primary object is to provide a simple, inexpensive and efficient fuse holder which is adapt-ed for attachment to the dash board or like part of an automobile and to removably accommodate a series of the ordinary automobile fuses in a rotary magazine, whereby in the event of a fuse burning out, a new fuse may be immediately brought into action by partial rotation of the magazine and without removingand renewing the burnt-out fuse until all of the fuses have been spent when they may be readily replaced by merely inserting new fuses into circumferentially spaced passages of the magazine.

Vhilst electric fuses of the rotary magazine type are already known, such existing devices have the disadvantage that the individual fuses are lixedly mounted within the magazine, so that when all of the fuses have Vbeen spent it is necessary to provide an entirely new magazine, instead of merely inserting newstandard fuses therein as is the case with the present invention. Moreover magazine fuses have not hitherto been adapted for mounting on the dashboard or like part of an automobile, for which purpose the present invention has been specially designed.

In order that this invention may be better understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which is to be taken as part of this specification and read herewith Figure 1 is an external side View of a fuse holder according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of the fuse holder.

Figure 3 is a cross section on the line III-III in Figure 2.

Figure l is a detail view of a series of springs carried by a ring member as seen in Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detail view in section, showing a modified form of spring means for the fuses in the holder.

Figure 6 is a view showing a fuse holder according to the invention fitted to the instrument or dash board of an automobile.

vThe invention includes a base plate or No. 241,894, and in Australia July s, 1927.

disc member T which may be suitably constructed from sheet metal and is provided with a central socket or cup shaped depression 8 t-o accommodate an insulating ring 9 through which and the bottom of said disc member coinciding central openings 1l are formed to pass a stationary axial spindle 12 which is insulated from said disc member. At the inner end of this spindle is a terminal screw 13 carrying suitable terminal nuts 14 to receive one of the electric conductors (not shown) leading to the fuse.

A contact pin 16 having at its inner end a similar terminal screw 17 and nuts 18 also passes through the bottom of the cup S and through the said insulating ring 9; the front face of the enlarged head 19 of this pin preferably being recessed as at 21 to receive the inner ends of the fuses 22 as they are successively brought into engagement with the contact pin 16 by rotation of the magazine 23.

The magazine is mounted rotatably upon the said axial spindle 12 and may be constructed of fibre or other suitable insulating material, and it is preferably of cylindrical shape. The magazine is provided with a central passage 24 to accommodate the axial spindle and is also provided with a series of circumferentially spaced passages 26 extending from end to end thereof for the purpose of accommodating the fuses 22 which may be of the tubular type commonly used on automobiles.

According to the embodiment shown in l Figure 2, the said circumferentially spaced passages 26 also accommodate relatively light coiled springs 27 one of which presses against the outer end of each fuse 22 so that the inner end of the latter is forced yieldingly against the front face of the aforesaid insulating ring 9 and into the recess 21 of the Contact pin 16 as the fuse is brought into alignment with the latter. The outer end portions of the springs 27 may be welded, soldered or otherwise suitably secured to a metal ring 28. An insulating strip 20 may be secured to the under face of the bottom wall of the cup or socket 8, having perforatons for the passage of the terminals 13 and 17 therethrough; these perforations or openings being provided with struck-up marginal lips or flanges 25 thatl project into the openings in the aforesaid cup wall to prevent short-circuiting.

Covering the outer end of the rotatable magazine 23, the springs 27 and the metal ring 28 is a cap l29 which is preferably provided with a milled or like edge 30 and is adapted to be turned with the magazine about the aforesaid axial spindle.

Passing through a central hole in the cap 29 into a coinciding screw threaded hole 81 in the outer end of the axial spindle y12 is a set screw 32 having a milled or like head 33 whereby the cap is retained in place and the magazine may be normally held against rotation. Y

Screw holes 34 or the like are 'formed through the base plate or disc 7 whereby the latter may be conveniently attached to the dashboard ,0r instrument board 36 of an autombile as indicated in Figure 6.

In use, the current passes from one terminal through the axial spindle 12, the metal Cap 29 and the metal ring 28 to the respective spring 27 and the -MEQ ZWhCh is engaging the contact pin 16 in the insulatingring 9, and thence' through ,this contactwpin to the other terminal which is attached thereto. When a lfuse 22 becomes burnt out or damaged, it is merely necessary to give the cap 29 yon the magazine a partial turn so that the inner end of the next succeeding fuse 22 is brought into engagement with the contact pin 16, whereupon the new fuse is in position for use.

When all of the fuses have been spent, ity

is merely necessary to remove the set screw 32 and cap 29, whereupon theV magazine 23 may be withdrawn from the axial spindle 12 and the used fuses slipped out and replaced by new ones, against the outer endsof which the springs 27 are positioned in the respect-ive passages 26 of the magazine. The cap -29 and set screw 33 are t enagain placed in position and the device is ready for further use.

Suitable indication marks may, if desired, be placed upon the disc member 7 and the magazine 23 (for instance as at 44, 45 and 46 in YFigures l and 3) to indicate the correct degree and direction of rotation of the magazine to bring the fuses successively into operative position.

According to the modification illustrated .in .Figure .5,1118 relatively light independent Springs 27 are replaced by Single relatively streng .Serine 37 which ,encircle the .Spindle 1.2 between the .Cep 2.9 and a ,metal ring 28a. This ring is providedr with a number of cir- ,cumferentially spaced studs .38 which project wie the respective fuse passages 26 'm the nasal-lne 23, and thus relhently hold the i'uses 22 against the outer face of the insulating ring 9.

Having now described my invention what I clailn as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. An improved electric fuse holder for automobiles, comprising in combination, a cylindrical socket member adapted to be attached to the dash or instrument board of the vehicle, a ring of insulatin material disposed within and adjacent an inner end wall of said socket member, a contact member extending through said insulating ring and said wall at a point which is oil-setfrom the centre thereof, said contact member forming one of the electric terminals of the device, a spindle extending axially through the socket member and said insulating ring and forming the other electric terminal, a magazine rotatable about said spindle and lhaving its inner Surface .contiguous with Athe outer surface of said ring, said magazine being provided with anumber of circumfercntielly spaced and open ended longitudinal passageways each pf which is adapted to removably and slidably accommodate an electric fuse, means for electrically connecting said spindle with said fuses. Spring means 'for pressing said fuses inwardly within their respective passageway-s, and a detachable cap at the outer end, of the magazine for retaining said spring means in operative position.

2. In an electric fuse holder, the combination of a support, a magazine rotatably nccommodated by said support, said magazine being provided with a number ,of .circumferentially spaced and open ended longitudinal passageways each of which is adapted tp removably and slidably accommodate an electric fuse, a contact member carried by said ,support in circumferential alignment with the fuse accommodating passageways of the magazine, and resilient means to press said fuses inwardly within their respective passageways so that by appropriate turning of the magazine any one of said fuses may be electrically connected with said contact member, said resilient means comprising a plate and a number of circumferentially spaced springs havi v'their outer ends secured to said plate an their inner ends adapted to engage the outer ends of fuses in said magazine.

3. In an electric fuse holder, the .combination of a support; a magazine rotatably mounted thereon and provided with a plurality of circumferentially-spaced, openended longitudinal passageways, each pf which is adapted to removably and slidably accommodate an electric `fuse; a plate at one end of the magazine; a plurality of circumferentially-spaced springs carried said plate and having their inner ends a opted to engage the .outer ends of the fuses in said passageways and press the same inwardly thereinto; and a cap removably fitted on said magazine end to hold the plate and springs normally in operativeposition.

4. An electric fuse holder, comprising a cup-shaped socket; a spindle extending axially therethrough; a magazine disposed Within said socket for rotary movement about said spindle7 said magazine being' provided with a plurality of cireumferentially-Spaced, open-ended longitudinal passageways, each of which is adapted to removably and slidably accommodate an electric fuse; a plate at one end of the magazine; a plurality of eircumferentially-spaced springs carried b v said plate and having their inner ends adapted to engage the outer ends of the Jfuses in said passageways and press the same inwardly thereinto; and a cap removably fitted on said magazine end to hold the plate and springs normally in operative position.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

J. W. PATRICK.

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