US1958099A - Indicating electric fuse - Google Patents

Description

y 1934- l. YELEN INDICATING ELECTRIC FUSE Filed June 16, 1935 R O T N E V m [,sidor YbZaz. BY I 11 r ATTORNEY Patented May 8, 1934 PATENT GFFICE UNITED STATES 2 Claims.

This invention relates to fuses for electric circuits and more particularly to fuses having indicators by which the condition of the fusible element may be ascertained. Ordinarily such fuses are grouped in close relation, rendering it difficult to determine which particular fuse has failed to function, making it necessary to experiment, losing valuable time in deciding which of the fuses is at fault.

It is therefore one of the objects of the invention to provide a structure in which the fusible element controls the position of a token indicating its condition, as being operative or inoperative, by visual inspection.

A further feature is in the provision of means by which new fusible elements may be substituted for such as become defective by reason of rupture caused by an overload of current, etc. etc.

Another purpose is to produce a fuse constructed of few and simple parts not readily liable to disorganization in normal use and which is inexpensive to construct and assemble.

These and other analogous aims and objects are accomplished by the novel design, construction and combination of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting a material component of this disclosure, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention showing the signal set to indicate an operative condition.

Figure 2 is a similar view of the same but showing the device as indicating an inoperative condition.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a similar sectional view taken on line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is another like sectional view taken at a right angle on line 55 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 66 of Figure 3.

The fuse plug seen in Figures 1 to 6 is of the usual conventional type with respect to appearance, size and proportion and consists of a nonconducting body, as porcelain, generally designated by the numeral 15, having an expanded top 16, conical inner end 17 and contains a chamber 18 enlarged at its upper portion.

A thin metallic cap 20 over the top 16 is provided with an annular flange 21 spun at its lower portion to tightly engage the bevelled edge of the plug enlargement 16 to be securely held in place.

At the center of the cap is an opening 23, preferably an elongated rectangle in outline, and

held by the cap is a disc 24 of transparent material, as mica, seated on the plug body portion 16.

A metallic sleeve 25 provided with spun threads is tight tted to the body 15, the sleeve having an inreaching flange 26 set against a shoulder on the body above the conical portion 17, this sleeve constituting one of the terminal contacts of the fuse plug.

A metallic terminal contact tip 27, at the end of the conical element 1'7, is provided with prongs 28 extending upwardly through an opening 19 in the lower end of the body, these prongs being eventually bent outwardly to engage a flange surrounding the opening and by which the tip is rigidly secured to the body.

A fuse strip 30 is soldered to the tip and prongs to extend upwardly into the chamber 18, the fuse strip being bent substantially at a right angle and having its opposite end passed out through a recess 31 in the body to be engaged 5 by solder, as at 32, with the sleeve 25.

The horizontal portion of the fuse strip 30 is formed with weakening notches 33 in its side edges and loosely engaged by these notches is the forked portions 34 of a normally upright bar 35, made of insulating material, as fiber. The slot 36 freely straddles the fuse strip, while the ends of the forks 34 rest on the solder by which the strip 30 is secured to the tip.

The upper portion of the bar is bent to present a loop 37 having plate elements 3839, capable of moving freely in the upper part of the chamber 18, closely to but clearing the disc 24.

The plates may bear any preferred inscription, as for instance 0. K. and N. G. respectively and are adapted to appear at the opening 23, which under operative conditions discloses the plate 38.

A compression spring 40 is seated at one end in the loop 37 to which it is secured and at the other end abuts the wall of the chamber 18, tending to press the bar 35 to one side, and obviously, if the fuse strip becomes ruptured, the inoperative signal N. G. instantly appears in view.

While a certain preferred embodiment of this device has been shown and described, it will be understood that changes in the form, arrangements, proportions, sizes and details thereof may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. An indicating electric fuse comprising an insulate chambered body having an annular surrounding terminal contact and a tip contact, an apertured cap fixed on said body, a fuse element bent to present a right angle connecting said contacts and having a restricted portion, a forked dielectric bar engaged on said restricted portion, and resting on the bottom of said body said bar having a loop at one end and mounted to move freely in the chamber of said body, visual signals on the upper member of said loop to appear through the aperture in said cap, said bar While held by the fuse element causing the normal signal to appear, and a spring in said body to move said bar into an abnormal position upon disruption of said fuse element.

2. An indicating electric fuse comprising an insulate chambered body having spaced terminal contacts, an apertured cap fixed on said body, a transparent disc intervening said cap and body, a fuse element electrically connected to said contacts and having a pair of opposed notches in its length, an insulate bar straddling said fuse element at its restricted portion and resting on the bottom of the chambered body, a loop formed in the upper end of said bar, the upper surface of said loop bearing signals showing through the aperture in said cap relative to the position of said bar, and a spring in the chamber of said body to urge said bar against said fuse element whereby upon breakage of the fuse element the abnormal signal is displayed.

ISIDOR YELEN.

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