High voltage, high current fuse with combustion assisted operation
US4489301A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 7, 1983 |
| Grant date | Dec 18, 1984 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 7, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H85/055
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A high voltage fuse comprises one or more fusible strips or wires (fusible elements) electrically connected between nonfusible external electrical connection means with at least one portion of the fusible element ("a rapid melting portion") being designed to melt open when the current exceeds a given value for a given period of time. The fuse further comprises exothermic material, disposed on electrically-conductive wire, which is placed adjacent to portions of the fusible element. Electric circuit connection means connect the electrically-conductive wire to electrically opposite sides of the rapid melting portion. The electrical circuit connection means provides for either parallel or series connection of the wire surrounded by the exothermic material. In operation, during the passage of a sufficiently high current, an arc develops in the immediate vicinity of the rapid melting portions and the voltage drop occurring across this arc supplies power to the electrically-conductive wire which ignites the exothermic material so as to either blast or melt away specific remaining portions of the fuse. As a result, a plurality of series connected arcs are formed so that the sum of the vol…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.