Electric Fuse Having Composite Support for Fusible Element

A large number of prior art designs were evolved to support helically wound fusible elements of fuses intended for elevated voltages. One support of relatively recent date is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,599,138 to Frederick J. Kozacka, 08/10/71 for HIGH-VOLTAGE FUSE. The fusible element support shown in that patent consists of a laminate of glass-cloth and melamine resin, which is a material that evolves gas under the action of electric arcs. On high fault currents gas-evolving fusible element supports sometimes evolve an excess of gas, as a result of which the fuse casing must be reinforced, if bursting thereof is to be avoided.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,745 to Donald D. Blewitt, 12/09/75 for HIGH VOLTAGE FUSE WITH LOCALIZED GAS EVOLVING SUPPRESSORS eliminates the drawbacks of prior art designs. According to that patent the supporting rods for the fusible element are made of a non-gas-evolving substance and are provided with inserts of a gas-evolving substance. Gas evolution is, therefore, limited to the aforementioned inserts or suppressors.

The above design is, however, still subject to limitations. One of these limitations resides in the fact that there is no freedom of varying the pitch of the fusible element or elements without, at the same time, varying the position of the gas-evolving inserts or suppressors. Another limitation of the above design resides in the fact that each supporting rod comprises two materials, a non-gas-evolving substance and a gas-evolving substance. The fabrication of fusible element supporting rods of several materials weakens the strength of the rods, and greatly increases the manufacturing cost of a fuse whose fusible element, or elements, are supported by such rods, i.e. the manufacturing cost of a fuse as a whole.

The present invention eliminates the limitations to which fuses manufactured under U.S. Pat. No. 3,925,745 are subject.

Electric fuses embodying the present invention include a tubular casing of electric insulating material, a pair of electro-conductive terminal elements each arranged at one of the ends of said casing and closing said casing, a pulverulent arc-quenching filler inside said casing, a substantially helically wound fusible element submersed in said filler and conductively interconnecting said pair of terminal elements, and a support for said fusible element. Said support for said fusible element includes a plurality of rod-like support elements arranged in spaced relation parallel to the longitudinal axis of said casing.

According to the present invention each of said plurality of rod-like support elements is made of one uniform material, and some of said plurality of rod-like support elements consist solely of a non-gas-evolving material, while at least one of said plurality of rod-like supporting elements consists solely of a gas-evolving material.

FIG. 1 is mainly a longitudinal section of a fuse embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section along II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section along III--III of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a section along IV--IV of FIG. 5 of a modification of the structure of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 5 shows substantially in vertical section that portion of the fuse shown in FIG. 4.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, numeral 1 has been applied to indicate a tubular casing or housing of electric insulating material of a fuse for elevated voltages, say a few kilovolts. A pair of terminal elements in the form of terminal plugs 2 are arranged at the ends of housing 1, each at one of the ends thereof. Steel pins 3 project through housing 1 into electroconductive plugs 2. Thus housing 1 is firmly closed by plugs 2 and pins 3. A pulverulent arc-quenching filler 4, e.g. quartz sand, is provided inside of housing 1. Numeral 5 has been applied to indicate a substantially helically wound fusible element, e.g. of sheet silver. Instead of one fusible element the fuse shown in FIGS. 1-3 may include several such elements having the same pitch and connected in parallel. A support for fusible element 5 includes a plurality of rod-like support elements 6a,6b,6c,6d arranged in spaced relation parallel to the longitudinal axis of casing or housing 1. Fusible element 5 is wound around rod-like elements 6a,6b,6c and 6d substantially helically in a number of turns. Each of rods 6a,6b,6c and 6d is made of a uniform material, i.e. either one that is non-gas-evolving under the action of electric arcs, or one that is gas-evolving. Rod-like supporting elements 6a, 6b and 6c may consist of a non-gas-evolving substance, and rod-like supporting element 6d may consist of a gas-evolving substance. Where the evolution of gas is intended to be relatively large, two instead of one of rod-like supports may be of gas-evolving material. Since the presence of gas-evolving material is not limited to the region of physical engagement of fusible element 5 and support 6d, but extends all the way from one of terminal plugs 2 to the other of terminal plugs 2, the gas-evolving support is preferably made of a non-tracking insulating material. There are many such materials available on the market and, therefore, there is no need for a specific description of such materials. It may be mentioned, however, that satisfactory results can be obtained if support rod 6d, or two support rods 6b,6d, are made of a laminate of glass - cloth and melamine, provided that the interface of fusible element 5 and support rod 6d, or the interfaces between fusible element 5 and support rods 6b and 6d, is kept relatively small.

Terminal plugs 2 are provided with four blind bores 2a at the axially inner end surfaces thereof. Supporting rods 6a,6b and 6c are cylindrical and project with the ends thereof into blind bores 2a. Gas-evolving support rod 6d is rectangular in cross-section to increase the bending strength thereof. Its end may also be inserted into a bore 2a, or inserted into a radial groove formed in terminal plugs 2. Rod 6d is arranged in a radial plane and supports fusible element 5 at the radially outer edge thereof.

Rods 6a,6b and 6c are made of a ceramic material and are cylindrical or circular in cross-section. The preferred material for rods 6a,6b and 6c is a high alumina content ceramic.

FIG. 4 shows another means for imparting additional bending strength to the rod of gas-evolving material. As shown in FIG. 4 casing 1' of an electric insulating material is filled with a pulverulent arc-quenching filler 4'. Fusible element 5' is wound helically around rods 6a',6b',6c' and 6d'. Bracing plate 7' having a central aperture 7a' braces rod 6d' of gas-evolving material which has a relatively limited bending strength in comparison to the rods 6a,6b and 6c of a high alumina content ceramic material.

It will thus be apparent that in the structure of FIG. 4 the bracing member 7' has a number of radially extending arms equal in number to the number of said support rods 6a',6b',6c',6d'. Each of said arms engages with the radially outer end thereof one of rods 6a',6b',6c',6d' to transfer bending forces acting upon rod 6d' of gas-evolving material having a relatively limited bending strength to rods 6a',6b',6c' of ceramic material having a relatively large bending strength.