US657414A - Fuse. - Google Patents

Description

No. 657,4I4. I Patented Sept. 4, |900.

- R. HUNDHAUSEN.

. FUSE.

(Applicationrled Nov. 18, 1899A (No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

RUDOLF HUNDHAUSEN, OF WILMERSDORF, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TOTI-IE SIEMENSr da HALSKE ELECTRIC COMPANYYOF AMERICA, OF CHICAGO,

ILLINOIS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Iatent No. 657,414, dated September'll, 1900. Application filed November 18, 1899. Serial No. 737,445. (No model.)

To all wtomt't may concern,.-

Beit known that I, RUDOLF HUNDHAUSEN,

a subject of the Emperor of Germany, resid` ing at Wilmersdorf, near Berlin, Germany,l Y have invented a certain new and useful Im-v provement in Fuses, (Case No. 256,) of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and ex# act description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a-part ofthis,

specification.

My invention relates to fuses, and has for its object the provision of improved means; whereby the terminals of a ruptu red fuse may;

be speedily separated.

In the application of fuses as safeguards -for electric circuits it is essential that the power consumed therein be as small as possifV ble and also that the drop of potential caused The rupture of fusesl therein be minimized.

is accompanied frequently by an arc,which extends from one terminal to the otherand per In,

sists after the fuse has been melted away. order to reduce the lengths of strips of fusewire, it is necessary that the terminals of the,

ruptured fuse be mechanically separated in order that the arc formed between them mayj be extinguished. Means for accomplishing1 this object have been devised in the form of .cement bodies, which melt under the indua means wherein the actual safeguard against the maintenance of the arc does not reside in the mechanical structure ofthe fuse, but in a portion in secondary relation to the fuse.

By this means any tension upon the fuse normally is avoided and the fuse will always be reliable.

I will describe my invention more particularly by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- In this method, however, thev Figure l is a side view of an embodiment of my invention. Fig. 2 is a top view thereof. Fig. 3 is a side view, the fuse being ruptured. Fig. 4 is a side View with the terminals of the fuse separated. Figs. 5 and 6 are side and top views, respectively, of another embodiment of my invention. Fig. '7 is a side viewillustrating the application of fuse-wire.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts in the different views.

Referring now to Fig. l, the fuse a is united to one terminal b of a circuit. The free end of the fuse consists of an enlarged portion or loop c, which is mechanically united to an-v other terminal d, which is in electrical communication with the terminal e of the circuit through a spring f. The loop portion c of the fuse is placed overa projecting arm g, against which the force of the spring j' acts. If the current in the circuit increases abnormally, the fuse a is ruptured, as shown in Fig. 2. An arc is formed, the heat caused thereby be ing sufficient to melt neighboring portions of the fuse, thereby increasing the space over which the arc must be sustained. If this increased space, however, is not sufficient lo break the arc, thel loop c of the fuse will also be melted by the heat, as shown in Fig. When this loop c is melted a sufficient distance, the spriug'facts, thereby speedily sepa rating the terminals ,b and d and readily interrupting the arc. This is clearly shown in Fig.

4. The wave-like-form of the fuse a, as shown in Fig. l, shows that no tension is exerted thereon by the springf, and therefore the weakest portion of the fuse a is always a reliable safeguard to the system. I am thereby enabled to use very short lengths of fusewire, as the mechanical means employed separate the terminals upon rupture, and I am valso enabled to use a fuse-wire of small crosssection, as the tension of the spring acting on thefree terminal is not transmitted to the main port-ion of the fuse. Both ends of the fuse may, however, be movably mounted, in which case a ring or frame g may be employe/d, as shown in Fig. 5'. At its terminals the fuse a may be preferably doubled and passed over the sides of a supporting-frame g', it being l zthen secured to springs f and f2. In order IOO not to include thespringsin the circuit, I preferably employ flexible conductors 7L and h2, over which the terminals of the fuse may be Wound. These flexible conductors 71,' and h2 are included in the circuit at b and e. rlhe support-s must be stationarily mounted or fixed with relation to each other, and I preferablyemploy a porcelain ring, as shown in Fig. t5, for supporting` both terminals of the fuse. The doubled portions ofthe fuse serve to transmit the tension ot' the springs f and f2 to the porcelain ring, the main portion of the fuse a being devoid of tension. A ru pture of the fuse a will necessitate a melting of the knotted portions 7c' 7a2, thereby permitting the springs-f f2 to act and speedily separate the terminals of flexible conductors h and h2 a sufficient distance positively to interrupt. the arc.

A simple means for the employment of fusewire consists in passing the fuse-wire through apertures in insulated portions Z Z2, knotted portions 7s' 702 of the fuse being provided to prevent a tension being exerted on the main portions thereof. A rupture of the fuse will be accompanied by the melting of the knotted portions 7c k", .thereby permitting the terminals ot' the fuse to be drawn through the apertures, positively interrupting the circuit.

I have herein shown and particularly described the preferred embodiments o'fl my invention; but I do not wish to be limited to the precise construction shown; but,

l-Iaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patentl l. The combination with a fuse portion, of a tension device adapted for separating the terminals of the said fuse portion upon rupture, a second fuse portion in secondary relation with the said fuse portion, and a support associated with the second fuse portion for receiving the tension due to the said tension device, the weakest portion of the said fuse portion being thereby relieved of tension, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a fuse portion, of a second fuse portion of increased cross-section, a support associated with said second fuse portion, and a tension device adapted for connection with the second fuse portion for separating the terminals of the fuse upon rupture, substantially as described.

3. The combination withafuse portion, one terminal of which is adapted for connection with one terminal of a circuit, of a second fuse portion electrically united to said fuse portion, a support associated with the second fuse portion normally in fixed relation to the first aforesaid fuse portion, and a tension device tor separating the terminals of the fuse upon rupture, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a fuse portion, the terminals of the said fuse portion being knotted, of supporting means against which said knotted portions are adapted to rest, and tension devices associated with the knotted portions ofthe said fuse tor separating the terminals of the said fuse upon rupture, the main portion of the said t'use being relieved ot' tension, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a fuse portion, the terminals ot' the said fuse portion being of increased cross-section, of a supporting means against which said portions of increased crosssection are adapted to rest, flexible terminals in electrical communication with the said terminals of the fuse portion, and tension devices associated with the said terminals for separating the said terminals upon the rupture of the fuse, substantially as described.

6. The .combination with a fuse portion, the terminals of the said fuse portion being of increased cross-section, ot a supporting-frame against which said portions of' increased cross-section are adapted to rest, flexible terminals in electrical communication with the said terminals of the fuse portion, and tension devices associated with the said terminals for separating the said terminals upon the rupture of the fuse, substantially as described.

7. The combination with a fuse, of aspringretractor therefor, and a fixed support normally relieving the 'fuse of strain, the retractor being freed when the arc extends a determinate amount.

S. The combination with a fuse portion suitably secured in position, of tension means for separating the terminals of the said fuse upon rupture, and means for normally preventing the tension means from exerting tension upon the fuse portion, substantially as described.

9. An electric fuse normally connecting circuit-terminals without being strained, and means controlled by the arc when the fuse blows for rapidly separating the terminals.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 10th day of October, A. D. 1809.

RUDOLF IIUNDIIAUSEN.

Vitnesses:

WOLDEMAR HAUPT, HENRY HASPER.

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