Littelfuse, Inc.

Astotec Automotive Gmbh

Littelfuse International Holding, Llc.

Derek Lasini

Michael Schlaak

Gregory G Stumpo

Engelbert Hetzmannseder

Ken Venhaus

Ganesh Nagaraj Chennakesavelu

David Arthur Burns

Scott Faust

Jon Richard

Matthew David Yurkanin

Matthew Miller

Ganesh Nagaraj Channakesavelu

Peter Pöltl

An active/passive fuse module including a fuse having an electrically insulating fuse body, first and second endcaps disposed on opposing ends of the fuse body, a fusible element extending through the fuse body between the first endcap and the second endcap, and an arc quenching material disposed within the fuse body and surrounding the fusible element. The fuse module further includes a pyrotechnic interrupter (PI) coupled to the fuse body, the PI having a housing defining a shaft, a piston disposed within the shaft, a drive pin extending from the piston into the fuse body, the drive pin terminating in a cutter disposed adjacent the fusible element, and a pyrotechnic ignitor disposed within the shaft above the piston configured to detonate upon receiving an initiation signal from a controller, whereby the piston and the drive pin are forcibly driven through the shaft causing the cutter to separate the fusible element.

Active/passive fuse module

A novel fuse assembly design utilizes a fuse body, a single-piece terminal assembly and a two-piece endbell. The terminal assembly is disposed within the fuse body and includes first and second opposing surfaces with a fuse element extending between a first terminal and a second terminal. The endbell, to be connected to the fuse body, includes first and second endbell portions. Formed within the first endbell portion is a first receptacle and extending from the first endbell portion is a first protrusion. Formed within the second endbell portion is a second receptacle and extending from the second endbell portion is a second protrusion. When the two endbell portions are fastened to one another with the terminal assembly sandwiched between them, the first protrusion engages the second receptacle and the second protrusion engages the first receptacle.

Two-piece fuse endbell with pre-cast/pre-molded alignment slots and optional interface crush ribs

An active/passive fuse module including a base, a busbar disposed on the base and including a fuse element extending over a cavity in a top surface of the base and having a plurality of weak points formed therein, a pyrotechnic interrupter (PI) disposed atop the base and including a piston disposed within a shaft above the fuse element, the piston having an edge with a geometry that corresponds to a geometry of a pattern defined by the weak points in the fuse element, a first pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to a controller and configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon receiving an initiation signal from the controller, and a second pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to the busbar by a pair of leads and configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon an increase in voltage across the leads.

An active/passive fuse module including a base, a busbar disposed on a top surface of the base and including a fuse element and first and second terminal portions extending from opposite ends of the fuse element, the fuse element extending over a cavity in the top surface of the base, a pyrotechnic interrupter (PI) disposed atop the base, the PI including a piston disposed within a shaft above the fuse element, a first pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to a controller, the first pyrotechnic ignitor configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon receiving an initiation signal from the controller, and a second pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to the busbar by a pair of leads, the second pyrotechnic ignitor configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon an increase in voltage across the leads.

A novel fuse assembly design utilizes single-piece terminal assemblies and two-piece endbells. The two-piece endbells and terminal assembly feature mating elements that enable fastening of the endbell portions to the terminal assembly without use of adhesives. The mating elements also provide positioning guidance for ease of assembly. Slots in the endbells for receipt of insertion pins enable the endbells to be pre-cast/pre-molded without costly rework of molding tools.

Provided herein are protection devices having U-shaped fuse elements. In some embodiments, a protection device may include a housing defining a cavity, and a fuse element within the cavity. The fuse element may include a first component and a second component separated by a barrier, and wherein the first and second components are joined at a fusible bridge.

Protection device with u-shaped fuse element

A fuse including a fuse body defining an inner cavity and having at least one fuse body aperture formed therethrough, a fuse element including a first terminal and a second terminal, a first endbell and a second endbell coupled to the fuse element, the first endbell having at least two grooves formed in a surface thereof and having a first O-ring seal disposed in at least one of the grooves, the second endbell having at least two grooves formed in a surface thereof and having a second O-ring seal disposed in at least one of the grooves, an adhesive securing the first and second endbells to the fuse body, an arc quenching material disposed within the inner cavity and contacting at least a portion of the fuse element, and end caps coupled to the fuse body, the end caps sealing a portion of the fuse element within the fuse body.

High-current fuse with endbell assembly

Provided herein are protection devices, such as fuses. In some embodiments, a fuse may include a hollow body having first and second ends, each of the first and second ends having an end surface and a side surface extending from the end surface. The fuse may further include a fusible element disposed within a central cavity of the hollow body, the fusible element extending between the first and second ends. The fuse may further include an inner cap formed over at least one of the first and second ends. The inner cap may include a center portion in contact with the fusible element, and a plurality of spring legs extending from the center portion, wherein the plurality of spring legs is in contact with the side surface of the first and/or second ends. The fuse may further include endcaps surrounding the first and second ends.

Inner cap for high voltage fuse

Approaches herein provide a multiple element fuse including a first fuse element having a first pair of terminals joined by a first fusible link, and a second fuse element including a second pair of terminals joined by a second fusible link. The first pair of terminals may be directly physically coupled with the second pair of terminals. In some embodiments, the first pair of terminals and the second pair of terminals are stacked relative to one another and joined by one or more linking elements, thus causing the first fusible link and the second fusible link to extend parallel to one another. In some embodiments, a first plurality of terminal pairs are integrally linked adjacent one another along a same plane, and then subsequently coupled to a second plurality of terminal pairs.

Multiple element fuse

A fuse includes a fuse element and a fuse body. A portion of the fuse element is housed in a fuse body. The fuse element includes a first terminal and a second terminal disposed outside of the fuse body. The first terminal and the second terminal electrically connects the fuse element to a circuit to be protected and a power source. A first endbell and a second endbell is coupled to the fuse element. A predetermined amount of arc quenching material is disposed within the fuse body. The arc quenching material contacts at least a portion of the fuse element. The predetermined amount of the arc quenching material is less than a total volume size of the fuse tube. The arc quenching material is compacted. A remaining air gap in the fuse tube is filled with a liquid adhesive and cured to a solid state.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Derek Lasini