Illinois Tool Works Inc.

John Alice

William E Ruehl

Bjarne Frederiksen

E Grant Swick

A fuse having a rated current for protecting electric or electronic circuitry comprises a body having a blow chamber. A fusible element is contained within the body and extends through the blow chamber. A contact is disposed on the body electrically connected to the fusible element for making an electrical connection between the fuse and the circuitry. The blow chamber is sealed around the fusible element so that thermal energy in the fusible element can increase within the blow chamber for causing the element to open when an elevated current is applied to the element. The blow chamber is sufficiently sealed around the element for retaining a pressure created therewithin by vaporization of a portion of the element; that pressure is sufficient to cause an arc produced by fusion of the element to extinguish. The body is of sufficient strength to contain the pressure within the blow chamber for allowing the fuse to fail gracefully. Thermal conductive cement is disposed about the entire fusible element without the blow chamber for preventing the fusible element from opening without the blow chamber before opening within the blow chamber.

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Arlington Heights, IL, United States of America

John Alice