General Electric Company

General Electric Corporation Gmbh

Radhakrishnan Ranjan

William E Lazenby

Anil Raj Duggal

Minyoung Lee

Robert E Koch

John G Leach

Gerald J Carlson

Richard Francis Shoestock, Sr

Donald Kenneth Ferguson

Arthur Thomas Ehmke

Constance Moore Dotson

Ronald E Bennet

Cesar Eliut Lopez

Eli Valle

A high-voltage current-limiting fuse comprises an elongated housing, an auto-centering connector centrally located about the elongated axis of the housing, and an elongated fusible element attached to the connector and secured along the elongated axis of the housing by the connector. The auto-centering connector is located about the elongated axis of the housing by a surface near one end of the housing, and the elongated conductive fusible element is connected to the connector and contained within the housing. The auto-centering connector is connected to an end of the fusible element, and mechanically located but electrically insulated relative to the housing.

High-voltage current-limiting fuse

A high voltage, current limiting device is connected in series with a high voltage power source and a protected load to interrupt current for an over-current condition [Typically 50 kA]. The current limiting device includes a current sensor/isolator and a switch connected in series. A current limiter, which may include a fuse or polymer current limiting material, is connected in parallel to the current sensor/isolator. The current sensor/isolator includes a pair of electrically insulated supports secured to a plurality of support rods to maintain the insulated supports at a predetermined fixed spacing to support an expulsion fuse. The expulsion fuse link includes a pair of copper conductors of adequate current carrying capability that are attached to ends of a main weak link fuse. A pair of coil springs hold the weak link fuse under tension to repel the conductors apart when the weak link fuse melts open during an over-current condition. An electrically insulating flapper pivotally connected at one end of a support rod provides a barrier between the source side and the load side of the current sensor/isolator when the main weak fuse melts open. One embodiment of the current limiter may include a high voltage polymer current limiting (PCL) device having a conductor-filled polymer composite material disposed between a pair of electrodes. The electrodes are forced inwardly by a pair of opposing springs to compress the composite material. The composite material, electrodes and springs are surrounded by pure silica, e.g., sand, within an enclosure.

High voltage current limiting device

This high-voltage fuse comprises a tubular housing and a fuse subassembly within the housing with a core in the form of an elongated, cylindrical body primarily of silica sand particles bound together in a rigid, porous mass, a fusible element wound about the core, and connector assemblies at opposite ends of the core electrically connected to opposite ends of the fusible element. The fuse subassembly is closely surrounded by silica sand in the space between the housing and the subassembly.

High-voltage fuse having a core of bound silica sand about which fusible

An apparatus for triggering chemical augmented electrical fuses includes a light source which emits a light signal in the form of visible or infrared light energy upon receiving a signal from a control system, trigger signal source or other fuses. The light signal is coupled to a light detector by an optical coupling device such as a fiber optic cable. Upon receipt of the light signal, the light detector generates a signal which causes the application of electrical energy to exothermic material in a fuse, thereby detonating the material and causing interruption of current through the triggered fuse.

Apparatus for triggering chemically augmented electrical fuses

A fuse body encloses a fuse element of a current-limiting fuse wherein the fuse body is formed from an inexpensive material and provided with a shield between the inner surface of the fuse body and the fuse element. Thus, when the fuse element melts and arcs during interruption, the fuse body is protected from the hot gaseous arc products by the protective shield thereby preventing burning of the fuse body. The protective shield can be a spray coating such a ceramic spray coating applied to the inner surface of the fuse tube, a glass coating, or ceramic paper. The fuse body can be made from glass filament wound epoxy material.

Thermal withstand capability of a filament wound epoxy fuse body in a

An apparatus for preventing operation of a full range chemically augmented electrical fuse due to induced current surges includes a low inductance device electrically connected in series between an air gap device and a first terminal of a trigger circuit for triggering exothermic material within the fuse. A second air gap device is electrically connected in series with a second low inductance device. This series connection of the second air gap device and the second low inductance device is electrically connected in parallel with a high inductance device, the parallel connected combination being connected in series with a second terminal of the trigger circuit. All of these elements are electrically connected in parallel with the main fuse element which is electrically connected in series with the protected electrical power distribution system.

Growing community of inventors

Hickory, NC, United States of America

Radhakrishnan Ranjan