Cooper Industries, Inc.

Mcgraw-edison Company

Cooper Power Systems, Inc.

Cooper Technologies Company

Stephen P Hassler

Stephen P Johnson

John Lapp

Gary L Goedde

Alan Paul Yerges

Edward F Veverka

Theodore O Sokoly

William J Huber

John V Majewski

Chao Zhang

Richard J Bzdak

An insulator for an electrical cutout having a fuse assembly, and methods of manufacturing. The insulator includes a weathershed housing and a single-piece full composite insulator body having no metal components. The insulator body includes a nonmetal composite polymer and a plurality of fibers. The insulators have improved mechanical strength and electrical performance over conventional insulators.

Full composite insulator for electrical cutout

A delay mechanism for retarding relative movement between two members has particular application in a hinge assembly for a dropout fuseholder. In one embodiment, a pin member rotatably connecting two adjacent members is disposed through a sleeve which has a cavity filled with viscous material, such as silicon putty. Protrusions extending from the shaft of the pin engage the putty and retard the relative rotational movement of the two members. In another embodiment, a friction member, such as a washer or annular seal, is disposed between the adjacent rotatable members. The friction member has facing surfaces contacting the opposing surfaces of the rotatable members such that the frictional forces between the friction member and the rotatable members retard rotation. In still another embodiment, the hinge assembly of a dropout fuseholder includes a latch member which rotates away from the fuseholder once dropout is initiated. As this occurs, the latch member draws a plug member through a putty-filled chamber in the fuseholder. The plug member includes extending projections which engage the viscous putty to retard rotation of the latch member. Additionally, dashpot devices may be employed between the various members of the hinge assembly to retard relative movement.

Delay mechanism for retarding relative movement between two members

A current responsive latching apparatus may be employed in a dropout fuseholder or other electrical component for retaining the component in a current-carrying position and disconnecting and isolating the electrical component upon the occurrence of an overcurrent of a predetermined magnitude. The apparatus includes a current path through the component, including a current-carrying stud or conductor, a portion of which extends outside the component for releasably engaging a support member. A latching apparatus, which may include an actuating member of memory allow or a bimetallic material, engages the conductor to retain the support member in a supporting position beneath the electrical component. The apparatus may further include a heater element in the current path to ensure that the actuation member is heated to the temperature necessary to cause it to change shape and release the conductor upon the presence of an overcurrent.

Current responsive latching apparatus for disconnecting and isolating an

A current-limiting dropout fuseholder includes multiple current paths through the fuse body. A primary current path includes a high current fusible element. A secondary current path in parallel with the primary path includes a triggering conductor that extends outside the fuse body and is connected to a moveable support. The second current path further includes a first spark gap for severing the triggering conductor upon the occurrence of a fault and the shifting of the fault current from the primary current path to the second current path. A second spark gap formed between the primary and the second current paths ensures that the fault current flows across the first spark gap for a time sufficient to sever the triggering conductor, thereby ensuring that dropout will occur.

Current limiting fuse and dropout fuseholder

A terminal bushing having integral overvoltage and fault current protection includes an insulator having an upper and a lower chamber. Nonlinear resistors are disposed in the upper chamber between a top terminal and an intermediate terminal which are mounted on the insulator. The top terminal, the nonlinear resistors and the intermediate terminal form a first current path through the bushing. The bushing also includes a pair of mounting arms which support a current limiting dropout fuseholder. The fuseholder is disposed in series between the top terminal and a bushing stud which is retained in the lower chamber of the bushing body. A second current path through the bushing is thus formed by the top terminal, the fuseholder and the bushing stud.

Terminal bushing having integral overvoltage and overcurrent protection

An apparatus for retarding rotation of a pin member, comprising: a sleeve having a body and a chamber within the body, the sleeve body comprising first and second coaxial body segments, the first body segment including a reduced-diameter portion and the second body segment including a counterbore sized to receive the reduced-diameter portion, the reduced diameter portion being axially longer than the counterbore, such that a circumferential recess is formed when the reduced diameter portion is slidingly received in the counterbore; a pair of aligned apertures in the body; a shaft disposed through the apertures and adapted for rotation within the chamber; viscous material surrounding the shaft and substantially filling the shaft and substantially filling the voids in the chamber; and extensions on the shaft for engaging the viscous material and retarding rotation of the shaft in the chamber.

The fuseholder includes a current limiting fuse mounted within a fuse body and a lower contact and hinge assembly. The fuse body has contact assemblies mounted on each end thereof. The lower contact assembly on the fuse body is mounted on a hinge which is rotatably supported on an interchangeable cutout mounting. The current limiting fuse includes a fuse element spirally wound around a spider which extends the length of the fuse body. The fuse element includes a high current fusible element and a low current fuse element. The fusible element includes a plurality of spaced reduced areas and is supported on the spider by support surfaces which are located between adjacent reduced areas of the fusible element. An auxiliary wire also extends the length of the fuse body about the spider. The hinge includes a hinge member rotatably mounted on the interchangeable cutout mounting, a connective member supporting the contact assemblies and fuse body with current limiting fuse, and a latch for latching the hinge member to the connective member in a contracted position. The latch is connected to a trigger wire attached to the lower end of the auxiliary wire to maintain the hinge and connective members in their contracted position. Upon the melting of the trigger wire due to a current overload, the trigger wire releases the latch thereby allowing the connective member to move to an extended position with respect to the hinge member such that the current limiting fuse drops out of the interchangeable cutout mounting.

Current limiting fuse having compact structure

An improved load break disconnecting device is disclosed, comprising a conductive portion having a non-gassing fuse, a fuse cartridge having first and second ends and enclosing said fuse, a conducting hinge assembly and conducting stationary contact means, and a non-conducting arc extinguishing sleeve with latch means for latching the sleeve in a non-covering position until the switch is closed and biasing means for snapping the sleeve into an arc-extinguishing, covering position when the switch is opened.

Load break disconnecting device with solid arc suppression means

Current limiting fuse and dropout fuseholder for interchangeable cutout

An expulsion type fuse is provided which is resistant to line surges caused by lightning. The fuse includes an inner fusing assembly which has a tube and a knurled conductive button inserted in one end of the tube. A fusing area is provided wherein a pair of fusing leads are disposed into a cylindrical solder pot. One of such pairs interconnects the button to the solder pot. The other pair interconnects the fuse leader to the solder pot.

Dropout expulsion fuse

A spider for a gassing current limiting fuse made of an asbestos free material is disclosed. The spider material produces an arc quenching gas and water upon erosion by an arc. The material includes the following proportions of ingredients: 50-80% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.3H.sub.2 O; 8-22% Wollastonite (CaSiO.sub.3); and 10-25% melamine formaldehyde resin.

Asbestos free material for gassing current limiting fuses

An overload and fault protector for a distribution transformer or the like is disclosed. A series-connected high range current-limiting fuse and a low range expulsion type fuse is provided with a transformer lead disconnect or ejection mechanism to insure a rapid, positive disconnect of the transformer or other power distribution circuit components. The ejection mechanism supports the transformer lead and completes the circuit to the fuse link assemblies. Upon separation of the fuse link, the ejection mechanism operates to quickly disconnect the transformer lead minimizing voltage stress on the fuse assembly and providing visible indication of a blown fuse.

Transformer overload and fault protection apparatus

A current limiting fuse has a main fusible element and an auxiliary fusible element each helically wound over an insulative support member. Each end of the auxiliary element is connected to conductive metal clips or electrodes in which blocks of metal oxide varistor material are fixedly secured and placed in contact with the main fusible element. Subsequent to the initial burn back of the main fusible element, the metal oxide varistors precisely initiate electrical arcs between the terminal clips at the ends of the auxiliary fusible element and the main element at points adjacent to these terminal clips. The presence of these arcs quickly sever the main element or elements at these points thereby producing additional burnback areas in the main fusible element or elements.

Growing community of inventors

Muskego, WI, United States of America

Stephen P Hassler