Littelfuse, Inc.

Thomas F Draho

Robert G Swensen

Nagi Reddi Reddy

Michael Styrna

A circuit protection device including a pair of terminals to be electrically connected into an electrical circuit, a pair of spaced current-carrying extensions of the terminals, and an initially low resistance current limiting device extending between the current-carrying extensions. The invention includes the feature that the current-limiting element including flexible conductive current-feeding arms having inner and outer end portions, the inner end portions thereof being electrically connected to the current-carrying extensions of the terminals. The outer end portions of the current-feeding arms are cantilevered and flexible relative to the inner end portions. The device further preferably includes a PTC current-limiting element sandwiched between the flexible outer end portions of the current-feeding arms. The PTC element includes a layer of a PTC material having conductive opposite faces sandwiched between the flexible outer end portions of the arms so that the PTC material carries current between the outer end portions of the current-carrying arms. The layer of PTC material reaches a given trip level at an elevated current, expanding suddenly and substantially to flex the outer end portions of the current-carrying arm.

Resettable automotive circuit protection device with female terminals

A circuit protection device including a pair of terminals to be electrically connected into an electrical circuit, a pair of spaced current-carrying extensions of the terminals, and an initially low resistance current limiting element extending between the current-carrying extensions. The current-limiting element includes flexible conductive current-feeding arms having inner and outer end portions, the inner end portions thereof being electrically connected to the current-carrying extensions of the terminals. The outer end portions of the current-feeding arms are cantilevered and flexible relative to the inner end portions. The device further preferably includes a PTC current-limiting element sandwiched between the flexible outer end portions of the current-feeding arms. The PTC element includes a layer of a PTC material having conductive opposite faces sandwiched between the flexible outer end portions of the arms so that the PTC material carries current between the outer end portions of the current-carrying arms. The layer of PTC material reaches a given trip level at an elevated current, expanding suddenly and substantially to flex the outer end portions of the current-carrying arm.

Growing community of inventors

Westchester, IL, United States of America

Thomas F Draho