A fuse element for an electric circuit, arranged on a circuit board of the electric circuit, has a surface area for fastening and establishing an electric contact on the circuit board, a first deforming area adjacent the surface area, a second deforming area connected to the first deforming area via a central area, the second deforming area including a contact area that abuts the circuit board, and a hook-shaped element insertable into an opening adjacent the contact area, the hook-shaped element is insertable into the opening by elastic deformation of the fuse element in the direction of the circuit board and, after insertion of the hook-shaped element into the opening and positive holding of the hook-shaped element on a lower surface of the circuit board, the first and second deforming areas exert an elastic force on the surface area in the direction away from the circuit board.

A control device suitable for use in a vehicle includes a circuit board and a thermal fuse holder including a removable spacer element and a plurality of breaker elements. The thermal fuse holder is attached at a terminal structure and, when the terminal structure is attached to the circuit board, the breaker elements engage the removable spacer element to hold the breaker elements at the circuit board. After terminals of the terminal structure and the breaker elements are soldered at the circuit board, the removable spacer element is removed from the thermal fuse holder, whereby the breaker elements are held at the circuit board via solder joints and are biased away from the circuit board. When the temperature at a respective solder joint exceeds a threshold temperature that melts the solder, the respective breaker element moves away from the circuit board to break the electrical connection at the solder joint.

A circuit protection device includes a metal oxide varistor (MOV), a spring terminal and a thermal disconnect coupling the spring terminal to the MOV. A gas discharge tube (GDT) is coupled to the MOV. The spring terminal is biased such that upon occurrence of an overvoltage condition, heat generated by the MOV melts the thermal disconnect and allows the spring terminal to be displaced away from the MOV, thereby creating an opening circuit.

A reflowable thermal fuse comprises a conduction element with first and second elastic portions, a sensor, a restraining element, a heating element and mounting pads. The first elastic portion is adapted to apply force on the conduction element in an activated state of the thermal fuse. The sensor is in mechanical communication with the first elastic portion of the conduction element. The restraining element is adapted to secure the second elastic portion of the conduction element and thereby prevent the second elastic portion from applying force on the conduction element in an installation state of the thermal fuse. Application of an activating current through the heating element causes heat generated and transferred to the restraining element and makes the restraining element to lose resilience, thereby releasing the second elastic portion and placing the thermal fuse in the activated state. The sensor loses its ability to hold the first elastic portion in place and allows the conduction element to open during a subsequent fault condition.

The invention relates to a separating device for an overvoltage protection element, wherein the separating device is to be arranged between the overvoltage protection element and a thermal disconnector, wherein the separating device has a first insulating layer and a second insulating layer, wherein a conductive layer is arranged between the first insulating layer and the second insulating layer, wherein the first insulating layer has a first cutout for a contact with the disconnector, and wherein the second insulating layer has a second cutout for a contact with the overvoltage protection element, wherein the cutouts provide a possibility for contacting the conductive layer and the conductive layer provides a thermal bridge between the overvoltage protection element and the thermal disconnector, with the insulating layers making both a thermal and an electrical insulation available, so that heat of the overvoltage protection element can be conducted in a focused manner to the thermal disconnector.

A transient overvoltage protection system to be positioned in parallel with an equipment item to be protected, has at least three lines and includes three conductive branches intended to be connected to the three lines. The first and second conductive branches are equipped with first and second voltage-sensitive protection elements and are able to rise in temperature when the voltage between its terminals is higher than a voltage threshold. A thermally sensitive disconnection device comprising at least one thermofusible element in thermal contact with at least one of the first and second protection elements, is arranged so as to keep the three branches in a connected position, the thermally sensitive disconnection device having an elastic return device exerting a force tending to bring the three conductive branches to a disconnected position.

A thermal-protective transient voltage suppressor (TVS) includes a TVS assembly, a housing, a frame, a cover plate, and a pin, where the TVS assembly is provided in the frame; the TVS assembly is electrically connected to the pin; the housing and the cover plate form an accommodation chamber for accommodating the frame; the pin extends out of the accommodation chamber, and an extended part of the pin is provided with a mounting portion for surface mount soldering; a spacing limit post is provided on the cover plate; and the frame abuts against the spacing limit post, such that the mounting portion of the pin and the TVS assembly are spaced apart by a preset distance. The spacing limit post on the cover plate of the thermal-protective TVS limits the frame provided with the TVS assembly, thereby increasing a distance between the mounting portion of the pin and the TVS assembly.

A protective element includes: a fuse element including a first end portion and a second end portion; first and second insulating members each having an opening or a separation part, the first and second insulating members being disposed in a state proximal to or in contact with the fuse element; a shielding member movable in a moving direction that allows the shielding member to insert into the opening or the separation part so as to divide the fuse element; a locking member that suppresses movement of the shielding member; a pressing member that press the shielding member; and a heat-generating body configured to heat the locking member or a fixing member of the locking member.

A switch assembly for use in a power tool may include a load circuit having a movable contact through which an electrical current flows to operate the power tool. A switch assembly may include a biasing element configured to bias the movable contact toward an open position in the load circuit. A switch assembly may include a fuse element which, in an intact state, is configured to maintain the movable contact in a closed position in the load circuit against a bias of the biasing element, and which, in a broken state, is configured to permit the movable contact to move to the open position under the bias of the biasing element.

A circuit protection device includes a metal oxide varistor (MOV), a spring terminal and a thermal disconnect coupling the spring terminal to the MOV. A gas discharge tube (GDT) is coupled to the MOV. The spring terminal is biased such that upon occurrence of an overvoltage condition, heat generated by the MOV melts the thermal disconnect and allows the spring terminal to be displaced away from the MOV, thereby creating an opening circuit.