Fuse, comprising at least one fuse blade in which is formed a reduced section (46A) defining a plane (P4) transverse to the fuse blade. The fuse also comprises arc guards, which are made of an elastic material and which are associated in pairs, the arc guards of the same pair being each disposed opposite one another on one respective main side of the same fuse blade. Each arc guard comprises an internal face, oriented towards the fuse blade, a front face, oriented towards the reduced section, and a rear face, oriented away from the reduced section. At least one perforation is made in the fuse blade in the vicinity of the reduced section, each perforation being at least partially closed by the internal faces of the two arc guards of the same pair, each perforation leaving a cavity between the two arc guards of the same pair.

Disclosed are various protection devices and associated methods. In some embodiments, a protection device may include a fuse assembly having a fusible link extending between a first lead end and a second lead end, and a first lead extending from the first lead end and a second lead extending from the second lead end. The protection device may further include a body including a first section coupleable with a second section, wherein the first and second sections define a central cavity housing the fusible link. The first section may include an interior face operable to engage an opposite interior face of the second section, an engagement member extending away from the interior face towards the second section, and an engagement channel adjacent the engagement member, the engagement channel operable to receive a corresponding engagement member of the second section.

A circuit board with integrated fusing includes an insulating substrate having a circuit trace formed on a surface thereof, the circuit trace including a first circuit trace portion and a second circuit trace portion. A fusible link electrically connects the first circuit trace portion to the second circuit trace portion, the fusible link including a planar surface extending from the first circuit trace portion to the second circuit trace portion. A dielectric reflow encapsulates the fusible link on the planar surface from the first circuit trace portion to the second circuit trace portion.

A circuit board with integrated fusing includes an insulating substrate having a circuit trace formed on a surface thereof, the circuit trace including a first circuit trace portion and a second circuit trace portion. A fusible link electrically connects the first circuit trace portion to the second circuit trace portion, the fusible link including a planar surface extending from the first circuit trace portion to the second circuit trace portion. A dielectric reflow encapsulates the fusible link on the planar surface from the first circuit trace portion to the second circuit trace portion.

A vehicle includes an electrified propulsion system powered by a traction battery. The vehicle also includes an electrical distribution system (EDS) to pass current to and from the traction battery. The EDS is provided with at least one flexible electrical distribution component (FEDC) including a plurality of individual conductor paths. At least one of the individual conductor paths defines a typical width and a reduced width narrowed portion sized to operate as a fuse and thereby break an electrical circuit of the at least one individual conductor path in response to heat generated from conducting an electrical current greater than a predetermined threshold.

A vehicle includes an electrified propulsion system powered by a traction battery. The vehicle also includes an electrical distribution system (EDS) to pass current to and from the traction battery. The EDS is provided with at least one flexible electrical distribution component (FEDC) including a plurality of individual conductor paths. At least one of the individual conductor paths defines a typical width and a reduced width narrowed portion sized to operate as a fuse and thereby break an electrical circuit of the at least one individual conductor path in response to heat generated from conducting an electrical current greater than a predetermined threshold.

A flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) including a pattern circuit layer. The pattern circuit layer has a pattern fuse embedded therein, and the pattern fuse includes a first conductive wire made of a metal and having a spiral structure, and a second conductive wire made of a metal and having a spiral structure. The first conductive wire and the second conductive wire have a double helix structure.

A flexible printed circuit board (FPCB) including a pattern circuit layer. The pattern circuit layer has a pattern fuse embedded therein, and the pattern fuse includes a first conductive wire made of a metal and having a spiral structure, and a second conductive wire made of a metal and having a spiral structure. The first conductive wire and the second conductive wire have a double helix structure.

Disclosed are various protection devices and associated methods. In some embodiments, a protection device may include a fuse assembly having a fusible link extending between a first lead end and a second lead end, and a first lead extending from the first lead end and a second lead extending from the second lead end. The protection device may further include a body including a first section coupleable with a second section, wherein the first and second sections define a central cavity housing the fusible link. The first section may include an interior face operable to engage an opposite interior face of the second section, an engagement member extending away from the interior face towards the second section, and an engagement channel adjacent the engagement member, the engagement channel operable to receive a corresponding engagement member of the second section.

Systems and methods for estimating a thermal-mechanical fatigue in an electrical conductor in a thermal-mechanical fatigue assessment system include an electrical conductor having a cold resistance and a non-linear resistance when connected to an electrical power system, and a controller receiving temperatures of the conductor as inputs, wherein the controller is operable to estimate a service life of the conductor based on at least the input temperatures of the conductor and the cold resistance of the conductor.