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.

Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for thermal fuse circuit breakers. The thermal fuses described herein may be disposed in a connector, so that, should an overheating condition occur, for example, due to an arc discharge across or inside of the connector, the heat of the arc discharge melts a portion of the fuse, thereby preventing a potentially catastrophic event, such as fire, or damage to a component which may be more expensive than the thermal fuse itself.

The invention relates to a triggered fuse for low-voltage applications for protecting devices that can be connected to a power supply system, in particular surge protection devices, consisting of at least one fusible conductor which is located between two contacts and is arranged in a housing, and also consisting of a trigger device for controlled disconnection of the fusible conductor in the event of malfunctions or overload states of the respective connected device, wherein an arc quenching medium is introduced into the housing. The at least one fusible conductor has a plurality of conventional electrical bottlenecks, which are designed for the rated load of the respective fuse. At least one further additional geometric bottleneck is provided, which is disconnectable by rupturing depending on the trigger unit when applied by tension.

The invention relates to a triggered fuse for low-voltage applications for protecting devices that can be connected to a power supply system, in particular surge protection devices, consisting of at least one fusible conductor which is located between two contacts and is arranged in a housing, and also consisting of a trigger device for controlled disconnection of the fusible conductor in the event of malfunctions or overload states of the respective connected device, wherein an arc quenching medium is introduced into the housing. By way of example, an arc quenching medium-free region is formed in the housing such that the at least one fusible conductor is exposed, and a mechanical disconnection element can be introduced into the arc quenching medium-free region via an access point in the housing in order to mechanically destroy the at least one fusible conductor depending on the trigger device, and independently of its melting integral.

A thermal cutoff includes a first fusible element, a second fusible element, and a closed cavity bounded by a housing having an open end, a cover plate, and a sealant. The two ends of the first fusible element and the two ends of the second fusible element are connected in parallel to a first electrode and a second electrode, respectively. The first fusible element and the second fusible element are provided in the closed cavity. A direction extending from a closed end to the open end of the housing is defined as a vertical direction. The first fusible element and the second fusible element are vertically arranged. The thermal cutoff has a vertical configuration and thus in its entirety has an elongated shape to meet corresponding application requirements.

Some embodiments include a fuse having a tungsten-containing structure directly contacting an electrically conductive structure. The electrically conductive structure may be a titanium-containing structure. An interface between the tungsten-containing structure and the electrically conductive structure is configured to rupture when current through the interface exceeds a predetermined level. Some embodiments include a method of forming and using a fuse. The fuse is formed to have a tungsten-containing structure directly contacting an electrically conductive structure. An interface between the tungsten-containing structure and the electrically conductive structure is configured to rupture when current through the interface exceeds a predetermined level. Current exceeding the predetermined level is passed through the interface to rupture the interface.

Some embodiments include a fuse having a tungsten-containing structure directly contacting an electrically conductive structure. The electrically conductive structure may be a titanium-containing structure. An interface between the tungsten-containing structure and the electrically conductive structure is configured to rupture when current through the interface exceeds a predetermined level. Some embodiments include a method of forming and using a fuse. The fuse is formed to have a tungsten-containing structure directly contacting an electrically conductive structure. An interface between the tungsten-containing structure and the electrically conductive structure is configured to rupture when current through the interface exceeds a predetermined level. Current exceeding the predetermined level is passed through the interface to rupture the interface.

A temperature fuse is ring-shaped and includes an insulation portion and a conductive portion arranged on an inner side and an outer side in a radial direction, and the conductive portion is formed of a thermal fuse element. An electrical junction box includes: a circuit board on which a switching element is mounted; a housing body for housing the circuit board; a conductive plate connected to the switching element, a first hole passing through the conductive plate; a terminal that is shaped as a plate and faces the conductive plate, a second hole passing through the terminal; the temperature fuse interposed between the conductive plate and the terminal in an axial direction, and a shaft-like insertion body for being inserted into the temperature fuse, the first hole, and the second hole.

A temperature fuse is ring-shaped and includes an insulation portion and a conductive portion arranged on an inner side and an outer side in a radial direction, and the conductive portion is formed of a thermal fuse element. An electrical junction box includes: a circuit board on which a switching element is mounted; a housing body for housing the circuit board; a conductive plate connected to the switching element, a first hole passing through the conductive plate; a terminal that is shaped as a plate and faces the conductive plate, a second hole passing through the terminal; the temperature fuse interposed between the conductive plate and the terminal in an axial direction, and a shaft-like insertion body for being inserted into the temperature fuse, the first hole, and the second hole.

A thermal cutoff at least includes a current-carrying fusible element having two ends connected to a first electrode and a second electrode. The current-carrying fusible element is provided in a closed cavity bounded by a housing having an opening at one end, a cover plate, and a sealant. The thermal cutoff further includes a first lead wire and a second lead wire each wrapped by an insulating sheath. One end of the first lead wire and one end of the second lead wire are electrically connected to the first electrode and the second electrode. The sealant is filled in the opening of the housing, covers an electrical joint between the first lead wire and a first electrode plate and an end of the first lead wire, and also covers an electrical joint between a second electrode plate and the second lead wire and an end of the second lead wire.