Fuse holder

Abstract

The invention relates to a fuse holder comprising two housing elements which, once assembled, together form a tube in which a support for a fuse is accommodated. Each of the two housing elements comprises a contact for establishing an electrical contact with a terminal of a fuse housed in the support, when the support is installed between the assembled housing elements. The support may comprise means to ensure the correct position of each contact in its respective housing element. The support may also comprise means to ensure the correct orientation of the fuse in the support. The support may also comprise means for retaining a seal ensuring sealing between the two housing elements.

Claims

1. A fuse holder, comprising: a first and second housing elements which, once assembled, accommodate a fuse, wherein the fuse includes two connecting terminals and wherein the first and second housing element each includes a contact that make an electrical connection with one of those terminals; and a support in which the fuse is accommodated in a position in which each of the terminals is electrically connected to the contact when the first and second housing elements are assembled together, wherein the support is mounted on the first housing element and is movable between an open position in which the fuse is mounted in the support and a closed position in which the contact of the first housing element and one terminal of the two connecting terminals of the fuse are engaged one in the other, wherein the contact is a female contact receiving a pin extending from the terminal of the fuse.

2. The fuse holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the support is introduced into an opening of the first housing element in the closed position and wherein the support fitted with the fuse cannot be introduced into this opening if the fuse is not correctly positioned in the support.

3. The fuse holder in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pin has a rectangular cross section and the support includes a slot, also rectangular in cross section, in which the pin is snugly inserted, with an orientation making introduction of the pin into the female contact possible.

4. A fuse holder, comprising: a first and second housing elements which, once assembled, accommodate a fuse, wherein the fuse includes two connecting terminals and wherein the first and second housing element each includes a contact that make an electrical connection with one of those terminals; and a support in which the fuse is accommodated in a position in which each of the terminals is electrically connected to the contact when the first and second housing elements are assembled together, wherein the support is mounted on the first housing element and is movable between an open position in which the fuse is mounted in the support and a closed position in which the contact of the first housing element and one terminal of the two connecting terminals of the fuse are engaged one in the other, wherein the support includes blocking reinforcement means that is engaged behind the contact if the contact is correctly positioned in the first or second housing element in which it is mounted and that cannot be engaged behind the contact if the contact is not correctly positioned in the first or second housing element in which it is mounted.

5. The fuse holder in accordance with claim 4, wherein the support is introduced into an opening of the first housing element in the closed position and wherein the support fitted with the fuse cannot be introduced into this opening if the fuse is not correctly positioned in the support.

6. A fuse holder, comprising: a first and second housing elements which, once assembled, accommodate a fuse, wherein the fuse includes two connecting terminals and wherein the first and second housing element each includes a contact that make an electrical connection with one of those terminals; a support in which the fuse is accommodated in a position in which each of the terminals is electrically connected to the contact when the first and second housing elements are assembled together, wherein the support is mounted on the first housing element and is movable between an open position in which the fuse is mounted in the support and a closed position in which the contact of the first housing element and one terminal of the two connecting terminals of the fuse are engaged one in the other; and a seal to provide the seal between the first and second housing elements, wherein the support includes a retaining element that retains the seal on the first housing element when the first and second housing elements are not assembled together.

7. The fuse holder in accordance with claim 6, wherein the first housing element on which the seal is mounted has a rim overlying the seal to protect it when the first and second housing elements are not assembled together.

8. The fuse holder in accordance with claim 6, wherein the support is introduced into an opening of the first housing element in the closed position and wherein the support fitted with the fuse cannot be introduced into this opening if the fuse is not correctly positioned in the support.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) In these drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 represents diagrammatically in perspective one embodiment of a fuse holder in accordance with the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 represents diagrammatically in perspective an exploded view of the fuse holder from FIG. 1;

(4) FIGS. 3A and 3B represent diagrammatically, in perspective, a support for the fuse holder from FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively without and with a fuse;

(5) FIGS. 4A and 4B represent diagrammatically, in perspective, a support mounted on a housing element of the fuse holder from FIGS. 1 and 2, with the support respectively in the open position and in the closed position; and

(6) FIG. 5 represents diagrammatically in longitudinal section on an axial plane the fuse holder from FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) One example of a fuse holder 1 is represented in FIG. 1. That fuse holder 1 is inserted between two cable portions 2, in an electrical circuit, such as a charging circuit of an electric vehicle. Each cable portion 2 is electrically connected, for example crimped or soldered, to a contact 3 (for example a Delphi female DCS1 contact 6.3 that can be seen in FIG. 5). Each contact is accommodated in a housing element 4, 5. A first housing element 4 includes locking means 6 for retaining a second housing element 5, forming a cover. Once assembled, the first and second housing elements form a tube closed at each of its ends by a wall 7 including a passage 8 for each cable portion 2.

(8) As represented in FIG. 2, this fuse holder includes, in addition to the contacts 3 and the first and second housing elements 4 and 5, a fuse support 9, a fuse 10 and a seal 11. The fuse 10 is accommodated in the support 9, itself accommodated in the tube consisting of the first housing element 4 and the second housing element 5 assembled together. The seal 11, mounted on the first housing element 4, is inserted between the first housing element 4 and the second housing element 5, in the manner of an interfacial seal, in order to provide the seal between them. Here the locking means 6 consist of two diametrically opposite elastic attachments 6a on the first housing element 4 each including a respective notch 6b (see FIGS. 4A and 4B) into which clips a lug 6c correspondingly situated on the second housing element 5. The first housing element 4 essentially consists of a substantially cylindrical cap 4a with an external face 4b partially surrounded by a skirt 4c.

(9) The fuse 10 includes two terminals 10a, from each of which extends a pin 10b forming a male contact adapted to be electrically connected with a female type contact 3.

(10) As represented in more detail in FIG. 3A, the support 9 is in the shape of a cradle with two side walls 12 extending longitudinally between two flanges 13. Two elastic lateral lugs 14 each extend from a respective side wall 12. Each of these lateral lugs 14 includes a detent 14a to form means for retaining a fuse 10 in its support 9, as shown in FIG. 3B.

(11) The support 9 also includes guiding and fixing means 15 (FIG. 3A). These include two diametrically opposite lugs 15a each including a respective hook 15b intended to retain or to lock the support 9 onto the first housing element 4. These two lugs 15a constitute guide means that enable the support 9 to be guided and positioned precisely relative to the first housing element 4.

(12) Each flange 13 includes a slot 13a. Each slot 13a is of essentially rectangular shape, open on an edge of the flange 13 oriented toward the top of the support 9. Each slot 13a is intended to receive a pin 10b of the fuse 10. Each pin 10b has an essentially rectangular cross section (i.e. a section perpendicular to the direction of insertion of the pin 10b into a contact 3, which also corresponds to the direction A of assembly of the first housing element 4 and the second housing element 5). Each pin 10b can then be snugly inserted in a respective slot 13a, as shown in FIG. 3B.

(13) The support 9 also includes locking reinforcement means 16. These consist essentially of a tongue 16a extending longitudinally toward the exterior of the support 9 from each flange 13. The function of these tongues 16a is described in more detail later, with reference to FIG. 5.

(14) FIGS. 4A and 4B respectively show the open and closed positions of the support 9 on the first housing element 4. In the position corresponding to FIG. 4A, the support 9 is in an open or pre-locked position. In this position the fuse 10 can be introduced into the support 9 without having to demount the latter from the first housing element 4. The support 9 is retained, but mobile, on the first housing element 4 because the hooks 15b remain engaged in the posterior openings 17.

(15) When the fuse 10 is correctly positioned between the lateral lugs 14, under the detents 14a and with the terminals 10a inserted in the slots 13a, the support 9 can be moved longitudinally, toward its closed position, inside a cavity 18 in the cap 4a of the first housing element 4 and leading to an opening 19. During this movement, the lugs 15a slide in diametrically opposite grooves 20 disposed longitudinally on the external face 4b of the cap 4a. Accordingly, on insertion of the support 9 into the first housing element 4, the latter is inevitably correctly oriented, so that the opening of the female contact 3, which is accommodated in the first housing element 4, is aligned with the corresponding pin 10b.

(16) If the fuse 10 is not correctly positioned in the support 9, it projects from the external envelope which it should be inside. Its overall size is then such that it can no longer pass through the opening 19. Because of this, the support 9 cannot be moved into the closed position (that corresponding to FIG. 4B) and the second housing element 5 cannot be locked onto the first housing element 4. Thus the operative is alerted to incorrect mounting of the fuse 10. Otherwise, the support 9 can be moved to its closed position, in which the hooks 15b clip into anterior openings 21 (see FIG. 5).

(17) The second housing element 5 can then be threaded onto the support 9 and around the cap 4a, to be locked by the locking means 6. As can be seen in FIG. 1 in particular, the second housing element 5 includes poka-yoke means 25 enabling an operative to orient it correctly relative to the support 9. Accordingly, upon its insertion onto the support 9, the second housing element 5 is inevitably correctly oriented, and so the opening of the female contact 3 that is accommodated therein is aligned with the corresponding pin 10b.

(18) As shown in FIG. 5, the first housing element 4 and the second housing element 5 assembled in this way form a closed tube that is sealed by the interfacial seal 11 and the individual wire seals 24 crimped with the cable portions 2 onto the contacts 3.

(19) If the contacts 3 are correctly inserted in their respective housings of the first housing element 4 and the second housing element 5, the locking tongues 22 spring into a cut-out 23 in the contacts 3 provided for this purpose. Accordingly, on inserting the support 9 in the first housing element 4, and on mounting the second housing element 5 on the already constituted assembly of the first housing element 4 and the support 9, the tongues 16a can be placed behind the contacts 3, and to be more precise behind the tongues 22. If on the other hand a contact 3 is not correctly inserted in its housing, the corresponding tongue 22 blocks the passage of a tongue 16a and either the support 9 cannot go to the closed position or the second housing element 5 cannot be fully locked onto the first housing element 4. In both cases the operative is alerted to a mounting error.

(20) As can also be seen in FIG. 5, the seal 11 is protected by a rim consisting of the skirt 4c. The seal 11 is therefore protected even when the second housing element 5 is not assembled with the first housing element 4. Moreover, the lugs 15a are able to retain the seal 11 on the first housing element 4, under the skirt 4c, when the support 9 is in the closed position (which advantageously corresponds to the shipping position of the assembly consisting of the first housing element 4 and the support 9).

(21) It can equally be seen in FIG. 5 that the second housing element 5 snugly surrounds the support 9 in which the fuse 10 is precisely accommodated, which fuse is itself connected to contacts 3 firmly and reliably locked in their respective housing thanks to the locking reinforcement means 16.

(22) A fuse holder with a single support for a single fuse has been described above, but in accordance with variants the fuse holder in accordance with the invention may include either a single support but one that is able to accommodate a plurality of fuses or a plurality of supports each accommodating one or more fuses. All these variants may have one or more of the features defined in the claims.