FUSE COMPONENT

Abstract

A fuse component (1) has a fuse element (2). The fuse element (2) is located inside an isolating body (3) and the fuse element (2) extends between the two end faces of the isolating body (3). Each of the end faces of the isolating body (3) are closed by electrical conductive end caps (4) and the end caps (4) are in electrical contact with the fuse element (2). The isolating body (3) includes at least two shells (5a, 5b); at least in the region of the end caps (4), and the shells (5a, 5b) in the assembled state form a channel (6) to receive the fuse element (2).

Claims

1-19. (canceled)

20. A fuse component comprising: a fuse element; an insulating body, wherein the fuse element is located inside the insulating body and the fuse element extends between two end faces of the insulating body; the end faces of the insulating body are each closed with electrically conducting end caps and the end caps are in electrical contact with the fuse element, the insulating body at least in a region of the end caps comprises two shells and the shells form a channel in an assembled state, the channel receiving the fuse element; the channel runs parallel to a longitudinal axis of the insulating body; the shells in the assembled state are fixed by at least one step axially with respect to one another; wherein each shell has a substantially L-shaped cross-section transverse to the longitudinal axis; wherein a lug provided on one shell engages a recess provided on the other shell, and wherein the recess comprises a groove extending along a portion of a circumference transversely to the longitudinal axis of the fuse component on end regions of the half shells.

21. The fuse component according to claim 20, wherein the insulating body is built from at least two longitudinally running shells.

22. The fuse component according to claim 20, wherein the shells possess an interlocking shape.

23. The fuse component according to claim 20, wherein the shells are injection-molded parts.

24. The fuse component according claim 20, wherein the shells have an identical shape.

25. The fuse component according to claim 20, wherein the fuse element has angled ends.

26. The fuse component according to claim 25, wherein a respective end of the fuse element is in a press seat between the face-side inner wall of the respective cap and the respective end surface of the insulating body.

27. The fuse component according to claim 20, wherein the end cap and the insulating body are connected by crimping.

28. The fuse component according to claim 20, wherein the channel receives the fuse element in a gap-free manner.

29. The fuse component according to claim 20, wherein the end cap and the fuse element are electrically contacted to one another by laser soldering, resistance soldering, or induction soldering.

30. The fuse component according to claim 20, wherein a high direct current voltage rated breaking capacity is present without the use of additional extinguishing media.

31. The fuse component according to claim 20, wherein the end caps and the insulating body at least substantially form a plane and ensure a planar placement on circuit boards.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION WITH REFERENCE TO EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0024] An advantageous embodiment of the present invention is explained more closely below with reference to drawing figures. For the sake of clarity repeating features are marked with a reference sign only once. In the drawings:

[0025] FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a fuse component according to the invention.

[0026] FIG. 2 is a exploded perspective view of the fuse component according to FIG. 1.

[0027] FIG. 3 is a partial section of the fuse component in the section plane A-A of FIG. 1 and

[0028] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the fuse component according to the invention in the assembled state.

[0029] Reference sign 1 in FIG. 1 denotes the fuse component according to the invention in its entirety.

[0030] It is preferably a so-called miniature fuse according to the requirements of the underlying standard for fuses, IEC 60/127 Part 4. The fuse component 1 includes an insulating body 3 made of an electrically insulating material and two electrically conducting end caps 4 mounted on the respective end of the insulating body 3.

[0031] The insulating body 3 comprises two identical half shells 5a and 5b divided in the longitudinal direction, which joint form a cavity 14 as well as a channel adjoining each end of the cavity, which receives the fuse element 2 in a form-fitting manner. The channel 6 runs along the central axis of the insulating body 3 and in each case opens into the end face of the insulating body 3.

[0032] The insulating body 3 possesses a region 13 at its two end regions, which encloses the fuse element 2 in a form-fitting and preferably gap-free manner, and insulates the exposed region of the fuse element 2 in the cavity 14 from the associated end cap 4. This ensures that the arc cannot penetrate to the end cap, or effects fusing of the latter, so that arc plasma can escape from the fuse interior space causing further damage to nearby components.

[0033] In the region of the respective end cap 4 there is a recess 10 provided in the insulating body, which recess is engaged by the corresponding lug 11 of the respective end cap 4, and fixes the latter to the insulating body.

[0034] This fixation occurs advantageously in that the end cap 4 is crimped onto the end of the insulating body 3, that is, the material of the end cap 4 is pressed into the recess 10.

[0035] The insulating body 3 is formed in such a way that it forms a planar, end-face mounting surface 12 for the respective cap 4. A planar design of a mounting surface 12 of the insulating body 3 improves the contacting of the fuse element 2 with the respective end cap.

[0036] At its end faces, the fuse element 2, cf. also FIG. 2, has two angled, flattened end regions 15a and 15b, which are located between the respective end face 12 of the insulating body 3 and the respective cap 4 in the force fit. Alternatively or additionally, the end cap 4 as well as the respective end region 15a, 15b of the fuse element can be electrically contacted to one another by means of a soldering process, such as laser soldering, resistance soldering, or induction soldering.

[0037] FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of the individual parts of the fuse component shown in FIG. 1. The insulating body 3 is configured in this embodiment from two half shells 5a and 5b divided in the longitudinal direction.

[0038] Each of the two half shells 5a and 5b have a longitudinally extended, semicircular recess 6a, 6b, which together form the channel 6 for receiving the fuse element 2. From the view in FIG. 2, it further becomes plain that each half shell 5a, 5b has shaped elements that in interaction with the accordingly formed shaped elements of the adjacent half shell effect a form fit, which fixes the two half shells 5a, 5b to one another in the longitudinal direction and/or in the circumferential direction in the assembly position. Thus for example the region of the half shell 5b set back in the region of the step 7 is filled by an accordingly projecting region (not shown in FIG. 2) of the half shell 5b, thus ensured axial latching.

[0039] It is likewise plain from FIG. 2 that the two half shells 5a, 5b have an L-shaped cross-section.

[0040] As is plain from FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, in the respective half shell 5a, 5b, notches or recesses 8 as well as the accordingly designed lugs or tabs 9 are provided, which engage with the recesses 8 on the opposite half shell, and thus ensure that the two half shells 5a, 5b remain joined in position, which is a great advantage for an automated production process. It is also evident from FIG. 3 how the two half shells 5a, 5b based on the respective semicircular channel sections 6a, 6b form the channel 6 for the fuse element 2, in that the fuse element 2 is received in a form-fitting and gap-free manner.

[0041] In joined state, the two half shells 5a, 5b when necessary can be inseparably connected to one another by a fastening means. Preferably this is done by ultrasound welding. During welding of the half shells 5a, 5b, the interior space 14 can when necessary be made even more pressure-stable.

[0042] Connecting of the ends 15a, 15b of the fuse element 2 to the respective end cap 4 preferably is carried out by indirect laser soldering. Although the connection can also be made by resistance soldering or induction soldering. The soldering is preferably without filler metal, so that production of organic compounds is avoided. Even the otherwise necessary use of high-melting brazing material based on PbSnAg or PbAg-base can be avoided.

[0043] In joined state of the two half shells 5a, 5b, the end caps 4 are pushed up and as already described, crimped with the insulating body 3. The finished fuse component 1 of the present invention has a cuboid shape, as may be seen in FIG. 4.

[0044] The present invention makes it possible to provide a novel fuse component with arc-controlling properties as well as especially simple and automated installation with avoidance of additional materials such as solder and extinguishing media. The design also makes scaling possible, so that smaller, in particular shorter housing dimensions can be achieved in a simple manner. The present invention therefore constitutes a quite special further development of the existing prior art, and furthermore makes it possible to specify, apart from a rated breaking capacity for AC, also a similar one for DC. The entire structural design effects a limitation of the arc phase under an applied/driving source voltage, and is thus not dependent on the zero point passages of the source voltage. In this regard, the focus of application of this fuse design lies in the DC range of the application plane. Furthermore, no further extinguishing media are necessary, so that through thermal insulation of the fuse element to the insulation housing, a slow-blow fusing characteristic can be achieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0045] 1 fuse component [0046] 2 fuse element [0047] 3 insulating body [0048] 4 end cap [0049] 5a half shell [0050] 5b half shell [0051] 6 channel [0052] 7 step [0053] 8 recess [0054] 9 tab [0055] 10 depression [0056] 11 lug [0057] 12 mounting surface [0058] 13 region [0059] 14 cavity [0060] 15a fuse element end [0061] 15b fuse element end