Fuse assembly including anti-rotation device

Abstract

A fuse assembly including an anti-rotation device is provided herein. In some embodiments, the fuse assembly can include a fusible device connected to a conductive component, where the conductive component is operable to connect to a terminal of a power source and a securing device coupled to the fusible device. The securing device can include a body including a recess operable to receive the fusible device and a support post extending from the body, where the support post is operable to engage the power source to reduce rotation of the securing device and the fusible device relative to the power source.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to the field of circuit protection devices, and more specifically, to a fuse assembly including an anti-rotation device. Background Technology

[0002] Fuses are used as circuit protection devices and can provide an electrical connection between the power supply and the circuit to be protected. Fuses can be designed to provide protection for the circuit during overcurrent and / or overvoltage conditions. Specifically, fuses can be configured to physically disconnect or interrupt the electrical connection upon the occurrence of a specified overcurrent and / or overvoltage condition, thereby isolating the circuit and preventing damage.

[0003] In the automotive market, there is a trend towards implementing so-called "pre-fuse boxes," which are located in the engine compartment and connected to the vehicle's battery terminals. The primary purpose of pre-fuse boxes in automobiles is to prevent electrical damage that could result from short circuits in high-current wires, such as electrical damage that might occur during an accident. In some examples, the fuse can be connected to the battery terminals via a busbar and a center post (e.g., a stud or screw) coupled to the fuse element. The center post can be tightened or loosened (e.g., via a nut) to attach and remove the pre-fuse box. However, even after the center post is secured in place, vibrations from the battery can cause the fuse and busbar to rotate, potentially contacting other nearby components and causing a short circuit.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to prevent the pre-fuse box from rotating relative to the power supply. Summary of the Invention

[0005] This summary is provided to introduce selected concepts in a simplified form, which will be further described in the detailed description below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to help determine the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0006] In one method according to this disclosure, a fuse assembly may include a fusible device connected to a conductive member, wherein the conductive member is operable to couple to a terminal of a power source. The fuse assembly also includes a fixing device coupled to the fusible device. The fixing device may include a body including a recess operable to receive the fusible device, and a support post extending from the body, wherein the support post is operable to engage the power source to reduce rotation of the fixing device and the fusible device relative to the power source.

[0007] In another method of this disclosure, the fixing device may include a body comprising a first end opposite to a second end, a first side opposite to a second side, and a first main side opposite to a second main side, wherein the first main side is operable to receive a fusible device within a recess. The fixing device may also include a wall extending from the second main side of the body, wherein the wall includes a first wall end and a second wall end, and wherein the first wall end and the second wall end are offset relative to each other such that a first distance between the first wall end and the first side of the body is different from a second distance between the second wall end and the first side of the body.

[0008] In another method of this disclosure, the fuse assembly may include a fusible device connected to a busbar and a base member via a central support member, wherein conductive components are operable to connect to terminals of a battery, and a fixing device coupled to the fusible device. The fixing device may include: a body including a recess operable to receive the fusible device; and a support post extending from the body, wherein the support post is operable to engage a battery housing to reduce rotation of the fixing device and the fusible device relative to the battery. Attached Figure Description

[0009] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary methods of the disclosed embodiments designed for the practical application of their principles to date, wherein:

[0010] Figure 1 A perspective view depicting a fuse assembly and a power supply according to embodiments of the present disclosure is shown;

[0011] Figure 2A A partial exploded perspective view of a fuse assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is depicted.

[0012] Figure 2B A perspective view of a fuse assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is depicted;

[0013] Figure 3A A first perspective view of a base member of a fuse assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is depicted.

[0014] Figure 3B A second perspective view depicting a base member of a fuse assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown;

[0015] Figure 4A A side view of a fixing device for a fuse assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is depicted;

[0016] Figure 4B An end view of a fixing device for a fuse assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is depicted;

[0017] Figure 4C A bottom view depicting a fixing device for a fuse assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown; and

[0018] Figure 5 depicts a side view of a fixed device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0019] The accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. The drawings are merely illustrative and not intended to depict specific parameters of this disclosure. The drawings are intended to describe typical embodiments of this disclosure and should therefore not be considered as limiting the scope. In the drawings, the same numbers denote the same elements.

[0020] Furthermore, for clarity, some elements in some figures may be omitted or not shown to scale. Additionally, for clarity, some reference numerals may be omitted from some figures. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Embodiments according to this disclosure will now be described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Components, parts thereof, and methods may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to make this disclosure thorough and complete and to fully convey the scope of the components, parts, and methods to those skilled in the art.

[0022] Figure 1 A fuse assembly (hereinafter referred to as "assembly") 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. Assembly 100 may be attached to a power source 102, such as a battery, which may be used in a vehicle or heavy machinery. In some embodiments, the assembly may include a fusible device (hereinafter referred to as "fuse") 104 coupled to the power source 102 via a conductive component, such as busbar 106. More specifically, an opening 108 of busbar 106 may receive a terminal 110 of the power source 102. As will be described in more detail herein, fuse 104 may be further coupled to a fixing device 112 that may contact an upper surface 114 and a side surface 116 of a housing 120 of the power source 102 to prevent rotation of fuse 104 and busbar 106. Although not shown, the assembly may include a cover over fuse 104.

[0023] As an example, fuse 104 may be a high-current Zcase fuse manufactured by Littelfuse. Typically, fuse 104 provides protection against overvoltage and / or overcurrent conditions. Fuse 102 may include a hole to accommodate positioning on or around the conductive central support 124. The hole in fuse 104 may be a central hole and may be of any size and shape. Fuse 104 may also include input and output terminals. As an example, an input terminal may be provided at the top of fuse 104, and an output terminal may be provided at the bottom of fuse 104.

[0024] Figure 2A and 2BComponent 100 is shown in more detail. As shown, component 100 may also include a base member 122 operable to receive busbar 106. The fuse 104, busbar 106, and base member 122 may be coupled together by a central support (e.g., a stud or screw) 124 and a fastener / nut 126. In some embodiments, the central support 124 and the nut 126 may engage with each other by complementary threads.

[0025] Fuse 104, busbar 106, and base member 122 may be received within a recess 128 of the body 130 of the fixing device 112. The recess 128 may be partially defined by one or more sidewalls 132 extending along the perimeter of the body 130. In some embodiments, the body 130 may include a plurality of fasteners 169, such as press-fit or snap-fit ​​tabs, extending above the recess 128. The fasteners 169 may be operable to engage the upper wall or surface 136 of the base member 122 to hold the two components together. Advantageously, the body 130 and the base member 122 may be clamped during installation. As will be described in more detail herein, the fixing device 112 may include a support post 140 and a wall 180 extending from the body 130. The support post 140 and the wall 180 are operable to engage the housing 120 of the power supply 102. Figure 1 (), to limit the rotation of busbar 106 and fuse 104 relative to housing 120.

[0026] Now go to Figures 3A-3B The base member 122 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail. As shown, the base member 122 may include a base body 139 having a first end 141 opposite to a second end 142, a first side 143 opposite to a second side 144, and an inner surface 145 opposite to an outer surface 146. The inner surface 145 may be adjacent to and / or in direct contact with a busbar 106, while the outer surface 146 may be adjacent to and / or in direct contact with a fixing device 112. Although not limited to any particular shape or construction, features defining the outer surface 146 may generally complement the surface or features defining the recess 128 of the body 130 of the fixing device 112.

[0027] As further shown, the base member 122 may include a central cylinder 147 defining an opening 148 operable to receive a central support 124. In some embodiments, the base member 122 may also include a plurality of fasteners 149, such as press-fit or snap-fit ​​tabs. As shown, each of the fasteners 149 may include an inclined engagement surface 150 extending to a retaining surface 151. During assembly, the busbar 106 may be forced against each engagement surface 150, causing the fastener 149 to deflect away from the central cylinder 147. As the busbar 106 is pressed down beyond each engagement surface 150, the fastener 149 will loosen and move toward the central cylinder 147 until the top surface of the busbar 106 is adjacent to or in contact with the retaining surface 151. The retaining surface 151 adjacent to the top surface of the busbar 106 retains the busbar 106 within an internal region 153 of the base member 122.

[0028] Turn now Figures 4A-4C The fixing device 112 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in more detail below. As shown, the body 130 of the fixing device 112 may include a first end 161 opposite to the second end 162, a first side 163 opposite to the second side 164, and a first main surface 165 opposite to the second main surface 166. The first main surface 165 may generally correspond to the upper side of the body 130, while the second main surface 166 may generally correspond to the lower side or bottom side of the body 130. Although not limited to any particular material, the fixing device 112 may be made of a non-conductive material.

[0029] In some embodiments, the securing device 112 includes a plurality of fasteners 169, such as press-fit or snap-fit ​​tabs. As shown, each of the fasteners 169 may include an inclined engagement surface 170 extending to a retaining surface 171. During assembly, the base member 122, which is secured to the fuse 104 and the busbar 106, can be forced against each engagement surface 170, causing the fastener 169 to deflect outward from the recess 128. As the base member 122 is pressed down beyond each engagement surface 170, the fastener 169 will loosen and move toward its original position until the top surface 136 of the base member 122 is adjacent to or in contact with the retaining surface 171. The retaining surface 171 abuts the top surface 136 of the base member 122 to retain the fuse 104 within the recess 128 of the base member 122.

[0030] In some embodiments, the fastener 169 extends upward from the sidewall 132 of the body 130 (e.g., along the y-direction). Figure 4A As best shown, the sidewall 132 may also include one or more openings 174 operable to receive tabs 175 of the busbar 106. Figure 2A-2BAdvantageously, the sidewall 132 can extend from the fuse 104 (e.g., along the z-direction) beyond the tab 175 of the busbar 106 to protect the busbar 106 from unintentional contact with conductive parts nearby.

[0031] The fixing device 112 may also include a wall 180 extending from the body 130. More specifically, the wall 180 may be coupled to or integrally formed with the second main surface 166. The wall 180 typically extends perpendicularly from a plane (e.g., an xz plane) defined by the second main surface 166. While not limited to any particular shape or configuration, the wall 180 may include a main portion 181 having a first wall end 182 opposite to a second wall end 183. The main portion 181 may include one or more support ribs 184 connected to the second main surface 166. In some embodiments, the support ribs 184 may extend to a free edge 185 of the main portion 181. In some embodiments, the wall 180 may be integrally formed with a support post 140. In other embodiments, the wall 180 and the support post 140 are separated from each other by a gap.

[0032] like Figure 4C As best illustrated, the first wall end 182 can be offset relative to the second wall end 183 (e.g., along the z-direction) such that a first distance D1 between the first wall end 182 and the first side 163 of the body 130 is different from (e.g., less than) a second distance D2 between the second wall end 183 and the first side 163 of the body 130. Furthermore, the distance PD between the support post 140 and the first side 163 of the body 130 can be less than D1 and D2. Therefore, the same fixing device 112 can accommodate various battery tolerances.

[0033] This is further illustrated in Figure 5, which shows the support post 140 in position (a) directly contacting the side surface 116 of the housing 120. As the mounting device 112 rotates to position (b), the support post 140 disengages from the side surface 116, and the second wall end 183 begins to rotate / move toward the side surface 116. In position (c), the gap G between the support post 140 and the side surface 116 can be approximately equal to the distance between the wall 180 and the side surface 116. This gap allows the mounting device 112 to be mounted onto batteries of various sizes. The mounting device 112 can then continue to rotate until the second wall end 183 directly engages the side surface 116. The wall 180 restricts further movement of the fuse 104 and busbar 106 during torsion and / or vibration.

[0034] Refer again Figure 4AThe free end 186 of the support column 140 can extend downward from the second main surface 166 by a third distance D3, while the free edge 185 of the wall 180 can extend downward from the second main surface 166 by a fourth distance D4. As shown, D3 > D4. In other embodiments, D3 and D4 can be equal. If the fuse 104 and the fixing device 112 are slightly rotated so that the support column 140 is longer than the wall 180, contact between the support column 140 and the housing 120 of the power supply 102 can be ensured.

[0035] For convenience and clarity, this document uses terms such as “top,” “bottom,” “upper,” “lower,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” “lateral,” and “longitudinal” to indicate the relative arrangement and orientation of the components and their constituent parts appearing in the descriptive figures. Terms will include specifically mentioned words, their derivatives, and words with similar meanings.

[0036] As used herein, an element or operation described in the singular and beginning with the word "a" or "an" should be understood to include multiple elements or operations until such exclusion is explicitly stated. Furthermore, references to "one embodiment" in this disclosure are not intended to be limiting. Additional embodiments may also be combined with the described features.

[0037] Furthermore, the terms "substantial" or "truly" and "approximately" are used interchangeably in some embodiments and can be described using any relative measure acceptable to those skilled in the art. For example, these terms can be used as comparisons with reference parameters to indicate deviations from the intended functionality. While not limiting, deviations from reference parameters can be, for example, amounts less than 1%, less than 3%, less than 5%, less than 10%, less than 15%, less than 20%, etc.

[0038] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that when an element or component is referred to as being formed on, deposited on, or arranged “on,” “above,” or “on top” another element, the element may be directly on the other element or there may be intermediate elements present. Conversely, when an element is referred to as being “directly on another element,” “directly above another element,” or “directly on top of another element,” there are no intermediate elements present.

[0039] This disclosure is not limited in scope to the specific embodiments described herein. In fact, various other embodiments of this disclosure, as well as modifications thereof, will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and drawings, in addition to those described herein. Therefore, such other embodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, this disclosure has been described herein in the context of specific implementations in specific environments for specific purposes. Those skilled in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto, and that this disclosure can be advantageously practiced for any number of purposes and in any number of environments. Therefore, the claims set forth below should be interpreted in accordance with the full scope and spirit of this disclosure as described herein.

Claims

1. A fuse assembly, comprising: A fusible device connected to a conductive component, wherein the conductive component is operable to be connected to a terminal of a power source; and A fixing device coupled to the fusible device, the fixing device comprising: The body includes a recess operable to receive the fusible device; A support column extending from the body, wherein the support column is operable to engage the power source to reduce rotation of the fixed device and the fusible device relative to the power source; and A wall extending from the body, wherein the wall includes a first wall end and a second wall end, and wherein the first wall end and the second wall end are offset relative to each other such that a first distance between the first wall end and a first side of the body is different from a second distance between the second wall end and the first side of the body. Wherein, the free end of the support column extends a third distance below the main body, wherein the free edge of the wall extends a fourth distance below the main body, and wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance.

2. The fuse assembly of claim 1, further comprising a base member coupled to the main body of the conductive component and the fixing device.

3. The fuse assembly of claim 2, further comprising a central support member coupling the fusible device, the conductive component and the base member together.

4. The fuse assembly according to claim 2, wherein, The main body of the fixed device includes: The first end opposite to the second end, and the first side opposite to the second side; A sidewall extending along at least one of the first side or the second side, wherein the sidewall includes an opening operable to receive a tab of the conductive component; and A plurality of fasteners extending from the sidewall, wherein the plurality of fasteners are coupled to the base member.

5. The fuse assembly according to claim 4, wherein, One or more of the plurality of fasteners is a press-fit tab comprising an inclined engagement surface and a retaining surface, wherein the retaining surface is operable to engage the upper surface of the base member.

6. The fuse assembly according to claim 4, wherein, The wall is connected to the support column, and wherein the wall extends perpendicularly to a plane defined by the lower surface of the body of the fixing device.

7. The fuse assembly according to claim 1, wherein, The conductive component is a busbar, the power source is a battery, the battery includes a battery casing directly adjacent to the support post, and the busbar includes an opening for receiving terminals of the battery.

8. A fixed device, comprising: The body includes a first end opposite to a second end, a first side opposite to a second side, and a first main side opposite to a second main side, wherein the first main side is operable to receive a fusible device within a recess; A wall extending from the second main side of the body, wherein the wall includes a first wall end and a second wall end, and wherein the first wall end and the second wall end are offset relative to each other such that a first distance between the first wall end and the first side of the body is different from a second distance between the second wall end and the first side of the body; and A support column extending from the second main side of the body, wherein the support column is operable to engage a power source to reduce rotation of the body and the fusible device relative to the power source, wherein the free end of the support column extends a third distance below the body, wherein the free edge of the wall extends a fourth distance below the body, and wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance.

9. The fixed device according to claim 8, wherein, The main body of the fixed device includes: A sidewall extending along at least one of the first side or the second side, wherein the sidewall includes an opening operable to receive a tab coupled to a busbar of the fusible device; and Multiple fasteners extend from the sidewall.

10. The fixed device according to claim 9, wherein, One or more of the plurality of fasteners is a press-fit tab comprising an inclined engagement surface and a retaining surface, wherein the retaining surface is operable to engage the upper surface of a base member coupled to the fusible device.

11. The fixed device according to claim 8, wherein, The wall is connected to the support column, and wherein the wall extends perpendicularly to the plane defined by the second main side of the body.

12. A fuse assembly, comprising: A fusible device connected to a busbar and a base member via a central support, wherein the busbar is operable to connect to the terminals of a battery; and A fixing device coupled to the fusible device, the fixing device comprising: The body includes a recess operable to receive the fusible device; A support post extending from the body, wherein the support post is operable to engage the battery housing to reduce rotation of the fixing device and the fusible device relative to the battery; and A wall extending from the body, wherein the wall includes a first wall end and a second wall end, and wherein the first wall end and the second wall end are offset relative to each other such that a first distance between the first wall end and a first side of the body is different from a second distance between the second wall end and the first side of the body. Wherein, the free end of the support column extends a third distance below the main body, wherein the free edge of the wall extends a fourth distance below the main body, and wherein the third distance is greater than the fourth distance.

13. The fuse assembly of claim 12, wherein, The main body of the fixed device includes: The first end opposite to the second end, and the first side opposite to the second side; A sidewall extending along at least one of the first side or the second side, wherein the sidewall includes an opening operable to receive a tab of the busbar; and Multiple press-fit tabs extending from the sidewall, wherein the multiple press-fit tabs can be coupled to the base member.

14. The fuse assembly of claim 13, wherein, The wall is connected to the support column, and wherein the wall extends perpendicularly to a plane defined by the lower surface of the body of the fixing device.

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