Fuse Element With Elastic Hook Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuse elements for electric circuits face challenges in reliable and consistent assembly, as well as maintaining sufficient elastic force over a long service life, due to uncertainties in residual elastic deformability and force variations after plastic deformation.
Innovation Solution
A fuse element design featuring a surface area for fastening, first and second deforming areas connected via a central area, and a hook-shaped element that elastically deforms to insert into the circuit board, providing a positive retention mechanism without requiring further plastic deformations, ensuring reliable triggering and disconnection of the electric circuit upon excess temperature.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If plastic deformation is used to assemble the fuse element, then assembly is achieved, but residual elastic deformability becomes uncertain and force variations occur
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse element is divided into distinct functional areas: a surface area for fastening to the circuit board, first and second deforming areas for elastic deformation, and a central area connecting them. This segmentation allows the deforming areas to undergo controlled elastic deformation for assembly while the surface area maintains stable fastening, eliminating the uncertainty of residual elastic deformability in previously uniformly deformed elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the fuse element are designed with different mechanical properties. The deforming areas are specifically designed to undergo elastic deformation during assembly, while the surface area is optimized for stable fastening. This local differentiation ensures that deformation occurs only where needed, maintaining consistent elastic force where required and stable fastening where needed, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of assembly and reliability of elastic deformability.
2Ease of operation
If plastic deformation is applied to the fuse element, then assembly is achieved, but the service life is reduced due to unintended changes in characteristics
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the deformation parameter from plastic to elastic. The deforming areas are designed to undergo elastic deformation during assembly, which is reversible and does not cause permanent structural changes. This parameter change ensures that the fuse element maintains its mechanical characteristics throughout its service life, preventing the degradation and unintended changes that occur with plastic deformation, thereby extending service life while maintaining ease of assembly.
3Reliability
If elastic force is used for retention, then reliable disconnection is achieved, but consistent elastic force over long service life is difficult to maintain
Solution Approach 1:
The fuse element utilizes dynamic elastic deformation in the deforming areas to achieve both reliable triggering and long service life. The elastic properties allow the element to return to its original shape after deformation, maintaining consistent elastic force over time. This dynamic behavior, combined with the stable fastening of the surface area, ensures that the elastic force remains reliable throughout the service life, resolving the contradiction between triggering reliability and service life duration.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design allows for easy assembly and maintenance of a consistent elastic force, ensuring reliable and efficient disconnection of the electric circuit without plastic deformation, thus extending the service life and preventing unintended changes in the fuse element's characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
the first and second deforming areas exert elastic force upon the surface area
Implementation Method 2
a fusible conductor adapted to a predetermined current intensity which fuses upon reaching the current intensity and interrupts the electric circuit
Data Source
AI summary
A fuse element for an electric circuit, arranged on a circuit board of the electric circuit, has a surface area for fastening and establishing an electric contact on the circuit board, a first deforming area adjacent the surface area, a second deforming area connected to the first deforming area via a central area, the second deforming area including a contact area that abuts the circuit board, and a hook-shaped element insertable into an opening adjacent the contact area, the hook-shaped element is insertable into the opening by elastic deformation of the fuse element in the direction of the circuit board and, after insertion of the hook-shaped element into the opening and positive holding of the hook-shaped element on a lower surface of the circuit board, the first and second deforming areas exert an elastic force on the surface area in the direction away from the circuit board.