Electrically Isolated Single-Bolt Fuse Assembly for Secure Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Single bolt fuses face issues with specially treated bolts becoming separated from the fuse, leading to improper functioning when replaced with standard bolts, and are limited in application due to their design connection between a power terminal and either a battery terminal or bus bar.
Innovation Solution
A single bolt fuse assembly featuring an insulated steel bolt and metal terminal, where the bolt is mechanically attached to a metal terminal to prevent separation and ensure electrical isolation, allowing the fuse to connect to any electrical device with a threaded hole, thus maintaining proper operation and expanding application scope.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a specially treated insulated bolt is used with a single bolt fuse, then the fuse operates correctly with proper electrical isolation, but the bolt may become separated from the fuse and be lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the insulated bolt with a metal terminal that has a threaded shaft, creating a unified assembly where the bolt and terminal are mechanically connected. This merging prevents the bolt from becoming separated while maintaining the electrical isolation properties of the insulated bolt through the integrated design.
Solution Approach 2:
The metal terminal is pre-assembled with the insulated bolt, creating a ready-to-install unit. This preliminary assembly ensures proper alignment and connection before installation, preventing separation issues that would occur with separate components.
2Ease of manufacture
If a standard bolt is used to replace a lost specially treated bolt, then the bolt can be easily obtained and installed, but the fuse does not function as designed due to lack of electrical isolation
Solution Approach 1:
By integrating the insulated bolt with the metal terminal into a single assembly, the design ensures that the specialized insulated bolt cannot be accidentally replaced with a standard bolt. The unified structure maintains the required electrical isolation properties while simplifying the replacement process to a single component swap.
3Ease of operation
If a single bolt fuse is designed to connect between a power terminal and battery terminal or bus bar, then the connection is straightforward, but the application scope is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The metal terminal with threaded shaft can be adapted to connect with various electrical devices having threaded holes, not just battery terminals or bus bars. This universal design allows the fuse assembly to be used in multiple applications while maintaining simple threaded connection methodology.
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
Ensures the single bolt fuse operates correctly by preventing current flow through the uninsulated bolt and allowing connection to various electrical devices, enhancing its protective capabilities and versatility.
Implementation Method 1
The insulated steel bolt includes a shaft that is part threaded and part insulated
Data Source
AI summary
A single bolt fuse assembly and method to connect a single bolt fuse to a circuit or device are disclosed. The single bolt fuse assembly enables the single bolt fuse to be used on any electrical device having a hole suitable for receiving a threaded shaft and connectable to a circuit or device that electrically connects to a female battery or power cable. The apparatus includes a separate high-conductive metal terminal that mates with the stud that mechanically attaches the fuse between the electrical devices. The stud is insulated to avoid becoming part of the electrical circuit and to ensure proper operation of the fuse. By mechanically attaching the stud to the metal terminal, the stud is unlikely to get separated from the fuse.