Current limiting fuse having improved low current interrupting capability

Claim 1

A current limiting fuse comprising: a. a hollow insulating housing having two ends; b. electrical terminals attached to the ends of said housing; c. a core of insulating material within and extending axially through said housing; d. a primary main fuse element having a plurality of fusion points, said primary main fuse element having a length and being electrically interconnected longitudinally between said electrical terminals, the fusion points being distributed along the length of said primary main fuse element, said primary main fuse element beIng supported on said core, a body of low-melting-temperature alloy in intimate contact with said primary main fuse element, the body of low-meltingtemperature alloy being separated from one electrical terminal by a first group of fusion points and being separated from the other electrical terminal by a second group of fusion points, the first and second groups each including at least one fusion point; e. means within said housing for providing a first auxiliary arc gap adjacent a fusion point of the first group; f. means within said housing for providing a second auxiliary arc gap adjacent a fusion point of the second group; g. an auxiliary fuse element electrically interconnecting said means for providing first and second auxiliary arc gaps, said auxiliary fuse element being within said housing; and h. an inert granular arc quenching material within said housing and surrounding the elements within said housing.