Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A temperature responsive electric fuse comprising an electrically and thermally conductive housing having an open-ended portion, first conductor means secured to said housing, switch means located in said housing in a certain order, said switch means including a temperature sensitive pellet fusible at a predetermined temperature, a first metallic retaining plate, a first compression spring, a second metallic retaining plate, a slidable resilient contact member, and a second compression spring, an insulator closing said open-ended portion of said housing, second conductor means including lead-in wire means passing through said insulator and having a contact portion at the inner end thereof, and hermetical sealing means of insulating material integrally secured to said housing, to said insulator and to said second conductor means so as to electrically couple said first conductor means to said second conductor means through said resilient contact member, said pellet comprising means for accelerating the fuse action of the pellet to increase the reliability of the fuse when the temperature of said housing rises to a given point.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A temperature responsive electric fuse comprising an electrically and thermally conductive housing having an open-ended portion, first conductor means secured to said housing, switch means located in said housing in a certain order, said switch means including a temperature sensitive pellet fusible at a predetermined temperature, a first metallic retaining plate, a first compression spring, a second metallic retaining plate, a slidable resilient contact member, and a second compression spring, an insulator closing said open-ended portion of said housing, second conductor means including lead-in wire means passing through said insulator and having a contact portion at the inner end thereof, and hermetical sealing means of insulating material integrally secured to said housing, to said insulator and to said second conductor means so as to electrically couple said first conductor means to said second conductor means through said resilient contact member, said pellet comprising means for accelerating the fuse action of the pellet to increase the reliability of the fuse when the temperature of said housing rises to a given point.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
The fuse of claim 1, wherein said fuse action accelerating means comprise cavity means in said pellet, whereby a larger volume shrinkage of said pellet is achieved when the pellet fuses.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
The fuse of claim 2, wherein said pellet has a cylindrical shape and said cavity means is a hollow center portion having a cross-sectional area ranging from about 5 to about 50 percent of the cross-sectional area.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The fuse of claim 1, wherein said pellet is made of an organic substance and wherein said fuse action accelerating means is an inorganic substance added to the organic substance of said pellet, said inorganic substance having a higher thermal conductivity and electrical insulation to cause a rapid fusion of said pellet when the temperature of the housing rises to a given point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
The fuse of claim 4, wherein said inorganic substance ranges from 5 percent to 50 percent by weight of said organic substance.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
The fuse of claim 2, wherein said pellet comprises a mixture of organic material having a melting point at a given temperature and of inorganic material having a higher thermal conductivity than said organic material to cause rapid fusion of said pellet when the temperature rises to said melting point.