US2256716A - Fuse for outlet connections - Google Patents

Description

F. J. KLANCNIK FUSE FOR OUTLET CONNECTIONS Filed Nov. 19, 1958 ELL 67% Fan/ d fjandfl Sept. 23, 1941.

Patented Sept. 23,1941

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FUSE FOR OUTLET CONNECTIONS Frank 5. Klancnik, Chicago, Ill. Application November 19, 1938, Serial No. 24l,389

3 Claims.

This invention relates to electrical devices, and

' is more particularly directed to outlet connec- I one attempting to ascertain which of the fuses is to be replaced. While it is the fuse in the current supply that has burned out, it may have been caused by a short circuit of one of the devices attached to an outlet connection, and the replacement of the fuse will not correct the source of the trouble.

It is a primary object of the present invention to eliminate the above objections and to provide an improved outlet connection embodying a fuse which may be readily removed and replaced, and to which outlet connection, electrical devices may be attached and detached with out subjecting the fuse to wear and without injury to the fuse element.

A further object is the provision of an outlet connection which contains a fuse that may be readily and easily replaced without cutting off the main current supply, and which fuse serves as detector means for readily finding out the source of the trouble by being inoperable or burningout when the device attached therewith is short circuited.

A further object is the provision of an outlet connection arranged to receive a fuse therein and through which fuse, the current passes when a device is attached to the outlet connection.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth, and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure l is a top plan view of a duplex outlet connection and fuse constructed in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 22 of Figure 3.

Figure 3 is an enlarged-longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail cross-sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a detail perspective view of the fuse; and

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view of the fuse element employed with the fuse.

My invention is illustrated with a duplex type of outlet connection, but may be employed with various other types, such as the drop cord or plug-in types. In the kind of outlet connection shown, the numeral l0 designates the body of insulating material and of conventional shape, provided with cored portions H and I2 at each end thereof forming top walls Illa-10a into which slot openings l3 and M, respectively, are arranged in pairs and communicate with the cored portions. The body ID has contact strips l5 and i6 fixed to either side thereof, and which strips extend longitudinally and into the cored portions H and i2. In the type of duplex outlet connection shown, the contact strips l5 and I 5 are engaged by contact fingers I1 and 18 of a plug [9, .(shown in dotted lines Fig. 4), for attaching an electrical device thereto, but in this instance, the contact strip l6 has its free ends I Ga-l 8a bent inwardly at right angles, while the contact strip l5 remains relatively straight to extend below slot openings I3-I3.

The body In is provided intermediate each pair of slot openings l3 and H with a relativel, large opening 20 having side walls 2l-22 which extend the entire depth of the body and the free ends of the contact strip [5 are directed to engage the walls 22-22 below each of the slot openings |3| 3. The bent portions l6a-l6a of contact strip 16 are directed adjacent the inner edges of the walls 2l-2| and serve with a relatively short contact strip 23 for engaging the fuse placed within the opening 20. The contact strip 23 has a right-angled formation 24 directed adjacent the outer edges of walls 2I-2| which serves with the bent portion |6a to contact the fuse, while the contact strip 23 extends alongside of wall 2| below slot opening l4 and serves with the ends of contact strip l5 to engage the contact fingers l1 and 18 of plug IS.

The fuse designated as 25 is inserted between the bent ends 16a and 24 of the contact strips l6 and 23, respectively. When inserted, the fuse I 25 remains flush with the top wall Illa of the outlet connection and completes the circuit to the contact strips l6 and 23 which are engaged by the contact fingers ii and i8 when the plug i9 is attached.

The fuse 25, (Figs. 3 and 5), is constructed of insulating material and is cored to form a hollow body 26 and an open top 2'! into which mica or other suitable material 28 is securely fixed to provide a window through which the metal fuse element 23 is visible. The fuse element 29 is bowed intermediate its length at 30 and its free ends 3| and 32 extend through openings 33 and 34 provided in opposite walls of the hollow body 28 of the fuse 25. .The free ends 3I-32 are formed to lie parallel to the side walls of the fuse and flush in grooves 35 and 36 provided therein and these ends 3l-32 engage the portions |8a and 24 of contact strips l6 and 23, respectively, when the fuse is in position. The top portion of the fuse 25 adjacent the window 28 has outwardly projecting portions 31 and 38 which serve as finger grips by which the fuse may be removed, and they also serve as means to limit the insertion of the fuse in opening 20.

When inserting the fuse, the walls 2l-22 guide the same until received between the contacts lid and 24, and at which time, the fuse is securely retained thereby between the walls.

It will be noted that neither the fuse body nor the fuse element is exposed to be contacted by the contact fingers I'I-l8' of the plug 19 of a device attached, and when attached, its contact fingers lI-l8 enter a pair of slot openings l3l4 in the top wall Illa of the outlet connection and are guided by wall 2l'2l until they engage contact strips IS and 23 to complete the circuit.

The fuse 25 has a fuse element of greater resistance than the main fuse in the circuit, and

should a short occur to on of thedevices attached thereto, this fuse element will burn out, severing its particular outlet without affecting the source of.power to the other outlets.

In order to replace the fuse, it is only necessary to remove the plug IQ of the device which exposes the fuse 25 to view and which fuse may be readily removed by gripping the opposite extensions 31-38. When removed, a new fuse may then be inserted and the line is again ready for service. 7

A new fuse element 29 may be inserted in the fuse body 25 by threading the same through openings 33-34 until the shoulders 39-39 of the fuse element engage the wall of the fuse. lhen the end 3| of the fuse element is bent flush in groove 35 and is held manually therein while the free end 32 of the fuse element is forced inwardly to cause the intermediate portion thereof to bow upwardly as at 30, and at which time the free end 32 of the fuse element is bent flush in groove 36. The ends 3| and 32 of the fuse element 29 serv with the bowed portion 30 thereof to retain the same in position in the fuse body 2!.

It will-be noted that with this type Of fuse, the fuse element therein may be viewed through the window 28 and its condition ascertained, and also a new fuse element may be inserted while utilizing the same fuse body.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming withing the field of invention claimed, may be resorted to, if desired.

I claim:

1. In an electrical outlet connection, a body having apair'of spaced apart attachment plug receiving openings and a fuse receiving opening intermediate the pair of openings, a pair of spaced terminals carried by said body and aligned with the pair of openings, a fuse having a fuse element therein and insertable in said fuse receiving opening to maintain electric contact between the pair of terminals, and means on said fuse body to permit the ready removal thereof.

2. In an electrical outlet connection, a body having a fuse receiving opening and an attachment plug receiving opening on each side of said opening, a pair of spaced terminals carried by the body to be engaged by the attachment plug, a fuse having a fuse element extending therethrough to maintain contact between the pair of terminals when the fuse is inserted in position in the said fuse receiving opening of the body.

3. In an electrical outlet connection, a body having a pair of attachment plug openings and a rectangular opening adapted to receive a detachable fuse, a fuse having a fuse element extending therethrough, a pair of spaced terminals carried by th body aligned with the attachment plug openings and arranged to receive said fuse therebetween to maintain electric contact between the pair of terminals, said pair of terminals serving to frictionally retain the fuse in position.

FRANK J. KLANCNIK.

Images