Patent Application
20110263161
This invention is directed to a fuse adapter. More particularly, the fuse adapter adapts coplanar blades of a fuse having a predetermined spacing to fit a pair of coplanar receiving terminal slots having a different slot spacing.
It is known, according to U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,506 issued on Apr. 27, 2004 and referring to prior art
Vehicle electrical/electronic content continues to increase while the packaging for this electrical content continues to decrease requiring smaller fuse devices, or fuse circuit elements to support the increased electrical content. For example, five millimeter fuses will soon be employed in vehicle power distribution systems. These are so called due to a 5 millimeter centerline-to-centerline spacing. Five millimeter fuses may not be commonly available to consumers wanting to replace a blown fuse. Wider fuses, such as 8.2 millimeter fuses, are more generally available.
Therefore, what is needed is reliable fuse adapter that mates a commonly available wider fuse to a narrower fuse spacing.
According to one aspect of the invention, a fuse adapter is provided to adapt a fuse having a pair of coplanar blades with a predetermined blade spacing to fit to a pair of coplanar blade receiving terminal slots in a circuit having a different slot spacing. The fuse adapter includes a pair of adapter terminals. An upper end of each adapter terminal is spaced apart by the predetermined fuse blade spacing. Each upper end of the adapter terminals also has an adjusting tab bent away from the upper end substantially perpendicular thereto and substantially parallel to the plane of the coplanar receiving terminal slots. Each adjusting tab is integral with a transition portion on the adapter terminal that extends to an adapter blade. The two adapter blades on the respective adapter terminals are coplanar with and are spaced apart to match the fuse blade receiving terminal slots in the circuit.
According to an another aspect of the invention, a multi-fuse adapter includes a pair of adapter terminals and a center adapter terminal that cooperate to adapt a plurality of fuses each of which have coplanar blades with a predetermined blade spacing to fit with corresponding blade receiving terminal slots having a different slot spacing between each blade receiving terminal slot.
In still yet another aspect of the invention, a terminal is provided that includes at least one slotted, planar upper end, an adjusting tab in connection with the at least one upper end, a transition portion extending away from the adjusting tab, and an adapter blade in connection with the transition portion.
This invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Disclosed herein is a fuse adapter that receives a fuse containing coplanar blade terminals having a predetermined spacing and adapts the predetermined spacing to fit in blade receiving terminals having a different spacing between the blade receiving terminals such as may be found in an electrical center or circuit board. Once the fuse adapter is installed in the electrical center with the fuse received in the fuse adapter, the received fuse electrically operates as an active circuit element in an electronic circuit. A multi-fuse adapter is also disclosed that receives a plurality of fuses that each have coplanar blade terminals having a predetermined blade spacing and the multi-fuse adapter adapts each fuse in the plurality of fuses to blade receiving terminals that have a different spacing from the predetermined blade spacing between each blade receiving terminal. The fuse adapter and multi-fuse adapter may be configured to receive commonly available fuses having amperage sizes that are widely commercially available for use in motor vehicle applications and consumer electronics.
Referring now to the drawings where like numerals indicate like or corresponding parts throughout the views and exemplary embodiments are illustrated. Referring to
Referring to
A pair of adapter terminals 109a, 109b are disposed axially in housing 102. One of the pair, or first adapter terminal 109a is an integral terminal that includes a slotted, planar upper end 110a, an adjusting tab 111a, a transition portion 113a, and an adapter blade 115a. Upper end 110a defines a slot forming a tuning fork-type shape that allows upper end 110a to receive blade terminal 118. Adjusting tab 111a is bent away from upper end 110a substantially perpendicular to upper end 110a. Adjusting tab 111a is integral with transition portion 113a and transition portion 113a extends in a direction away from adjusting tab 111a. Adapter blade 115a is in connection with transition portion 113a. Adapter blade 115a axially extends in a direction away from transition portion 113a. Transition portion 113a also extends away from terminal end 106 of housing 102. A first bend 112a forms a transition interface between adjusting tab 111a and transition portion 113a. A second bend 114a forms another transition interface between transition portion 113a and adapter blade 115a. First adapter terminal 109a is electrically conducting and is formed by a stamping manufacturing operation from a sheet of metal base material made of plated or unplated copper alloy, and the like. Additional forming and bending manufacturing operations on the stamped metal piece configures the metal piece into first adapter terminal 109a as discussed herein. A first aperture 117 is defined in housing 102 proximate upper end 110a disposed within cavity 164 at fuse receiving end 104. Aperture 117 provides access to receive blade terminal 118 of fuse 116 from outside housing 102 to connect with upper end 110a.
Another one of the pair of adapter terminals, or second adapter terminal 109b is also disposed in housing 102. Second adapter terminal 109b is identical to first adapter terminal 109a and is formed from material and constructed like first adapter terminal 109a, as described previously herein. Using the identical terminal for both adapter terminals may decrease design and manufacturing costs for the fuse adapter. Elements of second adapter terminal 109b that are similar to first adapter terminal 109a have similar element numbers that differ by a similar, different letter designator. Second adapter terminal 109b is spaced apart from first adapter terminal 109a in a direction perpendicular to axis A. Second adapter terminal 109b also includes a slotted, planar upper end 110b, an adjusting tab 111b, a transition portion 113b, and an adapter blade 115b, and bends 112b, 114b. A second aperture 162 is defined in fuse receiving end 104 to provide access to upper end 110b of second adapter terminal 109b from outside of housing 102 similar to first aperture 117. Adapter terminals 109a, 109b are configured in housing 102 with a centerline-to-centerline spacing between upper end 110a and upper end 110b being first width w1 which matches the predetermined centerline-to-centerline spacing between blade terminals 118 of fuse 116. Adapter terminals 109a, 109b are also configured in housing 102 such that adapter blades 115a, 115b are spaced apart by second width w2 and are coplanar to match with coplanar receiving terminals 120a, 120b in receiving slots of electrical center 172. Housing 102 is configured around terminals 109a, 109b to ensure terminals 109a, 109b maintain first width w1 and second width w2. Adjusting tabs 111a, 111b are substantially parallel with the plane of coplanar adapter blades 115a, 115b.
First adapter terminal 109a has a first orientation in housing 102 and second adapter terminal 109b has a second orientation different from the first orientation in housing 102. The second orientation includes second adapter terminal 109b being rotated, or mirrored about the plane of coplanar receiving terminals 120a, 120b. Thus, terminal 109b is rotated about the plane receiving terminals 120a, 120b being 180 degrees out of phase with terminal 109a. Thus, upper end 109a mirrors upper end 109b and adjusting tabs 111a, 111b have a mirroring opposing relationship through axis A in housing 102. Upper ends 110a, 110b of first and second adapter terminals 109a, 109b are adapted to receive blade terminals 118 of blade-type fuse 116.
Cavity 164 of housing 102 is defined in fuse receiving end 104 and overlies first and second adapter terminal 109a, 109b. Cavity 164 includes an open end 166 adjacent fuse receiving end 104. Open end 166 is configured to receive a body of fuse 116 upon insertion of blade terminals 118 through apertures 117, 162 in cavity 164. Cavity 164 provides a cradle for the body of fuse 116.
Housing 102 of fuse adapter 100 has a rectangular shape about axis A. Alternately, the housing may be formed of any desired shape. Preferably, the fuse adapter may be manufactured with the first adapter terminal being fitted, or inserted into the first aperture and the second adapter terminal being fitted, or inserted into the second aperture in the housing. After insertion of the terminals into the housing, the housing deflects around the terminals to snap-lock and secure the terminals in place, as is known in the art. Alternately, the terminals may be press-fit into the apertures in the housing. Housing 102 is configured to enclose and secure at least upper ends 110a, 110b of first and second adapter terminal 109a, 109b. Housing 102 is configured to assist in maintaining the centerline-to-centerline spacing of first width w1 between the upper ends 110a, 110b and the centerline-to-centerline spacing of second width w2 of adapter blades 115a, 115b. Still yet alternately, the fuse adapter may be manufactured with the housing being molded around the first and the second adapter terminal.
Housing 102 defines first width w1 perpendicular to axis A between a centerline-to-centerline spacing of upper ends 110a, 110b. Housing 102 defines second width w2 perpendicular to axis A between a centerline-to-centerline spacing of adapter blades 115a, 115b that match the different spacing between receiving terminals 120a, 120b of electrical center 172. First width w1 is not the same width as second width w2. Alternately, first width w1 is greater than second width w2. Preferably, width w1 is about 8.2 millimeters and width w2 is about 5 millimeters. The 8.2 millimeter width between blade terminals of the fuse is associated with fuses that are commonly commercially available in the marketplace for purchase at locations like retail part supply outlets. Thus, a commonly available 8.2 millimeter fuse may be used in product applications with the fuse adapter to fit a 5 millimeter fuse terminal spacing that would not otherwise accommodate the 8.2 millimeter fuse. Still yet alternately, width w1 is substantially 8.2 millimeters and width w2 is substantially 5 millimeters. The fuse adapter may be used in any application requiring a fuse having a first width to be implemented in a product application having a second width that is not the same as the first width. The fuse adapter may find widespread use in many electrical/electronic applications in the transportation, agriculture, and marine industries.
When blade terminals 118 of fuse 116 are received in slots of upper ends 110a, 110b of first and second adapter terminal 109a, 109b, blade terminals 118 in the slots of upper ends 110a, 110b have a coplanar relationship with adapter blades 115a, 115b. Adjusting tabs 111a, 111b and transition portions 113a, 113b are not in the plane defining the coplanar relationship between upper ends 110a, 110b and adapter blades 115a, 115b. Adjusting tabs 111a, 111b, transition portions 113a, 113b, and bends 112a, 112b, 114a, 114b cooperate to allow blade terminals 118 of fuse 116 received in slots of upper ends 110a, 110b and adapter blades 115a, 115b to have a coplanar relationship while also allowing first width w1 to not be the same width as second width w2.
Referring to
Referring to
Center adapter terminal 269 is coaxially disposed in housing 202 intermediate first adapter terminal 209a and second adapter terminal 209b. Center adapter terminal 269 is formed by a stamping manufacturing operation similar to the embodiment of
Each fuse 278a, 278b has corresponding coplanar blades 279a, 279b having a predetermined blade spacing, or a first width w1′. Coplanar blade receiving terminal slots (not shown) have a different spacing from first width w1′ between each slot in the plurality of receiving slots which is a second width w2′. The centerline-to-centerline spacing between upper end 210a and upper end 270a is first width w1′ which is the same as the predetermined centerline-to-centerline spacing of blade terminals 279a of first fuse 278a. The centerline-to-centerline spacing between upper end 270b and upper end 210b is first width w1′ which is the same as the predetermined centerline-to-centerline spacing of blade terminals 279b of second fuse 278b. Likewise, the centerline-to-centerline spacing between adapter blade 215a and adapter blade 275 is second width w2′ and the centerline-to-centerline spacing between adapter blade 275 and adapter blade 215b is also second width w2′ which matches the different spacing between blade receiving terminals (not shown) in the receiving terminal slots (not shown). First width w1′ is not the same width as second width w2′. Preferably, first width w1′ is greater than second width w2′. More particularly, first width w1′ is 8.2 millimeters and second width w2′ is 5 millimeters for the reasons previously described herein in the embodiment of
Insertion of first fuse 278a through open end 282 of a first cavity 284 and through the first and the third aperture (not shown) in fuse receiving end 204 allows electrical connection of blade terminals 279a of first fuse 278a with the slot in upper end 210a on first adapter terminal 209a and the slot in upper end 270a on center adapter terminal 269. The body of first fuse 278a is subsequently cradled in first cavity 284 overlying upper ends 210a, 270a of respective first and center adapter terminal 209a, 269. Insertion of second fuse 278b through an open end 286 of a second cavity 288 and through second and the third aperture (not shown) in fuse receiving end 204 allows electrical connection of blade terminals 279b of second fuse 278b with the slot in upper end 270b on center adapter terminal 269 and the slot in upper end 210b on second adapter terminal 209b. The body of second fuse 278b is subsequently cradled in second cavity 288 overlying upper ends 270b, 210b of respective center and second adapter terminal 269, 209b.
Referring to
First adapter terminal 209a has a first orientation in housing 202 and second adapter terminal 209b has a second orientation in housing 202. One of the pair of adapter terminals 209b is mirrored about the plane of the receiving terminal slots (not shown) in housing 202 in relation to the other one of the pair of adapter terminals 209a. Thus, one of the pair of adapter terminals 209b is disposed in the housing rotated, or mirrored 180 degrees out of phase with the other one of the pair of adapter terminals 209a.
Alternately, the upper ends on the adapter terminals may be formed and configured to any shape that receives a terminal of a fuse. More particularly, the upper end may include any female-type configuration that receives a bladed device. For example, the upper end may be configured as a blade-type terminal that is configured to be fitted with a female-to-female device. A blade-type terminal of a fuse may then be received into the other end of the female-to-female device.
Yet alternately, the adapter blades of the terminals of the fuse adapter may be configured to be any shape that may be received by an electrical center or circuit board device, and the like. More particularly, the adapter blades may include any male-type configuration that is inserted into electrical center or circuit board device, and the like.
In another alternate embodiment, one or more of the terminals in the fuse adapter and multi-fuse adapter may each have different design constructions.
In a further alternate embodiment, the terminals of the fuse adapter and the multi-fuse adapter may be utilized without a housing in a product application to receive the fuses and directly connect into an electrical center or printed circuit board.
In yet another alternate embodiment, the bare adapter terminals of the fuse adapter and multi-fuse adapter may be separated by any spacing means different from a housing to ensure the predetermined blade spacing between blades of a fuse and/or the different slot spacing of the receiving terminal slots is maintained. For example, a plastic rib may join the adapter terminals together to assist to maintain the different spacing between the blade receiving terminals while the fuse is inserted into the upper ends to maintain the predetermined spacing of the blade terminals of the fuse.
In another alternate embodiment, the bare adapter terminals may be used without any structure to receive fuses and be directly inserted into the receiving terminals in the receiving terminal slots of an electrical center.
In a further alternate embodiment, the upper ends of the fuse adapter and multi-fuse may be further configured to allow the fuse adapter and the multi-fuse adapter to receive different fuse types such as mini-type or maxi-type fuses, low profile fuses, and the like.
In an another alternate embodiment, adapter blades of a fuse and a multi-fuse adapter may be further configured to mount the fuse adapter to structures other than electrical centers where electrical circuits are employed, such as printed circuit boards, and the like.
In another further alternate embodiment, a multi-fuse adapter may be configured to receive and electrically connect more than two fuses with circuits electrically connected with an electrical center or printed circuit board.
In yet another further alternate embodiment, the disposition of the upper ends of the center adapter terminal relative to each other on the multi-fuse adapter may be further adapted to form a plurality of configurations in cooperation with the placement of the respective first and second adapter terminals in the housing dependent on the product application. For example, if one of the upper ends of the center adapter terminal is offset from the other upper end of the center adapter terminal in a direction perpendicular to the axis, and the upper end of the first adapter terminal is aligned with one of the upper ends of the center adapter terminal and the upper end of the second adapter terminal is aligned with the other upper end of the center adapter terminal, this configuration allows placement of a first fuse in the receiving fuse end of the multi-fuse adapter to be offset from the second fuse in the receiving fuse end of the multi-fuse adapter. This configuration may then be fitted into receiving terminals of an electrical center that are similarly offset. Other configurations in the plurality of the configurations are left to the artesian.
Thus, the invention provides for a reliable fuse adapter that receives a commonly available fuse having a predetermined spacing, or a first width between the blade terminals of the fuse and adapts the predetermined spacing to a different spacing, or a second width between each of the blade receiving terminals in an electrical center. A commonly available 8.2 millimeter fuse, used in conjunction with the fuse adapter, allows the larger 8.2 millimeter fuse to service a blown fuse having a narrower five millimeter fuse receiving terminal slot spacing in an electrical center. Utilizing adapter blades on the first and second adapter terminal of the fuse adapter allows the fuse adapter to directly fit into receiving terminals in a receptacle of an electrical center. The orientation of the adapter terminals in the housing using a single terminal design eliminates the need to manufacture other additional terminal designs so as to reduce design and manufacturing costs for the fuse adapter. Fitted construction of the adapter terminals within the housing provides ease of manufacturing of the fuse adapter. The fuse adapter may be utilized for connection to electrical centers and circuit boards, and the like, wherever a fuse circuit element needs to be employed where blade terminals on the fuse having the predetermined spacing adapt to a different spacing between each receiving terminal. Slots in the upper ends of the adapter terminals are coplanar with the adapter blades of the adapter terminals to allow an insertion force of the fuse adapter into an electrical center or circuit board to be concentrated along a central plane with the receiving terminals in the electrical center to allow ease of insertion of the fuse adapter without additional stress being placed on the fuse or the adapter terminals in the housing of the fuse adapter. A multi-fuse adapter is provided to allow two or more fuses having blade terminals with a predetermined spacing of the first width to be received into the multi-fuse adapter and the multi-fuse adapter employed where additional fuse capability having a plurality of blade receiving terminals with a different spacing between each of the receiving terminals being the second width is required.
While the present invention has been shown and described with reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
All terms used in the claims are intended to be given their broadest ordinary meanings and their reasonable constructions as understood by those skilled in the art unless an explicit indication to the contrary is made herein. In particular, use of the singular articles such as “a,” “the,” “said,” . . . et cetera, should be read to recite one or more of the indicated elements unless a claim recites an explicit limitation to the contrary.
