US1616148A - Multiple fuse - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 1 1927.

, 1,616,148 C. E. STOLTZ MULTIPLE FUSE Filed April '16, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 INvENmR:

- mmihfmrz flTIbR/VEYJ I 1 61 ,148 F 1 I C. E. STOLTZ I IIULTIPLE FUSE Filed April 16, 1925 3 SheetsSheet 3 awmgq v Patented Feb. 1, 1927. 4

UNITED STATES PATENT OF F'ICE OHARLES E. BTQLTZ, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR TO MANCHA STORAGE BAT- 'IEBY LQCOMOTIVE COMPANY, LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION" OF DELA- WARE.

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' Application filed April 16, 1925. Serial No. 23,595.

This invention relates to multiple fusesv engaged. This is objectionable for two reasons? (1) Because the relative movement bf the stationary contacts of the electric circuit and the co-o'perating fuse contacts on the carrier is apt to create the contacts; and i (2) Arcing of dan erous. when the fuse is used on some kin of apparatus, for example, an electric storage battery mine locomotive.

The main object of my invention is to provide a multiplefuse which is so constructed that the carrier cannot bemoved to-b a new fuse or perfect fuse into operative ationship withthe electric circuit when any of the fuse contacts'on the carrier are engaged with the contacts in the circuit, thereby eliminating the possibility of, the current arcing, as'so often occurs in the conventional multiple fuse when the position of the fuse carrier is c 7 d. As arcing of the current is prevented, t e life of-the contacts is prolonged and the danger of a fire or an explosion is reduced to the minimum.

Another object is to provide a multiple fuse of novel construction which is so de- 5 fuse in which the fuse carrier is signed that there is no possibility of the current arcin during-the operation of inspecting or rep acing the fuses. Another object; is to provide a multiple normally held in an operative position by a locking upon being manipulated pre-' ing the carrier'to bring a operative relationship with device, which, paratory to shi perfect fuse into the electric circuit, results inthe fuse'con- I lv flame and gas proof tacts on' the carrier and the co-operatingesta- 51) t 7 ing tionary contacts. in the electric circui separated with a break. Another-object is to provide a substantial- .xiliich t eeewefiesriit 9f a e an electric are which burns the electric current inside of the housing of the fuses is extremely the preferred form tubular multiple fuse inv constructed in a novel manner that facilitates the removal ofthe fuse carrier from section, of my improved multiple fuse, showing the carrier'in the position it occupies when co-operating contacts on the carrier and in the circuit are engaged.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of said fuse, showing the parts arranged in the position shown in Figure 1.-

Figure 5 is a sectional view, line 5 -5 of Figure 4, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional'view, taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1, looking in dthe direction indicated by the arrows; an w Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the line 7 -7 of Figure 3. V Referring to the drawings which illustrate of my invention, A designates the housing of my improved multiple fuse, which referably comprises a cylindrical side w closed at its rear end by an Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view, showing the fuse carrier in the position it integral back wall 1 and provided at its front end with an externally-screw-threaded flange 2 that is adapted to receive a locking ring 3 which retains the removablev cover 4 of the housing in its closed position. The fuse carrier B-preferably consists of a substantially disk-shaped :member formed of insulating material and rigidly connected to a shaft 5 that projects forwardly throug h the removable cover 4 of theho'usi sald shaft being surrounded by an inward y-projecting hearing 6 on the inner side of said cover.I At the rear end of said shaft is an extension or reduced portion 5 that projects into a guide 7 on the back wall 1 of the h The'shaft 5 is mounted in such a y that t an awa d a Fam 9 selected fuse onthe carrier in operative relationship with the electric circuit and also moved longitudinally of the bearings 6 and 7 which sustain it so as to disengage two of' the fuse contacts on the carrier B from the co-operating contacts of the electric circuit and hold the fuse carrier R 1'51 such a position that it will be impossible for the current to are between any of the contacts on the carrier and those in the electric circui when the position of the carrier is thereafter changed to bring a different vfuse, for example, a perfect fuse, into operative relationship with the electric circuit. Preferably, the fuse carrier B, the shaft of same and the removable cover 4 of the housing A are combined as a single unit so as to cause the fuse carrier to be completely withdrawn from the housing A when the cover 4 is removed.

The supply wires 0: of the electric circuit are connected to stationary contacts 8 that are mounted o'n'a disk-shaped insulator C that is connected to the rear wall 1 of the housing by concealed fastening devices 9 and said insulator is held s aced. away from said wall and from the cyhndrical side vwall of the housing by lugs 10 on said walls, as shown in Fi ure 3. The contacts 8 of the electric circult are set flush with the front face of the insulator C and are provided with binding screws 11 or the like for securing the supply wires a! to said contacts. As shown in Figures 3 and 7, the contacts 8 are arranged at the lower side of the housing A and the supply wires :1: are led into said housing through stufling boxes 12 on the back wall 1 of the housing.

The fuse carrier B is provided with a plurality of movable contacts to which fuses are detachably connected. In the form of my invention herein shown said carrier is equipped with four contacts 13 arran ed so that three fuses 14, 14 and 14" can .detachably connected to the same, as shown in Figure 6. When the fuse carrier is in the position shown in said figure the fuse 14 is in operative relationship with the electric circuit and both of the fuses 14 and 14 are inoperative. If the fuse 14 becomes defective, the carrier B can be turned to the right to bring the fuse 14 into operative position, or turned to the left to bring the fuse 14 into operative position, the contacts 13 on the carrier to which the fuses are connected being 30- disposed that a least two of said contacts willalways be in alignment with the contacts 8 of the electric circuit whenever the fuse carrier is arranged in one of its three different operative positions. Preferably, the contacts 13 on the fuse carrier are mounted in such a manner that they are capable of moving relatively to the carrier in a direction parallel to the and they are backed us by springs 15, as shown in Figures 1 an 3, so as to reduce the tendency of the electric current to are when the fuse carrier is moved forwardly preparatory to turning the carrier to bring a different fuse thereon into operative relationship with the circuit. The ortion of the shaft 5 that passes through t e bearing 6 is preferably provided on its exterior with grooves 16 so as to tend to eliminate the possibility of gas enterin the housin or a flame escaping from t e housing tirough the bearing 6, and if desired, the fuse carrier can be provided with a forwardly-projecting, annular flame shield 17 that surrounds the shaft bearing 6 on the cover 4 when the fuse carrier is moved forwardly to open the electric circuit. By constructing the housing and the fuse carrier shaft in this manner I make the device practically flame and gas proof.

As previously stated, one of the objects 7 of the invention is to prevent the electric current from arcing, due to relative movement of the contacts on the fuse carrier and the contacts of the electric circuit. In the form of my invention herein illustrated this is accomplished by equipping the device with a locking element, which, when arraged in its operative position, holds the fuse carrier in one of its three operative positions and revents the fuse carrier from being turne either to the right or to the left, and combining said locking element with the carrier and with a spring in such a way that the fuse contacts on the carrier will be separated with a quick break from the contacts of the electric circuit when said locking .element is moved into its inoperative position. In view of the fact that the fuse carrier can be turned only when all of the contacts on said carrier are spaced far away from the stationary contacts to which the supply wires of the electric circuit are connected, there is no danger of the. contacts being burned or damaged by arcing of the current, resulting from relative movement of the fuse contacts and circuit contacts during the operation of bringing a new fuse or perfect fuse into operative position with relation to the electric circuit. Moreover, the device is so constructed that it is impossible for th 'current to arc'between the contacts during the o eration of bodily removing the fuse carrier from the housing A, because the cover of the housing cannot be removed without first separating the-contacts on the carrier froln the contacts of the circuit. In the form of my invention herein illustrated the shaft 5 of the fuse carrier is provided at its front end with a handle or knob D, and a coiled expansion spring 18 is mounted on the front end portion of the shaft 5 between said. knob and the removable cover 4 of the housing, 'so as to-exert pressure on the shaft in a direction tendlng to move it forwardly relatively to said cover, andthus hold the fuse carrier B spaced a considerable distance away from the insulator C that carries the stationary contacts 8, as shown in Figure 3, the knob D being rigidly connected to the shaft 5, as, for example, by means of a pin 19, and said knob being provided on it's'interior with a socket or a recess that houses the spring 18. The locking element previously referred to is designated in the drawings by the reference character E and preferably consists of a lever pivotally mounted on a forwardly-projecting lug on the outside of the cover 4 of the housing and constructed in such a manner that when it is arranged in its operative position, shown in Figures 1 and 2, it will hold the co-operating contacts on the carrier and in the circuit in engagement and'also act as a stop or abutment that co-operates with a part on the handle to prevent the fuse carrier B from being turned,'and when it is arranged in its inoperatve position, shown in Figures 3 and 4, it will permit the spring 18 to expand,

thus separating said contacts, and will not interfere with therotary movement of the handle D and the fuse carrier shaft 5 connected thereto to bring the contacts of one or the other of the fuses on said carrier into lalignment with the contacts 8 of the electric circuit. In the device herein shown the locking element-E is provided at its inner end with a cam portion 21 whose periph- .--When the locking element E is in this position, namely, its operative position, as shownin Figures 1 and 2, a flat face. 23 on one side of the cam portion 21 will positioned in close proximity to one of pluuality of fiat faces '24, 24 and 24 on the handle D, as shown in Figure 2, thereby preventing the handle D and the parts connected to same from being turned in eitherdirection, due, of course, to the fact that the flat face 23 on the locking element E is positioned in such close proximity to one of said flat faces on the handle I) that any attem t to turn said handle causes the portion 0 faces are formed to .be brought squarely against thelocking element E. When it is desired to turn the fuse carrier B to bring upwardly from the handle on which said flat a different fuse, for example, a perfect fuse, I

into operative relationship with the electric whereupon the spring 18 expands and moves the fuse carrier B, the shaft 5 and the handle D longitudinally or outwardly into the position shownin igure 3, wherein it will be noted that the fuse contaots13 on the carrier are spaced a considerable distance away from the co-operating contacts 8 of the electric circuit. When the locking element E is arranged in this position, namely, its inoperative position, a flat face 25 on said locking element bears against the flan e 22 on the handle D,and thus acts as an a utment that limits the outward movement of said handle and the parts controlled by said handle, In order that the handle D and fuse carrier shaft-5 may be rotated, either to the right or to the left, when the locking element E is arranged in its inoperative position, the portion on said locking element that contains the carn'21 and the flat side face 23, isso disposed that when the locking element is in this position, sufficient clearance is provided between the flat face 23 and the part on the handle that contains the fiat faces 24, 24 and 24 to permit said handle to be turned freely. In other words, when the locking element E is in its operative position, a portion on said locking element is disposed in such relation with a portion on the handle D that it is impossible to rotate said handleeither to the right or to the left, but when said lockingelement E is moved into its inoperative position, the relationship between said co-operating portions is changed sufiiciently to permit the handle D tobe turned in either direction.

If the carrier B is equipped with three fuses,

as herein illustrated, the handle D is provided with three flat faces 24, 24 -and 24 so that the flat face 24 will be operative or disposed in parallel relationship with the cooperating flat face 23 on the locking elementv E when the fuse 14 on the carrier is in its operative position,the fiat face 24" on'the handle D will be disposed in operative relationship with the face 23 on the locking element when the fuse 14 on the carrier is operative, and the fiat face 24" on the handle D will be in operative relationship with the face 23 on the locking element whenthe fuse 14 on the carrier is operative. Any suitable means can be usedfor enabling the operator incharge of the device to know which one of the fuses on the carrier is in operative relationship with the electr c circuit without. removing 1 1. 6 9.0V?! 1: of the housing A, In

.move out of en agement with te flange 22 on the handle ments 27 27 and 27 that co-operate with said hand 26 to denote the position of the fuses on the carrier B.

The spring 18, previously referred to, that is used to move the fuse carrier shaft 5 forwardly, is preferably made strong enough so that it will separate the co-operatin con; tacts on the carrier B and insulator (J with a quick break when the locking element E is inoved into its inoperative position, shown in Figure 3, thereby preventing the current from arcing during the operation of moving the fuse carrier B forwardly into its inoperative position, shown in'Figure 3, preparatory to rotating said fuse carrier to bring a perfect fuse into operative relationship with the electric circuit. The springs 15 that back up the fuse contacts 13 on the carrier B exert sufiicient pressure on said contacts to insure them bearing snugly against the co operating stationary contacts 8 to which the supply wires :1: of the electric circuit are connected, and said springs 15 also tend to eliminate arcing during the operation of moving the fuse carrier forwardly into its inoperative position, due to the fact that they cause the fuse contacts 13 to remain in engagement with the co-operating stationary contacts 8 while the cam 21 on the locking element E is moving over the flange 22 on the handle D of the fuse carrier. In other words, the slight forward movement of thecarrier B away from the contact insulator C during the operation of moving the locking element E into its inoperative position, will not cause the current to are between the contacts 8.

and 13, due to the fact that the springs 15 hold said contacts pressed tightly'together until the locking element E has reached such a position that the spring 18 is freeto expand and throw the fuse carrier B forwardly with a quick movement. While I have herethe cover 4 of the housing, such, for example, as a retaining pin F that is adapted to be arranged in a pair of perforated lugs 28 on'the outside of the housing A in such a position that one end of said pin is positioned in a notch 29 in the peripheral edge of the removable retaining ring 3 that surrounds the cover 4 of the housing, said pinF being provided with a stop 30 that bears aga nst one of the lugs 28 and also provided with a hole through which the hasp of a padlock 31 can be inserted, so as to prevent said pin from being disengaged from the lugs 28 or moved in a direction to withdraw the end of same from the notch 29 in the cover retaining'ring 3. r

A multiple fuse of the construction above described is of such simple design that it can be manufactured at a low cost; it is of such design that the contacts are not liable to be burned or injured by arcing of the electric current, due, of course, to the fact that it is constructed in such a manner that the fuse carrier cannot be turned whenever any of the contacts on same are engaged with the contacts in the circuit, and the cover of the housing A cannot be removed without first separating the contacts on the carrier from the contacts of the electric circuit; the housing of the device is practically flame and gas proof, anda simple means is provided on the exterior of the housing for indicating the position of the fuses on the carrier.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1; A multiple fuse, comprising a carrier provided with a plurality of fuses, any one of which is adapted to be arranged in operative relationship with an electric circuit by moving the carrier in a certain manner, cooperating contacts on said carrier and in said circuit, a part combined with said carrier, a manually operable locking device, which, when arranged in its operative position, co-operates with said part to prevent movement of the carrier, and means for automatically separating the co-operating contacts on the carrier and in the electric circuit when said locking device is rendered inoperative.

2. A multiple fuse, comprising a rotatable carrier provided with a plurality of fuses, any one of which is adapted to be brought into operative position with an electric-circuit by rotating the carrier, cooperating contacts on said carrier and in said circuit, a part connected to said carrier to turn with same, and a manually-operable locking device that co-operates with said part to prevent the carrier from being rotated when the contacts of the electric circuit are in engagement with one pair of fuse contacts on the carrier.

3. A multiple fuse, comprising a manuallyoperable carrier provided with a plurality of fuses, any one of which is adapted to be brought into operative relationship with a circuit by movlng the carrier in a certain manner, co-operating contacts on said carrier and in said circuit, and a movable, manually-operable locking means that normally holds the carrier against movement in a direction to change the relationship between the fuse thereon and the electric circuit, conill) luo

tacts of the operative fuse and the co-operating contacts of the electric circuit can separate and before the carrier can be moved .to

- change-therelationship between the fuses thereon and the electric circuit.

4. A multiple fuse, comprising a carrier provided with a plurality of fuses, any one of which is adapted to be brought into operative relationship with an electriccircuit by moving the. carirer in a certain manner, cooperating. contacts on said carrier and in said circuit, a manually operable locking ele-- ment that normally prevents the carrier from being moved in the manner referred to and which is adapted to be rendered inoperative before such movement can be imp rted to the carrier, and means for causing t e co-oper ating contacts on the carrier and in the electriccircuit to be separated with a quick break simultaneously with the movement of said locking element into its inoperative position.

'5. A multiple fuse, comprising a manual- -1y-operable rotatable carrier provided with a plurality of fuses, any one of which vcanbe brought into operative relationship with an electric circuit by rotating the carrier, cooperating contacts on said carrier and in said circuit, a manually-operable locking element, which,'when arranged in its operative position, prevents thecarrier from being turned and which, when arranged in its inoperative position, permits the carrier to be turned, and

means for insuring the contacts of the electric circuit being separated from the 00-0 ,.erati.ng contacts on the carrier when said locking element is in a efiosition to permitthe fuse carrier to be turn v 6. A multiple fuse, comprislng a carrier -provided with a plurality of fuses, any one of which is ada ted to be brought into operative relations 'p with an electric circuit by moving the carrier in a certain manner, cooperating contacts on said carrier and in said circuit, a a manually-operable means which is normally operative to ,prevent the carrier from being moved in the manner referredt'o and which is adapted to be moved manually into an inoperative position to permit such movement of the carrier, and an independent means for separating the 'co-o erating contacts in the electric circuit an on the carrierwhen said manually operable means is rendered inoperative.

7. A multiple fuse, comprising a rotatable carrier provided with a plurality of fuses equipped wit-h contacts, co-operating contacts in an electric circuit, a resilient means that exerts pressure on said carrier in a direction tending to effect the separation of the contacts of the electric circuit and the contacts of the operative fuse on the carrier, and an inde endent manually-operable means that normally holds the co-operating contacts on the carrier and in the electric circuit in engagement with each other, constructed so that the carrier cannot beturned when said co-operating contacts are in engagement.

8. A multiple fuse, comprising a rotatable carrier provided with a plurality of fuses,

any one of which can be brought into operative relationship with an electric circuit by turning the carrier, means for normally holding the carrier in such a osition that one of the fuses thereon will be operative, means for preventing the carrier from being turned when it is in said position, and a resilient means for bodily moving the carrier in a direction to destroy the operative relationship between all of the fuses thereon and the electric circuit when the means first referred to is rendered inoperative.

9. A multiple fuse, comprising a rotatable .carrier provided with a plurality of fuses connected to contacts on the carrier, co-operating contacts arranged in an electric circuit, a resilient means that tends to move the carrier in a direction to separate the fuse contacts on same from the contacts of the electric circuit, and a manually-o erable de vice for moving the carrier in a irection to bring the contacts of one fuse on the carrier into engagement with the contacts of the electric circuit, constructed so that it prevents the carrier from being turned'when said co-operating contacts are in engagement with each other. I

10. A multiple fuse, comprising a rotatable carrier provided with a plurality of fuses equipped with contacts, any one of which can be brought into operative relationship with an electric circuit by turning the carrier, contacts in said circuit that are adapted to co-operate with the contacts of said fuses, said carrier bein mounted so that'it can be moved lon itu inally to dis engage the contacts of t e electric circuit from the .contacts of the operative fuse on the carrier, a manually-operable locking element for moving the carrier longitudinally in one direction, a spring for movin the carrier longitudinally in the opposite irection, and a part connected with the carrier and adapted to co-operate with said locking element for holding the carrier agains rotary movement when the contacts of th circuit are in engagement with the contacts of the operative fuse on the carrier.

11. A multiple fuse, comprising a rotatable carrier mounted in such a way that it can be shifted longitudinally of its axis of movement, fuses on saidcarrier connected to contacts '.on the carrier, stationary contacts forming part of an electric circuit, a spring for moving the carrier longitudinally in a direction to separate the contacts of the operative fuse from the contacts of the electric circuit, a manually-operable device for moving'the carrier longitudinally in opposition to said spring and for holding the contacts of the operative fuse on the carrier in engagement with the contacts of the electric circuit, and a part combined with the carrier and arranged so that it will co--operate with said manually -operable device to hold the carrier against rotary movement when any of the co-operating contacts on the carrier and in the supply circuit are engaged.

12. A multiple fuse, comprising a housing, a rotatable carrier in said housing pro vided with a plurality of fuses, fuse contacts on said carrier, co-operating fuse contacts in an electric circuit, a supporting shaft for said carrier mounted in the housing in such a Way that it can rotate and also move longitudinally of its axis, a manually-operable device on the exterior of the housing for moving said shaft longitudinally in a direction to cause the fuse contacts on the carrier to engage the contacts of the electric circuit, a spring for moving said shaft in the opposite direction, and a part on said shaft that is adapted to co-operate with said device to prevent said shaft from being rotated when said co-operating contacts are engaged. I

13. A multiple fuse, comprising a housing, a fuse carrier arranged inside of said housing and provided with fuse contacts that are adapted to co-operate with contacts in an electric circuit, a supporting shaft for said carrier mounted in said housing in such a way that it can rotate and also move longitudinally of its axis, a pivotally mounted lockin device on the exterior of the housing provi ed with a cam, a member connected to said shaft and provided with a portion that is adapted to be engaged by said cam to move said shaft longitudinally in one direction, a spring for moving said shaft 1ongitudinally in the opposite direction, and cooperatin surfaoeson said locking device and on t e member on said shaft for holding said carrier against rotary movement when the fuse contacts thereon are in engagement with the contacts of the electric circuit.

14. A multiple fuse, comprising a housing, a fuse carrier in said housing provided with spring-pressed fuse contacts, contacts in an electric circuit adapted to be engaged by said fuse contacts, a supporting shaft for said carrier projecting forwardly through an opening in the housing, a handle on the outer end of said shaft for turning same, a spring for moving said shaft in a direction to separate the fuse contacts thereon from the contacts of the electric circuit, a manually-operable device on the exterior of the housing for moving said shaft longitudinal- 5 ly' in opposition to said spring, and cooperating surfaces'on said device and on said handle for preventing the fuse carrier from being turned when any of the fuse contacts thereon are in engagement with the contacts of the electric circuit.

15. A multiple fuse, comprising a housing, a carrier in said housing provided with a plurality of fuses, any one of which can be arranged in operative position with relation to an electric circuit by turning the carrier, a supporting shaft for said carrier mounted in said housing in such a way' that it can rotate and also move longitudinally of'its axis, a handle on said shaft arranged on the outside of the housing, a locking device on the exterior of the housing provided with a cam that is adapted to engage a part on said handle so as to move said shaft longitudinally to arrange one of the fuses thereon in operative position in the electric circuit, a spring for moving said shaft in the opposite direction, and a plurality of surfaces on said handle corresponding in number to the number of fuses on the carrier, any one of which is capable of (:0- operating with said locking device to hold the carrier against rotary movement when one of the fuses on the carrier is in operative position. a

16. A multiple fuse, comprising a housing, a removable cover on said housing, a carrier arranged inside of said housing and provided with a plurality of fuses, any one of which can be arranged in operative position in an electric circuit by turning the carrier, a supporting shaft for said carrier, hearings on the cover of'the housing and on the opposed wall'of the housing for supporting. said shaft, a handle connected to said shaft at a point outside of the housing, a pivotally'mounted locking device on said cover provided with a cam that is adapted to be moved into engagement with a part on said handle to move said shaft longitudinally in a direction to carry one of the fuses on the carrier into operative position in the electric circuit, a spring for moving said shaft longitudinally in the opposite direction, co-operating surfaces on said handle and locking device for holding the carrier against rotary movement when one of the fuses thereon is electrically connected with the circuit, and means on the exterior of the housing which indicate the position of the fuses on the carrier.

17 A multiple fuse, comprising a housing, a removable cover at the front end of said housing, a bearing projecting inwardly from said cover,'-a bearing on the back wall of connected, a handle connected to said shaft at a point-outside of said housing, a spring surrounding said shaft between said handle andthe removable cover of the housing for moving-said shaft longitudinally in one directio'n, a locking device pivotall mounted on '-the outside of said cover an provided with a cam, a part on said handle that is adopted to be engaged by said cam to effect movement of said shaftin opposition to said I spning,.co-operating surfaces on said locking nected with theelectric circuit, and cooperating means on said handle and on the cover of the housing for indicating the position of the fuses on the carrier.

CHARLES E. S'IIOLTZ.

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