[0001] The present invention relates to a splash-proof and, where necessary, also waterproof,
modular fuse-holder for so-called blade-type fuses used in the automotive field.
[0002] Once open, the fuse-holder advantageously displays a colour indicating the amperage
of the fuse which the fuse-holder is intended to house.
[0003] There are known splash-proof fuse-holders for the automotive field in which a modular
container for housing the fuse has a cover which is removable along the axis along
which the fuse is removed/inserted, this axis being defined below as the axis of the
fuse and the fuse-holder, the cover being coupled with the container along a substantially
rectangular rim in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the fuse-holder. A housing
is formed in the edge of the rim for a resilient seal which is interposed between
the cover and the container and, by virtue of its compression between the cover and
the container by a suitable pressure exerted in the direction of the axis of the fuse-holder,
ensures that the joint is impervious.
[0004] To compress the seal it is necessary, upon closure, to push the cover against the
container and to provide engagement devices which keep the cover in position without
yielding in the direction of the axis of the fuse-holder.
[0005] In fuse-holder boxes for housing several fuses, the engagement devices consist of
clamping screws with knobs which, in the case of a modular fuse-holder, would be quite
bulky and awkward to manipulate owing to the possible presence of two more adjacent
fuse-holder modules beside it.
[0006] It is desirable to replace the clamping screws with simpler and less bulky engagement
systems such as, for example, snap-engagement teeth which release and open the cover
as a result of a pull or slight rotation of the cover relative to the container.
[0007] Clearly, however, a resilient reaction is exerted on the cover by the compressed
seal in the same direction as the force which is exerted to open it and may itself
cause the release and opening of the cover or at least partial yielding of the connection
and a reduction in the compression of the seal, rendering its sealing unstable.
[0008] The instability of the sealing is increased by wear of the engagement teeth as a
result of repeated openings and closures of the cover, even if they are infrequent.
[0009] The present invention solves this problem and provides a modular, splash-proof fuse-holder
which is sealed against spray by a seal interposed between an inner rim of the container
which engages in an outer rim of the cover so that the seal is compressed radially
relative to the axis of the fuse-holder.
[0010] The reaction exerted by the seal on the cover thus acts perpendicularly to the directions
of closure and opening and does not stress the engagement devices of the cover, which
advantageously are resilient snap teeth, in a direction such as to cause their release.
[0011] To prevent the friction exerted between the seal and the outer rim of the cover upon
opening from causing axial dislocation of the seal, a pin element with the known function
of secondary locking of the contact terminals of the fuse-holder (and for this reason
also called the secondary lock) is irremovably snap-engaged inside the container rim.
[0012] The secondary lock has a pair of tabs forming a retaining shoulder which prevents
the seal from coming off the container rim.
[0013] Advantageously, the secondary lock may be made of insulating plastics material of
the colour identifying the amperage of the fuse which the fuse-holder is intended
to house. In fact, it is known that, for easy identification of their amperage, blade
fuses have plastics bodies coloured according to their amperage in accordance with
the following list:
[0014] Pink: 5A; brown: 7.5A; red: 10A; blue 15A; yellow: 20A; transparent colourless: 25A;
green 30A.
[0015] The colour identification of the fuse-holder according to the amperage of the fuse
which it is intended to house permits safer and error-free replacement of the fuse
when necessary.
[0016] Since the colour identification of the fuse-holder is visible only when the fuse-holder
is open, it does not interfere with the uniformity of the external appearance, for
which a dark colour such as black or dark grey is generally required.
[0017] The fuse-holder of the present invention may advantageously also be rendered waterproof
with the addition of plug seals for closing the access holes to the container for
the electrical terminals.
[0018] The characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the
following description of a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example
with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an exploded, perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a splash-proof
modular fuse-holder according to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the fuse-holder of Figure 1 assembled and ready
for the insertion of a fuse.
[0019] With reference to the drawings, a modular fuse-holder according to the invention
is constituted by a generally rectangular, parallelepipedal body of insulating plastics
material which acts as a container for a pair of electrical terminals with contact
pincers 2, 3 and for a fuse 4 with blade terminals 5, 6 which are inserted removably
in the contact pincers 2, 3.
[0020] Two housings are formed for the contact pincers 2,3 inside the container 1. The pincer
terminals 2, 3 which are fixed to the ends of two electric wires 7, 8 by crimping
in conventional manner are inserted in the housings, which are not visible, through
two circular holes 9, 10, indicated by broken lines in Figure 1, in the lower wall
of the container 1.
[0021] The expression "lower" refers to the normal conditions of installation of the fuse-holder,
corresponding to the views of Figures 1 and 2.
[0022] Once inserted in their respective housings, the pincer terminals 2, 3 are engaged
irreversibly, in known manner, by teeth formed on the ends of resilient tongues, not
visible, inside the container body 1.
[0023] Again in known manner, a secondary lock 11, constituted by a pin of plastics material
is inserted in the container 1 and prevents resilient yielding of the tongues supporting
the teeth for engaging the terminals 2, 3.
[0024] The secondary lock 11 is inserted in the container 1 through the upper face of the
container which is open in order to receive both the secondary lock and the blade
terminals of the fuse.
[0025] The container 1 extends upwardly beyond its upper face to form a rim 12 which is
slightly recessed from the side walls of the container.
[0026] The rim 12 defines an internal, open-topped, generally prismatic housing.
[0027] An annular, resilient seal 13, which is fitted on the generally rectangular and prismatic
rim 12 with rounded corners, has several projecting lips 13, 14, 16 and its lower
edge bears on the shoulder 17 formed by the portion of the upper face of the container
which extends beyond the rim 12.
[0028] The secondary lock 11 has, on its top, an open-ended rectangular-sectioned channel
18 with parallel sides 19, 20, the outside dimensions of the channel being equal to
the dimensions of the housing formed by the rim 12.
[0029] The sides 19, 20 have a pair of tabs 21, 22 extending horizontally outwardly on their
upper edges.
[0030] Four pairs of vertically aligned recesses are also formed in the sides 19, 20.
[0031] Each pair defines an engagement tooth on the side. Two of these teeth 23, 24 are
visible in Figure 1.
[0032] The channel 18 is inserted in the housing formed by the rim 12 by downward translation
from above.
[0033] The engagement of teeth such as 23 and 24 with corresponding projecting teeth, of
which two 27, 28, are visible in Figure 1, and which are formed on the inner walls
of the rim 12 which mate with the sides 19, 20, renders the engagement of the channel
irreversible.
[0034] The teeth 27 and 28 are disposed at different depths in the rim housing so that,
as the teeth 23, 24 of the channel sides pass, owing to resilient yielding of the
rim and of the sides of the channel, over the teeth such as 27 of the rim which are
closest to the upper edge of the rim, they ensure a first stable positioning and irreversible
engagement of the channel inside the rim.
[0035] In this first position, the channel 18 and the seal 13 cannot be lost from the fuse-holder
body 1.
[0036] The outwardly-extending tabs 21, 22 in fact prevent the seal 13 from accidentally
coming off the rim 12.
[0037] On the other hand, in this first position, the teeth, not visible, for fastening
the pincer contact terminals 2, 3 in position cannot be locked in the engagement position
by the secondary lock 11, which is not fully inserted in its seat.
[0038] When the fuse-holder body has been assembled in the factory and distributed thus
to the user, the necessary electrical connections can therefore be made without the
risk of components being disassembled and lost during distribution and installation.
The body thus assembled is shown in Figure 2.
[0039] When the electrical connections have been made, the secondary lock 11 and the channel
18 can be pushed further into the rim 12 so that, by mutual resilient yielding, the
channel teeth such as 23, 24 pass over the teeth such as 28 projecting in the lower
portion of the internal walls of the rim 12 ensuring a second irreversible positioning
of the rim 12 and of the secondary lock 11 inside the rim 12.
[0040] To permit this further insertion of the channel 18, the upper edge of the rim 12
has suitable notches for housing the tabs 21, 22.
[0041] The channel can be inserted further inside the rim by pressure exerted on the tabs
21, 22 manually, or by the fitting of a cover on the body 1, or even as a result of
the insertion of a fuse inside the channel 18 which advantageously has through holes
(one of which 29 is partially visible in Figure 1) for the contact blades 5, 6 of
a fuse 4.
[0042] The container 1 is closed at the top by a removable cover 30 having a lower, generally
prismatic rim 31 inside which a housing is defined for the rim 12 and the seal 13.
[0043] The rim 31 extends downwardly at opposite ends to form two resilient eyes 32, 33
which engage a pair of teeth, of which one 34 is visible and which are disposed on
the ends of two resilient tongues, of which one 35 is visible and which are formed
integrally on two sides of the body 1.
[0044] When the container 1 is closed by the cover, the eyes 32, 33 engage the corresponding
teeth such as 34 of the container 1 by mutual resilient yielding and the rim 31 of
the cover is disposed with its inner wall beside and facing the outer wall of the
rim 12, forming a space in which the seal 13 is housed and is thus compressed between
the rim 12 and the rim 31 in directions perpendicular to the directions in which the
cover is opened or closed.
[0045] The reaction exerted by the seal 13 on the cover and on the body thus has no effect
on the stability of the engagement ensured by the eyes 32, 33 and the sealing of the
seal is not affected by dimensional tolerances or by wear of the engagement devices
which may be formed so as to ensure stable but reversible coupling between container
and cover to enable the cover to be removed.
[0046] The modular fuse-holder described is completed by devices for mutual engagement between
various modules and/or a support, which are shown in the drawing but are not described
in detail since they are of conventional known type.
[0047] What is more important is that the fuse-holder described can easily be converted
from a splash-proof embodiment to a waterproof embodiment.
[0048] For this purpose it suffices, as shown in Figure 1, to provide the electrical connection
wires 7, 8 with resilient sleeves 36, 37 which, by sliding on the wires 7, 8, engage
like pressure plugs in the lower holes 9, 10 for access to the container 1, blocking
them.
[0049] The two sleeves are advantageously of a frustoconical or other functionally equivalent
shape so as to ensure a differential seal and to yield in the event of excess pressure
developing inside the container, enabling this pressure to be discharged to the exterior
whilst infiltration of liquid towards the interior is prevented.
[0050] The foregoing description relates solely to a preferred embodiment of the invention
but, clearly, many variations may be applied.
[0051] For example, the teeth such as 23 and 24 may project instead of being formed from
the sides of the channel 18 by partial cutting-out of the sides, and the teeth 27,
28 projecting on the internal surface of the rim 12 may be replaced by recesses.
[0052] The secondary lock 11 may have a cross-section other than H-shaped, for example,
a rectangular cross-section. The eyes 32, 33 of the cover may be replaced by engagement
teeth formed at the ends of resilient tongues and cooperating with corresponding engagement
recesses formed in the body 1.
[0053] Moreover, for the colour identification of the fuse-holder according to amperage,
instead of the channel 18 being made of coloured plastics of various colours, the
channel 18 may be made in a single colour and the seals 13 of resilient material of
various colours.
1. A splash-proof fuse-holder of the type in which a fuse-holder body (1) is closed by
a removable cover (30), characterized in that the fuse-holder body (1) comprises:
- a first rim (12) forming an internal housing and a generally cylindrical-prismatic
outer surface, and
- a resilient seal (13) fitted on the outer surface of the rim (12),
and in that the removable cover (30) comprises a second, generally cylindrical/prismatic
rim (31) forming a second housing in which the first rim (12) is engaged axially along
the axis of the cylindrical/prismatic rims (12, 31) with the interposition and compression
of the seal (13) between the first and second rims (12, 31).
2. A fuse-holder according to Claim 1, comprising a secondary lock (11) engaged irreversibly
in the first internal housing and movable along the axis between a first position
in which the secondary lock (11) does not perform its locking function and a second
irreversible position in which it performs this function, the secondary lock having
retaining means (21, 22) extending outside the first internal housing for preventing
the seal (13) from coming off the first rim (12) axially.
3. A fuse-holder according to Claim 2, in which the secondary lock (11) and the retaining
means are made of insulating plastics material coloured with a colour identifying
the amperage of the fuse for which the fuse-holder is intended.
4. A fuse-holder according to Claim 2, in which the seal (13) is coloured with a colour
identifying the amperage of the fuse for which the fuse-holder is intended.
5. A fuse-holder according to any one of Claims 2, 3 and 4, in which the secondary lock
(11) comprises a channel (18) forming a fuse housing, the channel (18) being housed
in the first housing and having tabs (21, 22) extending outside the first rim (12)
and forming a shoulder for preventing the seal (13) from coming off.
6. A fuse-holder according to Claim 5, in which the first rim (12) has notches (25, 26)
in which the tabs (21, 22) can extend.
1. Ein spritzwassergeschützter Sicherungshalter des Typs, bei dem ein Sicherungshalter-Körper
(1) von einer entfernbaren Abdeckung (30) verschlossen ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet,
daß der Sicherungshalter-Körper aufweist:
- einen ersten Rand (12), der ein innenliegendes Gehäuse und eine im wesentlichen
zylindrisch/prismatische äußere Oberfläche bildet, und
- eine elastische Dichtung (13), die auf die äußere Oberfläche des Randes (12) gesetzt
ist, wobei
die entfernbare Abdeckung (30) einen zweiten, im wesentlichen zylindrisch/prismatischen
Rand (31) aufweist, der ein zweites Gehäuse bildet, in welchem der erste Rand axial
in Anlage entlang der Achsen der zylindrisch/prismatischen Ränder (12, 31) ist, wobei
die Dichtung (13) zwischen den ersten und zweiten Rändern (12, 31) liegt und zusammengedrückt
wird.
2. Ein Sicherungshalter nach Anspruch 1, mit einer Sekundärverriegelung (11), welche
irreversibel in Eingriff mit dem ersten innenliegenden Gehäuse ist und entlang der
Achse zwischen einer ersten Position, in der sie ihre Verriegelungsfunktion nicht
ausführt und einer zweiten irreversiblen Position beweglich ist, in der sie diese
Funktion durchführt, wobei die Sekundärverriegelung Haltemittel (21, 22) aufweist,
die sich aus dem ersten innenliegenden Gehäuse herauserstrecken, um zu verhindern,
daß die Dichtung (13) sich axial von dem ersten Rand (12) löst.
3. Ein Sicherungshalter nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Sekundärverriegelung (11) und die
Haltemittel aus isolierendem Kunststoffmaterial gefertigt sind, welches mit einer
Farbe eingefärbt ist, welche die Ampere-Zahl der Sicherung angibt, für welche der
Sicherungshalter vorgesehen ist.
4. Ein sicherungshalter nach Anspruch 2, wobei die Dichtung (13) mit einer Farbe eingefärbt
ist, welche die Ampere-Zahl der Sicherung angibt, für welche der Sicherungshalter
vorgesehen ist.
5. Ein Sicherungshalter nach einem der Ansprüche 2, 3 oder 4, wobei die Sekundärverriegelung
(11) einen Kanal (18) aufweist, der ein Sicherungsgehäuse bildet, wobei der Kanal
(18) in dem ersten Gehäuse aufgenommen ist und Laschen (21, 22) aufweist, welche sich
vom ersten Rand (12) aus nach außen erstrecken und eine Schulter bilden, welche ein
Lösen der Dichtung (13) verhindert.
6. Ein Sicherungshalter nach Anspruch 5, wobei der erste Rand (12) Auskerbungen (25,
26) aufweist, in welche sich die Laschen (21, 22) erstrecken können.
1. Porte-fusible étanche aux projections d'eau, du type dans lequel un corps de porte-fusible
(1) est fermé par un couvercle amovible (30), caractérisé en ce que le corps de porte-fusible
(1) comprend :
- un premier rebord (12) formant un logement interne et une surface extérieure généralement
cylindrique/prismatique, et
- un joint élastique (13) adapté sur la surface extérieure du rebord (12),
et en ce que le couvercle amovible (30) comprend un second rebord généralement
cylindrique/prismatique (31) formant un second logement dans lequel le premier rebord
(12) est inséré axialement en suivant l'axe des rebords cylindriques/prismatiques
(12, 31) avec l'interposition et la compression du joint (13) entre les premier et
second rebords (12, 31).
2. Porte-fusible selon la revendication 1, comprenant un verrou secondaire (11) inséré
de façon irréversible dans le premier logement interne et mobile le long de l'axe
entre une première position à laquelle le verrou secondaire (11) ne remplit pas sa
fonction de verrouillage et une seconde position irréversible à laquelle il remplit
cette fonction, le verrou secondaire comportant un moyen de retenue (21, 22) s'étendant
à l'extérieur du premier logement interne afin d'empêcher le joint (13) de sortir
axialement du premier rebord (12) .
3. Porte-fusible selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le verrou secondaire (11) et le
moyen de retenue sont faits de matière plastique isolante colorée avec une couleur
identifiant le calibre du fusible auquel le porte-fusible est destiné.
4. Porte-fusible selon la revendication 2, dans lequel le joint (13) est coloré avec
une couleur identifiant le calibre du fusible auquel est destiné le porte-fusible.
5. Porte-fusible selon l'une quelconque des revendications 2, 3 et 4, dans lequel le
verrou secondaire (11) comprend une rainure (18) formant un logement de fusible, la
rainure (18) étant logée dans le premier logement et comportant des tenons (21, 22)
s'étendant à l'extérieur du premier rebord (12) et formant un épaulement afin d'empêcher
le joint (13) de sortir.
6. Porte-fusible selon la revendication 5, dans lequel le premier rebord (12) comporte
des encoches (25, 26) dans lesquelles les tenons (21, 22) peuvent s'étendre.