(19)
(11) EP 1 213 728 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
26.10.2005 Bulletin 2005/43

(43) Date of publication A2:
12.06.2002 Bulletin 2002/24

(21) Application number: 01128172.2

(22) Date of filing: 27.11.2001
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: H01C 7/02, H01C 7/13
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE TR
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 27.11.2000 US 723364

(71) Applicant: Eaton Corporation
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2584 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Hanna, William K.
    Pittsburgh, PA 15211 (US)
  • Miller, Jeffery A.
    Coraopolis, PA 15108 (US)
  • Shea, John J.
    Pittsburgh, PA 15237 (US)
  • Mrenna, Stephen Albert
    Beaver, Pennsylvania 15009 (US)

(74) Representative: Geyer, Ulrich F. 
WAGNER & GEYER, Patentanwälte, Gewürzmühlstrasse 5
80538 München
80538 München (DE)

   


(54) Current-limiting device


(57) A current-limiting device includes a current-limiting material having first and second sides, and first and second electrodes structured for carrying current through the current-limiting material. Each of the electrodes has first and second sides, with the second side of the first electrode engaging the first side of the current-limiting material, and with the first side of the second electrode engaging the second side of the current-limiting material. The current-limiting device also includes first and second insulators, each of which has first and second sides. The second side of the first insulator engages the first side of the first electrode, and the first side of the second insulator engages the second side of the second electrode. The current-limiting device further includes first and second clips which engage different portions of the first side of the first insulator and the second side of the second insulator, and which compress the first insulator, the first electrode, the current-limiting material, the second electrode and the second insulator.






Search report