Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches – Electrothermally actuated switches – Fusible element actuated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-24
2002-11-05
Vortman, Anatoly (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches
Electrothermally actuated switches
Fusible element actuated
C337S164000, C337S295000, C337S290000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06476705
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to a current distribution device, particularly for motor vehicles.
Current distribution devices are used to distribute or branch electrical currents within a power supply network. To ensure that the current distribution is protected, it is advantageous to provide the current distribution device with fuses.
PRIOR ART
For this purpose, use has so far been made of fuse modules which are available in various standard fuse values and are screwed on to a current distribution component. This solution does, however, suffer from the drawback that a large number of individual parts such as screws, nuts, washers etc. is necessary and that assembly is very complex.
A cable fuse is known from WO 89/03117. This known fuse for cables comprises, in addition to an insulating housing, an integral metal element which connects together, via a fuse area, metal-coated plug-in connections for the purpose of insertion into corresponding cable ends. The subject matter known therefrom relates to a fuse; current distribution is not possible by means thereof and is not envisaged either.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based upon the technical problem of providing a simple-to-manufacture current distribution device, particularly for motor vehicles, and providing a method of producing such a current distribution device.
In accordance with the invention, this technical problem is solved by a current distribution device comprising the features of claim
1
or a current distribution device comprising the features of claim
6
. The technical problem upon which the invention is based is also solved by a production method comprising the features of claim
13
or
14
.
A current distribution device according to a first fundamental embodiment of the inventive concept comprises a first area made of electrically conductive material and having at least one electrical connection. Depending on where the current distribution device is placed within a power supply network, the following can e.g. be connected to the connection: current leads, a line to the positive pole of a battery, or a ground lead. If the current distribution device is arranged, for example, on a battery, the battery pole can also be directly connected to the connection. Such a current distribution device also comprises at least two separate areas likewise made of electrically conductive material.
The second areas are each connected to the first area via bridge-like fuse areas made of electrically conductive material. Each bridge-like fuse area is inseparably connected to the first area and to the associated second area. Each bridge-like fuse area also comprises a cross section of material calibrated along a longitudinal section by means of the material thickness and/or width. As regards each fuse area, the particular fuse value desired is defined by different calibrations of the cross sections of material exhibited by the bridge-like fuse areas. The fuse areas can be calibrated both by variation of the bridge length and by variation of the material thickness and/or width or by a combination thereof.
The second areas each comprise at least one electrical connection. Branching current leads can for example be connected thereto. Such branching current leads can be connected for example by means of crimp connectors, by welding, soldering or in any other suitable way.
In accordance with the invention, the inseparable connections of the bridge-like fuse areas to the first area and the respectively associated second area make any additional individual parts such as screws etc. superfluous and as a result the production of the current distribution device is correspondingly simplified. The fuse areas can be advantageously integrated into the current distribution device as a result of the fact that according to the invention, bridge-like fuse areas are provided instead of conventional fuse modules. This means that compact and weight-saving current distribution devices can be obtained.
The first area and the second areas are preferably made from a plate-shaped or band-shaped semifinished article. These areas can, however, also be made from other semifinished goods or produced by other suitable manufacturing techniques.
In an expedient design, the bridge-like fuse areas have the same thickness of material as those sections of the first area and of the associated second area which adjoin the bridge-like fuse area or they have a smaller thickness of material at least along a longitudinal section. In this way, the bridge-like fuse areas can be made from a semifinished article similar to the first and second areas or even from the same semifinished article. The fuse areas can, for example, be calibrated by punching out a specific longitudinal section with a specific width of material and optionally by additionally reducing the material thickness.
It is beneficial for the bridge-like fuse areas to be provided with a curved course at least along the longitudinal sections which exhibit the calibrated cross section of material, thus obtaining in a structurally compact manner that bridge length which is necessary for the desired fuse characteristics. Such a curved course may for example be S-shaped. In an alternative embodiment, a kinked course formed from straight partial sections is also suitable. A straight course of the bridge-like fuse area can also, however, be provided.
In an advantageous embodiment, the first area, the second areas and the bridge-like fuse areas of the current distribution device are integrally designed. This yields an integral current distribution device which is reduced to a single component, thereby dispensing with any complicated assembly work that has so far been necessary when screwing on fuse components. In this version, the current distribution device can be particularly realized as a punched and bent part based on a plate-shaped semifinished product, thereby achieving comparatively convenient production. The semifinished product used may e.g. be a semifinished copper product which can also be surface-treated, a semifinished product made from a suitable alloy or a semifinished product built up as a sandwich composed of different layers of material. An integral construction for the current distribution device can also be achieved by using other semifinished products or by means of other production techniques.
In another favorable embodiment, the bridge-like fuse areas are prefabricated as separate components and then inseparably connected to the first and the respectively associated second area of the current distribution device. In this way, the bridge-like fuse areas can be made e.g. from materials or alloys other than those used in the first area and the second areas of the current distribution device. The bridge-like fuse areas can also be produced and calibrated separately from the first area and the second areas.
In an advantageous embodiment, the bridge-like fuse areas are connected to the materials of the first and of the respectively associated second area by means of plastic deformation, e.g. by squeezing or calking. In other advantageous embodiments, the bridge-like fuse areas are connected to the materials of the first and of the respectively associated second area by means of a welding, soldering or riveting connection. The bridge-like fuse areas are therefore connected to the first and to the second area of the current distribution device in an inseparable fashion, i.e. they cannot be nondestructively separated. A considerable reduction in the number of parts required by the current distribution device is also obtained in these embodiments, because screws, washers etc. are dispensed with. The production of the inseparable connections between the fuse areas and the first and the second areas of the current distribution device can also be automated to good effect.
In an expedient embodiment, the bridge-like fuse area is made from a plate-shaped or band-shaped semifinished product, such as a semifinished copper product which is optionally surface-treated, a semifinished product
Betti Bruno
Neuhauser Robert
Audio Ohm di Tonani Caterina ECS.N.C.
Vortman Anatoly
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