Fused electrical connectors

Details Fused electrical connectors Fused electrical connectors

1993-11-23

1995-05-09

Desmond, Eugene F.

Electrical connectors

With circuit component or comprising connector which fully...

Connector includes or covers additional component

337187, H01R 1368, H01R 3326

Patent

active

054135052

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to fused electrical connectors and is particularly, but not essentially, concerned with fused electrical plugs or sockets.
Ideally, electrical appliances should be fitted with a fuse having a rating which is matched to the current consumption of the appliance. Appliances which are connected to the mains supply through a fly-lead include a plug assembly which is adapted to receive a cartridge fuse of an appropriate rating. Free plugs when supplied usually have fitted to them a fuse of the maximum allowable rating such as thirteen amp. It is common practice to provide appliances with a fly-lead including a moulded-on plug and in this case the manufacturer can fit a fuse to the plug of a suitable rating for the current consumption of the appliance. Nevertheless, if the fuse has to be changed, it is quite likely that the wrong rating will be fitted.
Broadly, and in accordance with this invention, there is provided a fused electrical connector wherein the fuse or a receptacle for the fuse has a keyed construction which is complementary to a keyed construction on the body of the connector whereby only a fuse or receptacle having the correct key can be fitted to any particular connector.
In one embodiment of this invention, the connector incorporates a cavity with side walls having formations defining keyways which are complementary to formations provided on a receptacle containing a fuse, the fuse receptacle being engageable with the cavity and the cavity further including electrical contact means which are bridged by the fuse.
The fuse may itself have a body with the appropriate keyways or more preferably the fuse may comprise a cartridge type fuse which is located within a receptacle provided on the outer surfaces with appropriate keyways to engage the cavity in the connector. With such an arrangement it is only possible for the correct rated fuse to be used with any particular connector and in an advantageous arrangement the receptacle comprises parts which fit around a cartridge fuse so as to permanently engage the fuse, preventing detachment.
In a second aspect of this invention there is provided a fly-lead and electrical connector assembly for use with an electrical appliance, the connector being permanently moulded onto the lead and in electrical connection with the conductors at an end of the lead, and further incorporating a fuse assembly as hereinbefore referred to. With this arrangement coded leads complete with plugs, for example, can be supplied to a manufacturer or electrical fitter for fitting to an appliance with the lead and plug having the correct rated fuse which may only be replaced by a fuse of similar rating by virtue of the complementary engagement of the relevant keyways between the plug body and fuse receptacle.
Such an arrangement firstly avoids the necessity for a consumer to fit his own plug to an appliance and secondly avoids the danger of a consumer inadvertently fitting the incorrect rated fuse as a replacement.
As will be understood, each different rating of fuse has a unique configuration of formations forming the keyways which only co-operate with the unique complementary formations provided on the connector body.
This invention and further preferred features thereof are more fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a moulded plug assembly for an appliance with an integral fuse.
Referring to the drawings:
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a plug moulded to the end of a fly-lead for connection with an appliance,
FIG. 2 shows a partially cutaway view of the plug of FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 shows a detail of the cavity for receiving the fuse,
FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of the fuse receptacle which engages the cavity of FIG. 3,
FIG. 5 shows the cartridge fuse carrier contacts,
FIG. 6 shows the fuse receptacle assembled,
FIGS. 7 and 8 show a further keyed fuse, and
FIGS. 9 to 12 show yet a further key fuse arrangement.
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a British Standard three pin thirteen amp plug having a body 1 with electrical c

REFERENCES:
patent: 2558581 (1951-06-01), Powell et al.
patent: 4768978 (1988-09-01), Wettengel et al.
patent: 5034846 (1991-07-01), Hodge et al.

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