Patent ID: 9558904
Date: 2017-01-31
CPC Classifications: H01H

Claim:
1. A fuse comprising: a first electric contact extending in a prevailing longitudinal contact direction and comprising a first contact portion, which is designed to establish an electric contact with a first mating contact, and a first contact end, said first electric contact having, at least at said first contact end, a first contact width extending in the direction perpendicular to said longitudinal contact direction, a second electric contact extending in said prevailing longitudinal contact direction and comprising a second contact portion, which is structured and arranged to establish an electric contact with a second mating contact, and a second contact end, said second electric contact having, at least at said second contact end, a second contact width extending in the direction perpendicular to said longitudinal contact direction, a fusible element extending in a prevailing longitudinal fuse direction along a fuse length between a first fuse end and an opposed second fuse end, the first fuse end being directly connected and located immediately adjacent to the first contact end, the second fuse end being directly connected and located immediately adjacent to the second contact end, a casing defining a housing for said fusible element and for at least part of said first and second electric contacts, said fusible element comprising: a first fuse extending in the longitudinal fuse direction along a first fuse length between the first fuse end and a connecting end, said first fuse having, at a minimum-section portion thereof, a first fuse width in the direction perpendicular to said longitudinal fuse direction, and a first fuse cross-section, at least one second fuse extending in the longitudinal fuse direction along a second fuse length between said connecting end and said second fuse end, such that said second fuse is connected in series to said first fuse and is disposed between said first fuse and said second fuse end, wherein: said second fuse comprises a narrowed part with a second fuse width in the direction perpendicular to said longitudinal fuse direction, and a second fuse cross-section, said second fuse cross-section ranges from 20% to 50% of said first fuse cross-section, said first fuse width is smaller than said first and second contact widths, said second fuse width is smaller than said first fuse width and said first and second contact widths, said narrowed part is located near said second fuse end, said narrowed part is placed near said second contact end of said second electric contact so that said second electric contact is immediately adjacent to said narrowed part.