Patent ID: 9543083
Date: 2017-01-10
CPC Classifications: H01H

Claim:
1. A fusible switch disconnect device comprising: a housing having first and second sides opposing one another and a receptacle located between the first and second sides that is shaped and dimensioned to receive and engage only a portion of a removable fuse, the removable fuse including first and second terminal elements and a fusible element electrically connected therebetween, the fusible element defining a circuit path between the first and second terminal elements and being configured to permanently open the circuit path in response to predetermined electrical current conditions experienced in the circuit path; a line side fuse clip and a load side fuse clip aligned with one another and spaced beneath the receptacle by a common distance, each of the line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip mechanically and electrically establishing an electrical connection to the first and second terminal elements of the removable fuse when the removable fuse is received in the housing; a line side terminal accessible from the first side of the housing and a load side terminal accessible from the second side of the housing, each of the line side terminal and the load side terminal permanently fixed in position relative to one another and also relative to the line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip in the housing, the line side terminal electrically connecting to the line side fuse clip, and the load side terminal electrically connecting to the load side fuse clip; first and second switchable contacts linked to one another in the housing and simultaneously movable relative to one of the line side terminal and load side terminal and one of the line side clip and the load side clip between an open position and a closed position to respectively disconnect or connect an electrical connection through the first and second switchable contacts and the circuit path of the fusible element when the first and second terminal elements of the removable fuse are engaged with the line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip; a disconnect mechanism operable in a first mode of operation to manually position the first and second switchable contacts between the open position and the closed position while the first and second terminal elements of the removable fuse are engaged with the respective line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip; wherein the disconnect mechanism includes an electromagnetic actuator and is operable in a second mode of operation to cause the first and second switchable contacts to move from the closed position to the open position in response to a predetermined electrical circuit condition when the line side terminal is connected to energized line circuitry; and an in-line detecting element configured to detect an occurrence of the predetermined electrical conditions in the second mode of operation, wherein the predetermined electrical conditions are a plurality of electrical current conditions, wherein the in-line detecting element is located between the first and second switchable contacts and one of the line and load side terminals, and wherein the in-line detecting element comprises a resistive shunt integrally provided in one of the line side and load side terminal.