Patent ID: 6204747
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: H01H,H01R

Abstract:
A safety device for use in an electrical circuit having at least two conductive paths, having a predetermined conductivity characteristic which causes resistive heating in the circuit as the circuit conducts a predetermined amount of current and comprising a body of insulative material having an internal cavity, said safety device comprising:a first thermally and electrically conductive element within the cavity, said first conductive element being in series with a first side of the electrical circuit;a second thermally and electrically conductive element within the cavity and in series with a second side of the electrical circuit;the second conductive element having a spring property and being deflected from a nominal unloaded position into a loaded position in close proximity to the first conductive element, and the second conductive element having a conductivity characteristic which causes resistive heating of said second conductive element to be approximately less than or equal to the resistive heating of the electrical circuit as the second conductive element and the electrical circuit conduct the predetermined amount of electricity;a first joinder element of conductive material connecting the first and second conductive elements, the first joinder element being of a material which yields in a selected temperature range so as to release the second conductive element from the first conductive element;a third thermally and electrically conductive element within the cavity, said third conductive element being in series with said first side of the electrical circuit;a fourth thermally and electrically conductive element within the cavity and in series with the second side of the electrical circuit;the fourth conductive element having a spring property and being deflected from a nominal unloaded position into a loaded position in close proximity to the third conductive element; anda second joinder element of conductive material connecting the third and fourth conductive elements, the second joinder element being of a material which yields in a selected temperature range so as to release the fourth conductive element from the third conductive element.