Fuse holder, particularly for interlocked sockets and electrical apparatuses in general

A fuse holder, particularly for interlocked sockets and electrical apparatuses in general, includes a tray which is inserted in a seat and is adapted to accommodate a fuse. The tray is movable along a rectilinear path, having at least two positions: an active position, in which the fuse is active, and an extracted position, in which the fuse can be removed from the tray. The seat includes two elastic contact members which provide an electrical and mechanical connection of the fuse in the active position.

This application claims the priority of Italian Patent Application No. MI2009A000634, filed on Apr. 17, 2009, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fuse holder particularly for interlocked sockets and electrical apparatuses in general.

As is known, interlocked sockets incorporate mechanical or electrical locking devices which are connected to interruption devices, generally constituted by rotary switching apparatuses, in order to ensure that a plug cannot be inserted or extracted in the presence of power.

Interlocked sockets are also provided with protective fuses in order to ensure the safety of the operators and the integrity of all apparatuses.

The fuses are inserted in adapted seats which are generally constituted by tilting members.

In order to replace a fuse it is necessary to extract the fuse with one's fingers from the tilting member after opening the member.

This operation is not always easy and in any case entails that the user inserts his fingers in a recess that is very close to electrical contacts.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,101,079 discloses a current and transient voltage protector, for use in the communication industry, having a plurality of fuse holders each holding a fuse between two contact lines.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a new type of fuse holder that allows easier and safer fuse replacement than conventional systems.

An object of the invention is to provide a fuse holder that is constructively simple and allows to reduce the production cost of the electrical apparatus in which it is installed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fuse holder that is versatile and can be applied to different apparatuses.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a structure which, by virtue of its particular constructive characteristics, is capable of giving the greatest assurances of reliability and safety in use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a fuse holder, particularly for interlocked sockets and electrical apparatuses in general, as claimed in the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the cited figures, the fuse holder according to the invention, generally designated by the reference numeral1, is shown applied to an interlocked socket, generally designated by the reference numeral2.

In the specific case, the interlocked socket has three fuse holders for a corresponding number of fuses.

The fuse holder has a tray3which is inserted in a seat4and is adapted to accommodate a fuse5.