The invention of the present application provides a fuse that is easily attached directly or indirectly to a battery. A fuse fixed to a battery post BP or a coupling post of a base member coupled to the battery post BP includes: a fuse element including an input terminal fixed to the battery post BP or the coupling post, an external output terminal, and a fusion portion provided between the input terminal and the external output terminal; a housing including an exposure window through which the fusion portion is exposed, the housing accommodating the fuse element; and a cover member that covers the exposure window. The cover member includes a protruding portion protruding toward a battery BT side including the battery post BP or a base member side, and the protruding portion is able to abut on a part of the battery BT or a part of the base member.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention of the present application relates to a fuse mainly used in an automobile electric circuit or the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, fuses have been used to protect an electric circuit mounted on an automobile or the like and various electrical components connected to the electric circuit. Specifically, if an unintended overcurrent flows in the electric circuit, a fusion portion of a fuse element built in the fuse fuses due to heat generated by the overcurrent to protect various electrical components from excessive current flowing therethrough.

There are various types of fuses depending on the application. For example, the fuse described in Patent Literature 1 is configured as a fuse unit so as to be easily attached to an in-vehicle battery. Specifically, the fuse unit connects the in-vehicle battery and an electric wire that supplies power to various electrical components, and includes an input terminal connected to a battery post of the battery, a plurality of external terminals that connect external electric wires, an electric circuit unit that distributes power from the input terminal to each external terminal, and a plurality of fusion portions formed in the electric circuit unit.

However, in this fuse unit, since the plurality of fusion portions are integrally formed with the electric circuit unit, it is inconvenient to change or replace the entire fuse unit when the rating of the fusion portion is changed or when a part of the fusion portion is fused. Therefore, there is a case where a mode in which the fusion portions are independent, that is, a mode in which fuses are individually attached to the battery instead of the fuse unit is adopted. However, since the fuse is smaller than the fuse unit, there is a problem that when the fuse is attached directly to the battery or indirectly to the battery via a base member, a position and a posture of the fuse are displaced and it is difficult to attach the fuse.

CITATIONS LIST

Patent Literature

Patent Literature 1: JP 2005-339965 A

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

Therefore, the invention of the present application provides a fuse that is easily attached directly or indirectly to a battery.

Solutions to Problem

In order to solve the above problem, according to the invention of the present application, there is provided a fuse fixed to a battery post or a coupling post of a base member coupled to the battery post, the fuse including: a fuse element including an input terminal fixed to the battery post or the coupling post, an external output terminal, and a fusion portion provided between the input terminal and the external output terminal; a housing including an exposure window through which the fusion portion is exposed, the housing accommodating the fuse element; and a cover member that covers the exposure window, in which the cover member includes a protruding portion protruding toward a battery side including the battery post or the base member side, and in which the protruding portion is able to abut on a part of the battery or a part of the base member.

According to the above feature, the protruding portion of the fuse protrudes toward the battery side or the base member side, and is configured to be able to abut on a part of the battery or a part of the base member when the fuse is attached to the battery or the base member. Therefore, when the fuse is attached, the position and posture of the fuse are not displaced by the protruding portion, so that the fuse can be easily attached.

Further, in the fuse of the invention of the present application, the cover member includes at least two of the protruding portions, and the protruding portions are separated from each other.

According to the above feature, since the protruding portion abuts on a part of the battery or a part of the base member at two locations, the position and posture of the fuse are more stable when the fuse is attached to the battery or the base member.

Further, in the fuse of the invention of the present application, the external output terminal and the fusion portion extend downward from the input terminal.

According to the above feature, since the external output terminal and the fusion portion extend downward from the input terminal, the external output terminal and the fusion portion have a substantially inverted L shape, and when the fuse is attached to the base member or the battery, the fuse does not protrude laterally and fits well.

Further, in the fuse of the invention of the present application, the cover member includes a locking claw that engages with a part of the housing.

According to the above feature, the cover member is hardly detached from the housing.

Advantageous Effects of Invention

As described above, according to the fuse of the invention of the present application, it is easy to directly or indirectly attach the fuse to the battery.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Hereinafter, each embodiment of the invention of the present application will be described with reference to the drawings. The shape, material, and the like of each member of a fuse in the embodiment described below are merely examples, and are not limited thereto.

InFIG.1, a fuse element100of a fuse of the invention of the present application will be described.FIG.1is an overall perspective view of the fuse element100.

The fuse element100is formed by punching a flat plate material made of a conductive metal such as copper or an alloy thereof into a shape as illustrated inFIG.1with a press machine or the like and bending the plate material, and includes an input terminal110fixed to a battery post or a coupling post of a base member coupled to the battery post, an external output terminal120connecting an external electric wire, and a fusion portion130provided between the input terminal110and the external output terminal120. The fusion portion130has a linear fusion portion in which a small hole is provided in the plate material constituting the fuse element100and a width is locally narrowed, and when an unintended overcurrent flows in an electric circuit or the like, the fusion portion130generates heat and fuses to cut off the overcurrent.

Note that the fusion portion130is not limited to being formed of a linear fusion portion having a narrow width, and any configuration can be adopted such as locally disposing a metal material which is likely to be fused on the plate material constituting the fuse element100as long as, when an unintended overcurrent flows in an electric circuit or the like, the fusion portion130generates heat and fuses to cut off the overcurrent. The fuse element100is provided with the fusion portion130and one external output terminal120coupled to the fusion portion130, but is not limited thereto, and the fusion portion130and two or more external output terminals120coupled to the fusion portion130may be provided.

In addition, the input terminal110includes a coupling hole112through which the battery post or the coupling post of the base member is inserted on a distal end111side, and a proximal end113side is bent downward by approximately 90 degrees. The fusion portion130extends downward from the bent proximal end113, and the external output terminal120coupled to the fusion portion130also extends downward. As described above, since the fusion portion130and the external output terminal120extend downward from the input terminal110, the entire fuse element100has an inverted L shape in a side view. The external output terminal120includes a coupling hole121to which a connection terminal for connecting an external electric wire can be fixed.

Next, a state in which the fuse element100is accommodated in the housing200will be described with reference toFIGS.2and3.FIG.2is an overall perspective view of the housing200accommodating the fuse element100,FIG.3(a)is a plan view of the housing200,FIG.3(b)is a side view of the housing200,FIG.3(c)is a front view of the housing200, andFIG.3(d)is a rear view of the housing200.

The housing200is entirely made of an insulating synthetic resin, and is configured to be capable of accommodating the fuse element100therein. Specifically, the housing200includes an input-side housing210that covers the input terminal110of the fuse element100, a fusion-portion housing220including an exposure window230that exposes the fusion portion130, and an output-side housing240that covers the external output terminal120. The input-side housing210has a recess211around the coupling hole112so that the coupling hole112of the input terminal110is exposed.

The exposure window230of the fusion-portion housing220has a substantially quadrangular shape, and penetrates the fusion-portion housing220from the front side to the back side. Therefore, the fusion portion130accommodated in the fusion-portion housing220is exposed from the exposure window230to the front side and the back side. Further, a thickness L1 of the fusion-portion housing220is smaller than the other portions of the housing200so that a cover member described later can be easily fitted. Further, recessed engagement portions223with which locking claws of the cover member described later are engaged are provided on a front surface221of the fusion-portion housing220. Similarly, recessed engagement portions224with which locking claws of the cover member described later are engaged are also provided on a back surface222of the fusion-portion housing220.

In addition, the output-side housing240accommodates the external output terminal120in a state where a cylindrical connection terminal Y1penetrates the coupling hole121of the external output terminal120, and a recess241recessed in a substantially U shape is provided around the connection terminal Y1so that the distal end side of the connection terminal Y1protrudes outward from the output-side housing240.

Next, a cover member300that covers the exposure window230of the housing200will be described with reference toFIG.4.FIG.4(a)is an overall perspective view of the cover member300,FIG.4(b)is a plan view of the cover member300,FIG.4(c)is a front view of the cover member300, andFIG.4(d)is a rear view of the cover member300.

As illustrated inFIG.4, the cover member300is entirely formed of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin, and includes a flat plate-like side wall310and a side wall320, and a coupling wall330coupling the side wall310and the side wall320in parallel to each other. Further, on the opposite side of the coupling wall330, the side wall310and the side wall320are not coupled to each other and are released, and this released portion serves as an insertion port301for inserting and attaching the cover member300to the fusion-portion housing220of the housing200as described later. Each of the side wall310and the side wall320of the cover member300has a size capable of covering the entire exposure window230of the fusion-portion housing220.

In addition, two protruding portions340protruding outward are formed on the side wall320, and the protruding portions340are separated from each other. In addition, the protruding portions340have a mountain shape in a plan view, and distal ends341of the protruding portions340have the same height. Further, locking claws313are alternately arranged on inner sides of an upper end311and a lower end312of the side wall310. Similarly, locking claws323are alternately arranged on inner sides of an upper end321and a lower end322of the side wall320. As will be described later, when the cover member300is attached to the fusion-portion housing220of the housing200, the locking claws313of the side wall310of the cover member300are engaged with the engagement portions224on the back surface222side of the fusion-portion housing220, and the locking claws323of the side wall320of the cover member300are engaged with the engagement portions223on the front surface221side of the fusion-portion housing220, so that the cover member300is hardly detached from the housing200.

Note that the entire cover member300is formed of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the cover member300may be formed of any synthetic resin of any color. The two protruding portions340are formed on the side wall320of the cover member300, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and only one protruding portion340may be formed at the center of the side wall320. Further, three or more protruding portions340may be formed on the side wall320of the cover member300.

Next, a fuse400in a state where the cover member300is attached to the housing200accommodating the fuse element100will be described with reference toFIG.5.FIG.5(a)is an overall perspective view of the fuse400before the cover member300is attached,FIG.5(b)is an overall perspective view of the fuse400after the cover member300is attached, andFIG.5(c)is a rear view of the fuse400after the cover member300is attached.

As illustrated inFIG.5(a), the insertion port301of the cover member300is inserted into the fusion-portion housing220from the side of the fusion-portion housing220of the housing200accommodating the fuse element100. Then, as illustrated inFIGS.5(b) and5(c), the front surface221and the back surface222of the fusion-portion housing220are sandwiched between the side wall320and the side wall310of the cover member300, and the exposure window230of the fusion-portion housing220is covered with the side wall310and the side wall320of the cover member300. As illustrated inFIG.5(b), in the fuse400to which the cover member300is attached, the protruding portions340of the cover member300protrude toward the inside of the fuse400. Further, as illustrated inFIG.5(c), from the back side of the fuse400, the fusion portion130in the exposure window230can be visually observed through the transparent or translucent side wall310of the cover member300. Therefore, whether or not the fusion portion130is fused can be visually confirmed through the cover member300.

Next, a usage mode of the fuse400will be described with reference toFIGS.6and7.FIG.6(a)is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the fuse400is attached to a base member500attached to a battery BT,FIG.6(b)is a plan view of the state,FIG.7(a)is a perspective view of a state in which the fuse400is attached to the base member500,FIG.7(b)is a side view of the state, andFIG.7(c)is a plan view of the state.

First, as illustrated inFIG.6(a), the base member500is attached to a metal battery post BP provided in a part of the in-vehicle battery BT. The base member500includes a metal coupling post510, and has a shape corresponding to the fuse400so that the fuse400is attached. The base member500is conventionally used, and supplies power from the battery post BP to the coupling post510. A main body portion520of the base member500builds a connection hole501through which the battery post BP is inserted and electrically connected, and a circuit521that electrically connects the battery post BP connected to the connection hole501and the coupling post510. The base member500is used when the fuse400cannot be directly attached to the battery post BP. For example, since the shape of the fuse400and the shape around the battery post BP are greatly different, the base member500is used when it is difficult to fix the position and posture of the fuse400when the fuse400is directly connected to the battery post BP.

When the fuse400is attached to the coupling post510of the base member500, as illustrated inFIG.6, the fuse400is attached from above the base member500so that the coupling post510of the base member500is inserted into the coupling hole112of the input terminal110of the fuse400. The base member500includes a flat upper surface portion523and a side surface portion522extending downward from the upper surface portion523. Therefore, the input terminal110of the fuse400can be placed on the upper surface portion523of the base member500, and the periphery of the cover member300of the fuse400can be attached so as to be fitted to the side surface portion522of the base member500.

Next, as illustrated inFIG.7, a fixing member530such as a bolt is screwed to the coupling post510of the base member500penetrating the coupling hole112of the fuse400from above to fix the coupling hole112of the fuse400so as not to come off from the coupling post510. Then, the fuse400is fixed to the base member500. As illustrated inFIG.7(b), since the connection terminal Y1of the fuse400protrudes inward, a connection terminal X2of an external electric wire X1can be fixed to the connection terminal Y1. Then, the power supplied from the battery post BP of the battery BT is transmitted from the circuit521built in the base member500to the coupling post510, and is transmitted from the input terminal110of the fuse element100of the fuse400fixed to the coupling post510to the external output terminal120. Further, the power is transmitted from the external output terminal120of the fuse400to the electric wire X1via the connection terminal Y1, and is supplied to various electric components connected to the electric wire X1. If an unintended overcurrent flows in the electric circuit, the fusion portion130of the fuse400fuses due to heat generated by the overcurrent to protect various electrical components from excessive current flowing therethrough.

Here, as illustrated inFIG.7(c), when the fuse400is attached to the base member500, the protruding portions340protruding toward the inside of the fuse400abut on the side surface portion522of the main body portion520of the base member500. That is, the protruding portions340of the fuse400protrude toward the base member500, and are configured to be able to abut on a part of the base member500when the fuse400is attached to the base member500. Therefore, when the fuse400is attached to the base member500, the position and posture of the fuse400are not displaced by the protruding portions340, so that the fuse400can be easily attached. For example, when the fixing member530is screwed to attach the fuse400to the base member500, the protruding portions340of the fuse400abut on a part of the base member500, so that the fuse400is prevented from rotating around the coupling post510along with the rotation of the fixing member530.

As illustrated inFIG.7(c), since the fuse400includes the two protruding portions340separated from each other, the protruding portions340abut on a part of the base member500at two locations, and thus, the position and posture of the fuse400are more stable when the fuse400is attached to the base member500. For example, the fuse400is effectively prevented from rotating clockwise and counterclockwise about the coupling post510along with the rotation of the fixing member530. The fuse400includes the two protruding portions340separated from each other, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and the fuse400may include only one protruding portion340, or the fuse400may include three or more protruding portions340.

As illustrated inFIGS.7(b) and7(c), in a state where the fuse400is attached to the base member500, the distal ends341of the protruding portions340of the fuse400abut on the side surface portion522of the base member500, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and there may be a gap between the distal ends341of the protruding portions340of the fuse400and the base member500. Even if there is a gap between the protruding portions340and the base member500, if the protruding portions340can abut on a part of the base member500when the fuse400is attached to the base member500and the position and posture of the fuse400are displaced, the position and posture of the fuse400are not further displaced, so that the fuse400can be easily attached. The protruding portions340of the fuse400abut on the side surface portion522of the base member500. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the protruding portions340can abut on the side surface portion522, the protruding portions340may be configured to be able to abut on any location of the base member500in addition to the side surface portion522.

The protruding portions340of the fuse400of the invention of the present application have a height H1 that protrudes toward the base member500and can abut on a part of the base member500. The height H1 of the protruding portions340can be set to any height as long as the protruding portions340can abut on a part of the base member500, that is, the protruding portions340abut on the base member500in a state where the fuse400is attached to the base member500or the protruding portions340abut on a part of the base member500when the position and posture of the fuse400are displaced even if there is a gap between the protruding portions340and the base member500. For example, when the side surface portion522of the base member500further extends toward the fuse400than in the state illustrated inFIG.7, the height H1 of the protruding portions340may be lowered, and when the side surface portion522of the base member500is further away from the fuse400, the height H1 of the protruding portions340may be raised.

In addition, since the protruding portions340of the fuse400of the invention of the present application are provided on the cover member300, the manufacturing cost due to the shape change of the protruding portions340can be minimized. Specifically, also in the conventional fuse, the cover member300is made of a transparent or translucent synthetic resin and is manufactured separately from the housing200in order to ensure the visibility of the fusion portion130disposed inside. Therefore, in the invention of the present application, when the shape of the protruding portions340is changed by providing the protruding portions340in the cover member300, only the shape of the cover member300needs to be changed, and the design of the entire housing200is not affected. As a result, in the invention of the present application, an increase in manufacturing and design cost of the entire fuse400due to the shape change of the protruding portions340can be minimized.

As illustrated inFIG.7(b), since the external output terminal120and the fusion portion130extend downward from the input terminal110, the fuse400of the invention of the present application has a substantially inverted L shape, and when the fuse400is attached to the base member500or the battery BT, the fuse400does not protrude laterally and fits well.

InFIGS.6and7, the fuse400is indirectly connected to the battery post BP of the battery BT via the base member500, but the present invention is not limited thereto. As long as the shape of the fuse400corresponds to the shape around the battery post BP, the fuse400may be directly connected to the battery post BP without the base member500as illustrated inFIG.8.FIG.8(a)is a perspective view illustrating a state in which the fuse400is attached to the battery post BP of the battery BT,FIG.8(b)is a plan view of the state, andFIG.8(c)is a plan view of a state in which the fuse400is attached to the battery post BP.

As illustrated inFIGS.8(a) and8(b), the fuse400is attached to an attachment surface BM around the battery post BP so that the battery post BP of the battery BT is inserted into the coupling hole112of the input terminal110of the fuse400. The attachment surface BM is a flat surface formed by cutting out a side surface portion BS near the corner of the battery BT, and the battery post BP protrudes upward from the attachment surface BM. Therefore, the input terminal110of the fuse400can be placed on the attachment surface BM, and the periphery of the cover member300of the fuse400can be mounted so as to be fitted to the side surface portion BS of the battery BT. Next, as illustrated inFIG.8(c), a fixing member BB such as a bolt is screwed from above to the battery post BP penetrating the coupling hole112of the fuse400, and the coupling hole112of the fuse400is fixed so as not to come off from the battery post BP. Then, the fuse400is fixed to the battery post BP.

As illustrated inFIG.8(c), when the fuse400is attached to the battery post BP, the protruding portions340protruding toward the inside of the fuse400abut on the side surface portion BS of the battery BT. Therefore, since the position and posture of the fuse400are not displaced by the protruding portions340, the fuse400can be easily attached to the battery post BP. For example, when the fixing member BB is screwed to attach the fuse400to the battery post BP, the protruding portions340of the fuse400abut on a part of the battery BT, so that the fuse400is prevented from rotating around the battery post BP along with the rotation of the fixing member BB.

As illustrated inFIG.8(c), in a state where the fuse400is attached to the battery post BP, the protruding portions340of the fuse400abut on the side surface portion BS of the battery BT, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and there may be a gap between the protruding portions340of the fuse400and the battery BT. Even if there is a gap between the protruding portions340and the battery BT, if the protruding portions340can abut on a part of the battery BT when the fuse400is attached to the battery post BP and the position and posture of the fuse400are displaced, the position and posture of the fuse400are not further displaced, so that the fuse400can be easily attached. The protruding portions340of the fuse400abut on the side surface portion BS of the battery BT. However, the present invention is not limited to this. As long as the protruding portions340can abut on the side surface portion BS, the protruding portions340may be configured to be able to abut on any location of the battery BT in addition to the side surface portion BS.

The fuse of the invention of the present application is not limited to the above embodiment, and various modifications and combinations are possible within the scope of the claims and the scope of the embodiment, and these modifications and combinations are also included in the scope of rights.