Patent Publication Number: US-11380507-B2

Title: Substrate surface-mounted fuse

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention mainly relates to a fuse which is used in an electric circuit for an automobile or the like, and particularly relates to a substrate surface-mounted fuse which is mounted on a substrate surface. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     Conventionally, a fuse has been used to protect an electric circuit which is installed in an automobile or the like, and various electrical components which are connected to the electric circuit. More precisely, when an unintended overcurrent flows in an electric circuit, a fuse part of a fuse element built into the fuse melts under the heat generated by the overcurrent, thereby protecting the various electrical components by preventing excess current from flowing. 
     Further, there are various types of this fuse, and the substrate surface-mounted fuse mounted on a substrate surface as illustrated in Patent Literature 1 has been known, for example. When this substrate surface-mounted fuse is also used on a fuse box substrate, the fuse box and substrate can be miniaturized, and the manufacturing process can also be simplified. However, because this substrate surface-mounted fuse is fixed to the substrate surface using solder or the like, when an abnormality in the electric circuit arises and the fuse part of the substrate surface-mounted fuse melts, replacement of the substrate with another substrate has been necessary. Hence, there is a problem in that, until the substrate is replaced with another substrate, the electric circuit remains interrupted and the electric circuit or the like and the various electrical components installed in an automobile or the like do not function. 
     CITATIONS LIST 
     Patent Literature 
     Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2016-134317. 
     SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problems 
     Therefore, the present invention provides a substrate surface-mounted fuse that uses a replacement fuse to enable an electric circuit to be electrically connected simply and immediately even when a fuse part melts. 
     Solutions to Problems 
     The substrate surface-mounted fuse of the present invention is a substrate surface-mounted fuse which is mounted on the surface of a substrate and includes: a housing; a fuse part that is disposed in the housing; and a terminal part that is coupled to both ends of the fuse part and exposed to the outside of the housing, wherein a portion of the terminal part is provided with a fixed part for fixing to the surface of the substrate and is provided with an attachment part enabling attachment of a terminal part of a replacement fuse. 
     According to the foregoing features, the terminal part of a replacement fuse can be attached to the attachment part of the terminal part of the substrate surface-mounted fuse, and hence, even when the fuse part of the substrate surface-mounted fuse melts and the electric circuit is interrupted, a replacement fuse can be used to electrically connect and restore the electric circuit simply and immediately. As a result, an electric circuit or the like and various electrical components which are installed in an automobile or the like can be immediately made to function normally, 
     In the substrate surface-mounted fuse of the present invention, the attachment part is configured for insertion and attachment of the terminal part of the replacement fuse. 
     According to the foregoing feature, because the attachment part is constituted for insertion of the terminal part of a replacement fuse, the attachment part possesses superior workability for facilitating attachment of the replacement fuse to the substrate surface-mounted fuse. Moreover, because the terminal part of the replacement fuse is inserted in the attachment part, the replacement fuse can be readily removed from the substrate surface-mounted fuse and stably attached thereto. 
     In the substrate surface-mounted fuse of the present invention, the attachment part is positioned on the same surface as an upper surface of the housing or below the upper surface. 
     According to the foregoing feature, the whole of the substrate surface-mounted fuse can be made compact, thereby contributing to substrate miniaturization. 
     In the substrate surface-mounted fuse of the present invention, the attachment part is positioned above the upper surface of the housing. 
     According to the foregoing feature, because the attachment part is positioned above the upper surface of the housing, interference between the replacement fuse and the substrate surface-mounted fuse can be prevented and the replacement fuse can be reliably attached to the substrate surface-mounted fuse. 
     Advantageous Effects of Invention 
     As mentioned earlier, according to the substrate surface-mounted fuse of the present invention, a replacement fuse can be used to electrically connect an electric circuit simply and immediately even when a fuse part melts. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1( a )  is an overall perspective view of a substrate surface-mounted fuse according to a first embodiment of the present invention, and  FIG. 1( b )  is a plan view of the substrate surface-mounted fuse. 
         FIG. 2( a )  is a front elevation of the substrate surface-mounted fuse according to the first embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 2( b )  is a side elevation of the substrate surface-mounted fuse; and  FIG. 2( c )  is a bottom elevation of the substrate surface-mounted fuse. 
         FIG. 3( a )  is an overall perspective view of a substrate; and  FIG. 3( b )  is an overall perspective view of a state in which the substrate surface-mounted fuse according to the first embodiment of the present invention is mounted on a substrate. 
         FIGS. 4( a ) and 4( b )  are overall perspective views of an aspect in which a replacement fuse is attached to the substrate surface-mounted fuse according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5( a )  is an enlarged front elevation of a state in which a replacement fuse is attached to a substrate surface-mounted fuse; and  FIG. 5( b )  is an enlarged side elevation of the state. 
         FIG. 6( a )  is an overall perspective view of the substrate surface-mounted fuse according to a second embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 6( b )  is a front elevation of the substrate surface-mounted fuse; and  FIG. 6( c )  is a plan view of the substrate surface-mounted fuse. 
         FIG. 7( a )  is an overall perspective view of the substrate surface-mounted fuse according to a third embodiment of the present invention;  FIG. 7( b )  is a front elevation of the substrate surface-mounted fuse; and  FIG. 7( c )  is a plan view of the substrate surface-mounted fuse. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       100  Substrate surface-mounted fuse 
       110  Housing 
       120  Fuse part 
       130  Terminal part 
       134  Fixed part 
       200  Replacement fuse 
       230  Terminal part 
       300  Substrate 
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
     Embodiments of the present invention will be described hereinbelow using the drawings. Nate that the shape and material properties and the like of each member of a substrate surface-mounted fuse according to the embodiments described hereinbelow are illustrative examples and the present invention is not limited to or by such shapes and material properties and the like. Note that, in the present specification, as illustrated. in  FIGS. 3 to 5 , “upward direction” is an upward direction along a direction that intersects the horizontal direction at right angles, that is, along a vertical direction, in a state where a substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  is fixed to the surface of a substrate  300  which extends horizontally, “downward direction” is downward direction along the vertical direction, “longitudinal direction” is a direction along the vertical direction, and “lateral direction” is a direction along the horizontal direction. 
     First Embodiment 
     First, the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  according to a first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  FIG. 1( a )  is an overall perspective view of a substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 ;  FIG. 1( b )  is a plan view of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 ;  FIG. 2( a )  is a front elevation of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 ;  FIG. 2( b )  is a side elevation of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 ; and  FIG. 2( c )  is a bottom elevation of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 . 
     The substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  includes a substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped housing  110 ; a fuse part  120  that is disposed in the housing  110 ; and a terminal part  130  that extends outside the housing  110 . The housing  110  is formed having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape from an insulating synthetic resin, the interior of which is a cavity. Further, the fuse part  120  is disposed in an internal space of the housing  110 , and a terminal part  130  made of metal is coupled to each of both sides of the fuse part  120 . Furthermore, the terminal part  130  extends laterally from the side surfaces on both sides of the housing  110 . 
     More specifically, the housing  110  is constituted from an upper housing  111  and a lower housing  112  which are vertically divided into two and covers the fuse part  120  so as to sandwich the same from above and below. Further, a flat upper end  131  of the terminal part  130  is coupled to both ends of the fuse part  120 , and the upper end  131  extends to the outside from inside the housing  110 . In addition, the terminal part  130  includes a middle section  132  which extends so as to bend downward from the upper end  131 , and a flat lower end  133  that extends laterally from the middle section  132 . Note that, although the housing  110  is constituted from the upper housing  111  and the lower housing  112  which are vertically divided into two, the housing  110  is not limited to this configuration and may be embodied such that the upper housing  111  and the lower housing  112  are integrally molded so as to be indivisible. 
     Furthermore, the fuse part  120  is formed having a thin and linear shape from a metal such as zinc alloy and is afforded the characteristic of melting when a predetermined overcurrent is flowing. Further, a terminal part  130  made of metal is a part which is electrically coupled to a substrate electrode (described subsequently), and when an overcurrent is flowing in the electric circuit connected to the substrate, the fuse part  120  melts, thereby interrupting the circuit. Note that the fuse part  120  is not limited to the shape and configuration illustrated in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , rather, as long as the fuse part is afforded the characteristic of melting when a predetermined overcurrent is flowing, the same may have another shape and configuration. 
     Furthermore, an attachment part  140  in the form of a through-hole that extends so as to be vertically long in an up-down direction is provided to each of the terminal parts  130  on both sides. Furthermore, the attachment part  140  is positioned below an upper surface  113  of the housing  110 . The attachment part  140  is shaped so as to pass through from the surface of the terminal part  130  to the back face thereof to enable insertion of a terminal part  230  of a replacement fuse  200  (described subsequently). More specifically, the attachment part  140  is constituted from an upper end hole  141  that extends in a lateral direction in the upper end  131  of the terminal part  130 ; a middle hole  142  that extends in a vertical direction in the middle section  132 ; and a lower end hole  143  that extends in a lateral direction in the lower end  133 . The upper end hole  141 , middle hole  142 , and lower end hole  143  pass through from the surface of the terminal part  130  to the back face thereof. 
     Furthermore, the back-face side of the lower end  133  of the terminal part  130  is a fixed part  134  which is fixed using solder or the like to the surface of the substrate (described subsequently), and the fixed part  134  is a flat surface, and hence readily adheres to the substrate surface. 
     Note that the attachment part  140  is positioned below the upper surface  113  of the housing  110  but is not limited to this position, rather, the attachment part  140  may be positioned on the same surface as the upper surface  113  of the housing  110 . For example, the attachment part  140  may be formed so as to protrude upward from the terminal part  130 , and the attachment part  140  protruding from the terminal part  130  is configured so as to be positioned on the same surface as the upper surface  113  of the housing  110 . 
     Furthermore, although the back-face side of the lower end  133  of the terminal part  130  is the fixed part  134 . the configuration is not limited thereto, rather, when the lower end  133  of the terminal part  130  is bent inside in the opposite direction from that of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the surface side of the lower end  133  may be the fixed part  134 . In addition, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the terminal part  130  is formed having the upper end  131 , the middle section  132 , and the lower end  133 , but the configuration is not limited thereto, rather, any form and shape may be adopted as long as the terminal part can be fixed to the substrate surface. 
     Next, a state where the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  is mounted on the substrate  300  will be described with reference to  FIG. 3 . Note that  FIG. 3( a )  is an overall perspective view of the substrate  300 , and  FIG. 3( b )  is an overall perspective view of a state where the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  is mounted on the substrate  300 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3(a) , the substrate  300  is provided to a part such as a fuse box and is electrically connected to an electric circuit installed in an automobile or the like. Further, a plurality of electrodes  310  connected to the electric circuit are provided on the surface of the substrate  300 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3( b ) , the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  of the present invention fixes the fixed part l 34  on the back-face side of the terminal part  130  of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  to the respective surfaces of the paired electrodes  310 . More specifically, the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  is mounted reliably on the substrate  300  by placing the flat fixed part  134  in close contact with the surface of the flat electrodes  310  and fixing the sections which are in close contact by using a method such as soldering. Note that, although this method of fixing the fixed part  134  to the substrate surface is adopted, any method such as fixing through adhesion using adhesive may be adopted in addition to soldering. 
     Further, when an abnormal overcurrent is flowing in the electric circuit connected to the electrodes  310 , the fuse part  120  of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  melts and the electric circuit is interrupted, thereby protecting the various electrical components connected to the eclectic circuit. After the fuse part  120  of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  has melted, because the electric circuit then remains interrupted, the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  must be replaced. However, because the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  is fixed to the substrate  300 , the former cannot be easily replaced. Therefore, although replacement with another substrate  300  has conventionally been handled, there has been the problem that preparation of a spare substrate  300  and replacement take time and that the electric circuit or the like and various electrical components installed in the automobile or the like do not function for some time. 
     Therefore, in the case of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  of the present invention, a replacement fuse  200  can be used to electrically connect and restore a cut-off electric circuit simply and immediately, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Note that  FIGS. 4( a ) and 4( b )  are overall perspective views illustrating an aspect in which the replacement fuse  200  is attached to the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 ;  FIG. 5( a )  is an enlarged front elevation of a state where the replacement fuse  200  is attached to the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  and  FIG. 5( b )  is an enlarged side elevation of this state. Furthermore, the replacement fuse  200  is a conventionally known, so-called blade fuse and includes an insulating housing  210 , a fuse part  220  which is housed in the housing  210 , and terminal parts  230  made of metal which are coupled to the fuse part  220  and extend from the underside of the housing  210 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4 . the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200  are attached from above to the attachment parts  140  of the terminal parts  130  of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 . Thus, because the terminal parts  130  are electrically coupled to the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200 , the pair of electrodes  310  on both sides are electrically connected by the replacement fuse  200 , enabling the electric circuit coupled to the electrodes  310  to be electrically connected. Further, when an abnormal overcurrent is flowing in an electric circuit installed in an automobile or the like, the fuse part  220  of the replacement fuse  200  melts and the electric circuit is interrupted, thereby protecting the various electrical components connected to the electric circuit. 
     Thus, according to the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  of the present invention, the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200  can be attached to the attachment parts  140  of the terminal parts  130  of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 , and hence, even when the fuse part  120  of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  melts and the electric circuit is interrupted, the replacement fuse  200  can be used to electrically connect and restore the electric circuit simply and immediately. As a result, an electric circuit or the like and various electrical components which are installed in an automobile or the like can be immediately made to function normally. 
     In addition, according to the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  of the present invention, the attachment parts  140  are configured for insertion of the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200 , and hence the attachment parts possess superior workability for facilitating attachment of the replacement fuse  200  to the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 , Moreover, because the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200  are inserted in the attachment parts  140 , the replacement fuse  200  can be readily removed from the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  and stably attached thereto. 
     In addition, the attachment parts  140  extend in a longitudinal shape in an up-down direction, and hence the plate-shaped terminal parts  230  that extend in a longitudinal shape in an up-down direction can be reliably supported to avoid tipping. In particular, the housing  110  of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  is thick in an up-down direction on account of housing the fuse part  120 . To this end, the terminal parts  130  which are coupled to both ends of the fuse part  120  include a vertically long section (the middle section  132 , for example) that extends from the side of the housing  110  to below the housing  110  so as to enable coupling with the electrodes  310  of the substrate  300 . Further, as long as the attachment parts  140  are provided along the vertically long section, the longitudinal plate-shaped terminal part  230  can be reliably supported to avoid tipping, and hence the vertically long section of the terminal parts  130  is used effectively. 
     Furthermore, the attachment parts  140  are shaped as a vertically long through-hole, but the width of the through-hole section is the same as the thickness of the terminal parts  230  or slightly narrower than the thickness of the terminal parts  230 , and hence the attachment parts  140  are capable of gripping the inserted terminal parts  230  such that the same are held from both sides. Hence, the replacement fuse  200  is firmly attached to the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 . Further, the attachment parts  140  include an upper end hole  141  that extend laterally, a middle hole  142  that extends vertically, and a lower end hole  143  that extends laterally, therefore enabling the surface area in contact with the terminal part  230  to be extended and enabling the replacement fuse  200  to be supported more stably. In addition, tips  231  of the terminal parts  230  pass through the lower end holes  143  of the attachment parts  140  and make contact with the surface of the electrodes  310 , thereby enhancing the reliability of the connection between the terminal parts  230  and the electrodes  310 . 
     Furthermore, the attachment parts  140  are positioned on the same surface as the upper surface  113  of the housing  110  or below the upper surface  113 , and therefore the whole of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  can be made compact, contributing to miniaturization of the substrate  300 . In addition, the attachment parts  140  are provided to the terminal parts  130  disposed on both sides of the housing  110  of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 , and hence, as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200  are attached to the respective attachment parts  140  so as to straddle the housing  110  of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 . Further, because attachment with straddling of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  is possible, that is, attachment with vertical stacking to the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  to which the replacement fuse  200  is to be attached, work is intuitive and obvious to an operator or it is easy to recognize which substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  the replacement fuse  200  is attached to. More particularly, the substrate  300  is small and there is a concentration of the various electronic components and electrodes on the surface thereof, and hence it is easily recognized which substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  the replacement fuse  200  is attached to and a substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  requiring replacement is easily discriminated. 
     Furthermore, the configuration is such that the attachment parts  140  are integral to the terminal parts  130  and make contact with the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200 , and the terminal parts  230  are directly fixed by the attachment parts  140  themselves, thereby preventing poor contact between the terminal parts  130  and  230  and enhancing contact reliability. 
     Note that, because the attachment parts  140  are formed as through-holes in the terminal parts  130  as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , there is no need to separately provide a member for attaching the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200  and there is no need to significantly change the shape of the terminal parts  130 , thereby also allow to facilitate manufacturing and reduce manufacturing costs. 
     Furthermore, despite taking the form of a through-hole as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the attachment parts  140  are not limited to said form and may instead take another form as long as the same is configured to enable attachment of the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200 ; for example, a form in which the tips of the terminal parts  230  are fixed using a bolt or the like to the terminal parts  130 , a form such as a recess in which the tip of the terminal parts  230  are fitted, or another form, is possible. However, the replacement fuse  200  can be readily attached as long as the attachment parts  140  are configured for insertion and attachment of the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200 , which is extremely useful. Furthermore, the configuration of the attachment parts  140  for insertion and attachment of the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200  is not limited to the form of a vertically long through-hole as illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , rather, a groove shape or the like as described subsequently, for example, is also possible, and any shape and configuration may be adopted as long as insertion and attachment of the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200  is feasible. Note that the replacement fuse  200  is in the form of a so-called blade fuse but not limited thereto, rather, other fuse forms may be implemented as long as the configuration includes an insulating housing, a fuse part which is housed in the housing, and a terminal part made of metal which is coupled to the fuse part and extends from the housing. 
     Second Embodiment 
     Next, a substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 .E of the present invention according to a second embodiment will be described with reference to  FIG. 6 . Note that  FIG. 6( a )  is an overall perspective view of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 A of the present invention according to the second embodiment;  FIG. 6( b )  is a front elevation of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 A, and  FIG. 6( c )  is a plan view of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 A. Furthermore, except for the configurations of the terminal parts  130 A and the attachment parts  140 A, the configurations of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 A according to the second embodiment are basically the same as the configurations of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  according to the first embodiment, and hence descriptions of identical configurations are omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the terminal parts  130 A include an upper end  131 A that extends from the side surface of a housing  110 A, a middle section  132 . that extends so as to bend downward from the upper end  131 A, a flat lower end  133 A that extends laterally from the middle section  132 A, and an upward extension section  135 A that extends upward from the lower end  133 A. In addition, the back-face side of the lower end  133 A is a fixed part  134 A that is fixed to the substrate surface. Furthermore, the tip of the upward extension section  135 A is divided into two parts between which a groove-shaped attachment part  140 A is formed. The attachment part  140 A at the tip of the upward extension section  135 A takes the form of a so-called tuning fork, and the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200  can be attached to the attachment parts  140 A by being inserted therein. Further, the attachment parts  140 A are positioned above the upper surface  113 A of the housing  110 A, and hence interference between the replacement fuse  200  and the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 A can be prevented, and the replacement fuse  200  can be reliably attached to the substrate surface-mounted. fuse  100 A. For example, in a case where the housing  210  of the replacement fuse  200  interferes with the housing  110 A of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 A when the length of the terminal parts  230  of the replacement fuse  200  is short and the terminal parts  230  are inserted in the attachment parts  140 , interference between the replacement fuse  200  and the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  can be effectively prevented by raising the position of the attachment parts  140 A. 
     Third Embodiment 
     A substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 E of the present invention according to a third embodiment will be described next with reference to  FIG. 7 . Note that  FIG. 7( a )  is an overall perspective view of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  1 . 00 B of the present invention according to the third embodiment;  FIG. 7( b )  is a front elevation of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 B; and  FIG. 7( c )  is a plan view of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 B. Furthermore, except for the configurations of terminal parts  130 B and attachment parts  140 B, the configurations of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 B according to the third embodiment are basically the same as the configurations of the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  according to the first embodiment, and hence descriptions of identical configurations are omitted. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the terminal part  130 B includes an upper end  131 B that extends from the side surface of a housing  110 B, a middle section  132 B that extends so as to bend downward from the upper end  131 B, a flat lower end  133 B that extends laterally from the middle section  132 B, and an upward extension section  135 B that bends in a direction intersecting the direction of extension of the terminal part  130 B from the middle section  132 B and extends upward. In addition, the back-face side of the lower end  133 B is the fixed part  134 B that is fixed to the substrate surface. Furthermore, the tip of the upward extension section  135 B is divided into two parts between which a groove-shaped attachment part  140 B is formed. The attachment part  140 B at the tip of the upward extension section  135 B takes the form of a so-called tuning fork, and the terminal part  230  of the replacement fuse  200  can be attached to the attachment part  140 B by being inserted therein. Further, the attachment part  140 B is positioned above the upper surface  113 B of the housing  110 B, and hence interference between the replacement fuse  200  and the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100  can be prevented, and the replacement fuse  200  can be reliably attached to the substrate surface-mounted fuse  100 . In addition, the orientation of the attachment parts  140 B is changed to a direction intersecting the direction of extension of the terminal parts  130 B, and hence the attachment orientation of the replacement fuse  200  can be changed. 
     Note that the substrate surface-mounted fuse of the present invention is not limited to the foregoing embodiment examples, rather, various modification examples and combinations are possible within the scope of the patent claims and the scope of the embodiments, and the modification examples and combinations are included in the scope of rights thereof.