Patent ID: 7864023

Claim:
A fuse comprising: a housing, the housing having a length extending from a first end of the fuse to a second end of the fuse and an interior space having an interior surface; an arc extinguishing material disposed on the interior surface for at least a portion of the length; a passageway formed in the arc extinguishing material and extending within the arc extinguishing material longitudinally with respect to the housing; a fuse assembly disposed within the housing and having a portion extending through the passageway, the fuse assembly including a fusible element assembly and an arcing rod assembly coupled to the fusible element assembly; the fusible element assembly having a fuse element of having a first fault clearing rating coupled to a link assembly including a releasable attachment member, the fusible element being secured within the interior space adjacent the first end; the arcing rod assembly including a drive mechanism coupled to a elongated arcing rod, the arcing rod including a coupling member that releasably secures to the attachment member and an auxiliary fuse element having a second fault clearing rating, different than the first fault clearing rating; and the arcing rod assembly is secured within the housing between the first end and the second end, the arcing rod assembly extends through the passageway, the coupling member is releasably coupled to the releasable attachment member and the drive mechanism is configured to impart a driving force on the arcing rod assembly toward the second end during operation of the fuse.