阅读说明：本技术 用于形成具有有机硅元件的熔断器的方法 (Method for forming fuse with silicone element ) 是由 贺电 张统山 于 2020-03-31 设计创作，主要内容包括：提供了一种形成具有有机硅元件的熔断器的方法,该方法包括：提供可熔元件；以及在可熔元件上沉积有机硅材料,其中有机硅材料被以多个角度递送到可熔元件。(There is provided a method of forming a fuse having a silicone element, the method comprising: providing a fusible element; and depositing a silicone material on the fusible element, wherein the silicone material is delivered to the fusible element at a plurality of angles.)

1. A method of forming a fuse assembly, comprising:

providing a fusible element; and

depositing a silicone material on the fusible element, wherein the silicone material is delivered to the fusible element at a plurality of angles.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the silicone material is formed along each of: an upper surface of the fusible element, a lower surface of the fusible element, and a side surface of the fusible element.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising depositing the silicone material as a series of droplets.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising depositing the silicone material using a plasma jet.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising cycling the plasma jet between an "on" and an "off state while depositing the silicone material.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising rotating the plasma jet and the fusible element relative to each other to form the silicone material around the fusible element.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising spacing the plasma jet from the fusible element while depositing the silicone material.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising delivering the silicone material to the fusible element while the plasma jet remains at each of at least four different positions relative to the fusible element.

9. A method for depositing a silicone material on a fusible element, comprising:

providing the fusible element comprising a series of solid portions connected by bridges; and

depositing the silicone material on the fusible element, wherein the silicone material is delivered to the fusible element at a plurality of angles to form the silicone material along each of: an upper surface of the fusible element, a lower surface of the fusible element, and a side surface of the fusible element.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising depositing the silicone material using a plasma jet.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising cycling the plasma jet between an "on" and an "off state while depositing the silicone material.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising rotating the plasma jet and the fusible element relative to each other to form the silicone material around the fusible element.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising depositing the silicone material as a series of droplets.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising separating the plasma jet from the fusible element while depositing the silicone material.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising delivering the silicone material to the fusible element while the plasma jet remains at each of at least four different positions relative to the fusible element.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising forming the silicone material around the fusible element at a plurality of points between the first and second ends of the fusible element.

17. A method of forming a fuse assembly, comprising:

providing a fusible element; and

forming an arc-extinguishing band around the fusible element, wherein material of the arc-extinguishing band is delivered to the fusible element at a plurality of angles.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming the arc-extinguishing zone along each of: an upper surface of the fusible element, a lower surface of the fusible element, and a side surface of the fusible element.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein forming the arc-extinguishing zone comprises depositing a silicone material as a series of droplets on the fusible element using a plasma jet, and wherein the silicone material is deposited as the plasma jet and the fusible element are rotated relative to each other.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising cycling the plasma jet between an "on" and an "off state to deposit the silicone material as the series of droplets.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to circuit protection devices and, more particularly, to methods for forming fuse devices having silicone elements.

Background

Fuses are widely used in overcurrent protection devices to prevent damage to expensive circuits. Fuse terminals typically form an electrical connection between a power source or power supply and an electrical component or combination of components disposed in an electrical circuit. One or more fusible elements are connected between the fuse terminals such that when the current flowing through the fuse exceeds a predetermined limit, the fusible elements melt and open one or more circuits through the fuse to prevent damage to the electrical components.

An arc is sometimes generated along the fusible element, particularly at the location of the fuse under overcurrent conditions. If the arc is allowed to persist for a longer period of time, it may cause the housing containing the fusible element to rupture. To minimize the duration of the arc event, the fusible element may be embedded in an arc suppressing material disposed within the housing, which absorbs the vaporized metal that maintains the arc over time. However, arc suppressing materials alone may not be sufficient to conveniently extinguish arcs generated within certain fuses, such as, for example, small, high voltage, Direct Current (DC) fuses. It is therefore desirable in certain applications to supplement the arc quenching capabilities of the fuse assembly.

Disclosure of Invention

In some embodiments, the device may include providing a fusible element, and depositing a silicone material on the fusible element, wherein the silicone material is delivered to the fusible element at a plurality of angles.

In some embodiments, a method for depositing a silicone material on a fusible element may include providing a fusible element comprising a series of solid portions connected by bridges, and depositing a silicone material on the fusible element. The silicone material may be delivered to the fusible element at a plurality of angles to form the silicone material along each of: an upper surface of the fusible element, a lower surface of the fusible element, and a side surface of the fusible element.

In some embodiments, a method of forming a fuse assembly may include providing a fusible element, and forming an arc suppression band around the fusible element, wherein material of the arc suppression band is delivered to the fusible element at a plurality of angles.

Drawings

Figures 1A-1B are isometric views illustrating a fuse apparatus according to an example embodiment.

Figure 2 is a flow diagram of a method for forming a fuse apparatus according to an example embodiment.

The drawings are not necessarily to scale. The drawings are merely representations, not intended to portray specific parameters of the disclosure. The drawings are intended to depict typical embodiments of the disclosure, and therefore should not be considered as limiting in scope. In the drawings, like numbering represents like elements.

In addition, for clarity of illustration, certain elements in some of the figures may be omitted, or may not be shown to scale. The cross-sectional view may be in the form of a "slice" or "near view" cross-sectional view, with some background lines visible in the "true" cross-sectional view omitted for clarity of illustration. Moreover, some reference numerals may be omitted from some of the drawings for clarity.

Detailed Description

Fuse devices and assemblies in accordance with the present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the systems and methods are shown. Fuse devices and assemblies may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to only the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the systems and methods to those skilled in the art.

The methods herein provide a solution for forming a silicone ring around a fusible element using a silicone spray process. The silicone spray process may include the spray dispenser cycling on and off repeatedly at a high frequency to break up the silicone flow into a series of small beads or droplets. The jetting dispenser can accelerate and deliver the silicone droplets at various angles onto the fusible element. This silicone spray process may be a non-contact and selective silicone formation process.

Referring to fig. 1A-1B, an exemplary embodiment of a fuse apparatus/assembly (hereinafter, "assembly") 100 according to the present disclosure is shown. The exemplary assembly 100 may include one or more fusible elements 110 extending between a first end 112 and a second end 114. The fusible element 110 may be suitable, for example, within a fuse tube, but is not limited thereto. In an exemplary embodiment, the fusible element 110 is contained within a housing (not shown). Although the fusible element 110 has a generally rectangular planar shape in the illustrated embodiment, the fusible element 110 may have any suitable planar shape in other embodiments. Further, the fusible element 110 may be folded to define any suitable number of sections that are shaped and oriented relative to each other in any suitable manner to define any suitable surface profile.

In some embodiments, each of the fusible elements 110 may include a plurality of solid portions 118 joined together by conductive bridges 120, which may include a set of openings disposed therebetween. In various embodiments, the solid portion 118 and/or the conductive bridge 120 may have the same or a reduced thickness as compared to the remainder of the fusible element 110. Further, each of the fusible elements 110 may have a curved or arcuate portion 124. Each of the fusible elements 110 may have a portion with a smaller cross-section, and/or a region with a lower melting point, such as tin, silver, lead, nickel, or alloys thereof. Although not shown, the housing may include a filler adjacent the fusible element 110. The various components of the housing may be made of an insulating material, such as an insulating plastic, e.g., nylon, glass-filled nylon, polyester, and polycarbonate.

During operation of the assembly 100, an arc may be generated along the fusible element 110. Arcing tends to occur more frequently on the weakened conductive bridges 120. To handle these arcs, the assembly 100 may further include a plurality of arc extinguishing discs or bands 140 formed around the fusible element 110. As shown, the extinguishing band 140 can be formed at different points along the fusible element 110 between the first end 112 and the second end 114. In some embodiments, arc suppression band 140 is formed from a silicone material delivered to fusible element 110 via a plasma jet 145. By cycling plasma jet 145 between "on" and "off states to interrupt the flow of silicone material, the silicone material can be delivered as a series of droplets 146. As shown, the plasma jet 145 may be spaced apart from the fusible element 110, making deposition selective and non-contact.

During formation of arc suppression band 140, fusible elements and/or plasma injectors 145 may be rotated relative to one another such that the silicone material completely surrounds fusible element 110. For example, the arc extinguishing strip 140 may be formed along each of the upper surface 148, the lower surface 150, and the side surface 152. In some embodiments, the silicone material may be delivered while the plasma jet 145 is held in at least four different positions relative to the fusible element 110. Thus, the droplets 146 may be delivered to the fusible element 110 at a number of different angles to ensure the desired formation. The arc-extinguishing strip 140 may be substantially square, rectangular, or rectangular parallelepiped in shape, but is not limited thereto. In other embodiments, the arc suppression band 140 may be generally cylindrical or disk-shaped.

In some embodiments, the droplets 146 may be delivered to the fusible element 110 when the organosilicate material is in its liquid state. Thereafter, the silicone material may then be cured (or otherwise allowed to harden) into a rigid or semi-rigid coating to form the arc chute 140. In order not to encapsulate too many fusible elements 110, and thus, not to interfere with the normal function of the fusible elements 110, an arc extinguishing strip 140 may be affixed only to one or more selected regions of the fusible elements 110.

As shown in fig. 1A, the droplet 146 may be delivered in the negative y-direction to form a silicone material on the upper surface 148 of the fusible element 110. As shown in fig. 1B, the droplets 146 may be delivered in the positive x/z direction to form a silicone material along the side surface 152 of the fusible element 110. In still other embodiments, plasma jet 145 may be oriented to deliver droplets 146 onto corner portion 158 of arc chute 140. It should be understood that both the plasma jet 145 and the fusible element 110 may be translated, rotated, displaced, etc. relative to each other to indicate formation of the arc extinguishing zone 140 along the fusible element 110.

Turning now to fig. 2, a method 200 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. At block 201, the method 200 may include providing a fusible element. In some embodiments, the fusible element may comprise a plurality of solid portions separated by bridges.

At block 203, the method 200 may include depositing a silicone material on the fusible element, wherein the silicone material is delivered to the fusible element at a plurality of angles. In some embodiments, the silicone material forms a plurality of bands around the fusible element. In some embodiments, the silicone material is formed along each of: an upper surface of the fusible element, a lower surface of the fusible element, and a side surface of the fusible element. In some embodiments, the silicone material is deposited using a plasma jet. In some embodiments, the method includes cycling the plasma jet between "on" and "off states while depositing the silicone material. In some embodiments, the method may include rotating the plasma jet and the fusible element relative to each other to form the silicone material around the fusible element. In some embodiments, the method may include depositing the silicone material as a series of droplets. In some embodiments, the method may further include spacing the plasma jet from the fusible element while depositing the silicone material. In some embodiments, the method may include delivering the silicone material to the fusible element while the plasma jet remains in each of at least four different positions relative to the fusible element. In some embodiments, the method may include forming a silicone material around the fusible element at a plurality of points between the first end and the second end of the fusible element.

The foregoing discussion is presented for purposes of illustration and description and is not intended to limit the present disclosure to the form or forms disclosed herein. For example, various features of the disclosure may be combined together in one or more aspects, embodiments, or configurations for the purpose of simplifying the disclosure. It should be understood, however, that various features of certain aspects, embodiments or configurations of the present disclosure may be combined in some alternative aspects, embodiments or configurations. Furthermore, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the detailed description by this reference, with each claim standing on its own as a separate embodiment of the disclosure.

As used herein, an element or step recited in the singular and proceeded with the word "a" or "an" should be understood as not excluding plural elements or steps, unless such exclusion is explicitly recited. Furthermore, references to "one embodiment" in this disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features.

The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Thus, the terms "comprising," "including," or "having," and variations thereof, are open-ended expressions and may be used interchangeably herein.

The phrases "at least one," "one or more," and/or "as used herein are open-ended expressions that are conjunctive and disjunctive in operation. For example, each of the expressions "at least one of A, B and C", "at least one of A, B or C", "one or more of A, B and C", "one or more of A, B or C", and "A, B and/or C" means a alone, B alone, C alone, a and B together, a and C together, B and C together, or A, B and C together.

All directional references (e.g., proximal, distal, upper, lower, upward, downward, left, right, lateral, longitudinal, anterior, posterior, top, bottom, above, below, vertical, horizontal, radial, axial, clockwise, and counterclockwise) are only used for identification purposes to aid the reader's understanding of the present invention, and do not create limitations, particularly as to the position, orientation, or use of the disclosure. Joinder references (e.g., attached, coupled, connected, and connected) are to be construed broadly and may include intermediate members between a collection of elements and relative movement between elements unless otherwise indicated. Thus, joinder references do not necessarily infer that two elements are directly connected and in fixed relation to each other.

Further, identifying references (e.g., one, two, first, second, third, fourth, etc.) are not used to denote importance or priority, but rather are used to distinguish one feature from another. The drawings are for illustrative purposes only and the dimensions, positions, order and relative dimensions reflected in the appended drawings may vary.

Furthermore, the terms "substantially" or "substantially" and the terms "approximately" or "approximately" may be used interchangeably in some embodiments and may be described using any relevant metric acceptable to those skilled in the art. For example, these terms may be used as a comparison with reference parameters to indicate a deviation from an intended function that can be provided. Although not limited, the deviation from the reference parameter may be, for example, less than 1%, less than 3%, less than 5%, less than 10%, less than 15%, less than 20%, and the like.

The scope of the present disclosure is not limited by the specific embodiments described herein. Indeed, other various embodiments and modifications of the present disclosure, in addition to those described herein, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Accordingly, such other embodiments and modifications are intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Moreover, the present disclosure is described herein in the context of a particular implementation in a particular environment for a particular purpose. Those skilled in the art will recognize that its usefulness is not limited thereto and that the present disclosure may be beneficially implemented in any number of environments for any number of purposes. Accordingly, the claims set forth below should be construed in view of the full breath and spirit of the present disclosure as described herein.