Claims:We claim:

1. A locking mechanism (100) for a fuse-link (80), the locking mechanism (100) comprising:
• a fuse handle (60) having a fuse handle body (50) adapted to removably
receive a fuse-link body (70) of the fuse-link (80) for installing or removing the
fuse-link (80) to and from a fuse mounting position;
• two extended tags (40) inserted in the fuse handle body (50), the two
extended tags (40) adapted to facilitate insertion and removal of the fuse-link
body (70) to and from the fuse handle body (50);
• two guide plates (30) inserted in the fuse-link body (70), the two guide
plates (30) adapted to prevent horizontal movement of the fuse-link body (70);
• two fuse-link tags (20) inserted in the fuse handle body (50), the two
fuse-link tags (20) adapted to slide in or out of the two guide plates (30) for
insertion and removal of the fuse-link body (70) to and from the fuse handle body
(50); and
• a spring (10) inserted in the fuse handle body (50) between the two fuse-
link tags (20), the spring (10) adapted to lock the fuse-link body (70) into the fuse
handle body (50) and restrict vertical movement of the fuse- link body (70).

2. The locking mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuse handle body (70) is made up of an insulating material.

3. The locking mechanism (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the spring
(10) is made up of a thermoset polymer.
, Description:LOCKING MECHANISM FOR FUSE-LINK

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a fuse handle and more particularly, to a spring loaded locking mechanism of the fuse handle for locking fuse-links.

Background of the invention

The fuse-link interrupts the excessive current and offers over current and short circuit protection and disconnects the load from the power grid. At this hour, the fuse body being at elevated temperatures is difficult to remove. Any external damage to the fuse body while insertion or removal, can affect the fuse performance. Thus, it is always advisable to use fuse puller or fuse handle precisely to avoid such instances. Fuse handle arrangement facilitates safe insertion and removal of the fuse-link from the switch fuse systems and fuse base as well as from electrically live parts.

The number of components involved and the space crunch, limits the usage of the existing fuse handle. The currently available systems do not ease the functionality for usage in size 000 fuse-link. In the prior art design, the fuse tags of the fuse-link are secured into the handle by actuating a spring loaded interlocking component. Further, the gripping means is made of metal and can be electrically live, when the fuse link is being removed or inserted making the insertion and removal of the fuse link relatively unsafe.

Accordingly, there is a need of a locking mechanism for a fuse-link that overcomes the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

Objects of the invention

An object of the present invention is to provide safe installation and removal of a fuse-link.

Another object of the present invention is to achieve locking of the fuse-link with lesser components.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a locking mechanism for a fuse-link. The locking mechanism comprises a fuse handle/ fuse puller, two extended tags, two guide plates, two fuse-link tags and a spring.

The fuse handle/ fuse puller includes a fuse handle body. The fuse handle body is made up of an insulating material. The fuse handle body is adapted to removably receive a fuse-link body of the fuse-link. The two extended tags are inserted in the fuse handle body. The two extended tags are adapted to facilitate any one of insertion and removal of the fuse-link body to and from the fuse handle body. The two guide plates are inserted in the fuse-link body to prevent horizontal movement of the fuse-link body.

The two fuse-link tags are inserted in the fuse handle body. The two fuse-link tags are adapted to slide in or out of the two guide plates for insertion and removal of the fuse-link body to and from the fuse handle body. The spring made up of a thermoset polymer is inserted in the fuse handle body between the two fuse-link tags. The spring is adapted to lock the fuse-link body into the fuse handle body and to and restrict vertical movement of the fuse- link body.

Brief description of the drawings

Other features as well as the advantages of the invention will be clear from the following description.
In the appended drawings:
Figure 1 shows an isometric view of a fuse handle body with a fuse-link body in an installed position, in accordance with the present invention;

Figures 2a and 2b show a functional orientation of the fuse handle body with fuse-link body before installation and the position of a spring post installation, in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 3 shows a front sectional view of the fuse handle body, in accordance with the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.

The present invention provides a locking mechanism for a fuse-link. The locking mechanism of an extension to the fuse pulling equipment is used for safely installing and removing the fuse-link. The locking mechanism achieves locking of the fuse-link with lesser components.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to figures 1-3, a locking mechanism (100) for a fuse-link (80) in accordance with the present invention is shown. The fuse-link (80) includes a fuse-link body (70). The fuse-link (80) is adapted to offer over current and short circuit protection by interrupting excessive current and thus disconnecting a load from a power grid. The locking mechanism (100) comprises a fuse handle/ fuse puller (60), two extended tags (40), two guide plates (30), two fuse-link tags (20) and a spring (10).

The fuse handle/ fuse puller (60) includes a fuse handle body (50). The fuse handle body (50), alternately a gripping means is made of an insulating material and thus insulates the live components and ensures the safety of the personnel during insertion and removal of the fuse-link (80). The fuse handle body (50) is adapted to removably receive the fuse-link body (70) of the fuse-link (80).

The two extended tags (40) are inserted in the fuse handle body (50). The two extended tags (40) are adapted to facilitate insertion and removal of the fuse-link body (70) to and from the fuse handle body (50).

The two guide plates (30) are inserted in the fuse-link body (70). The two guide plates (30) take care of the sizes of the fuse-links (80). The two guide plates (30) are adapted to restrict the horizontal movement of the fuse-link body (70) once it is locked inside the fuse handle body (50).

The two fuse-link tags (20) are inserted in the fuse handle body (50). The two fuse-link tags (20) adapted to slide in or out of the two guide plates (30) for any one of the insertion and removal of the fuse-link body (70) to and from the fuse handle body (50).

The spring (10) is inserted in the fuse handle body (50) between the two fuse-link tags (20). Specifically, the spring (10) is inserted in the fuse handle body (50) on a side opposite to the side of insertion of the two extended tags (40). In an embodiment, the spring (10) is made up of a thermoset polymer that remains functional even at high temperatures practically experienced by the fuse-link body (70). However, it is understood that the shape and material of the spring (10) are not restricted to the illustration and can be of any physically possible means as per various alternate embodiments of the present invention.

The spring (10) offers dual benefits. The spring (10) is able to withstand the high temperatures arising due to its proximity to the fuse-link body (70) and elastic properties of the spring (10) facilitate the locking of the fuse-link (80) into the fuse handle (60). Specifically, the spring (10) is adapted for pressure locking the fuse-link body (70) into the fuse-handle body (50). Further, the spring (10) restricts the movement of the fuse-link (80) in vertical direction once it is locked inside the fuse handle (60).

Referring again to figure 2, installation and removal of the fuse-link (80) is illustrated in accordance with the present invention. For installation, the fuse-link (80) is locked into the fuse handle body (50). The two fuse-link tags (20) slide into the two guide plates (30). The spring (10) facilitates the pressure locking of the fuse-link (80) in the fuse handle body (50). Further, the spring (10) restricts the movement of the fuse-link (80) in vertical direction. The horizontal movement is restricted by design virtue of two guide plates (30). The normal reaction applied over the fuse-link body (70) retains the fuse-link (80) in the fuse handle body (50). The position of the spring (10) before and after installation is shown in figures 2a and 2b. The arrows depict the movement of the fuse-link (80) into the fuse handle body (50). The fuse-link (80) is then inserted into the fuse holder (60) of the switch fuse unit (not shown) or fuse base (not shown). After installation, the fuse handle body (50) can be removed by sliding in the reverse direction.

For removal of the fuse-link (80), the two fuse-link tags (20) are engaged into the fuse handle body (50). The fuse-link (80) is locked by the two mechanical forces acting in line: one is design aspects of the two guide plates (30) and perpendicular by the spring (10) loaded to the fuse handle body (50). The fuse-link (80) is capable of being removed subsequently by movement of the fuse handle body (50) forth and back as illustrated by arrows shown in figure 2b.
Advantages of the invention

1. The locking mechanism (100) addresses the constraint in space and this insulating wall ensures the safety of the personnel.
2. The locking mechanism (100) eliminates tedious assembly for locking of the fuse-link (80).
3. The locking mechanism (100) provides a universal solution to all the sizes of the fuse-links (80).
4. Component size per assembly and raw material consumption has been reduced.
5. Number of components for locking is reduced from existing five to one.
6. The compact size, reduced number of components and usage in lower frame sizes is an added advantage.
7. The gripping force in the fuse puller (60) is adjusted in such a manner that the grip on the fuse-link (80) is not operator dependant. Thus, the grip on the fuse-link (80) cannot be increased to dangerous limits, inadvertently or otherwise.
8. The fuse handle body (50)/gripping means being made of insulating material ensures safety during insertion and removal of the fuse-link (80).

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.