Mechanical fuse

{
  "publication_number": "US3675282A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Mechanical fuse",
  "abstract": "A mechanical fuse is described which links two members together in yieldable engagement permitting their separation when the separation forces exceed a predetermined value. The fuse comprises a female member having a housing with a slit in its wall for insertion of a tongue of the male member. A frustoconical spring washer is supported within the housing, and the washer supports a latch in the form of a button in its center aperture. The button is biased against the tongue of the male member and engages an aperture in this member. The sides of one or both of the aperture and button are bevelled so that a force applied to withdraw the tongue transmits a force component which compresses the spring washer. When this force component equals or exceeds the load of the washer, the washer withdraws and releases the tongue of the male member.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A mechanical link having a male and female member yieldably engageable and secured against all forces less than a predetermined value but separable at forces greater than said value which comprises: a female member in the form of a flat, thin housing having an endwall with an aperture along a portion of its length; a male member having an extended portion of size permitting its insertion into said female member along an axis extending through said aperture; resilient spring means in the form of a frustoconical spring washer within said female member having an abutment means on the central portion of its convex face, with the base of said washer biased against one of the flat inner walls thereof and convexly oriented towards the opposite flat wall; and catch shoulder means on said male member whereby said abutment means of said resilient spring washer is yieldably engaged and said male member is thereby secured in said female member against all forces less than said predetermined value.",
    "2. The link of claim 1 wherein the leading edge of said extended portion of said male member is bevelled whereby said member may be inserted into said female member to a position having said spring washer biased against said extended portion of said male member at a force less than said predetermined value.",
    "3. The link of claim 1 Wherein said catch shoulder means comprises an aperture in said extended portion of said male member.",
    "4. The link of claim 1 wherein said spring washer abutment means is in the form of a button engageable with said catch means.",
    "5. The link of claim 4 wherein the mating walls of at least one of the button and aperture are bevelled.",
    "6. The link of claim 1 wherein said wall portion of said female member carries adjustment means permitting the preloading of said resilient spring means.",
    "7. The link of claim 1 wherein said female member supports two resilient spring means in opposed orientation and projecting into engagement.",
    "8. The link of claim 1 wherein said frustoconical spring washer is preloaded to the region of its characteristic load deflection curve exhibiting the greatest deflection for an incremental change in load.",
    "9. The link of claim 6 wherein said adjustment means comprises a rim threaded on its outer edge and wherein said female member carries a threaded bore in which said rim is mounted with said frustoconical washer having its base portion seated on said rim whereby the advance and retraction of said rim in said threaded bore provides adjustable preloading of said spring washer."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "A44B 11/25",
    "Y10T 24/45461",
    "Y10T 24/45822"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "A44B 11/25"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Ametek Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Stanley E Summers",
    "Clyde W Seltzer"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1970-10-23",
  "publication_date": "1972-07-11",
  "grant_date": "1972-07-11",
  "priority_date": "1970-10-23",
  "application_number": "US-3675282D-A",
  "family_id": "22177855",
  "cited_by_count": 12,
  "citations": [
    "DE207696C",
    "US441285A",
    "US1703579A",
    "GB539811A",
    "US2703395A",
    "US2814025A",
    "US3401980A"
  ]
}