Importance

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Abstract

A tubular fuseholder housing carries two sets of generally-stationary contacts located at points spaced apart along the length of the housing. Within the housing is a fuse comprising a cartridge and, at opposite ends of the cartridge, terminal contacts for respectively engaging the stationary contacts when the cartridge is fully inserted into the housing. An insulating operating rod within the fuseholder housing is coupled to the fuse cartridge and extends toward the outer end of the housing. Actuation of the operating rod separates the terminal contacts from the generally-stationary contacts and draws electric arcs between these contact. Closely adjacent the individual contacts of each set of stationary contacts and angularly aligned with the individual contacts, supplemental exhaust ports are provided in the fuseholder housing. The fuseholder housing normally contains dielectric liquid covering the fuse which is vaporizable by the arcs to generate gases that are exhausted through the supplemental ports. Actuation of the fuse cartridge from its fully-inserted position toward its disconnected position produces a pumping action within the fuseholder housing that forces liquid within the housing through the regions of said arcs and out the supplemental ports.

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First Claim