FUSE ARRANGEMENT

摘要

The present invention relates to a fuse arrangement (1), which is particularly suited to high voltage applications, but also has applications across broad voltage range. A fuse arrangement (1) comprises a fuse link (2) arranged to be connected in a current carrying circuit and a parallel-connected resistor (3). On occurrence of a fault conditioning the current carrying circuit, the fuse link (2) is arranged to generate relatively high voltage such that current is commutated to the resistor (3) and electrical energy associated with the fault current is absorbed by the resistor (3). The resistor element (12) is preferably a varistor and, for high voltage applications, a fuse link (2) preferably comprises a deeply confined expulsion fuse (7). Because electrical energy flowing in the circuit is diverted to the resistance element (12) on occurrence of a fault condition, the current carrying circuit is thus protected from damage.