摘要 |
<p>Improved arc-suppressing fuse tubes of the type used in electrical cutouts is provided which includes a filled synthetic resin matrix core designed, upon experiencing high temperature arcing conditions, to generate sufficient moisture and arc-suppressing gases to safely and efficiently interrupt an arc. The fuse tubes of the invention completely eliminate the use of expensive and difficult to fabricate bone fiber conventionally used in fuse tubes of this type. The preferred fuse tube construction is an integrated, synthetic resin body having an outer tubular shell including a thermosetting, fiberglass-reinforced synthetic resin matrix, together with an inner tubular arc-suppressing core having a thermosetting resin matrix with respective quantities of an organic fiber and a filler therein. The filler is preferably hydrated alumina, and is operable to generate copious amounts of molecular water under arcing conditions; the organic fiber (e.g., a mixture of polyester and rayon) provides a degree of structural reinforcement for the core during manufacturing, and also aids in arc-suppression through the evolution of gaseous products. The fuse tubes of the invention may be pultruded as integrated, joint-free bodies of any convenient length.</p> |