Eutectic fuses provide current and thermal protection to an electronic system and maintain this protection under high vibration environments. The fuses are embedded within heat shrinkable sleeving which provides positive closing action under the conditions of high current or temperature

Ierokomos, N.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

Eutectic Metal 
Molten Eutectic
Wire Leads 
Insulative Gates (Open) 
Inc	 r­+n. 'Closed) 
December 1967	 Brief 67-10535 
NASA TECH BRIEF 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Eutectic Fuse Provides Current and Thermal Protection under High Vibration 
Heat Shrinkable Sleeving 
The problem: 
To develop a fuse that will provide current and 
thermal protection to an electronic system and main-
tain this protection under high vibration environ-
ments. Presently used circuit breakers and fuses do 
not afford adequate protection in high vibration 
environments. 
The solution: 
The use of eutectic fuses, embedded within heat 
shrinkable sleeving to provide positive closing action 
under the conditions of high current or temperature. 
How it's done: 
The protection device consists of a heat shrinkable 
body with leads on both ends. Inside the body is a 
eutectic wire completing the circuit between the two 
leads. At either end of the body are heat shrinkable 
insulative gates which fit over narrowed sections of 
the eutectic wire. 
During conditions of high current or external heat, 
the body and gates will shrink, closing off the path 
of the current as the eutectic wire melts. In the closed 
configuration, the gates form two completely insula-
tive obstacles in the path of the current. Since the
eutectic material is completely separated in three 
sealed chambers, the probability of forming a con-
ducting path is further decreased and the configura-
tion can withstand extreme vibration environments 
without the possibility of completion of the circuit. 
Note: 
Inquiries concerning this invention may be directed 
to:
Technology Utilization Officer 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
Huntsville, Alabama 35812 
Reference: B67-10535 
Patent status: 
No patent action is contemplated by NASA. 
Source: N. lerokomos 
of North American Aviation, Inc. 
under contract to 
Marshall Space Flight Center 
(MFS-13664) 
Category 01 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 	 Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 	 information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States 	 will be free from privately owned rights.
https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19670000534 2020-03-11T21:00:20+00:00Z


Eutectic fuse provides current and thermal protection under high vibration

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