With Reset Means Patents (Class 337/91)
  • Patent number: 11990303
    Abstract: A thermal breaker having a push rod positioned in a base of the thermal breaker between a first terminal and a second terminal and beneath an electrical conducting element. A first end of the electrical conducting element is fixed to and makes electrical contact with the first terminal and a second opposite end extends to the second terminal and is constructed to make reversible electrical contact with the second terminal. A spacer extends from the push rod and is positioned in between the second end and the second terminal when the push rod is pushed manually towards a rear end of the base, preventing electrical conductivity between the first terminal and the second terminal. Releasing the push rod restores electrical conductivity between the first terminal and the second terminal as a spring pushes the push rod towards a front end of the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2024
    Inventor: David Worsham
  • Patent number: 11264197
    Abstract: A resetting element for transmitting resetting force to a thermal switch. The resetting element includes a first end and an elastic element configured to transmit a force received at the first end to the reset switch of the thermal switch, wherein the elastic element is prevents damage to the thermal switch by decreasing the force transmitted to the reset switch from the first end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2022
    Assignee: Air Distribution Technologies IP, LLC
    Inventors: Edward N. Koop, Jeffrey Scott Beneke, Kent S. Maune, Raguraman Gnanavadivel, Vikas Ashok Patil
  • Patent number: 10673185
    Abstract: An overheating destructive switch, comprising: a first conductive element, a second conductive element, a movable conductive element, an overheating destructive element, an operating component, and a second elastic element. The movable conductive element connects the first conductive element and the second conductive element. A first elastic element and the second elastic element act on an operating element. The first elastic element is compressed and has a first elastic force, and the second elastic element has a second elastic force. The first elastic force is greater than the second elastic force under in a normal state. When the overheating destructive element is destroyed due to overheating, the first elastic force is reduced or lost, such that the second elastic force becomes greater than the first elastic force. The movable conductive element is consequently disconnected from the first conductive element and the second conductive element, thus achieving protection against overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: GREEN IDEA TECH INC.
    Inventor: Hsiang-Yun I
  • Patent number: 9911567
    Abstract: A disconnect switch is disclosed with an integrated thermal breaker that can be disposed between a source of power and a circuit to be protected. The disconnect switch can comprise a housing, a first terminal coupled to a power source and a second terminal coupled to a load. The first terminal and the second terminal can be partially included in the housing. The disconnect switch comprises a bi-metal thermal conductive element made from at least two metal sheets with different thermal expansion coefficients and having a concave shape that engages the first and second terminals. Upon occurrence of an overload condition, heat flowing through the bi-metal thermal conductive element causes the concave shape to retract to a convex shape and disengage the bi-metal thermal conductive element from the first and the second terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Littlfuse, Inc.
    Inventors: Geoffrey Schwartz, Joe Thomas, Dana Scribner
  • Patent number: 9048048
    Abstract: A thermal protector for opening and closing an electric circuit, includes: a movable plate having a movable contact point mounted on a one end portion thereof and having a terminal mounted on an opposite end portion thereof; a bypass member joined to the movable plate at the end portions of the movable plate on which the movable contact point and the terminal are mounted; and a thermal responsive element for moving the movable contact point of the movable plate by a snap action thereof to open and close the electric circuit, wherein the bypass member is formed of a first metal material having a higher conductivity than a second metal material of which the movable plate is formed, and the movable plate and the bypass member are joined together and are subjected to heat treatment so that the first metal material of the bypass member is softened while the second metal material of the movable plate is precipitation-hardened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: Uchiya Thermostat Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Takeda
  • Patent number: 7501926
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle has an outlet and senses the operating temperature and automatically turns off when the temperature rises above a predetermined threshold. The receptacle has a reset button that must be manually operated to enable operation of the outlet to resume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: B Safe Electrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Watchorn, Barry Littlewood, Robert Z. Kopelman
  • Patent number: 7385473
    Abstract: An electrical receptacle senses its operating temperature and automatically turns off when the temperature rises above a predetermined threshold. The receptacle has a button that visually indicates when the receptacle has reached its temperature threshold. After automatically turning off, the receptacle remains permanently non-conducting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2008
    Assignee: BSafe Electrix, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven D. Fabian, Douglas Watchorn
  • Patent number: 7382223
    Abstract: A switchable thermal circuit breaker (10) has an automatically resettable, current carrying thermostatic disc (14) cantilever mounted in a housing (12) and carries a movable contact (14b) into and out of electrical engagement with a stationary contact (14c). A disc coupling member (16) is pivotally mounted above the disc and has fingers (16e, 16f) to capture opposed sides of the disc so that the disc coupling member pivots concomitantly with movement of the disc. A radially extending blade (18c) of a pivot member is biased by a spring (18k) into engagement with a stop surface (16k) of the disc coupling member when the contacts are in the engaged position and is movable under the stop arm (16g) when the disc moves to the contacts disengaged position to prevent reengagement of the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Sensata Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Anand Krishnamurthy, Stephen J. Bryant, William J. Bentley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7135954
    Abstract: An electric coupling device includes a housing having a front socket opening and a rear chamber formed by two side wall. Two prongs are disposed in the socket opening of the housing and each has a free end extended out of the housing, and two conductor terminals are electrically coupled to the prongs, and a circuit breaker is coupled between one of the prongs and one of the conductor terminals and includes a conductor blade made of memorized material for selectively terminating or switching off the electric circuit between the conductor terminal and the prong when overheated or overloaded, and a reset knob may selectively and easily and readily switch on the electric circuit again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: Kuoyuh W.L. Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hsien Ming Huang
  • Patent number: 7026906
    Abstract: A circuit breaker has a housing in which two conductive plates, a bimetallic strip and a swing plate with a U-shaped notch are retained, wherein a switch is mounted at the top of the housing. Each conductive plate has an end protruding from a bottom of the body. The bimetallic strip with a movable node connects to one of the conductive plates, where the movable node contacts an immovable node secured at the other conductive plate. The swing plate is attached to near the bimetallic strip near the movable node. A pivot block linked to the bottom of the switch is placed in the U-shaped notch. When current exceeds a predetermined level, the bimetallic strip deforms so that the movable node is separated from the immovable node. Since the pivot block has a lobe configuration, the pivot block can be moved in the notch smoothly and easily separated from the immovable node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2006
    Inventor: Albert Huang
  • Patent number: 6992559
    Abstract: An overload protection switch has a conductor interconnecting the first primary leg and a second primary leg so that when current passes through the switch, the current not only raises the temperature of the bi-metal plate, but also raises the temperature of the conductor to enhance the deformation of the bi-metal plate such that the electrical appliance connected to the switch and having an ampere tolerance lower than that of the bi-metal plate is protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Albert Huang
  • Patent number: 6876290
    Abstract: A switch includes a casing and first and second conductive blades. A conductive strip made of a material that bends when subject to a temperature rise is fixed to the first blade and has a free end. A conductive plate is arranged inside the casing and in electrical connection with the second blade and movable between an engaged position where the conductive plate engages the conductive strip to form an electrical connection between the first and second blades and a disengaged position where the conductive plate disengages from the conductive strip to electrically disconnect the second blade from the first blade. When an overload occurs, an excessive current flows through the conductive strip, causing the strip to bend from a normal operation condition to a breaking condition that separates the conductive strip from the conductive plate. A link is coupled to the conductive plate and defines an elongated slot receiving the free end of the conductive strip therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6788186
    Abstract: A switch device includes a casing and a push member movably connected to a top of the casing. A path is defined in the casing and a guide pin is pivotably connected to the push member wherein the guide pin includes an insertion which is movably engaged with the path. A driving plate is pivotably connected to the casing and includes an aperture through which the insertion extends. A free end of a bimetallic plate is held by a hook portion of the driving plate. The bimetallic plate includes a contact point which contacts the other contact point on a terminal by pushing the push member and the insertion rotate the driving plate in the aperture. When the current is overload, the deformation of the bimetallic plate rotates the driving plate at the hook portion of the bimetallic plate. The aperture in the driving plate includes three recesses and the first recess and the third recess respectively receive the insertion when the switch device is in OFF and ON status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6734779
    Abstract: A switch includes a casing having a bottom to which first and second conductive blades are mounted. The second blade has a top edge forming a notch for receiving a see saw plat and allowing seesawing of the seesaw plate. A conductive strip made of a material that bends when subject to a temperature rise has an end fixed to the first blade and an opposite, free end forming a cantilever. The seesaw plate is movable between an engaged position where a first end of the seesaw plate engages the free end of the conductive strip thereby forming an electrical connection between the first and second blades and a disengaged position where the seesaw plate disengages from the conductive strip thereby electrically disconnecting the second blade from the first blade. A control button is movably received in a top opening of the casing and has a driver assembly mounted thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6714116
    Abstract: A circuit breaker switch is disclosed, including a rocker, an actuator, and a dielectric separator element. The rocker is positionable between a first on position and a second off position. The actuator element is coupled to the rocker such that it causes a first electrically conductive contact portion to move into contact with a second electrically conductive contact portion when the rocker is in the on position. The dielectric separator element is urged between the first and second electrically conductive contact portions in the event of excess current being passed between the first and second electrically conductive contact portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Rototech Electrical Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Chi Sang, Ng Chi Ho
  • Patent number: 6707368
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a nonconductive housing, a first breaker contact within said housing, and a trigger element having a second breaker contact located within said housing. The trigger element is thermally activated to separate the first and second breaker contacts in an overcurrent condition. A nonconductive reset mechanism is located in the housing and configured for sliding actuation to prevent electrical connection between the first breaker contact and the second breaker contact after the trigger element has activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Conrad Fresco Alfaro, Thomas James Stack
  • Patent number: 6703917
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter device protects a load circuit from excessive, or overloading levels of current, provides a visual indication of circuit overload and open circuit, and can be reset. A multi-metallic heat reactive strip is snapped by an overload current to open the load circuit and close a light emitter circuit having a current limiting resistor connected to an indicator lamp that provides a visual indication of the open circuit. The multi-metallic strip is manually reset via a push button to open the light emitter circuit and extinguish the indicator lamp and close the load circuit to reestablish operation therein. The circuit interruption device can be made utilizing currently available technology for miniature fusing in tight, confining spaces and/or assemblies that have unusual shapes that restrict access in automobile electrical systems, test instruments, domestic appliances or many other electronic/electrical circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert V. Belenger, Gennaro R. Lopriore
  • Patent number: 6664884
    Abstract: A switch includes a casing inside which two electrically isolated circuits are arranged. Each circuit includes first and second conductive blades fixed inside the casing. A conductive strip made of a material that bends when subject to a temperature rise is fixed to the first blade and has a free end. A conductive plate is arranged inside the casing and in electrical connection with the second blade and movable between an engaged position where the conductive plate engages the free end of the conductive strip to form an electrical connection between the first and second blades and a disengaged position where the conductive plate disengages from the conductive strip to electrically disconnect the second blade from the first blade. When an overload occurs, an excessive current flows through the conductive strips, causing the strips to bend from a normal operation condition to a breaking condition that separates the conductive strip from the conductive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6590489
    Abstract: A circuit breaker for protecting electrical circuits, particularly in motor vehicles, includes a flat housing, which comprises an insulating material and has two adjacent flat plugs. A bimetal that is embodied as a snap-action element and is fixed to a flat plug serves in contacting the flat plugs together, with the contact end of the bimetal being located in an overlapping position with the counter-contact. During a contact opening as stipulated by an overcurrent, a contact separator automatically travels into the space between the opened contacts, and can be returned from its contact-separating position by the external exertion of a force acting counter to the spring pressure. A manual release device, which diverts the contact end of the bimetal from its contacting position into its contact-opening position, protrudes from the breaker housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ullermann, Ludwig Seiverth
  • Patent number: 5742219
    Abstract: A switchable circuit breaker having a housing, stationary and moveable contacts, a switching member for actuating the contacts to assume a first condition in which the contacts are open and a second condition in which the contacts are closed, and a breaker is disposed within the housing to interrupt current flow through the contacts in response to the current flow exceeding a predetermined level. The switching member includes a pusher moveable between an advanced position in which the pusher acts on the contacts to assume a contact opening condition and a retracted position in which the pusher releases the contacts to assume a contact closing position. The pusher is guided within the housing so as to convert a linear motion of its drive end into a steplike motion of its active end in order to provide a snapping transition between the closing and opening conditions of the contacts, thus assuring "non-teaseability" in the switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Electromechanical Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Moalem, John R. Joyce, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5633618
    Abstract: A fuseless plug with an overload safety circuit breaker having a thermal reactive spring leaf and an electric conductive sheet. When in normal use, the thermal reactive spring leaf and the electric conductive sheet are electrically connected by contacting mutually. If overloading or short circuiting occurs, the temperature will rise, while the thermal reactive spring leaf made of an alloy of two kinds of metal material has different coefficients of temperature, so that the spring leaf will be bent outwardly to release the electric conductive sheet to form a broken circuit state and to assure that no disaster such as a fire alarm will occur. After clearing, a push button can be pushed down to force the electric conductive sheet into engagement again with the spring leaf for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Wen-Pin Chuang
  • Patent number: 5541569
    Abstract: A switch having a circuit breaker comprising a housing into which an electric current is permitted to enter via a first wire connecting piece before arriving at a neon lamp via a movable piece, a fixation piece, a press tip and a spring. The press tip and a conductive piece are caused by the press key to swing so as to make contact with the fire wire connecting piece and a second wire connecting piece for turning on the neon lamp. When the electric current becomes excessive, a position limiting connection point is caused by a curve piece of a dual metal piece to withdraw from a slot of an insulated board. The insulated board is provided with a neck capable of being restrained by a projection of a housing cover of the housing so as to cause the insulated board to move up to bring about an automatic interruption of the flow of the electric current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Inventor: Huey J. Jang
  • Patent number: 5453725
    Abstract: An overcurrent breaker switch includes an upper housing including a lever block with a push rod and a lower housing engaged with the upper housing. First and second blades are mounted to the lower housing, the second blade having a dual metal plate mounted thereon. A lever plate base is mounted in the lower housing and has a first end for releasable electrical connection with the dual metal plate and a second end. A conductive lever plate is pivotally mounted to the second end of the lever plate base and actuatable by the push rod under operation of the lever block. The conductive lever plate has a first end for releasable electrical connection with the first blade and a second end on which a pressing piece is formed. An insulating plate is mounted between the lever plate base and the dual metal plate and has an insulating piece below the pressing piece of the conductive lever plate. A spring is mounted under the insulating piece to provide an upward force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1995
    Inventors: Long-Cheng You, Shou-Chi Kuo
  • Patent number: 5392021
    Abstract: An electromagnetic multi-stage switch composed of a lower and an upper support seats, an electromagnetic coil, a rotary shaft, a restoring spring and a driving iron plate. A shaft member is fixedly disposed between the upper and lower support seats and a rotary shaft is axially movably fitted around the shaft member to axially move between the upper and lower support seats. The upper and lower support seats and rotary shaft are formed with corresponding driving teeth and engaging teeth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Inventor: Kun-Sheng Liao
  • Patent number: 5270799
    Abstract: Upper and lower flexible blades carry normally closed contacts that are opened by upward movement of the upper blade responsive to snapping of a bimetal disc. The disc is reset by a pushbutton movable from a rest position to a depressed reset position. In its reset position, part of the reset button extends past the upper blade into engagement with the lower blade for moving and holding the lower contact away from the upper contact to prevent reclosing of the contacts until the pushbutton is moved back toward its rest position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventor: Derek J. Rose
  • Patent number: 5264817
    Abstract: In a single housing that looks like a standard rocker switch a thermally responsive movable contact element is mechanically opened by the rocker in a "switch" mode, or opened in response to an overcurrent condition in a circuit protection mode. Both conditions result in a trip flag being moved between the movable and a fixed contact. The trip flag rests lightly on the movable contact when the device is ON and during reset motion the trip flag is so mounted in the switch case that it reaches such a reset position only after the movable contact has returned to its ON or closed condition. The rocker has skirts that define cam teeth cooperable with cam teeth on the trip flag. The housing defines slots for receiving projecting portions of the trip flag to define a movable pivot for the trip flag to so reduce the forces and/or moments of the trip flag as it "rests" on the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Inventor: Richard W. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 5248954
    Abstract: A circuit protecting device somprises mainly a housing, an insulation piece, a bimetallic blade, a spring and a press button. The housing has a cover and a main body provided with two partition blocks forming a spring slot and a press button slot communicating with the spring slot. The bimetallic blade has an end fastened to one of two terminals and has another end provided with a contact piece in contact with another one of the two terminals. The spring embracing the outer end of the insulation piece is received in the spring slot of the main body of the housing while the press button is received in the press button slot of the main body of the housing. The inner end of the press button is provided with an insertion hole for receiving therein the outer end of the insulation piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Inventor: Huan-Chang Chiang
  • Patent number: 5153551
    Abstract: A device for manually controlling a thermal relay associated with a contactor and housed, together with the contactor, in a case having stop and reset push-buttons, comprises levers mounted for rotation in a support fixed to the front of the box of the thermal relay. Each of the push-buttons engages a respective lever so that the latter is applied on a stop pusher or a reset pusher of the thermal relay. A combined stop and reset operation from the actuation of the stop push button alone is possible because the stop lever bears on the reset lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1992
    Assignee: Telemecanique
    Inventors: Bernard Fournier, Philippe Rix
  • Patent number: 5140293
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for the manual control of thermal relays, comprising a case with a push-button on a front wall and having a transmission member; the latter comprises a rigid support and a resilient lever applicable on the stop and re-set pushers of a thermal relay. A drive element proper to the push-button is applicable on an intermediate zone of the resilient lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1992
    Assignee: Telemecanique
    Inventors: Bernard Fournier, Philippe Rix
  • Patent number: 5021761
    Abstract: A low voltage high-amp circuit breaker having a substantially rectangular bimetallic bistable element and a pair of terminals extending from the side thereof. The bistable element is attached to have one end move from a first normal electrically conductive position to a second non-electrically conductive position. The manual reset circuit breaker includes a manual reset lever and a non-conductive heat resistant extension blade connected to the reset lever via a rotatable shaft. The extension blade being positioned adjacent the moveable end of the bistable element and when the element is moved to its second position, the blade is moved to prevent the element from returning to its first conductive position until the circuit breaker is manually reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Stack, Jacek M. Korczynski
  • Patent number: 4880948
    Abstract: A contactor device for a circuit breaker includes a stationary contactor having a stationary contact, and a stationary conductor secured with the stationary contact and constituting an electricity path extending from an external terminal to the stationary contact, and a movable contactor having a movable contact movable to detachably touch the stationary contact, and a movable conductor secured with the movable contact and constituting an electricity path extending from the movable contact to another external terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kiyoshi Kandatsu, Makoto Yamazaki, Hiroshi Kinota
  • Patent number: 4868535
    Abstract: The invention relates to a contact breaker of the type that includes a slider (22, FIG. 1) that slides longitudinally within a housing to allow a moving contact 50 (FIG. 3) on a sudden actin bimetal strip (44) to pass through a slider opening (62) against a fixed contact (40), or to keep the contacts apart after they have briefly moved apart. The state of the contact breaker is indicated by a signalling electrical circuit which includes a moving contact (80, FIG. 1) mounted on the slider and having a pair of clips that connect coplanar signalling contacts (68, 70). The slider has a lower extension (92, FIG. 4) that prevents arcing between power contacts. The housing includes two half-casings (16, 18, FIG. 7) joined at a longitudinal joint 19, one carrying power terminals (32, 34) and the other carrying signalling terminals (74, 76). The slider keeps the contacts (50, 40, FIG. 3) separate even if the front housing surface is blocked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 19, 1989
    Assignee: ITT Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Alain Janniere, Jean-Pierre Teisseire
  • Patent number: 4833439
    Abstract: A unitary switch and circuit breaker (10) includes a switch circuit (14, 16, 22, 24, 26, 56, 57, 58) with first and second contacts (28, 30), the switch circuit (14, 16, 22, 24, 26, 56, 57, 58) being actuable to assume a first condition (FIG. 4) in which the contacts (28, 30) are open and a second condition (FIG. 5) in which the contacts (28, 30) are closed, and a circuit breaker (24, 26, 32, 42, 56, 57) integrally formed with the switch circuit (14, 16, 22, 24, 26, 56, 57, 58) for actuating the contacts (28, 30) to interrupt current flow through the contacts (28, 30) in response to the current flow exceeding a predetermined level and for subsequently preventing the resumption of current flow through the contacts (28, 30) until reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Slater Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Wade R. Bowden, Emma Levin
  • Patent number: 4803455
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having a thermally operated snap acting bimetallic actuator is miniaturized for replacing or retrofitting in place of a conventional blade or clip type fuse heretofore used for limiting current overload in a given current carrying circuit and is standardized to permit manufacture of the circuit breaker for operation in either the cycling or non-cycling mode, by providing a sized and shaped housing in which the interacting elements are so mounted and aligned that the terminals are parallel to each other and to the longitudinal line of the housing, and the bimetallic actuator is so mounted, nested, and longitudinally aligned in assembled position between the interengaging elements to provide substantial amplitude of movement of the bimetallic element and the contact thereon for coacting relation with a generally fixed contact in the cycling mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Inventor: Robert A. Kuczynski
  • Patent number: 4801913
    Abstract: Disclosed is a bi-metallic strip connected to one electrical contact tab and holding a contact which works together with a fixed contact carried by another electrical contact tab. The mobile contact and the connection of the other tab with the bi-metallic actuator are diametrically opposed along a diameter that is inclined with respect to the median plane where the plane passes through the center of the bi-metallic actuator and between the coplanar connecting tabs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: DAV
    Inventors: Jacques Weber, Bertrand Torcheux
  • Patent number: 4528540
    Abstract: A thermostat comprising a bimetal switch element reacting at selected temperatures which on one of its ends is fastened on a frame and on the other end is provided with an electric contact adapted to engage a fixed contact provided on the frame, said frame comprising two mutually parallel sheet-like metallic contact carriers forming a base unit, through which two parallel ceramic pins are extending for insulating connection of the two contact carriers and on which pins the contact carriers, with a tight fit, are slidable to and fro relative to one another and are maintained permanently mutually parallel during such mounting, each of said contact carriers having an aperture for lateral exposing of nearly the complete bimetal switch element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 1984
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1985
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Jan J. Stiekel, Marinus Hagen, Klaas H. Prins, Philips M. Gerson
  • Patent number: 4510479
    Abstract: A PC-board mounted thermal breaker that opens with a snap action is disclosed. A bimetallic element, connected to the load terminal of the thermal breaker, rests on an insulated sawtooth surface when the breaker is in the closed position. A contact blade, connected to the line terminal of the breaker, is pivotably biased downward into electrical contact with the bimetallic element by the action of an overcenter spring. An overcurrent through the breaker heats the bimetallic element directly and causes it to bend upwardly, forcing the contact blade to pivot against the bias of the spring. When the contact blade has pivoted sufficiently to move the spring overcenter, the direction of spring bias reverses, pivoting the contact blade rapidly upward, and thereby opening the breaker with a snap action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Airpax Corporation
    Inventor: Donald K. Merchant
  • Patent number: 4480246
    Abstract: A trip-free manual reset thermostat is disclosed in which a bimetal snap disc is positioned so that one edge portion engages a movable contact support arm and opens the contacts when the disc operates to its operative condition. A manual reset member is operable to apply a force to the center portion of the disc in the direction of contact opening, causing the edge of the disc to engage fixed stops and to thereafter move the disc to its reset position. The resetting force is applied in the same direction as contact opening movement so that the operation of the reset member maintains the contacts in an open condition even when the disc has been pushed through to the reset condition. The manual reset member is, therefore, incapable of causing switch closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 30, 1984
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald J. Schmitt
  • Patent number: 4379278
    Abstract: A switch has staggered terminals for better breakdown performance. An integral housing is used for close tolerances. Coaxial alignment provides for smooth operation. A heat operated actuator is disposed in the housing to trip when the current exceeds a selected amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 5, 1983
    Inventors: Walter J. Kuczynski, Robert A. Kuczynski
  • Patent number: 4371859
    Abstract: First and second fixed terminals are mounted in a casing and have one ends projecting out of the casing. Inside the casing, a bimetal extends between the first and second fixed terminals, the bimetal having one end secured to the first fixed terminal. The other end of the bimetal is held in engagement with one end of a coil spring disposed around a pivotable lever pivotably supported on the casing, the other end of the coil spring engaging the pivotable lever. When a current flowing through the bimetal exceeds a predetermined amount, the bimetal is bent to cause a contact supported on a distal end thereof to move rapidly out of contact with a contact supported on the second fixed terminal under the resiliency of the coil spring acting on the bimetal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1983
    Assignee: Hosiden Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Mitsuo Sorimachi
  • Patent number: 4363016
    Abstract: A circuit breaker with an electrical insulator slide interposable between two generally convex contacts thereof and a rocker button rotatably trap mounted on a protrusion extending from the inside wall of the case which interacts wtih pivot points at one end of the slide to translate the rocking motion of the button into a linear motion displacement of the slide. The slide includes generally parallel elongate spaced apart standoff protrusions adapted to maintain the operating electrical contact surface of the movable contact withdrawn from contact with the slide when in the tripped position and during a resetting of the circuit breaker. The slide also includes a contoured portion adapted to generally mate with curved portions of but be visually distinguishable from the rocker button to present a readily discernable indication that the circuit breaker is in the tripped condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: AMF Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert P. Unger
  • Patent number: 4118683
    Abstract: A resettable thermal safety switch having a bistable domed bimetallic disc serving as a heat-responsive switching element which pops from its normal curvature to an opposite curvature, thereby moving a contact breaking plate, the switch having a reset button which is arranged to return the disc to its normal state and to close the switch, but between the reset button and the moving parts of the switch is arranged a force-limiting assembly which prevents resetting or blocking of the switching action at the critical temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1977
    Date of Patent: October 3, 1978
    Assignee: Firma Microtherm GmbH
    Inventor: Gerhard Schwarz
  • Patent number: 4075594
    Abstract: A thermostat comprises a mechanism for opening and closing contacts by a self-resetting bimetal and the mechanism also includes a reset arm for holding a contact arm in open-circuit position with the contacts kept apart. The thermostat in this holding condition can be reset by hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: Uchiya Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Uchiya Tomoyoshi
  • Patent number: 4068203
    Abstract: A bimetallic circuit breaker with an electrical insulating slide interposed between the contacts thereof in the contacts open position in which the terminals, the bimetallic element, the insulator slide, the button (connected to the slide) and the spring biasing the button and the slide to the contacts open position of the circuit breaker are all carried by an insulator frame so that they may all be preassembled together and inserted into the housing for the circuit as one sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: Heinemann Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert P. Unger
  • Patent number: 4053859
    Abstract: A temperature sensitive switch has openable and closable electric contacts, a two-position bimetallic element and a two-position bistable element, both coupled to the contacts. At a predetermined maximum temperature, the bimetallic element moves from a first position to a second position and thereby opens the contacts and also moves the bistable element from a first position into a second position. The bistable element, in its second position, maintains the contacts open independently from the position of the bimetallic element, until the bistable element is reset from its second position to its first position, and thus the contacts are closed, by an external (manual) resetting force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 1976
    Date of Patent: October 11, 1977
    Assignee: INTER CONTROL, Herman Kohler Elektrik GmbH & Co KG
    Inventor: Walter Hollweck