Abstract: A pressure sensor has a pressure responsive capacitor electrically connected to a signal conditioning circuit which is calibrated after mounting in a housing to provide an electrical signal corresponding to an applied pressure. The capacitor has thin metal capacitor plates on facing surfaces of a ceramic diaphragm and base and is adapted to receive an applied pressure on the diaphragm. Terminals from the capacitor are disposed on an opposite surface of the capacitor base; the circuit has a flexible substrate having a first end overlying the opposite base surface mounting circuit components electrically connected to the capacitor terminals and has an opposite end folded over the first end electrically connected to connector terminals on a connector body overlying the base; and the housing includes a metal sleeve fitted over the capacitor and body having a rim clamping the capacitor and connector body together to form the sensor.

Abstract: A fuel heating device comprises an electroconductive inner tube which forms a passageway for fuel to be heated. A heater having a positive coefficient of resistance (PTC) is fixed to the side of the outside surface of this electroconductive inner tube, a resilient electrode contacts this heater from the side of its outside surface, and a first electrically and thermally insulating outer tube is provided around the entire periphery of the aforementioned electroconductive inner tube to cover the aforesaid heater completely for holding the electrode compressed to the heater. A second electrically and thermally insulating outer tube is provided around the entire periphery of the first tube, said second tube including means for mounting the device for use.

Abstract: A protective circuit capable of remotely switching power to a load on and off and including an electrothermal sensor system having a heating element of predetermined resistance in series with the load and source of power whereby the temperature of the heating element is monitored relative to ambient temperature to determine current flow in the heater. The electrothermal sensor, according to one embodiment, includes a ceramic substrate having the heater formed thereon with a first deposited heat monitoring element thereon for monitoring the temperature of the heater and a second heat monitoring element thereon for monitoring the ambient temperature of the substrate remote from the heater. The electrothermal sensor, according to a second embodiment, includes a layer of electrically conductive material, a backing layer thereon of electrically insulating material, a grid on the backing layer of thermoresponsive material to form RTDs and a second layer of electrically insulating material over said grid.

Abstract: A fluid level control valve has a base with an aperture formed therein. A cover is slidingly disposed over the aperture and is biased by a thermostatic element in a direction tending to close the aperture. The thermostatic element is an elongated strip having one end captured by tabs projecting from the base, and an opposite end is captured by a bracket formed on the base. The thermostatic element is formed with a V-shaped force imparting portion which is aligned with the cover and the position of the bracket is adjustable to place a selected force on the cover through the thermostatic element. The calibrated valve is then fixedly attached to a housing with the aperture aligned with an aperture in the housing.

Abstract: A supplementary heating system particularly suitable for an automotive vehicle comprises a step down transformer coupled to the stator windings of the vehicle's alternator and a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of resistivity heater electrically connected intermediate the stator windings and the transformer in parallel with the transformer. Due to the presence of the transformer the voltage regulator causes the alternator to operate at a higher than customary voltage to provide the conventional 14.4 volts for the vehicle's normal electrical loads with the high voltage used to energize the heater. The heater can be in the form of a so-called "honeycomb" having a plurality of parallely extending passages or cells disposed in the air stream going from the main heater into the passenger compartment and can be either a multiphase, single phase or direct current type.

Abstract: A three phase hermetic protector for electrical apparatus has a pair of terminals extending through a header with first and second elongated heaters mounted on the terminals and extending away from the header. A rigid support is attached to the header between the terminals and extends away from the header and mounts a third elongated heater extending back toward the header. A snap acting disc is cantilever mounted on the free end of the third heater and mounts thereon a pair of movable contacts adapted to move into and out of the engagement with stationary contacts mounted at the free ends of the first and second heaters. The rigid support mounts a calibration screw beneath the free end of each of the first and second heaters to independently adjust the vertical position of the stationary contacts.

Abstract: A thermally responsive control especially for a clothes iron combines an adjustable, temperature-regulating thermostat and an over-temperature control for limiting maximum temperature levels on a plastic mounting bracket where the over-temperature control also protects the mounting bracket against damage from overheating.

Abstract: A cover for an automotive vapor canister has a heat-spreading member heated by a self-regulating electrical resistance heater of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity for heating air which is periodically introduced into the canister for purging the canister. The cover has a first cover of thermally insulating material defining a thin inner air flow path section to pass air being introduced into the canister over the heat-spreading member for transferring heat to the air and to receive additional heat within the first cover and has a second cover of thermally insulating material defining a thin outer air flow path section overlying and connected with the inner air flow path section to pass the air over the first cover prior to being advanced into the inner flow path section for withdrawing said additional heat from the first cover to preheat the air and improve air heating efficiency.

Abstract: A motor protector and starter particularly suited for refrigeration compressor motors are mounted in the recess of a first housing portion with their resilient female sockets disposed in alignment with a pin receiving aperture. Leads are attached to terminals of the motor protector and starter components and directed through lead receiving apertures in the side wall of the first housing portion. A second housing portion is then snapped onto the first housing portion to provide a combination housing which can be installed on a compressor in a one-step on-line operation.

Abstract: An automotive transmission control is shown having pressure switches to sense the state of actuation of solenoid valves to provide logic signals to a microprocessor type of transmission control. The pressure switches, which sense the pressure of hydraulic fluid controlled by the solenoid valves, use a dished shaped metallic diaphragm characterized in that the pressure-deflection curve of the center of the diaphragm has minimal hysteresis and reflects that the diaphragm is relatively stiff having a positive coefficient of pressure with increasing deflection up to and above a selected pressure level at which level the center accelerates between d.sub.1 and d.sub.2. The diaphragm is loosely held on a conductor at 0 psig with the fluid pressure when it increases forcing the diaphragm into sealing and electrical engagement with the conductor.

Abstract: A redundant power supply system wherein the standby power supplies are maintained in a powered up state at all times by feeding back a difference signal which is indicative of the voltage difference between the output of the power supply and a further difference voltage. The further difference voltage is indicative of the voltage drop across a diode located between the output from the power supply and the load of the entire power supply system.

Abstract: A multi-piece connector assembly comprising a first interconnect member having a plurality of contact pins, and a second interconnect member having a plurality of apertures, the first and second interconnect members being matingly engageable with each other for allowing desired ones of the contact pins to be fitted into desired ones of the apertures. The mating engagement between the two interconnect members is achieved without involving deformation of each of the interconnect members or removal of any of the contact pins from the first interconnect member.

Abstract: An automotive transmission control is shown having pressure switches to sense the state of actuation of solenoid valves to provide logic signals to a microprocessor type of transmission control. The pressure switches, which sense the pressure of hydraulic fluid controlled by the solenoid valves, use a dished shaped metallic diaphragm characterized in that the pressure-deflection curve of the center of the diaphragm has minimal hysteresis and reflects that the diaphragm is relatively stiff having a positive coefficient of pressure with increasing deflection up to and above a selected pressure level at which level the center accelerates between d.sub.1 and d.sub.2. The diaphragm is loosely held on a conductor at 0 psig with the fluid pressure when it increases forcing the diaphragm into sealing and electrical engagement with the conductor.

Abstract: A test socket has movable contact elements blanked from sheet metal to provide each element with a mounting leg part, a contact part at an edge of the blanked sheet metal, and a resilient curved part between the leg and contact parts permitting the contact part to be moved into and out of engagement with terminals of an IC unit to be tested in the socket and has a plurality of projections formed in side-by-side relation to each other in the edge of the sheet metal at the contact part for improving the making and breaking of electrical connection to the IC unit terminal.

Abstract: A solid state starting system for electric motors having main and start windings of the capacitor start, capacitor start-capacitor run and split phase types uses a triac serially connected to the start winding. The system turns on the triac upon energization of the motor from an at rest condition and measures the locked rotor value of either the main winding current for any of the above motor types or start winding voltage for the capacitor start, capacitor start-capacitor run motor types. The system stores that valve as a calibration value and then measures subsequent values and turns off the triac when the subsequent values reach a selected proportion of the calibration value. The system re-energizes the triac upon further subsequent measured values reaching a selected cut in value relative to the calibration value which is indicative of an overload or stall condition. The calibration value is retained for a given period of time following a loss of power to provide desired starting characteristics.

Abstract: An IC socket which has contacts positioned corresponding to each pin position of an IC to be inserted and a body portion holding the contacts, characterized in that at least a part of the contact is formed of conductive resin.

Abstract: A circuit breaker device has a chamber in which is disposed a single break contact system using low contact resistance material mounted on movable and stationary supports arranged in a loop configuration in order to direct arcs between the contacts through an arc chute into a remote portion of the chamber. A push-button is connected through a kinematic linkage which transfers motion using minimal frictional engagement to a movable contact to bring the movable contact into and out of engagement with a stationary contact and to latch the contacts in engagement during normal operation. A cantilevered current carrying bimetal transfers motion caused by I R heating of the bimetal to an ambient compensating bimetal connected to the latch mechanism. The kinematic linkage includes a latch surface which engages a rollable cylindrical reaction surface of the latch mechanism to cause the movable contact to come into engagement with the stationary contact upon depression of the push-button.

Abstract: An internal combustion engine is provided with a heat sink 6 with thermistor pellets 10, 22, 32 of PTC material. This heat sink is held in position inside a through passage for the fuel mixture through the action of clamp means 14; 17; 23; 33 which press the heat sink against the inside surface of the through passage. Obviously the heat sink is electrically insulated with respect to the engine. Advantages are that no plastics contact carrier and an opening in the wall of the manifold are needed and that the temperature peak is moved from the unloaded side towards the middle of the thickness of the thermistor pellets.

Abstract: An operator interface console for protecting a process control equipment such as an industrial computer in a harsh factory environment has a central processing unit and a video display uit for the computer accommodated in a compartment behind a sealed door which has a sealed keyboard and a window to permit operating of the computer and viewing of the display unit while the door is closed, the window being disposed at an ergonomically desirable oblique angle facing somewhat downward to facilitate clear viewing of the display unit under changing lighting, dust and other conditions encountered in many process control situations.

Abstract: A circuit breaker device has a chamber in which is disposed a single break contact system using low contact resistance material mounted on movable and stationary supports arranged in a loop configuration in order to direct arcs between the contacts through an arc chute into a remote portion of the chamber. A push-button is connected through a kinematic linkage which transfers motion using minimal frictional engagement to a movable contact to bring the movable contact into and out of engagement with a stationary contact and to latch the contacts in engagement during normal operation. A cantilevered current carrying bimetal transfers motion caused by I.sup.2 R heating of the bimetal to an ambient compensating bimetal connected to the latch mechanism. The kinematic linkage includes a latch surface which engages a rollable cylindrical reaction surface of the latch mechanism to cause the movable contact to come into engagement with the stationary contact upon depression of the push-button.