Abstract: Delayed release locking control device, particularly for doors of washing machines and the like, containing inside a case a self-regulating resistive wafer heater of a material having a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) of resistance, a snap-acting bimetallic element connected to a latch or locking member, and terminals which carry electrical current to the PTC wafer heater, wherein the bimetallic element is arranged so means transform the linear snap like movement of an end of the bimetallic element into a rotary movement of the latch mounted on the case to cause it to rotate 90.degree. from a resting position into an operating position when the bimetallic element, selectively heated by the said PTC wafer, abruptly reverses its curvature upon reaching the actuating temperature of reversal and to cause the said latch to return to the resting position when the bimetallic element cools down again to below a reset temperature of reversal and snaps back to its normal curvature.

Abstract: A dual function sensor particularly useful with vehicular coolant systems indicates when a coolant liquid becomes corrosive to such cooling system materials as well as when the liquid falls to a low level condition. A reference and a sense electrode are used to probe the condition of the coolant liquid. Integral electronics provide signal conditioning and transmitting to indicate both corrosive and low level coolant conditions. The sensor assembly mounts directly onto a tubular coupling on the vehicle radiator by pushing the assembly onto the coupling until a spring wire element snaps past a lip formed on the free distal end of the coupling. An electrical connector shroud extends from the assembly and accommodates a mating male connector which is pushed onto the shroud until a clip mounted on the male connector snaps over a locking tab located on the shroud. The male connector typically is connected to an engine control module (ECM).

Abstract: A remotely controlled circuit control device has first and second load contact assemblies movable into circuit engagement and circuit disengagement positions relative to one another in which one load contact assembly is operatively connected to a solenoid so that alternate forward strokes of the solenoid moves the one load contact assembly between reset and tripped positions through a push-push mechanism having an indexing portion and a latching portion. An overload mechanism cooperates with the latch portion to cause the load contact assemblies to move to the circuit disengaged position upon occurrence of a fault condition. The second load contact assembly includes pivotably mounted contact members which are linked to the first load contact assembly in such a way that circuit engagement during solenoid energization is precluded.

Abstract: An MOS integrated circuit has an array of terminal means connectable to an output buffer or the like arranged around an array of MOS circuit components such as shift registers or the like and has a novel metal programmable matrix arranged for compactly and economically accommodating any selected interconnection of the shift registers and terminal pins at the metal conductor level of the integrated circuit.

Abstract: A cylinder pressure transmitter has a body with a chamber open at one end accommodating pressure responsive piezoelectric means. A cup-shaped diaphragm member has a side wall secured with a laser weld to a neck portion of the body which is formed as a rim around the chamber opening. The bottom of the member extends over the opening and has a slightly domed portion exposed to the pressure in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine to serve as a diaphragm responsive to variations in cylinder pressure to apply corresponding pressure forces to the piezoelectric means, thereby to provide initial electrical signals corresponding to the cylinder pressures. Electronic means are carried on the body to amplify the initial electrical signals for transmission to computer control means at a location remote from the cylinder for regulating engine operation to improve performance.

Abstract: A housing has a switch chamber in which an electric switch is placed and a recess in which is received a snap acting, thermally responsive disc which actuates and deactuates the switch upon snapping from one configuration to another. A drop in thermal biasing assembly used to modify the operating temperature of the disc has a pair of cylindrical film type resistors electrically connected in parallel circuit relation and physically connected to a pair of connectors. An assembly having resistors of a rating chosen for a particular application is dropped into the recess before the disc is assembled, the connectors sliding into matching bores formed in the housing. The connectors are attached to suitable teminals and the disc is then placed over the thermal biasing assembly to provide a multiple temperature operating thermostat.

Abstract: An improved circuit panel connector comprises an electrically insulating body having a plurality of openings extending through the body and has electrical contacts such as screw machine contact assemblies movably mounted in the respective body openings so that posts extend from the openings at one side of the body and terminal entry portions of the contacts are accessible at an opposite side of the body. A plate having a plurality of protuberances formed therein is disposed over the opposite connector body side with the protuberances fitted into the terminal entry portions of the contacts for spacing the movably mounted contacts relative to each other in the connector body openings. A polyimide tape is adhesively and detachably secured to the body over the plate for holding the plate on the body and for sealing the body openings. The contact posts are inserted into corresponding openings in a circuit panel and soldered to circuit paths on the panel.

Abstract: A motor protector of the type having a snap acting thermostatic element is shown particularly adapted for use with compressor motors in which a conventional three pin header is mounted on the compressor casing to allow electrical energization of the motor. An improved heat transfer path is formed between the windings of the motor and the thermostatic element of the protector by suspending the protector from one of the motor pins in optimum heat conductive relation therewith and thermally separated from the compressor casing and any component mounted on the other two pins.

Abstract: A sealed thermostatic electric switch has a heat responsive thermostatic element disposed in good heat transfer relationship with the closed end of a heat conductive cup shaped member. The side wall of the cup shaped member extends upwardly from the closed end and is spaced a selected distance from the housing of the switch. A plastic sleeve has one end tightly received over the side wall and adhesively secured thereto and another end closed except for a tubular portion extending therefrom with electrical leads of the switch extending from the switch through and beyond the tubular portion. The tubular portion has opposed wall portions which are in contact and coalesced with each other and with the aligned plastic insulation of the leads to effectively seal the tubular portion of the sleeve.A mounting plate is welded to the bottom outer surface of the cup shaped member which interfits with a strap or clip for attachment to a surface whose temperature is to be monitored.

Abstract: A pressure responsive device suitable for high pressure hydraulic applications has a formed metal disc or diaphragm adapted to move from an original dished configuration toward an inverted dished configuration with snap action in response to the application of a selected fluid pressure. Support means of selected surface radius extend into the space defined by the original dished configuration of the diaphragm to intercept and limit such diaphragm movement to prevent damage to the diaphragm under the applied pressure and to limit stresses in the diaphragm material particularly adjacent to the periphery of the dished part of the diaphragm for improving reliability and service life of the device.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed, creep acting pressure switch has a sensor assembly comprising a bulged metallic membrane welded between a port fitting and a support. A switch assembly, attached to the sensor assembly, includes a housing which has a switch chamber in which, in one embodiment, a pair of stationary contacts are mounted. A piston having a force receiving surface at one end is biased into engagement with the membrane with an adjustable calibrated force. An electrically conductive contact bridge is mounted on and is movable with the piston. The switch can be normally open or normally closed depending on which side of the contact bridge the stationary contacts are mounted. In an alternate embodiment a miniature switch is mounted in the switch chamber and is adapted to be actuated by the piston.

Abstract: A body comprising a ceramic electrical resistance material of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity adapted to display a sharp increase in resistivity when heated to a selected temperature has passages extending through the body between opposite ends of the body for passing fluid through the passages in heat-exchange relationship to the body and has means electrically contacting spaced-apart portions of the body for directing electrical current through the body to self-heat the body. The body is made with an improved structure in an improved manner and is particularly adapted for use as a self-regulated fluid heater within a small or irregularly-shaped conduit or the like.

Abstract: A device preheats a fuel mixture in an intake manifold of a combustion engine, the device corresponding a cylindrical body having a side wall and a bottom disposed in the wall of the intake manifold. The body is arranged on an electro- and heat insulating contact bearer and is secured on the intake manifold in an electro- and heat conducting way, the bottom of the body being provided with PTC pills which are connected to a current conductor and are secured on the bottom in an electro- and heat conducting way. The bottom has such a thickness and shape that during preheating the fuel mixture a homogeneous heat conduction is created, the side wall of the body having securing means to secure the preheater, and wherein it has such a thickness that together with the securing means it provides the required heat resistance upon heat transfer from and to the intake manifold.

Abstract: A starter circuit for a fluorescent tube lamp is connected between the cathode heaters of the tube to provide an initial heating current and then changes to a high impedance to ignite the tube. The circuit is fed by raw rectified a.c. and has a main thyristor requiring a high holding current to maintain the initial conduction. The current through the main thyristor sets up a voltage across a series diode which triggers a second thyristor to reduce the gate voltage of the main thyristor. The main thyristor ceases conduction when the current falls below the holding value and the inductive ballast impedance then produces a high energy striking pulse for the tube. The pulse voltage is limited to increase its duration. One embodiment generates a single pulse only each time the circuit is switched on and another embodiment produces pulses for a period of time before becoming quiescent. The main thyristor and the voltage limiting means are embodied in a monolithic semiconductor structure.

Abstract: A time delay relay (TDR) is formed by capturing a thermostatic switch between identical shells of an outer housing and suspending the switch in a switch cavity to minimize heat loss to the outer housing. The shells are bonded together to form a unitary housing member. Heater terminal members are captured in identical grooves formed in the housing shells with the terminals projecting from either the top or bottom of the TDR. An alternate embodiment includes a manual reset mechanism also captured between the housing shells.

Abstract: A miniature thermostatic switch of the type that can be inserted into the windings of electrical devices in order to sense the temperature of the windings is disclosed having an improved liquid tight seal to prevent seepage into the switch of varnish or other liquids to which the windings are subjected during assembly. The switch has a two part metallic housing with lips of one part clamped to the other part with an electrically insulating gasket interposed between the two parts. After assembly of the switch the gasket material is softened and the lip is subjected to a force to deform the gasket material, wetting the housing contiguous to the gasket and forming fillets therebetween to completely fill in any voids between the gasket and the contiguous housing.

Abstract: An interconnection system for high density I/O sites on an I.C. Interconnection substrate allowing field replacement thereof has a socket body with an array of contact springs adapted to be removably biased into engagement with conductive pads on the bottom surface of the substrate. The contact springs have a tail portion depending from the socket body which are affixed to a printed board. The substrate is locked into place on the socket body by removable latches.

Abstract: An improved cylinder pressure transmitter provides an electrical signal corresponding to pressure in a cylinder of an automotive internal combustion engine during engine operation and furnishes the signal to computer control means for use in regulating spark advance to improve engine efficiency and performance and reduce engine knocking. The pressure transmitter includes means for mounting piezoelectric means in sealed relation to an engine cylinder to be responsive to variations in cylinder pressure during engine operation to provide initial electrical signals representative of pressure variations in the cylinder and includes high temperature electronic means carried by the mounting means and electromagnetically shielded with the piezoelectric means within the mounting means for amplifying those initial signals to provide low impedance signals for transmission to computer control means at a location remote from the cylinder.

Abstract: A circuit for converting analog to digital data uses a CMOS multiplexer, an analog to digital converter and an operational amplifier buffer controlled by a single chip microprocessor. An FET shunt circuit is connected to the input of the operational amplifier in order to pull the input to ground during a conversion cycle of the converter and the resulting data is read and used to adjust the data from subsequent data conversions to correct for offsets of the operational amplifier and the converter.

Abstract: A two part ski boot, one part being slidably connected to the other part, such as through a tongue and groove arrangement, is shown in which the parts may be locked to one another in any of a plurality of locations. A series of bores extending transversely through the tongue and groove are provided so that at least one bore in one part can be brought into alignment with a bore in the other part and a pin can be received in the aligned bores to lock the parts together. The tongue and groove may extend the full length of the boot or only a portion of its length. An end cap can be attached to the open end of the boot if desired.