Patents Examined by Harold Broome
  • Patent number: 5266779
    Abstract: A fail safe temperature control device which consists of a nonelastic container or bulb adapted to be subjected to temperature changes, a capillary tube and a pressure responsive device. The container generally is located in the area in which the heat is to be controlled, typically an oven or other heated area. The capillary tube is connected to the container at a first end and to the pressure responsive device at a second end. The nonelastic container, capillary tube and pressure responsive device form a closed system which is filled with a thermally responsive material. The pressure responsive device operates a control device, typically consisting of a normally closed contact and a normally open contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1993
    Assignee: Temp. Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: John J. Theiss, Paul T. Durst
  • 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: 5264818
    Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a lock (12) having a high position when the circuit breaker is triggered and a low position when the circuit breaker is set. The lock in the low position is held by a locking lever (10) against which the lock abuts. The lever cooperates with a device for detecting a current surge which, during a surge, disengages the lever so that the lock no longer abuts against the lever and is released in order to go back to its high position. The locking lever is movable between a high position and a low position, urged to its low position when the lock is set to low position, and associated with upward biasing means active (50) when the lock no longer abuts against the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Assignee: Sextant Avionique
    Inventors: Bernard Truchet, Jean-Marie Vergnes
  • Patent number: 5262749
    Abstract: An electrical safety device is provided with a heat responsive relay adapted to be interposed between a load and a power source. The relay is adapted to open circuit in response to a predetermined temperature. A heater element responsive to the opening of the relay is shunted across the relay. When the relay opens, power is shunted to the heater for maintaining the relay at least at the predetermined temperature thereby holding the relay open while the load remains connected to said power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Opti-Lume Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Z. Kopelman
  • Patent number: 5262748
    Abstract: A fuseless breaking switch comprising essentially a casing, an alloy plate, a first and a second prong, and a spring blade. The switching on of the button allows a closed circuit through the alloy plate and the prongs. An overload of current will cause the alloy plate to flex and thus break the circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Inventor: Yu Tsung-Mou
  • Patent number: 5262604
    Abstract: This invention is a float level switch used to sense rise or drop in water level in a containment vessel of a nuclear power plant during a loss of coolant accident. The essential components of the device are a guide tube, a reed switch inside the guide tube, a float containing a magnetic portion that activates a reed switch, and metal-sheathed, ceramic-insulated conductors connecting the reed switch to a monitoring system outside the containment vessel. Special materials and special sealing techniques prevent failure of components and allow the float level switch to be connected to a monitoring system outside the containment vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: James G. Powell
  • Patent number: 5262752
    Abstract: An electrical switch assembly includes a snap action switch which is actuated from one to another conduction state by a snap action interface mechanism moved by an external actuation element between first and second corresponding positions. The snap action interface mechanism prevents the snap action switch from operating improperly when the external actuation element is of the type which provides a slowly moving, low actuation force. A preferred embodiment has as a part of the interface mechanism, a lever having a ferromagnetic portion which snaps between the first and second positions under the influence of at least one magnet. The switch assembly is particularly suitable for actuation by the bimetal coil strip which commonly forms the temperature responsive element in a thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventors: Kenny Truong, Gerald W. Martin, Donald P. Kolbow, Richard B. Porter, John M. Whitney
  • Patent number: 5262751
    Abstract: A fuse includes a meltable and conductive metal element mainly containing Cu and having a blowout portion, and a low-melting-point metal chip fixed at the blowout portion. The low-melting-point metal chip comprises a Sn-Cu alloy. Preferably, the low-melting-point metal chip comprises an alloy containing 0.5 to 3.5% by weight of Cu and all the residual content of Sn. Also preferably, the low-melting-point metal chip comprises an alloy containing 0.5 to 3.5% by weight of Cu, 1.0 to 6.0% by weight of Sb and all the residual content of Sn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventors: Toshiharu Kudo, Masahiro Kanda, Mitsuhiko Totsuka
  • Patent number: 5260679
    Abstract: Fuse cartridge, of the type comprising, a striking element (8) retained against elastic means (7) by a conductive wire (6) connected between the connection heads (2) in parallel with at least one meltable element (5) so as to melt with the latter under the effect of an accidental overintensity, a micro-switch (9) whose knob (12) is intended to be actuated by said striking element to supply an alarm circuit in the case of melting of element (5), characterized in that, between the knob (12) and the striking element (8) there is interposed a rocking lever (13) profiled in the manner of a cam in order to give the micro-switch (9) two stable positions of functioning, whatever its inner mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 9, 1993
    Assignee: Ferraz
    Inventor: Joel Viscogliosi
  • Patent number: 5258734
    Abstract: A deflection yoke for a cathode ray tube is provided with two separated winding portions, a first portion provided around the neck portion and the tapered portion from the neck to the screen of the cathode ray tube has a uniform and circular winding distribution and a second portion close to the screen of the picture tube has a non-uniform winding distribution and is elongated in the x-axis direction to provide a pin cushion magnetic field without adversely affecting the focus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1993
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hisashi Tamai, Shigemi Oguchi
  • Patent number: 5257001
    Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a connector (17) connected to a bimetal blade (1) having an adjustable inclination. An end of the bimetal blade is embedded in an isolating axle (2) parallel to the plane of the bimetal blade (1), the position in rotation of the axle being adjustable by a screw (5) parallel to the axle comprising a tapered tip pressing on a lever (4) fixed to the axle (2) and perpendicular to the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Sextant Avionique
    Inventors: Bernard Truchet, Jean-Marie Vergnes
  • Patent number: 5257002
    Abstract: A temperature operated switch construction, terminal block therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the switch construction comprising a housing, a movable switch arm carried in the housing, a temperature actuated unit disposed in the housing and being operatively interconnected to the switch arm to cause movement of the arm between operating positions thereof in relation to the temperature being sensed by the temperature actuated unit, the housing comprising a main part and a removable terminal block carried by the main part, the terminal block carrying a switch unit that is operatively associated with the switch arm so that the switch unit is in a first condition thereof when the switch arm is in a first operating position thereof and the switch unit is in a second condition thereof when the switch arm is in a second operating position thereof, the switch unit comprising a reed switch and the switch arm carrying a magnet for operating the reed switch to the conditions thereof as the switch arm
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1993
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Buckshaw, David D. Martin
  • Patent number: 5254967
    Abstract: An electrical interruption device is disclosed in which a space efficient spiral spring activates current interruption. The spring is characterized by coils which wind continuously about and approach a central axis, with successive coils of the spring having reduced radius to pass axially through the center of an outwardly adjacent coil. The spring may further be made to assume a flat condition with the spring coils lying flat, nesting interposed between adjacent coils. Advantageously, the spiral spring is conical in shape and is tensioned in a reverse loaded configuration wherein the coils of one end of the spring are pulled axially inward, through and past the coils of other end. Preferably the reverse loaded conical spring forms part of a thermally sensitive device which includes a housing having disposed therein a plunger which is in a biased relationship with the spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Nor-Am Electrical Limited
    Inventors: Tony Biasutti, Peter Morgan, Mary A. Ruggiero, Brian A. Young
  • Patent number: 5254807
    Abstract: An RPM sensor for anti-lock and/or traction control systems of motor vehicles or for engine speed governing or gasoline or Diesel injection control. The RPM sensor has a housing, receiving electrical components, with a first housing part of plastic that is at least partly enveloped by a second housing part, produced in an injection molding process, likewise from plastic. To attain a moisture-proof, material bond between the two housing parts, a melting element of a plastic having a lower melting point than that of the plastic of the housing parts is disposed in a contact zone between the two housing parts. When the second housing part is formed, the melting element is heated above its melting point, and a material bond of the two housing parts is attained which protects the RPM sensor against moisture dirt, stress, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1993
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Pfander, Kristian Leo, Klaus Heyer, Uwe Kohler, Hans-Jurgen Herderich
  • Patent number: 5252942
    Abstract: A hollow electrical circuit protector preferably coated with an insulative coating which will maintain its structure and not be conductive when said circuit protector blows. The electrical circuit protector has at least one weak spot cross-sectional area and is generally adapted to be part of a dual element fuse link with ribbon-like fuse links on opposite sides thereof. Also provided are the ribbon like fuse links, one with a guide and the other with an integral washer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Leon Gurevich
  • Patent number: 5250754
    Abstract: A clamping device is used for clamping a pressure plate which is supported on elastic cable holders inside a frame, which clamping device has two wedges whose respective hypotenuses rest on one another, which wedges can move relative to one another and can be pushed between the parts to be spread, and which clamping device has a piston-cylinder unit for moving the wedges. Overall, the clamping device has two piston-cylinder units, arranged side-by-side and parallel, on a support, with wedges which can be moved onto one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Inventors: Thomas Wolf, Rainer Klauer
  • 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: 5248953
    Abstract: A thermal overload protection device for electronic components, in particular for the telecommunication and data technology. The overload device has a spring-elastic shorting link 6 and a melt element 13. Tripping of the shorting link 6 performed in dependence of the fusing process of the melt element 13. In order to obtain a SERVO FAIL SAFE behavior, the spring force of the shorting link 6 is arbitrarily high. Devices 15, 17, separate from each other, are provided, according to the invention, for separately tripping and actuating the shorting link 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Assignee: Krone Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Robert Honl
  • Patent number: 5249097
    Abstract: Apparatus is provided for housing the controls for an electric circuit and a light indicator which is driven by the electric circuit. The electric circuit and light indicator are employed in proximity to a spa, whirlpool bathtub, hot tub or the like, and the apparatus is intended for operation by a human operator in contact with water. A front plate or display plate which is at least partially transparent or translucent is mounted on the tub in proximity to the water and helps to separate the electric circuit and light indicator from the water. The housing is mounted on a side of the plate away from the water and has a front portion which is at least partially transparent or translucent and in opposed relation to the plate, a rear edge portion spaced away from the plate, and an intermediate skirt portion connecting the front and rear portions. The housing is formed in one piece and has an opening defined by the rear edge portion to facilitate insertion of the light indicator into the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1993
    Inventor: Gilbert Bassin
  • Patent number: 5247274
    Abstract: A time-delay fuse having a fuse element with a series of weak spots surrounded by a loose sand filler. The fuse element is connected to a trigger mechanism by solder or other meltable alloy. The trigger section provides overload protection and the fuse element provides short circuit protection resulting in a time-delay fuse which can be used in places where there are size restrictions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1993
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Leon Gurevich