Patents by Inventor Donald E. Place

Donald E. Place has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5550525
    Abstract: A single pole double throw thermostatic switch has a pair of fixed contacts on opposite sides of a movable contact. A U-shaped bimetal member having a pair of spaced end portions has one end portion attached to a switchcase and the other end portion carries the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1996
    Assignee: Therm-0-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald E. Place
  • Patent number: 5391834
    Abstract: A protective cover for electrical controls has planar upper & lower portions separated by an offset portion that spaces the lower portion outwardly from the upper portion. An enlarged aperture in the upper portion adjacent the offset portion provides access to a temperature setting adjustment on the control. Latches project rearwardly from the upper portion adjacent the aperture and an apertured tongue projects rearwardly from the top end of the cover for attaching the cover to the control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald E. Place
  • Patent number: 4851807
    Abstract: An electric switch, particularly a thermostatic switch, includes a pair of switches having contacts connected to three terminal members having connector terminals aligned along a common axis. The connector terminals include a pair of outside connector terminals and a central connector terminal. One switch has a fixed contact connected with one of the pair of outside connector terminals and a movable contact connected with the central connector terminal. The other switch has a movable contact connected with the other outside terminal and a fixed contact connected with the central connector terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald L. Holden, Donald E. Place
  • Patent number: 4843364
    Abstract: An electric switch, particularly a thermostatic switch, includes contacts connected to at least three terminal members having connector terminals aligned along a common axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventors: Donald E. Place, Ronald L. Holden
  • Patent number: 4604603
    Abstract: A dual temperature probe-type thermostat is illustrated in which a rod and tube probe is mounted at one end with a swivel on the switch body. The swivel structure is simplified to provide a bearing member engaged and positioned by the rod during swiveling movement. Both switches are operated by a single operator which is guided and positioned solely by the switches themselves. One switch is provided with a calibration cam to eliminate any need for selective assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1986
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald E. Place
  • Patent number: 4495389
    Abstract: A snap-disc-actuated switch for monitoring high fluid pressures is disclosed. A non-bistable snap disc, calibrated to snap from its stable state upon application of a relatively low force, is engaged at its center by one end of a pistonlike plunger having its other end exposed to a highly pressurized fluid. The effective cross-sectional area of the fluid-exposed end of the plunger is minimized to provide, in response to relatively high fluid pressure, the required low operating force directly to the snap disc via the plunger, the diameter of the plunger's exposed end being substantially less than the diameter of the disc. The force generated by the disc, when automatically resetting to its normal stable state, constitutes the sole means for moving the piston against the pressurized fluid-generated force acting on the exposed end of the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1985
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald E. Place
  • Patent number: 4297668
    Abstract: A thermostat assembly is disclosed which includes a bracket for attaching a thermostat to a tubular member, such as a pipe or tube, so that the thermostat may be reactive to the thermal condition of the tubular member. The bracket includes a longitudinal opening so that the bottom of the thermostat may directly contact the tubular member. The bracket also includes thermostat-retaining portions, each of which preferably includes an inwardly extending tab having a lance on the end to dig into the cement on the top of the thermostat. The bracket also includes clip portions which extend around and attach the bracket to the tubular member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1980
    Date of Patent: October 27, 1981
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald E. Place
  • Patent number: 4282505
    Abstract: A bimetal snap disc thermostat is disclosed providing a heavy walled, cup-shaped metal housing into which a switch body is press-fitted. The housing is formed with an internal annular groove to mechanically interlock potting material such as epoxy which seals the thermostat and locks the housing and body against relative movement. The housing and body are formed to properly align the parts as they move toward the position of interference fit. In one embodiment, the center terminal is formed of a tubular element which is flattened at one end, with the flattened end bent to provide a lateral contact support portion. A longitudinal opening is formed within the flattened portion to facilitate the formation of a smooth bend and potting material extends through such opening to assist in locking the terminal in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1979
    Date of Patent: August 4, 1981
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald E. Place
  • Patent number: 4243858
    Abstract: A snap disc operator pressure switch is disclosed in which a thin flexible diaphragm is positioned adjacent to the disc to isolate the pressure chamber from the disc chamber and to transmit the pressure forces directly to the surface of the disc. The disc is positioned in a disc seat and is held therein by the diaphragm. The calibration of the disc is not adversely affected because it is not necessary to provide a seal directly with the disc. The disc seat member is shaped to support the disc against overpressure and to provide a guide for the switch bumper. When higher operating pressures are required, two discs are positioned in the disc seat at face-to-face adjacency and the device operates at a pressure substantially equal to the sum of the calibration pressures of the discs. In another embodiment, the movable arm of the switch is biased closed and is moved to an open position by a spring-biased operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 1979
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1981
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald E. Place
  • Patent number: 4133478
    Abstract: A temperature responsive valve is disclosed including a pair of body members which are snapped together and when assembled define a valve chamber. Located within the valve chamber is a bimetal snap disc which seats at its periphery against an O-ring type valve seat when in one position of stability and is spaced from the valve seat in its other position of stability. A spider type spring extends between the cover member and the center of the disc to urge the disc in a direction toward the valve seat. The spring is provided with depending tabs which are positioned adjacent to the side wall of the cavity and function to insure proper location of the spring during assembly of the cover member. The tabs also function to insure proper position of the disc during the operation of the valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1977
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1979
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald E. Place
  • Patent number: 3943478
    Abstract: An adjustable bimetal snap disc thermostat is disclosed in which a leaf spring acts at its center to apply a force to a bimetal snap disc to alter the operating temperature thereof. The force of the spring applied to the disc is adjusted by an operating member which simultaneously moves both ends of the spring with respect to its center. The operating member is located on the side of the thermostat switch remote from the disc and is provided with projections which extend around opposite sides of the switch to the spring. With this structural arrangement, small adjustment travels are required for a given adjusting spring and the thermostat is constructed in a compact manner, which is symmetrical about the center axis of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1976
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald E. Place
  • Patent number: 3940729
    Abstract: An adjustable bimetal snap disc thermostat is disclosed which is provided with a disc seat having an elongated projection formed of deformable material, such as copper. Heat is conducted along the projection between the disc and a location remote from the thermostat so that the temperature of the disc is responsive, at least in part, to the temperature at such remote location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1976
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald E. Place
  • Patent number: 3930613
    Abstract: A thermally sensitive check valve is disclosed in which a bimetallic snap disc functions in one position as the check valve element and in another position to either maintain the valve open as in one illustrated embodiment, or to maintain the valve closed as illustrated in another embodiment. By combining the check valve function and the valving function in a single bimetallic snap disc, a simple and reliable device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1974
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1976
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc Incorporated
    Inventor: Donald E. Place