Abstract: A solid spring disc is made of resiliently yieldable material and is shaped as a shallow cone whose upper and lower surfaces are corrugated and are defined by a plurality of angularly spaced triangular segments of identical size and shape and disposed in adjoining side-by-side relation. The substantially linear force/deflection range of the spring disc is significantly longer than that of a conventional Belleville spring of comparable size and thus the spring disc possesses a substantially lower spring rate.

Abstract: A control device has a plurality of terminals each with a contact section arranged at different preselected elevations therein. Switch means is pivotally movable in the control device into electrical contacting engagement with one of the contact sections and also thereafter rockably movable into electrical contacting engagement with at least another of the contact sections.A method of operating a control device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of assembling a combination starter-protector device. In this method, a first and second terminal are interconnected, and another of the first terminals is mounted to the terminal mounting piece. The second terminal is associated with an aperture extending through a casing member, and the first named first terminal is extended through an opening in the casing member. The terminal mounting piece is disposed in a position with respect to the casing member to at least in part close the opening therein, and thereby the another first terminal is extended through the opening in spaced apart relation with the first named first terminal. Another casing member is associated generally in mating relation with the first named casing member and the terminal mounting piece, and thereby a chamber is enclosed within the casing members.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a control device includes interconnecting a switch segment with a terminal and another switch segment and mounting a plurality of electrical circuit elements within a housing with contact sections of the electrical circuit elements being located in different preselected elevations therein, respectively. The terminal is associated with the housing with the another switch segment extending in overlaying spaced apart relation with the contact sections of the electrical circuit elements located in the housing. A method of operating a control device and a control device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of assembling a combination starter-protector device and mounting it in a preselected assembly position onto at least a pair of plug terminals associated with a housing having a dynamoelectric machine arranged therein and with the at least plug terminal pair connected in circuit relation with a winding circuit of the dynamoelectric machine. The combination starter-protector device includes a pair of separable casing members, a PTCR, an overload protector, and at least a pair of female terminals. In this method, the PTCR, the protector device and the at least female terminal pair are enclosed within the casing members, and a resilient means is releasably secured generally about a major peripheral portion of the casing members for retaining them against separation.

Abstract: A method of making an electrical control having a relay device, a solid state starter device and an overload protector device predeterminately arranged therein and connected in circuit relation.

Abstract: A releasable combination of a separable starter device and a separable protector device adapted for connection in circuit relation with a dynamoelectric machine. A PTCR (positive temperature coefficient resistor) in the starter device and a switch means in the protector device are adapted for association in thermal coupling relation when the starter device and the protector device are in the releasable combination thereof. One of the starter device and the protector device includes yieldable means extending generally circumferentially about at least a major circumferential portion of a part of the other of the starter device and the protector device for releasable engagement therewith so as to releasably maintain the starter device and the protector device against separation from the releasable combination thereof.A method of assembling a releasable combination of a starter device and a protector device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A combination starter-protector device adapted for removable mounting in electrical contacting engagement onto at least a pair of male terminals of a dielectric plug device secured to an apparatus housing. The combination starter-protector device has a casing, a PTCR disposed therein, and a switch in the casing for association in thermal coupling relation with the PTCR. A spring associated with the casing is adapted for releasable securing engagement with the apparatus housing so as to maintain the combination starter-protector device against displacement from the electrical contacting engagement thereof with the at least male terminal pair of the dielectric plug device when the combination starter-protector device is removably mounted thereto.

Abstract: An electrical control having a relay device, a solid state starter device and an overload protector device predeterminately arranged therein and connected in circuit relation.

Abstract: A terminal has means adapted for releasably receiving another terminal, and a tab integral with the receiving means extends therefrom. The tab includes a distal end portion spaced from the receiving means, a pair of opposite side edges between the distal end portion and the receiving means, and slot means in the tab intersecting one of the side edges generally adjacent the receiving means and extending between the side edges generally toward the distal end portion.

Abstract: An electrical device has a casing, a solid state component, and a pair of means in the casing for electrical contacting and positioning engagement with the solid state component. A pair of terminal means are disposed in the casing for connection in circuit with the engagement means, respectively, and at least one of the terminal means is adapted for limited displacement movement in the casing upon the mounting association of the terminal means with a pair of mating terminals. The at least one terminal means includes means associated both mechanically and electrically with one of the engagement means and adapted for isolating the one engagement means from the limited displacement movement of the at least one terminal means upon the mounting association of the terminal means with the mating terminals.A method of making an electrical device is also disclosed.