Abstract: A thermostat for controlling an air conditioning system has a selectable cycling rate. A manually variable resistor element is connected in parallel with the thermostat's standard anticipator resistor. In a preferred embodiment, the manually variable resistor element comprises a series circuit formed from a manually operable switch in series connection with a cycling modifier anticipator resistor is connected across the power terminals of the thermostat. By closing the switch, additional heat is supplied to the thermostat's temperature sensing element during the times when the thermostat is not providing power to the air conditioning system. The additional heat causes the thermostat to cycle the air conditioning unit more rapidly.

Abstract: An electromechanical thermostat has a fixed value voltage anticipator resistor and a variable anticipator resistor for series connection with the load. This allows a single thermostat to control either a high efficiency furnace requiring a relatively low cycle rate or a furnace of conventional efficiency which can function at a higher cycle rate. Preferably, the voltage anticipator resistor is selected to give the cycle rate required by high efficiency furnaces when the resistance of the variable anticipator resistor is set to zero ohms. If the thermostat is shipped with the variable resistor set to zero ohms, the installer will not have to adjust the variable resistor whenever the thermostat is installed in a system requiring that cycle rate.

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.

Abstract: A single bimetal automatic changeover thermostat has heating, cooling and changeover switches mounted to the bimetal. A single control point adjustment lever for rotating the bimetal has separate shaped heat and cool set point indicators which are movable along a temperature scale.

Abstract: A device is provided for gripping, lifting and manipulating wooden logs intended to be entered into the combustion zone of a furnace. The device has a straight rigid staff having a fixed gripping arm at its forwardmost extremity. A sliding assembly, which slidably engages the staff by way of an encircling collar, is equipped with an actuator handle, a moving gripping arm, a lever portion, and two fulcrum elbows. When the actuator handle is squeezed toward the staff, the two fulcrum elbows cause the moving gripping arm to angle toward the opposed fixed gripping arm. Such action exerts holding force upon a log contacted by the two gripping arms.

Abstract: An electric control motor which utilizes a reduction type of gear train to provide output motion to a shaft for positioning devices such as valves, dampers, and other similar equipment is disclosed. This type of control motor is limited in rotation of the output shaft to less than 360 degrees so that the shaft can be used as a positioning force in numerous control applications. The total number of angular degrees rotated by the output shaft of the motor is readily adjustable by changing a potentiometer setting. In order to protect the motor, the linkages, and its load, a limit switch is also provided. A single stroke adjusting linkage that has a readily accessable location is used to concurrently set the stroke potentiometer and the limit switch so that the output shaft of the control motor is limited in movement to a predetermined number of angular degrees.

Abstract: A shaded pole electric motor which utilizes shading coils on the shaded poles is operated to provide a braking action. The shading coils are normally operated to cause the motor to operate either clockwise or counterclockwise. The current flow in the shading coils is used to gate a triac for normal operation. When the triac is not gated, the energizing potential for the motor operates a unidirectional current control circuit to energize the motor winding with half-wave direct current to brake the motor.