Abstract: A DC circuit breaker includes a case, two fixed contacts, two movable contacts, a bypass plate electrically connecting the two movable contacts, a moving block to move the bypass plate, a moving block biasing member to bias the moving block in a direction away from the fixed contacts, a thermally responsive member, a latch, a shutter, and a shutter biasing member. The thermally responsive member deforms when an installation surface equals or exceeds a prescribed temperature. The latch restricts movement of the moving block by locking the moving block when the thermally responsive member is in a pre-deformation state. The latch cancels the restriction of the movement the thermally responsive member deforms. The shutter is insertable between the fixed contacts and the movable contacts. The shutter biasing member constantly biases the shutter in a direction to be inserted between the fixed contacts and the movable contacts.

Abstract: A DC circuit breaker includes a case, two fixed contacts, two movable contacts, a bypass plate electrically connecting the two movable contacts, a moving block to move the bypass plate, a moving block biasing member to bias the moving block in a direction away from the fixed contacts, a thermally responsive member, a latch, a shutter, and a shutter biasing member. The thermally responsive member deforms when an installation surface equals or exceeds a prescribed temperature. The latch restricts movement of the moving block by locking the moving block when the thermally responsive member is in a pre-deformation state. The latch cancels the restriction of the movement the thermally responsive member deforms. The shutter is insertable between the fixed contacts and the movable contacts. The shutter biasing member constantly biases the shutter in a direction to be inserted between the fixed contacts and the movable contacts.

Abstract: A wafer support and peripheral parts thereof are used in a heating apparatus for semiconductor wafers and are made of a silicon nitride-silicon carbide ceramic composite containing 5 to 30 weight % silicon carbide. The wafer support and peripheral parts have superior crack healing characteristic in addition to superior thermal resistance, thermal shock resistance, and chemical stability.

Abstract: A thermal protector includes a metal housing having open and closed ends, a header plate secured to the housing so as to close its open end and having two through-apertures, first and second terminal pins hermetically secured in the respective apertures of the header plate so as to extend into the housing, a dish-shaped bimetal disposed on an inner bottom of the housing so that one of its two sides is in contact with the inner bottom face of the housing, an elastic support disposed in the housing to be opposite to the other side of the bimetal for supporting it, a pair of fixed and movable contact members welded to the first and second terminal pins respectively such that a straight line passing through the center of the first terminal pin and a location of the fixed contact member welded to the first terminal pin is approximately parallel to a straight line passing through the center of the second terminal pin and a location of the movable contact member welded to the second terminal pin and vice versa and f