Abstract: An electrical contactor for switching a load current having an AC waveform, has a fixed electrical contact, a movable electrical contact, an actuator arrangement having a drive coil drivable for opening and closing the movable and fixed electrical contacts, and a power supply having a controller for outputting truncated-waveform drive pulses to the electrical actuator arrangement, so as to prevent contact separation prior to peak load current.

Abstract: A circuit device includes a heat detection component including lead terminals and a heat detection element, a heat-generating electronic component including lead terminals, and a substrate including a wiring pattern, holes, and lands, the heat detection component and the heat-generating electronic component being electrically connected to the substrate through the lead terminals thereof, wherein the lead terminals of the heat detection component are bent into a U-shaped or substantially U-shaped configuration such that the bent lead terminals are partly contacted with the heat-generating electronic component, and the heat-generating electronic component is sandwiched between portions of the lead terminals and the heat detection element of the heat detection component.

Abstract: An overvoltage protection element with a housing, an overvoltage-limiting component arranged in the housing, and with two connection elements for electrically connecting the overvoltage protection element to the current or signal path to be protected, wherein, normally, the connection elements are each in electrically conductive contact with a pole of the overvoltage-limiting component.

Abstract: A microfluidic bubble fuse is formed from a hermetically sealed reservoir containing an electrically conductive liquid. The reservoir is interposed between a pair of electrodes such that each electrode is in electrical contact with the fluid within the reservoir, and such that the fluid within the reservoir provides electrical interconnectivity between the electrodes. The reservoir may be implemented on a substrate, in a tube, or in another manner. When the current or voltage across the electrodes increases beyond a threshold, the excess current or voltage will cause a bubble to be created within the fluid to reduce or inhibit the flow of electricity between the electrodes. When the current/voltage is reduced, the bubble will collapse to restore the flow of electricity between the electrodes.

Abstract: A circuit breaker with a first contact sleeve (3, 14), a second contact sleeve (4, 16), an insulating sleeve (5, 18) disposed between the first contact sleeve (3, 14) and the second contact sleeve (4, 16) has a switching piston (6, 20) with at least one contact section (8) and an isolating section (7, 19), which is disposed at the side of the contact section (8), whereby the switching piston (6, 20) is movable between a closed position in which the contact section (8) of switching piston (6, 20) connects the first contact sleeve (3, 14) with the second contact sleeve (4, 16) so as to be electrically conductive, and an open position in which the contact section (8) of the switching piston (6, 20) does not connect the first contact sleeve (3, 14) with the second contact sleeve (4, 16), in which the first contact sleeve (3, 14), second contact sleeve (4, 16) and insulating sleeve (5, 18) is movable.

Abstract: A self-recovering current limiting fuse protecting a secondary battery having a high rated voltage thanks to its improved breakdown voltage, expanding the application range, shortening the charging time, and realizing maintenance-free. The self-recovering current limiting fuse is made by fluid-dispersing solid conductive particles into a liquid matrix between electrodes. A current limiting operation through evaporation/spreading of the solid conductive particles and a conducting state brought about through collection of the solid conductive particles between the electrodes by dielectrophoretic force of the solid conductive particles are realized repeatedly, and a current limiting operation through evaporation/spreading of the solid conductive particles by overcurrent is realized.

Abstract: A liquid metal relay includes passages formed by bonding a first substrate and a second substrate together, a liquid chamber formed in a middle of the passages, a plurality of electrodes arranged in the liquid chamber, a first gas chamber and a second gas chamber arranged to communicate with both ends of the passages, a gas sealed into the first gas chamber and the second gas chamber, and a heating section for heating the gas, a liquid metal sealed in the liquid chamber, and through electrodes led to an outside of the first substrate from the plurality of electrodes and the heating section.

Abstract: A circuit breaker with a first contact sleeve (3, 14), a second contact sleeve (4, 16), an insulating sleeve (5, 18) disposed between the first contact sleeve (3, 14) and the second contact sleeve (4, 16) has a switching piston (6, 20) with at least one contact section (8) and an isolating section (7, 19), which is disposed at the side of the contact section (8), whereby the switching piston (6, 20) is movable between a closed position in which the contact section (8) of switching piston (6, 20) connects the first contact sleeve (3, 14) with the second contact sleeve (4, 16) so as to be electrically conductive, and an open position in which the contact section (8) of the switching piston (6, 20) does not connect the first contact sleeve (3, 14) with the second contact sleeve (4, 16), in which the first contact sleeve (3, 14), second contact sleeve (4, 16) and insulating sleeve (5, 18) is movable.

Abstract: An electronic device integrally formed with an automatic switching-off structure for protecting the device from overheating. At least one conducting lead of the electronic device is mechanically and electrically connected to its corresponding electrode by means of a solder column having desired melting point, with an appropriate spacing being kept between the conducting lead and the electrode. The coating layer of the electronic device is formed by a material such as epoxy resin which will soften and release a gaseous substance when heated to a temperature near its ignition point. When the temperature of the device exceeds the melting point of the solder, the solder column melts to break the electrical circuit and prevent overheating of the device. If the electronic device per se has higher working temperature, the coating layer is formed by a material having a higher ignition point such as silicon resin or silicon rubber which will not soften and expand when heated to a temperature near its ignition point.

Abstract: A self-recovery type current limiting element for suppressing overcurrent conditions and capable of recovering so as to be operated under normal current conditions including two identical element cylinders coupled therebetween by a coupler. A series of annular insulating members are provided within the element cylinders and include through holes for current limiting material providing a current limiting path extending longitudinally of each cylinder from an entrance opening at one end connected to the coupler to a buffer at the other end. The through holes in certain members nearer the coupler have a cross-sectional area smaller than the other annular members in the respective cylinders, providing a constricted region of the path. The current limiting material vaporizes when heated by current overload so as to increase resistance to suppress the current passing through.

Abstract: A thermal cut-off fuse of a self-restoring type, which breaks the electric continuity between a pair of lead wires in response to melting and voluminal expansion of a temperature-sensitive member upon rise of the ambient temperature to a prescribed temperature and, in response to restoration of spring means upon fall of the ambient temperature below the prescribed temperature, reestablishes the electric continuity between the pair of lead wires.

Abstract: A current-reducing device (fuse or switch) is described comprising a foil mber of Al or Mg which is immersed in a fluid with which it will chemically react (such as H.sub.2 O or H.sub.2 O.sub.2) above a certain temperature. The foil member is an electrical conductor but becomes an electrical insulator as a result of the chemical reaction.

Abstract: A current limiting apparatus comprises a current limiter and cooling fins formed on each current terminal of the current limiter, and additional cooling fins fitted on a cylindrical tube of the current limiter near a heat generating source.

Abstract: One electrode is rigidly fitted into a hollow metallic cylinder and the other electrode is coaxially fixed within the cylinder through a cylindrical insulation. An insulating disc is opposite to the cylindrical insulation to form them an annular arrow gap between them. The gap is filled with a self-restoring type current limiting material to normally form a current passageway between both electrodes. The current limiting material is caused to be first evaporated in a narrower portion of the gap in response to a flow of overcurrent through it.

Abstract: A liquid-metal circuit protector comprises two liquid-metal current limiting devices electrically connected in parallel with each other. Each current limiting device comprises a pair of spaced terminals and a passageway extending between said terminals and containing liquid metal. The passageways are hydraulically connected in series in a hydraulic circuit loop. Pumping means operated by current through the protector forces liquid metal around the loop via each of the passageways, and heat exchange means external to the passageways cools the liquid metal during its flow through the loop.

Abstract: A current limiting device includes a duct containing a current-limiting material therein which serves to interconnect two spaced terminals but which is evaporable when subjected to an over-current flowing through the material between the terminals. The wall forming this duct includes a region made from a highly-temperature-resistant material which has a relatively small cross-section that connects with another region of the duct having a larger cross-section, and the wall part forming the region of smaller cross-section is surrounded by a resistor member connected electrically in parallel with the current-limiting material disposed therein and which has a resistance value such that the current-limiting material is relieved of current following onset of an over-current condition.