Abstract: The invention concerns a disconnecting appliance, such as a switch, a fuse-disconnecting switch or breaker-reversing switch, having a novel arrangement of fixed and moving contacts promoting contact surface self-cleaning and increasing contact force for the same contact force applied by the cam. Moreover, it comprises a newly designed cam for actuation the mobile contacts to optimize to the maximum the operating conditions when engaging and releasing. The appliance is characterized in that the moving contacts (35, 36) comprise two contact surfaces (38) arranged in substantially perpendicular planes, corresponding with those (27) of the fixed contacts (31, 31′ and 33, 33′), each moving contact (35, 36) moving in radial translation relative to the control shaft (23) along a direction (F) substantially perpendicular to a straight line passing through its two contact surfaces (38).

Abstract: A snap-action thermal relay in which a thin sheet of spring material having a central opening is mounted at one point along one edge and is crimped along an adjacent edge to distort the sheet into a slightly convex bowed shape. A heater element in the form of a thin band of metal is anchored at either end to the normally convex surface of the sheet adjacent opposite edges of the sheet, with a bridging member inserted between the band and the sheet to put the band under tension. A printed circuit heating element is applied to the band on the side opposite from the sheet. The tension in the band holds the sheet in a concave bowed condition. Heating of the bank reduces the tension in the band and allows the sheet to snap back to its normal convex bowed condition. This action brings the band into direct thermal contact with the convex surface of the sheet over a substantial length of the band to provide good conductive transfer of heat from the band and heater to the spring sheet.

Abstract: A flasher device includes a terminal with an inner extension carrying a stationary contact thereon, the extension supporting a conductive heat responsive means connected to another terminal of the device and having a movable contact thereon, an insulating member sandwiched between the heat responsive means and the terminal extension by a metal rivet having a head portion bearing against one of the terminal extension and heat responsive means, a shank passing through the insulating member and in spaced relationship to the defining walls of an aperture in the terminal extension through which it passes, and a staked end bearing against a washer insulating it from the other of same. The insulating member preferably has positioning projections extending into correspondingly sized apertures in the heat responsive means and the terminal extension to fix their relative position thereof. A heating coil is electrically connected across the heat responsive means and the terminal extension.