Abstract: A thermal actuator comprises a substantially straight beam. The beam has a beam length and a beam mid-point. The beam comprises a plurality of beam segments with beam segment lengths. Each beam segment has a beam segment neutral axis, thus forming a corresponding plurality of beam segment neutral axes. The beam segment neutral axes are offset along the beam length based on a predetermined pattern. As the beam is heated by an included heating means, the beam buckles. The buckling of the beam, in turn, causes the beam mid-point to translate or move in the predetermined direction. The beam mid-point movement, in turn, operates an included optical waveguide switch. The heating means comprises any of Joule heating, eddy current heating, conduction heating, convection heating and radiation heating.

Abstract: A thermal actuator comprises a substantially straight beam. The beam has a beam length and a beam mid-point. The beam comprises a plurality of beam segments. Each beam segment has a beam segment width, the beam thus forming a corresponding plurality of beam segment widths. The beam segment widths vary along the beam length based on a predetermined pattern. As the beam is heated by an included heating means, the beam buckles. The buckling of the beam, in turn, causes the beam mid-point to translate or move in a predetermined direction. The beam mid-point movement, in turn, operates an included optical waveguide switch. The heating means comprises any of Joule heating, eddy current heating, conduction heating, convection heating and radiation heating.

Abstract: A thermal actuator comprises a plurality of substantially straight and parallel beams arranged to form a beam array. The midpoint of each beam is attached or coupled to an orthogonal coupling beam. Each array beam has a beam heating parameter with a corresponding beam heating parameter value. The beam heating parameter values vary across the beam array based on a predetermined pattern. As the beams are heated by an included heating means, the distribution of beam temperatures in the beam array becomes asymmetric, thus causing the beam array to buckle. The buckling of the beams in the beam array, in turn, causes the attached coupling beam to move in a predetermined direction. The coupling beam motion, in turn, operates an included optical waveguide switch. The beams in the beam array are heated by any of Joule heating, eddy current heating, conduction heating, convection heating and radiation heating.

Abstract: A unitary bracket which is particularly suited for mounting a thermal protector to a ballast for an electrical lighting fixture is disclosed. The unitary bracket has a holding-face portion with opposite edges and a mounting end, edge portions on the opposite edges angled toward the electrical device, and a mounting-end portion on the mounting end and extending toward the electrical device, the mounting-end portion having a mounting tab for engagement with the electrical device, the portions being configured and dimensioned to sandwich the thermal protector against the electrical device when the mounting-end portion is secured thereto. Also disclosed is an improved thermally-protected ballast including such bracket.

Abstract: A temperature responsive switch includes a housing, electrical contacts, an actuator arm, a rotatable shaft, and a cam assembly to open and close an electrical power circuit in response to environmental conditions. The cam assembly includes a cam and a cam follower attached to the actuator arm with a bias spring and contacting a cam surface. The cam surface has a first portion for adjusting the temperature calibration of the switch, and a second portion for positioning the cam follower in an OFF position that reduces the load on the bias spring. Thus, spring losses are avoided when the cam follower is in the OFF position, and the switch may be more accurately calibrated and adjusted when the switch is returned from the OFF position.

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 user adjustable switching controller for duty cycle regulating flow of current to an electrical load such as a resistance heater, particularly for cooking appliances. A load current switch, when closed by a user operated cam also energizes a heat motor which includes a resistive strip attached to one active leg of a U-shaped bi-metal member. In one embodiment the integrally formed load current switch snap spring is securely attached to the heated leg of a U-shaped bi-metal and the moveable contact arm pivoted on the base. The other leg of the U-shaped bi-metal is anchored to a base including one of the load-connecting stationary terminals; and, the anchored leg serves to provide ambient temperature compensation. In another embodiment, the integrally formed blade spring of the moveable contact member is pivoted on the active leg of the U-shaped bi-metal and the moveable contact arm welded to the base.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a water heater thermostat for increased efficiency in fuel usage. A mounting bracket is adapted to fit on several different common types of thermostat control boxes. In one embodiment the bracket removably receives a controller housing. In another embodiment the mounting bracket and the controller housing are a unitary structure. A motor in the housing is coupled to a slip ring engaging the thermostat knob to raise and lower the thermostat temperature setting in accordance with sensor actuated circuitry responsive to incoming and outgoing water temperature. The coupling enables the apparatus to accommodate thermostats with different size knobs and rotatable in opposite directions, in addition to coupling to various size thermostat housings.

Abstract: Apparatus for controlling a water heater thermostat for increased efficiency in fuel usage. A mounting bracket is adapted to fit on several different common types of thermostat control boxes and to removably receive a controller housing. A motor in the housing is coupled to a slip ring engaging the thermostat knob to raise and lower the thermostat temperature setting in accordance with sensor actuated circuitry responsive to incoming and outgoing water temperature. The coupling enables the apparatus to accommodate thermostats with different size knobs and rotatable in opposite directions.

Abstract: An apparatus for actuating the temperature setting means of a water heater is provided with a drive motor (2) adapted to move the temperature setting means from a low to a high temperature setting and vice versa. The drive motor (2) is connected to a power supply through a switching means (14). The switching means (14) is operable by a programmable timer (15) in such a manner that the temperature setting means is set on a high temperature only during at least one desired period.

Abstract: A defrost thermostat provided with a timer driven cam mechanism for preventing repetition of defrosting operation shortly after the completion thereof which is apt to be caused due to the temperature lowering of the external unit acting as an evaporator during the indoor heating operation. The cam mechanism includes a masking member coaxially mounted on the disc cam to block the cam recess while leaving a gap for permitting an initial defrost operation. During the defrost operation, the cam follower goes out of engagement until it rides over the masking member. Once the defrost operation is completed, it will not be repeated immediately thereafter, thus ensuring stable normal indoor heating operations.

Abstract: A thermostat control for a heat pump thermostat allows the heat pump to change its temperature setting automatically and systematically minimizing the use of resistive heating with the heat pump as a backup to accomplish the temperature change. A cam having a smooth and gradually varying cam surface changes the position of the thermostat control on the heat pump thermostat to move the control through a desired temperature differential at a rate less than the rate at which resistive heating will be used as a backup to aid the change unless the heat pump is operating at full capacity.

Abstract: A clock thermostat apparatus adapted for controlling temperature conditioning apparatus maintains a normal control temperature in a space and during certain selected time periods deviating from the normal temperature control by resetting the normal temperature control to some lower temperature for comfort and energy conservation. The clock thermostat apparatus has a manual temperature selection means and a manual temperature deviation selection means for selecting the normal control temperature and the amount of reset or deviation during the selected time period. A connection means is provided between the temperature selecting means and the temperature deviation selection means to turn the temperature deviation selection means to a lower value when the temperature selection means is moved to some predetermined low temperature.

Abstract: There is disclosed a timer mechanism having a driven clock dial with a mechanism for sequential operational modes activated by arms which are adjustably fixedly carried on the clock dial. The invention comprises a bracket fixedly carried on the clock dial which receives a removeable arm clip permitting the clip to be removed and the arm deactivated. The device is particularly intended for use with room or space heating thermostats and the removeable clip permits conversion of the thermostat from single to multile set-back capability.

Abstract: A cut-back thermostat construction having a thermostat arrangement and a timer carried by a housing in such a manner that the timer will cut back the temperature setting of the thermostat arrangement by moving an electrical switch of the thermostat arrangement relative to a temperature responsive switch operator of the thermostat arrangement when a predetermined time is reached by the timer. A movable actuator is operatively associated with the switch to be adapted to cause a certain movement of the switch relative to the switch operator when the actuator is moved from a first position thereof to a second position thereof by the timer when the predetermined time is reached. An adjustable member is separate from the actuator and is adapted to select the amount of movement of the switch relative to the switch operator when the actuator is moved from the first position thereof to the second position thereof whereby the adjustable member selects the cut-back temperature of the thermostat arrangement.

Abstract: A timer controlled heat emission device for modifying the operation of a wall mounted thermostat includes a housing slidably mounted on the wall adjacent the thermostat, an electrical heating element disposed in the housing in heat emission relation with the thermostat, switching means movable between a first position in which the heating element is connected to a source of electricity and a second position in which the heating element is disconnected from the source, a timer activatable for a preselected time period, and control means operatively connected to the timer for moving the switching means between the two positions upon the activation and deactivation of the timer.

Abstract: A control device adapted to select a set-point temperature for a condition responsive device. The control device has temperature selecting means rotatable through a preselected temperature range generally between a pair of opposite rotated positions, and resilient means is disposed for engagement with a part of the temperature selecting means upon rotation thereof in response to a rotative applied force from one of the opposite rotated positions toward the other thereof so as to arrest the rotation of the temperature selecting means in a predetermined rotated position between the opposite rotated positions. Means is movable in response to another applied force thereon for driving the resilient means toward a displaced position disengaged from the part of the temperature selecting means, and the temperature selecting means is thereafter further rotatable upon further exertion of the rotative applied force thereon from the predetermined rotated position toward the other opposite rotated position.

Abstract: A cut-back thermostat construction having a thermostat arrangement and a timer carried by a frame in such a manner that the timer will cut back the temperature setting of the thermostat arrangement by moving an electrical switch unit of the thermostat arrangement relative to a temperature responsive switch operator when a predetermined time is reached by the timer. A movable actuator is carried by the frame and is operatively associated with the switch unit to be adapted to cause a certain movement of the switch unit relative to the switch operator when the actuator is moved from a first position thereof to a second position thereof by the timer reaching the predetermined time.