With Manual Or Other Mechanical Contact Control Means Patents (Class 337/312)
  • Publication number: 20090302990
    Abstract: A thermally activated electrical interrupt device incorporates a thermally activated portion engaging with an electrical interrupt portion. The thermally activated material expands when heated, causing an interrupt control rod to open an electrical contact. When the interrupt device is placed into an interrupt state, a reset mechanism maintains the interrupt control rod in the interrupt state until specifically reset. An actuating shaft is in operational communication with at least one electrical contact. The actuating shaft is maintained in a thermal monitoring position until an interrupt control rod is moved via a thermally expanding material and engages with the actuating shaft, releasing it from the thermal monitoring position. The actuating shaft is projected via a biasing member to cause a change in state of the electrical contact. The actuating shaft remains in the interrupt state until the user resets the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 1, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Inventors: William C. Neilly, Kevin L. Gabrey
  • Patent number: 6819216
    Abstract: A thermostat includes a wall plate unitarily molded of thermoplastic resin, a first metal plate holding a temperature sensing section, and a second metal plate holding a cam shaft. A fulcrum of a lever and a fulcrum of adjusting plate are protected by the wall plate and they are not exposed to the outside. Since both the fulcrums are not exposed to the outside, the fulcrums are free from being touched with foreign matters. This thermostat thus prevents a temperature set therein from changing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2004
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ichiro Onishi, Yoshihide Nakajima, Naotake Kokubu
  • Patent number: 5877670
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 2, 1999
    Inventors: Scott B. Sehlhorst, Stephen Schamberger
  • Patent number: 5392022
    Abstract: An assembly method and a thermostat for an electric/gas oven are provided. An enclosure formed by a base and a cover for enclosing a switch subassembly includes axially aligned channels extending through opposed walls and external keying and positioning features. A pair of axially aligned actuators are received within the axially aligned channels. A frame having cooperating keying and positioning features positions and supports the enclosure containing the switch subassembly and supports both a temperature responsive subassembly and a spindle subassembly in operative position with respect to the actuators. The spindle subassembly includes a cam member mounted on a spindle for rotation with the spindle. The cam member provides a cam surface having a first cam rise equivalent in a first range of rotation of the spindle and a second cam rise equivalent in a second range of rotation of the spindle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Harper-Wyman Company
    Inventors: Joseph C. Kadlubowski, Lyle B. Lund
  • Patent number: 5315281
    Abstract: A housing (10), (54) defines a well which holds a diaphragm assembly (12). The diaphragm assembly has a stud portion (14) that extends through an aperture in the housing and is biased into the housing by a spring (16). The stud portion defines a channel (18) which is received in a slot between arms of a calibration plate (20). Movement of the calibration plate transverse to the axis of the stud portion engages a cam surface (24) to position the diaphragm, more particularly a dielectric button (34) which engages a switch control member (50). As a fluid in a bulb (32) expands, it causes the diaphragm to expand, moving the control member (50) and one end of control spring portion (48) causing contacts (46, 52) to open. When the temperature of the bulb reaches the temperature set by the calibration plate, the control spring portion flexes opening the contacts. To reset the switch and close the contacts, a reset member (92) is depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: TPI Corporation
    Inventor: Mason B. Mount
  • Patent number: 5182539
    Abstract: A temperature operated switch construction, terminal block therefor and methods of making the same are provided, the switch construction comprising a housing, a movable switch arm carried in the housing, a temperature actuated unit disposed in the housing and being operatively interconnected to the switch arm to cause movement of the arm between operating positions thereof in relation to the temperature being sensed by the temperature actuated unit, the housing comprising a main part and a removable terminal block carried by the main part, the terminal block carrying a switch unit that is operatively associated with the switch arm so that the switch unit is in a first condition thereof when the switch arm is in a first operating position thereof and the switch unit is in a second condition thereof when the switch arm is in a second operating position thereof, the switch unit comprising a reed switch and the switch arm carrying a magnet for operating the reed switch to the conditions thereof as the switch arm
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1993
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Thomas M. Buckshaw, Joseph J. Erdelsky, David M. Martin
  • Patent number: 5173679
    Abstract: A housing (10), (54) defines a well which holds a diaphragm assembly (12). The diaphragm assembly has a stud portion (14) that extends through an aperture in the housing and is biased into the housing by a spring (16). The stud portion defines a channel (18) which is received in a slot between arms of a calibration plate (20). Movement of the calibration plate transverse to the axis of the stud portion engages a cam surface (24) to position the diaphragm, more particularly a dielectric button (34) which engages a switch control member (50). As a fluid in a bulb (32) expands, it causes the diaphragm to expand, moving the control member (50) and one end of spring portion (48) causing contacts (46, 52) to open. The temperature or degree of diaphragm extension at which the switch contacts open is adjusted by rotating a shaft (60). As the stem is rotated, a cam follower (76) and cam (70) interact causing a dielectric actuator (64 ) to change the bias force, hence pivot point, of spring elements (44).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1992
    Assignee: Sensors & Switches, Inc.
    Inventor: Mason B. Mount
  • Patent number: 5029303
    Abstract: In an electric switching device (1), particularly constructed as a temperature regulator, the resilient switching arm (14) controlled by a hydraulic expansion cell (12) for operating a snap switch (5) is fixed by means of positively engaging snap connections (32) to plate-like support parts (20) of a sheet metal support body (3) of a body (2), the support parts (20) on either side of the switching arm (14) being at right angles to joint axis (25) of arm (14) as lateral bends to a base plate (30) of support body (3) and receive between them an end portion of an insulator (4) carrying the switch (5). This leads to an extremely favourable taking up of forces, so that the support body (3) can be made from extremely thin sheet metal as a relatively elastic component. It also leads to a very simple assembly of the switching arm (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1989
    Date of Patent: July 2, 1991
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Gerate Blanc u. Fischer
    Inventors: Robert Kicherer, Willi Essig, Mandred Schwarze
  • Patent number: 4926654
    Abstract: A control assembly for a household refrigerator having a mullion partition separating the freezer compartment and the fresh food compartment with a front face and a bottom panel forming the top of the fresh food compartment. There is a control bracket mounted on the bottom panel at the rear of the mullion partition and this bracket has a circular aperture with two radial notches. A thermostat having a rotatable stem for adjusting the thermostat setting is mounted on the control bracket. There is a rotatable hub member having a circular central portion with radial lugs slightly smaller than the circular aperture and radial notches of the control bracket. The portion of the central portion that projects through the circular aperture and radial notches is rotated to mount the hub member on the control bracket. There is an aperture in the center of the circular central portion to receive the rotatable stem of the thermostat and it is dimensioned to rotate the stem in unison with rotation of the hub member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald M. Johnson
  • Patent number: 4774489
    Abstract: A temperature responsive electrical switch device has means operable generally for switching between a pair of switching means, and temperature responsive means is operable generally at a set-point temperature for effecting the operation of the switching means. Means is linearly movable in response to an applied force exerted thereon and arranged in camming engagement with an associated part of the temperature responsive means for setting the set-point temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald W. Kelly, Kennett R. Fuller
  • Patent number: 4751491
    Abstract: A thermostat for use with an oven of an electric or gas range includes a first electrical contact terminal, a second electrical contact terminal and an actuating assembly including an actuating spring arm for opening and closing an electrical path between the first and second contact terminals. The spring arm has a fixed end mechanically and electrically coupled to the first electrical contact terminal by a movable support member and a free end that moves between a contacting position and a noncontacting position with the second electrical contact terminal. The manually operable mechanism is movable to an OFF position and to a plurality of ON positions for selecting an oven operating temperature. The temperature responsive mechanism is movable in response to changes in oven temperature. A positive-off mechanism maintains the noncontacting position of the spring arm responsive to the manually operated mechanism moved to the OFF position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1988
    Assignee: Harper-Wyman Company
    Inventors: Craig M. Cors, Joseph C. Kadlubowski
  • Patent number: 4389629
    Abstract: An electrical switch with a thermostatic working element as the actuating element and with a switch element designed as a microswitch. In order to achieve optimal utilization of space and small structural size, the contact support of the working contact of the microswitch, looking at the microswitch in a top view, is mounted laterally-displaced and next to a contact tongue of the microswitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1983
    Assignee: Behr-Thomson Dehnstoffregler GmbH
    Inventors: Roland Saur, Manfred Kurz
  • Patent number: 4288686
    Abstract: A thermostat is disclosed which includes a bimetal element in the form of an elongated strip and a trip mechanism formed by an elongated metal strip and a member having a U-shaped portion operative as a spring and an arm portion projecting from one leg of the U-shaped portion to form a reset lever. The trip mechanism operates electrical contacts on metal strips and has an over-center operation to provide a snap action. The thermostat is connectable in series with a cooking temperature control thermostat of a popcorn cooking machine to protect against dangerously high operating temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1979
    Date of Patent: September 8, 1981
    Assignee: C. Cretors and Company
    Inventor: Charles D. Cretors
  • Patent number: 4214224
    Abstract: A multi-function, pyrolytic self-cleaning oven thermostat for regulating bake and clean temperatures and oven door unlatching. The thermostat includes separate bistable and creep-action switch mechanisms actuated by a single thermally expansive hydraulic wafer responsive to oven temperature changes. An axially movable partially threaded shaft, rotatable between two end positions, is provided for operator adjustment of the temperature switching point of the bistable mechanism. At one end position of the rotative shaft a minimum baking temperature switching point is provided while at the other end position a maximum temperature switching point is established for pyrolytic self-cleaning of the oven. A generally linearly increasing temperature range of bistable mechanism switching points is provided from the minimum to the maximum temperature switching point end positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Assignee: White Consolidated Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Calvin J. Holtkamp
  • Patent number: 4075593
    Abstract: A thermally actuated switch including a motive member which is adapted to move one contact either toward or away from its opposed mating contact in response to an increase or decrease in pressure in a fluid actuating heat sensing system, the fluid system translating temperature into fluid pressure. The assembly further includes a hydraulically actuated high temperature switch which is adapted to be rendered responsive to a preselected temperature, as for example, 550.degree. to 600.degree., the switch being utilized to control an external circuit, as for example, the deactivation of a door lock solenoid. The switch assembly includes two fixed contacts, the positions of which are fixed in response to the position of a cam element. A pair of mating movable contacts are controlled by a temperature responsive assembly, which temperature responsive assembly reacts in response to the sensed temperature of an oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1978
    Assignee: King-Seely Thermos Co.
    Inventor: Willi K. Beck