Piston Or Plunger Patents (Class 337/315)
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Patent number: 8581686Abstract: A reflowable thermal fuse includes a conduction element with first and second ends, disposed within a housing. The reflowable thermal fuse also includes an elastic element disposed within the housing and adapted to apply force on the conduction element in an activated state of the reflowable thermal fuse. A restraining element is utilized to secure the elastic element and prevent the elastic element from applying force on the conduction element in an installation state of the reflowable thermal fuse. Application of an activating current through the restraining element causes the restraining element to break and thereby release the elastic element and place the reflowable thermal fuse in the activated state.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2009Date of Patent: November 12, 2013Assignee: Tyco Electronics CorporationInventors: Matthew P. Galla, Jianhua Chen, Martyn A. Mattheisen
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Patent number: 8081058Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: June 1, 2009Date of Patent: December 20, 2011Inventors: William C. Neilly, Kevin L. Gabrey
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Patent number: 7652553Abstract: A thermally activated electrical interrupt device incorporates a thermally activated portion (110) engaging with an electrical interrupt portion (120). The thermally activated material (114) expands when heated, causing an interrupt control rod (140, 180) to open an electrical contact (123, 125, 126/132, 134). When the interrupt device is placed into an interrupt state, a reset mechanism maintains the interrupt control rod (140) in the interrupt state until specifically reset.Type: GrantFiled: June 10, 2008Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Thermal Interrupt Devices, Ltd.Inventors: William C. Neilly, Kevin L. Gabrey
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Publication number: 20090302991Abstract: A thermally activated electrical interrupt device incorporates a thermally activated portion (110) engaging with an electrical interrupt portion (120). The thermally activated material (114) expands when heated, causing an interrupt control rod (140, 180) to open an electrical contact (123, 125, 126/132, 134). When the interrupt device is placed into an interrupt state, a reset mechanism maintains the interrupt control rod (140) in the interrupt state until specifically reset.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 10, 2008Publication date: December 10, 2009Inventors: William C. Neilly, Kevin L. Gabrey
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Patent number: 4389629Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: February 18, 1982Date of Patent: June 21, 1983Assignee: Behr-Thomson Dehnstoffregler GmbHInventors: Roland Saur, Manfred Kurz
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Temperature responsive electrical switch construction, parts therefor and methods of making the same
Patent number: 4357589Abstract: A temperature responsive electrical switch construction having electrical contacts operated by a stem of a piston and cylinder type thermal device carried by the construction, the contacts comprising a plurality of pairs of cooperating contacts arranged to have each cooperating pair thereof operated serially by the stem as the thermal device senses different predetermined temperatures. Each pair of cooperating contacts comprises a fixed contact and a movable contact. The construction has a plurality of terminals projecting therefrom and being substantially parallel to each other and to the stem, the fixed contacts being respectively carried by the terminals.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 1980Date of Patent: November 2, 1982Assignee: Robertshaw Controls CompanyInventor: Frank Payne -
Patent number: 4337621Abstract: A power element assembly is disclosed for use in a liquid environment to operate devices such as valves, switches and the like wherein such assembly is provided with an elastomeric diaphragm having an integral sealing neck with internal seal beads that are sealingly retained in engagement with a piston by prescribed compression of the sealing neck at assembly.Type: GrantFiled: July 21, 1980Date of Patent: July 6, 1982Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Ernest Lane, Jr., Raymond E. Seekins
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Patent number: 4021643Abstract: A thermostatically controlled safety heater for upright immersion in an aquarium includes a housing with an axially extending, heat-transmitting tube forming a chamber in which an electric heating element is disposed in radially spaced relation from the tube. The radial space between the tube and element, over substantially the axial length of the element, is filled with a heat conducting, thermally expansible liquid. An actuator device including a linearly movable plunger reactive to thermal expansion of the liquid is provided for opening and closing a switch in circuit with the heating element for maintaining the heater at a desired temperature. A hunting tendency of the switch contacts is overcome by providing a damping medium in the form of an air space having a volume less than about ten per cent of the volume of liquid between the plunger and the liquid. An expansible sealing diaphragm supports the plunger and isolates the liquid to the portion of the tube in which the heating element is disposed.Type: GrantFiled: June 13, 1974Date of Patent: May 3, 1977Assignee: O'Dell Manufacturing, Inc.Inventors: Frank Kenneth Hall, Ronald D. Moore