Abstract: An electric switch or commutator actuated by bimetals for one or several temperatures of response comprises a cap support for one or several bimetallic disks of a well known type which cooperates with a base made of one piece, the base comprising a substantially cylindrical part disposed to join with the cap support for mounting the bimetallic disks and having rivets extending through the cylindrical base part into an integral part of the base which mounts fixed and movable contacts of the switch and which is disposed to support also the connecting terminals and a covering and protecting element with snap-action insertion.

Abstract: A thermal relay is disclosed which provides a bi-metal snap disc actuator system. The actuator system includes a central divider of material having relatively low thermal conductivity and a metallic disc cup mounted on each side of the central divider. A bi-metal snap disc is located in each disc cup and a separate heater is provided to respectively heat the discs. The discs are mounted so that they tend to move toward each other at normal environmental temperatures and a bumper is interposed between the discs to cause them to move in with snap action in the unison. The actuator operates two switches. In one embodiment, one switch is normally closed and the other switch is normally open. In another embodiment, both switches are normally open.

Abstract: A thermostat construction is provided and has a one-piece lead provided with an intermediate portion that has a substantially U-shaped cross-sectional configuration defined by a cross member and a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart legs extending outwardly from the cross member, one of the legs having a movable switch blade integral therewith for one switch of the thermostat construction and the other of the legs carrying a fixed contact for another switch of the thermostat construction whereby the switch blade and the fixed contact are disposed in offset planes by the legs of the one-piece lead.

Abstract: A condition-sensing switching device is disclosed having a plurality of active switch elements which are not symmetrical with the line of action of the condition-sensing actuator. A dummy element is provided to establish symmetry and produce a balanced condition on the switch actuator. The switch elements and dummy element are arranged so that no resilient forces are applied to the actuator during a portion of the actuator movement and the resilient forces on each element simultaneously are applied in a balanced manner during actuator movement to ensure that the forces on the actuator are balanced in all positions of the actuator. An adjusting screw is provided to adjust the force of one spring to ensure that absolute balance is achieved.

Abstract: A time delay relay has a switch assembly, a spring terminal assembly, and an electrical resistance heater unit of an inexpensive construction held together in a reliable and economical manner by a pair of easily mounted metal spring clips.

Abstract: A thermally responsive electrical switch for a fast idle control in an automotive engine has two thermally responsive snap acting discs disposed in an open-ended well in a thermally conducting housing. A switch having contacts movable between open and closed circuit positions is disposed in the open end of the well and the discs are arranged to snap at respective first and second temperatures to move the contacts from one circuit position to the other and then to return to the original circuit position in sequence as the disc elements are successively heated to said first and second temperatures. Resilient conductors are mounted on the switch and are electrically connected to the respective contacts. A terminal which completes the low cost assembly is secured to the housing to press terminals of different selected types against the resilient conductors to electrically connect the terminals to the respective switch contacts and to resiliently hold the switch in place in the housing.

Abstract: A heat responsive electrical switch comprises a small, open ended, generally cylindrical housing in which are mounted two spaced plate members extending in parallel directions from a bottom wall into a switch cavity. The first plate member mounts at its distal free end a relatively inflexible movable contact arm which is adapted to move into and out of engagement with a stationary contact mounted on the second plate member. A relatively low spring rate spring is connected between the movable contact arm toward the stationary contact with a selected contact force created by displacing a portion of the spring with a reaction force. The open end of the housing is formed with a plurality of raised plateaus. A thermally conductive cup is received over the open end interfitting with the plateaus. A thermally responsive snap-acting disc and a flexible motion transfer sheet of resinous material can be captured by the cup at the open end of the housing.

Abstract: A construction for a single pole double throw thermostatic switch of the type having a bimetallic disc which communicates with a resilient contact arm to alternatively effect electrical continuity between the arm and a pair of fixed contacts, and a method of assembling and adjusting the same. One of the fixed contacts comprises a bendable arm so that the gap between the fixed contacts is adjustable by bending the arm prior to final assembly of the switch. Because the gap is set prior to the final assembly of the switch, substantial increases in precision and reliability are realized since the contacts may be observed during setting thereof. Furthermore, the necessity for an external gap setting adjustment screw on the switch is eliminated.

Abstract: A heat responsive electrical switch comprises a small, open ended, generally cylindrical housing in which are mounted two spaced plate members extending in parallel directions from a bottom wall into a switch cavity. The first plate member mounts at its distal free end a relatively inflexible movable contact arm which is adapted to move into and out of engagement with a stationary contact mounted on the second plate member. A relatively low spring rate spring is connected between the movable contact arm toward the stationary contact with a selected contact force created by displacing a portion of the spring with a reaction force. The open end of the housing is formed with a plurality of raised plateaus. A thermally conductive cup is received over the open end interfitting with the plateaus. A thermally responsive snap-acting disc and a flexible motion transfer sheet of resinous material can be captured by the cup at the open end of the housing.

Abstract: An actuator for use as part of an electrically heated thermal delay valve (FIG. 1) or switch (FIG. 2) includes a thermally responsive plate (12) the periphery of which is fixed and the central part of which forms a temperature-dependent control element. The actuator also includes a metal carrier plate (9) which has a PTC element (10) mounted on it and which is free to move in a direction normal to its surface between stop abutments, and at least one spring (11) which electrically contacts the PTC element (10) and biases the carrier plate (9) towards the thermally responsive plate (9) to ensure that it is constantly in thermal contact with the carrier plate (10). This ensures that a direct thermal contact between the PTC element and the thermally responsive plate is constantly maintained which results in consistently reproducible functions being achieved with the apparatus by virtue of this direct thermal contact. The thermally responsive plate (9) may be biased towards the carrier plate (10).

Abstract: A thermostatic switch (10) employs a switch blade (22) having spaced thereon a set of service contacts (16, 20).One end of the blade is supported by a heat collapsible support (46) and a second set of contacts (26, 24), the contact sets being electrically in series. The service contacts are actuated by a slider (30) driven by a bi-metallic heat sensing element (32). A spring loaded button (52) biases the blade (22) against the collapsible support. Both sets of contacts (16, 20), (26, 24) are normally closed and upon the thermostat experiencing excessive temperatures the heat-collapsible support yields to the force of the bias spring (54) and causes the second set of contacts (26, 24) to open irrespective of the condition of the service contacts (16, 20).

Abstract: The invention relates to electric heating elements, particularly of the open coil type, for installation in apparatus, such as room air conditioners or the like, wherein a thermostat is required and is positioned with its heat sensor in close proximity to an active heating portion of the heating element so as to be extremely sensitive to variations in heat. The invention insures that the thermostat is always properly installed, especially after service work has been performed on the air conditioner, and/or the heating element. Briefly, a tab extends from a terminal of the thermostat and is adapted to fit in only one relation within an opening in an insulator bushing. The bushing has an extending lug to fit in predetermined manner with a portion of a cross strip of a supporting frame to hold the bushing from substantial rotation.

Abstract: A thermal switch having contacts with one contact being movably mounted on a carrier and with movement of the carrier controlled by a bimetal actuator disc. The actuating movement is transmitted through a striker pin of molded ceramic material which is fastened in fixed relation to the carrier by a layer of adhesive of controllable thickness to establish the effective length of the striker pin.The method of manufacturing the thermal switch embodies holding of the striker pin in fixed predetermined relation to components of the thermal switch. During movement of the parts to this position, a mass of adhesive carried at an end of the striker pin is pressed between the end of the striker pin and the carrier to provide lateral flow thereof until said pressing is discontinued to provide a controlled thickness layer of adhesive which is then set with the parts held in a predetermined relation.

Abstract: An electric hot plate assembly including an electrically heated hot plate having at least one electrical conductor disposed therewithin for heating an annular zone of the plate when energized, cover means defining an enclosed space located immediately beneath said hot plate and secured thereto, and a device for limiting the operating temperature of the hot plate, the temperature limiting device comprising a housing, a bimetallic element projecting from said housing into said enclosed space at a location beneath said annular zone, the housing having a base portion disposed externally of said enclosed space, connecting terminals located in the base portion of the housing for connecting said at least one hot plate conductor to an electrical supply, and switch means located in said base portion of the housing and adapted to be actuated by the bimetallic element by a pressure rod means, said bimetallic element being curved, the first end of said bimetallic element being in pressure engagement with said pressure ro

Abstract: A thermally responsive electrical switch has a contact arrangement mounted within an open-ended chamber in an electrically insulating switch body, the body having a rim around the open chamber end and having a shoulder formed in the rim which also extends around the open chamber end. A thermally conducting cap is secured over the open end of the chamber engaging the rim of the chamber and a snap-acting thermally responsive bimetal disc has its periphery disposed between the cap and the noted shoulder for positioning the disc relative to the contact arrangement. A motion transfer pin is movable in response to snap-acting movement of the thermally-responsive disc to move the contact arrangement between open and closed circuit positions during temperature changes.

Abstract: A snap-action thermal switch having a housing with an open hollow portion at one end with a central enlargement of the housing in the hollow portion; a central cavity in the other end of the housing extending into the central enlargement; a pair of opposed slots communicating between the hollow portions; through the enlargement into the cavity with stationary contact in the hollow portion extending through the slot into the cavity; the widest points of the internal rectangular cavity being equal to or greater than the width of the enlargement.

Abstract: A structurally simple thermostat is disclosed in which a single rivet provides the mounting of all of the switch elements. The switch elements are located by the rivet and by a portion of the contacts substantially spaced from the rivet to minimize the affect of manufacturing tolerances in the positioning of the switch elements. A single terminal element supports the movable contact, provides a terminal extension and closes the switch cavity. The structure is arranged so that ceramic material can be used for the non-metallic parts with a minimum effect created by the relatively loose dimensional tolerances required in the manufacture of ceramic parts. The terminal member is formed with a shallow dish shaped projection which prestresses the rivet assembly to prevent looseness resulting from differential expansion.

Abstract: A multiple bimetallic snap disc thermostat is disclosed in which two series connected switch mechanisms are respectively operated by two concentric bimetal snap discs having the same diameter. One snap disc is thermally automatic in operation to open and close its associated switch upon reaching its calibration temperatures. The outer disc is a one-shot disc which does not automatically reset and cannot be manually reset after operation. The two discs are mounted in a single, disc retaining cup, and are spaced by a ring positioned between their peripheries. This allows said discs to be formed of the same size and provides easy mounting. A single fixed contact member provides the fixed contact for both switches. The contacts of the switch associated with the automatic disc are capable of repeated operation whereas the contacts of the switch associated with the one-shot disc are not structured for repeated cycling.