With Reset Means Patents (Class 337/367)
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Patent number: 6910342Abstract: A manual reset high temperature limit thermostat is provided. The manual reset lockout feature is provided by a lock rod that is outwardly transitioned upon actuation of the thermostat when the sensed temperature reaches its high level limit. A manual reset reset slide then engages the lock rod to prevent automatic resetting of the thermostat once the sensed temperature decreases below the thermostat set point. Resetting of the thermostat once the temperature has decreased may be accomplished by sliding the switch to disengage the reset slide from the locking rod. The thermostat internal snap action mechanism then retracts the lock rod and resets the thermostat's electrical contacts.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 2003Date of Patent: June 28, 2005Assignee: Robertshaw Controls CompanyInventors: Mark I. Berns, Tom Buckshaw
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Patent number: 6703917Abstract: A circuit interrupter device protects a load circuit from excessive, or overloading levels of current, provides a visual indication of circuit overload and open circuit, and can be reset. A multi-metallic heat reactive strip is snapped by an overload current to open the load circuit and close a light emitter circuit having a current limiting resistor connected to an indicator lamp that provides a visual indication of the open circuit. The multi-metallic strip is manually reset via a push button to open the light emitter circuit and extinguish the indicator lamp and close the load circuit to reestablish operation therein. The circuit interruption device can be made utilizing currently available technology for miniature fusing in tight, confining spaces and/or assemblies that have unusual shapes that restrict access in automobile electrical systems, test instruments, domestic appliances or many other electronic/electrical circuits.Type: GrantFiled: October 10, 2001Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the NavyInventors: Robert V. Belenger, Gennaro R. Lopriore
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Publication number: 20020125981Abstract: A push button switch includes a box with a button movably inserted in the box and an oscillation member is pivotally connected to a terminal plate. A bimetal plate is connected to the other terminal plate. A curved spring is connected to the oscillation member and a tongue of the button contacts the curved spring so that the bimetal plate contacts the oscillation member when pushing the button. A movable member has a U-shaped member which has an end engaged with an enclosed recessed area in the button. The inner periphery of the recessed area positions the end of the U-shaped member at open and close position. The movable member is pushed by the deformation of the bimetal plate and the U-shaped member is moved from the position in the recessed area.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 8, 2001Publication date: September 12, 2002Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
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Patent number: 5929742Abstract: A thermostat includes a housing having a cavity formed therein, a temperature responsive bimetallic disc located in the housing, a stationary contact member which is electrically interconnected to a first terminal external to the housing, and a movable contact member which is electrically interconnected to a second terminal external to the housing. The movable contact member movable between a switch-closed position and a switch-open position. An actuating member is located in the housing and is responsive to flexing movement of the disc for moving the movable contact member from the switch-closed position to the switch-open position. A reset assembly is provided for resetting the disc, and includes a reset element which is movable between a first position in which it is spaced from the actuating member and a second position in which it is axially moved to engage the actuating member for moving the disc back to its pre-flexed position.Type: GrantFiled: March 27, 1997Date of Patent: July 27, 1999Assignee: Elmwood Sensors, Inc.Inventor: Stephen P. Short
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Patent number: 5854585Abstract: A manual reset electrical protector (10, 10') has a reset assembly (26, 26') having a guideway (28a, 28a') and track (28c, 28c') in which a slide member (30, 34, 34') is movable between a protracted position interrupting the movement of a movable electrical contact (22) mounted on a thermostatic disc (20) to preventg engagement of the movable contact with a stationary electrical contact (24) and a retracted position in which the movable contact is allowed to move unfettered into the contacts engagement position. A push button (32, 32') has a cam member (32a, 32a') which, when the push button is depressed, rides against a follower (30b, 34b) attached to the slide member, causing the slide member to move to the retracted position against the bias of a spring (30d, 36). The movable contact (22) prevents movement of the slide member to the blocking, protracted position when in the contacts engaged position.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1998Date of Patent: December 29, 1998Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Geoffrey Kingma
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Patent number: 5781097Abstract: A thermostatic switch that utilizes a snap acting bimetal blade that deforms at an actuation temperature and returns to an undeformed state at a reset temperature. Actuation and reset projections, preferably in the form of dimples, are provided to calibrate the switch. The bimetal blade has a centrally located, cupped or dish-like snap acting depression. The reset dimple is spaced below the bimetal blade between the snap acting depression and the free end of the bimetal blade instead of substantially directly below the moveable contact as in the prior art. Accordingly, the thermostatic switch may be used in relatively high voltage settings of up to approximately 600 volts without the occurrence of arcing.Type: GrantFiled: March 1, 1996Date of Patent: July 14, 1998Assignee: Portage Electric Products, Inc.Inventor: Omar R. Givler
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Patent number: 5685481Abstract: A trip-free high limit control for a water heater having a source of heat to heat the water. A switch arm is mounted in a control housing for movement in the housing. The switch arm has a first contact portion at one end thereof. A second stationary contact is mounted in the housing. The contact portion on the switch arm is movable relative to the stationary contact between closed and open positions to control the energization and de-energization of the source of heat for the water heater. A bi-metallic snap disk is mounted in the housing and is movable with snap action between first and second positions of stability at a predetermined overheat temperature. A switch arm actuating plunger is mounted in the housing for movement by the snap disk to open the switch contacts at a predetermined overheat temperature. A reset mechanism is provided which includes a reset spring mounted in the housing in operable engagement with the plunger.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 1996Date of Patent: November 11, 1997Assignee: Apcom, Inc.Inventors: Mark A. Murphy, John W. Hynes
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Patent number: 4703301Abstract: A thermically controlled electrical switching element which is in the form of a temperature regulator or a temperature limiter. On a socket are arranged, in parallel orientation, a bimetallic spring plate, and a steel plate deflectable to both sides. The bimetallic spring plate is attached at its periphery in such a way that centrally, above a transition temperature, it can deflect in a first direction, and below a reverse transition temperature, it can deflect in a second, opposite direction. The steel plate attached at the rim together with the bimetallic spring plate, upon deflection of the spring plate, is also displaced in the first direction, and thereby, by means of a control element bearing upon its center, opens a switch contact interrupting the current flow to an electrical heating element.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 1986Date of Patent: October 27, 1987Assignee: Inter Control Hermann Kohler Elektrik GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Walter Hollweck, Karlheinz Eberl
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Patent number: 4646054Abstract: A thermal switch for breaking an electrical circuit to prevent overheating s described. The thermal switch includes a bimetallic thermocouple in the form of a snap disc and a leaf spring. The leaf spring supports an electrical contact. When the leaf spring is in its stressed position, the electrical contact keeps an electrical circuit closed. When the temperature rises too high, the snap disc snaps in a direction which causes the leaf spring to move into its unstressed position, thereby opening the circuit. When the temperature has decreased, the switch can be reset.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 1985Date of Patent: February 24, 1987Assignee: Electrovac, Fabrikation Elektrotechnischer Spezialartikel GmbHInventor: Helmut Bayer
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Patent number: 4528540Abstract: A thermostat comprising a bimetal switch element reacting at selected temperatures which on one of its ends is fastened on a frame and on the other end is provided with an electric contact adapted to engage a fixed contact provided on the frame, said frame comprising two mutually parallel sheet-like metallic contact carriers forming a base unit, through which two parallel ceramic pins are extending for insulating connection of the two contact carriers and on which pins the contact carriers, with a tight fit, are slidable to and fro relative to one another and are maintained permanently mutually parallel during such mounting, each of said contact carriers having an aperture for lateral exposing of nearly the complete bimetal switch element.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1984Date of Patent: July 9, 1985Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventors: Jan J. Stiekel, Marinus Hagen, Klaas H. Prins, Philips M. Gerson
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Patent number: 4523173Abstract: A thermally-responsive electric switch has a manually-releasable latching arrangement which makes use of a latching member (6) comprising an L-shaped or bellcrank lever having an integrally formed part (11) which constitutes a release member and connects to the end of one limb (9) of the L-shaped lever via a resilient hinge portion (12). The end of the other limb (8) of the L-shaped lever constitutes a latching abutment (10) for engagement with a member (3) of the switch. The latching member (6) is so arranged that, when the switch operates, the latching abutment (10) engages with the respective member (3) of the switch so as to preclude its return and thereby latch out the switch. Resetting is achieved by depression of the release member part (11) of the latching member (6), this causing the L-shaped lever to pivot generally about the junction of its two limbs such that the latching abutment (10) moves out of its latching position and permits the switch to reset.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 1983Date of Patent: June 11, 1985Assignee: Otter Controls LimitedInventors: Richard A. Phillips, Peter W. Naylor
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Patent number: 4486735Abstract: An electrical switch comprises a snap-acting actuator blade movable with a snap action between two configurations to control the making and breaking of electrical contacts and a latching mechanism which, when the actuator blade has snap-acted in one sense to break or make the contacts, prevents return movement of a movable contact carrying member until the latching mechanism has been positively released. The latching mechanism comprises a pivotal rigid member having an arm defining an engaging portion, for restraining return movement of the movable contact carrying member, and a biasing spring which urges the latching member in the movable contact carrying member engaging direction.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 1982Date of Patent: December 4, 1984Assignee: Otter Controls LimitedInventor: Terence J. C. Foster
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Patent number: 4403206Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 1981Date of Patent: September 6, 1983Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, IncorporatedInventor: Richard M. Anderson
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Patent number: 4387358Abstract: An electric fuse is provided with a blown fuse indicator mounted on a lateral wall of the fuse. One of the end terminals of the fuse is provided with a first opening therein in a surface which faces the interior of the fuse casing. The same end terminal is provided with a second opening therein which is in a peripheral surface of the terminal and which lies in a plane which is substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the fuse casing. The end terminal is further provided with an internal passageway therein which communicates the first and second openings. The fuse casing is provided with an opening therein which is in axial alignment with the second opening in the end terminal.A spring loaded blown fuse indicator is mounted through the opening in the fuse casing and is fixedly and conductively engaged with at least a portion of the end terminal passageway.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 1982Date of Patent: June 7, 1983Assignee: Gould Inc., Electric Fuse Div.Inventor: Edward J. Knapp, Jr.
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Patent number: 4218670Abstract: A thermostatic circuit breaker includes a movable contact which is movable in response to thermal transformation of a thermostatic disk. In order to easily support the movable contact, the movable contact is secured to an offset spring of electrically-conducting and elastic material and is located at a predetermined position with respect to the thermostatic disk and a stationary contact.Type: GrantFiled: October 12, 1978Date of Patent: August 19, 1980Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventor: Tsukasa Watanabe
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Patent number: 4117443Abstract: An electric temperature protection switch is provided which has at least two encapsulated contacts in a housing and a current transmission member controlled by a temperature sensing bimetal snap plate. A manual push button device, biased by the force of a reset spring is provided for switching the released switch on again. The switch includes a first bistable snap element directly connected with the transmission member for holding the same in the respective on and off positions. A switch plunger is disposed at a distance from the current transmission member corresponding maximally to the switching stroke of the push button and guided slidably on the switch housing. A second snap element cooperates with the switch plunger and the push button device, which second snap element is moved into a passive position from an active position as the result of actuation of the manual device at critical temperatures, whereby switching of the transmission member from the off to the on position takes place.Type: GrantFiled: June 6, 1977Date of Patent: September 26, 1978Inventor: Peter Hofsass
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Patent number: 4059817Abstract: A temperature sensitive switch having a switch housing containing switch contacts and electrical leads, an arched bimetal disc, whose dome height changes under temperature influence, a guiding disc with a centrally located and freely moveable transfer pin, which transfers movements of the bimetal disc to the switch contacts, a potlike support, and a heat transfer plate placed between guiding disc and potlike support, and characterized by an opening at the bottom of the potlike container, to allow direct heat access to the heat transfer plate.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 1975Date of Patent: November 22, 1977Inventors: Walter Hollweck, Wilhelm Schnee, Karlheinz Eberl, Werner Basel
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Patent number: 3984735Abstract: A control unit for an electric motor in a vacuum cleaner which stops the motor when the motor temperature exceeds a certain level. The control unit is utilized with a vacuum cleaner having a low voltage circuit for controlling the motor speed and is simple and inexpensive, as well as safe in operation.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 1975Date of Patent: October 5, 1976Assignee: Aktiebolaget ElectroluxInventor: Osten Schwartz