With Signal Or Indicating Means Patents (Class 337/376)
  • Patent number: 7232971
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a shell, a movable press strip, a metal strip, a C-shaped plate spring, and three conductors. A first and a second conductor are inserted through the bottom of the shell, respectively have an upper end extending up in the shell, with a first contact point on its upper end of the first conductor, with an upper end of the second conductor connected with a metal strip, which has one end facing under a first press member of the press strip and an elastic contact strip with one end provided with a second contact point facing under the first contact point. A C-shaped plate spring has two lower ends connected with the metal strip, and a curved-up portion facing a second press member. The contact strip may disfigure by high heat caused by excessive current, curling upward to force the first contact point snap off the second contact point to cut off the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2007
    Inventor: Tsan-Chi Chen
  • Patent number: 6707372
    Abstract: An integral resistance element combined with a snap-action thermal switch and coupled to an output thereof, the snap-action thermal switch being structured in a normally-open configuration. The resistance element and the snap-action thermal switch share one or more common terminals. The snap-action thermal switch is structured having a pair of terminals being mutually electrically isolated when the snap-action thermal switch structured in the normally open configuration, and the integral resistance element is electrically coupled to provide an output on the pair of electrically isolated terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.
    Inventors: George D Davis, Byron G Scott
  • Patent number: 6703917
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 9, 2004
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventors: Robert V. Belenger, Gennaro R. Lopriore
  • Patent number: 6628192
    Abstract: A push-pull circuit breaker is provided primarily for use in aircraft; wherein, the activation of the circuit breaker is made significantly more noticeable by the addition of a “flower” device. Specifically, as the center post of the circuit breaker deploys, “petals” at the periphery of the post expand outward. The petal expansion greatly enhances the visibility and thereby recognition of said circuit breaker deployment by flight crew or maintenance personnel. This design capitalizes on the safety and reliability of existent circuit breaker designs. Finally, the flower design incorporates only one part interlocked with the circuit breaker post to achieve the stated purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Inventor: Mark Werner Steinbicker
  • Patent number: 6570480
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a shell with a hollow button at the top. The button has an indicator light received therein and a central tab extending downward. A first blade, a second blade and a grounding prong extend out of the shell through the bottom of the shell. A curved metal piece is housed in the shell and electrically and pivotally connected to an inner end of the second blade. A helical spring is mounted around the tab and compressed between the hollow button and the curved metal piece, and additionally a resistor is held in the shell and electrically connected to the grounding prong. The indicator light has a first terminal electrically connected with the helical spring and a second terminal selectively engaged with the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Inventor: Albert Huang
  • Patent number: 6542061
    Abstract: An indicator light which when installed in combination with either a circuit protector or a fuse, etc., will automatically illuminate to notify a user that an electrical overload has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2003
    Inventors: Cathy D. Santa Cruz, Galen J. May
  • Publication number: 20020149464
    Abstract: An indicator light which when installed in combination with either a circuit protector or a fuse, etc., will automatically illuminate to notify a user that an electrical overload has occurred.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 2, 2002
    Publication date: October 17, 2002
    Inventors: Cathy D. Santa Cruz, Galen J. May
  • Patent number: 6166618
    Abstract: An electrical safety receptacle (10) including a dielectric housing (12), first electrical contacts (14) in the housing for electrical connection to one side of an electrical power line, second electrical contacts (16) in the housing for electrical connection to the other side of the electrical power line, and power-interruption members (48) provided as part of the second electrical contacts to interrupt the electrical power when an operating and/or environmental temperature exceeds the thermal rating thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2000
    Assignee: The Whitaker Corporation
    Inventors: James W. Robertson, Harry M. Capper, Deborah Laun, Kurt Werner, David Middleton, Howard S. Ryan
  • Patent number: 6100808
    Abstract: A socket has a hollow base casing, and an upper casing engaging with the hollow base casing. The upper casing has an oblong hole and a pair of slots. The hollow base casing receives a first conductive blade, a second conductive blade, a fixed plate, and a metal bar. A breaker device is disposed between the upper casing and the hollow base casing. A metal bar contacts the first conductive blade. The metal bar will be bent while a current is overloading. Then the metal bar will not contact the first conductive blade. A break display lamp and a resistor are disposed in the upper casing. The break display lamp is connected to the resistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Inventor: Wen-Jang Lin
  • Patent number: 6060990
    Abstract: A heat alarm for an electric panel cabinet that mounts a heat sensor in contact with a face surface of the electric panel cabinet to monitor the temperature of the cabinet and sound an alarm if the temperature of the cabinet exceeds an upper temperature limit. The heat alarm includes a mounting arrangement that permits the heat alarm to be mounted to a face surface of the electric panel cabinet. A sensor mounting arrangement within the heat alarm enclosure provides a bias force on the heat sensor to bias the heat sensor into contact with the face surface of the electric panel cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Reliance Controls Corporation
    Inventor: Jeffrey D. Flegel
  • Patent number: 5936508
    Abstract: A device for indicating the conducting state of a fuse includes a heat generating material for generating heat in response to an electrical input and adapted to be coupled electrically in parallel with a fuse, and a temperature responsive material thermally coupled to the heat generating material for providing a visually discernable response if heated above a threshold temperature by the heat generating material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Parker
  • Patent number: 5880667
    Abstract: An indicator movable between a set and an alarm position is latched in the set position by a thermally responsive latch disposed to sense ambient temperature within electrical equipment. If a high temperature event occurs, the latch releases the indicator, which moves under resilient bias to its indicating position to present a visible signal that such an event has occurred. Once temperature has dropped below the alarm value within the electrical equipment, the indicator can be moved back to the set position where it is relatched for continued temperature sensing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Assignee: Breaker Spot, Ltd.
    Inventors: Edward T. Altavela, Glenn R. McComber, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5825294
    Abstract: A heat detection and alarm unit is provided including a housing with a front face, a rear face, a top face, a bottom face and a pair of side faces coupled therebetween defining an interior space. A speaker is situated within the interior space of the housing. The speaker is adapted to emit an audible tone upon the supply of power thereto. A coiled thermostat is provided having a first end located at the center thereof rotatably coupled within the interior space of the housing. The coiled thermostat has a second end with a conductive hammer coupled thereto. Next provided is a battery mounted within the housing for powering purposes. An electrical assembly including a contact is mounted adjacent the conductive hammer. Upon the detection of a predetermined temperature, the hammer engages the contact thereby supplying power to the speaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: Huck H. O. Krueger
  • Patent number: 5439169
    Abstract: A temperature regulating control device and method of making the same are provided, the device comprising a housing, a movable selector unit carried by the housing for selecting a temperature the control device is to tend to maintain, and an ambient temperature sensing means carried by the selector unit for indicating the ambient temperature being sensed by the temperature sensing means.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Peter Rabel
  • Patent number: 5154226
    Abstract: A single bimetal automatic changeover thermostat has heating, cooling and changeover switches mounted to the bimetal. A single control point adjustment lever for rotating the bimetal has separate shaped heat and cool set point indicators which are movable along a temperature scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Honeywell, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard B. Porter, Donald P. Kolbow
  • Patent number: 4695829
    Abstract: A device for indicating that a sensed temperature has reached a certain selected level and method of making the same are provided, the device comprising a housing carrying an electrical switch unit for operating an indicator to one condition thereof when the switch unit is closed and to another condition thereof when the switch unit is open. The switch unit comprises a first movable contact unit and a second movable contact unit which when in contact with each other close the switch unit and when out of contact with each other open the switch unit. The first contact unit is moved relative to the second contact unit in relation to the sensed temperature. A selector unit is rotatably carried by the housing for selecting the certain level and has a setting portion operatively interconnected to the second contact unit to position the same relative to the first contact unit in relation to the selected level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1987
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventors: Charles J. Everett, Rolf H. Ochsner
  • Patent number: 4190764
    Abstract: A control system having a control unit provided with a single thermostatically operated control device for operatively interconnecting a heater to a source of energy when the output temperature effect of the heater is below a predetermined setting of a selector of the control unit and to disconnect the heater from the source of energy when the output temperature effect of the heater is above the predetermined setting of the selector, the single thermostatically operated control device also operating an indicating light to indicate that the output temperature effect of the heater is still above a certain value only when the selector of the control unit is in an "off" setting thereof. The selector of the control unit also operates a pilot light to indicate that the selector is set in an "on" setting thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1977
    Date of Patent: February 26, 1980
    Assignee: Robertshaw Controls Company
    Inventor: Cloyd E. Decker
  • Patent number: 4044348
    Abstract: A thermal timer produces a timed duration output in response to a thermal input to a thermal storage device and a thermal energy leakage parameter from that storage device. The storage device preferably is a metal slug positioned in a silica aerogel insulative powder environment, and the thermal input is supplied by an electrically energized PTC heater. A thermostat output device monitors the temperature of the heater and the storage device to effect a distinguishable output, for example, by completing or opening an electrical circuit, in response to the temperature thereof. The thermal timer may be utilized in a range appliance or the like to effect a warning indication during cool down of that appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1977
    Assignee: Gould Inc.
    Inventor: Richard G. Huebscher
  • Patent number: H248
    Abstract: An on-line indicator connected to each fuse of an electrical circuit includes an LED which becomes illuminated if its protected fuse blows. Groups of these on-line indicators can be connected via an OR gate to a single master fuse status indicator which also includes an LED which becomes illuminated if any of the on-line indicators connected thereto has its LED illuminated. The circuitry can accommodate power supplies of different voltages of either polarity. Opto-isolators can be used to reduce stand-by current drain and to isolate the on-line indicators from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 7, 1987
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Herbert Middlebrooks