With Signal Or Indicating Means Patents (Class 337/376)
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Patent number: 7232971Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: August 4, 2004Date of Patent: June 19, 2007Inventor: Tsan-Chi Chen
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Patent number: 6707372Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 27, 2001Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Honeywell International, Inc.Inventors: George D Davis, Byron G Scott
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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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Patent number: 6628192Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 11, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Inventor: Mark Werner Steinbicker
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Patent number: 6570480Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 2, 2002Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Inventor: Albert Huang
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Patent number: 6542061Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 2, 2002Date of Patent: April 1, 2003Inventors: Cathy D. Santa Cruz, Galen J. May
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Publication number: 20020149464Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: April 2, 2002Publication date: October 17, 2002Inventors: Cathy D. Santa Cruz, Galen J. May
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Patent number: 6166618Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: April 28, 1999Date of Patent: December 26, 2000Assignee: The Whitaker CorporationInventors: James W. Robertson, Harry M. Capper, Deborah Laun, Kurt Werner, David Middleton, Howard S. Ryan
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Patent number: 6100808Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 21, 1999Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Inventor: Wen-Jang Lin
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Patent number: 6060990Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 9, 1999Date of Patent: May 9, 2000Assignee: Reliance Controls CorporationInventor: Jeffrey D. Flegel
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Patent number: 5936508Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 6, 1998Date of Patent: August 10, 1999Assignee: Avery Dennison CorporationInventor: Robert Parker
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Patent number: 5880667Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: October 1, 1997Date of Patent: March 9, 1999Assignee: Breaker Spot, Ltd.Inventors: Edward T. Altavela, Glenn R. McComber, Jr.
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Patent number: 5825294Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: July 25, 1997Date of Patent: October 20, 1998Inventor: Huck H. O. Krueger
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Patent number: 5439169Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 12, 1994Date of Patent: August 8, 1995Assignee: Robertshaw Controls CompanyInventor: Peter Rabel
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Patent number: 5154226Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 21, 1989Date of Patent: October 13, 1992Assignee: Honeywell, Inc.Inventors: Richard B. Porter, Donald P. Kolbow
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Patent number: 4695829Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: January 9, 1985Date of Patent: September 22, 1987Assignee: Robertshaw Controls CompanyInventors: Charles J. Everett, Rolf H. Ochsner
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Patent number: 4190764Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: December 1, 1977Date of Patent: February 26, 1980Assignee: Robertshaw Controls CompanyInventor: Cloyd E. Decker
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Patent number: 4044348Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 22, 1975Date of Patent: August 23, 1977Assignee: Gould Inc.Inventor: Richard G. Huebscher
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Patent number: H248Abstract: 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: GrantFiled: September 4, 1984Date of Patent: April 7, 1987Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the ArmyInventor: Herbert Middlebrooks