Abstract: A thermally actuated device, such as an electrical circuit breaker (10) is provided with an ambient temperature compensation thermostat metal member (38) selected so that it bends when subjected to changes in temperature and compensates for ambient temperature effects on a thermostat metal trip arm for a selected current rating. Movement of such thermostat metal member is directly proportional to the flexivity of the material and to the square of the length of the member and indirectly proportional to the thickness of the member. Since packaging constraints make changes in length impractical, compensation members used to provide temperature compensation for different current ratings of the device typically have been made by using members of different thickness.

Abstract: A capsule containing a precise amount of a substance such as mercury is mounted in an electrode mount assembly on a temperature sensitive member. At elevated temperatures the capsule is moved away from lamp components by the temperature sensitive member to preclude inadvertent release of the mercury into the sealed lamp. After the lamp has cooled, the temperature sensitive member urges the capsule into biased engagement with a cutting wire so that upon supply of current thereto the capsule is melted and opened to release the mercury.

Abstract: A thermally responsive switch includes an elliptic dome-shaped metal receptacle, a header metal plate hermetically secured to the receptacle and having a through-aperture at one of two longitudinal ends, an electrical conductor inserted through the aperture of the header plate and secured with an electrically insulating material such as glass, a support having at one of two longitudinal ends a fixed portion secured to the end of the conductor in the receptacle and a supporting portion positioned away from its other end in the direction of the fixed portion, a bimetal secured at one of its two ends to the supporting portion of the support and carrying a movable contact at the other end, the bimetal having a central shallow dish-shaped portion reversing its curvature with a snap action in response to the temperature, a fixed contact secured to the header plate in the vicinity of its other longitudinal end, and a calibrator interposed between the inner wall of the receptacle and the other end of the support oppo

Abstract: A thermostat for controlling the temperature within a space to be conditioned includes a system mode selector switch for selecting one of the heating, cooling or off modes of operation and a blower mode selector switch for selecting an automatic (cycling) or continuous mode of operation for the blower for blowing air into the confined space. Within the thermostat are heating actuating switches for one or more stages with associated anticipators and a cooling actuating switch with associated anticipator. An ambient compensating thermistor and a fixed resistor in series therewith are associated with the thermostat. Enhanced outdoor temperature compensation is provided by an outdoor positive temperature compensating thermistor in series with a variable resistor, which are arranged in parallel with the fixed resistor.

Abstract: A temperature responsive electric switch is shown having an operating bimetallic member adapted to sense the temperature of a heat source coupled to an over-center switch mechanism and an ambient temperature bimetallic member to maintain a predetermined temperature delta in the operation of a thermostat regardless of changes in ambient temperature.

Abstract: An improved thermal circuit breaker is disclosed, featuring a U-shaped bimetallic element which latches an escapement locking arm which holds a spring biased moving contact against a fixed contact when the breaker is in the contacts closed position. The improved thermal element has terminal portions which are of lesser electrical resistivity than are other portions of the element. The relative orientation of the metals of the bimetallic element in the terminal portions are reversed with respect to their orientation in the remainder of the bimetallic element. In this way ambient temperature compensation is provided to the breaker such that the current rating of a given breaker does not vary with variation in ambient temperature.

Abstract: A circuit breaker formed of a PMB bimetal fastened to a post and arranged to face against a new contact that is disposed upon a U-shaped calibration bracket. A span is exposed in the U-shaped calibration bracket to enable a calibration probe to break the circuit breaker at a predetermined time to permanently bend it into a fixed position.

Abstract: An electric switch that is temperature responsive is provided for operation in a temperature range that is substantially above normal ambient temperature. A pair of contacts are mounted on respective first and second spring members. The second spring member includes a bimetal compensating portion at the distal end thereof. The second contact is mounted on the compensating portion so that upon increasing the temperature of the switch structure, the second contact moves toward engagement with the first contact to eliminate initial overshoot and to compensate for variable contact weld size between the contacts. An operating bimetal assembly in direct contact with the heated surface being monitored is used to break the contacts. The bimetal assembly includes a bimetal base element and a metal element butt-welded to the distal end thereof. The metal element carries a ceramic button to engage the first or upper spring member to move the first contact.

Abstract: An electrothermal responsive protective mechanism for an electrically powered load wherein the overload tripping force is provided by the cool, ambient temperature compensating bimetal (12) rather than the hot electrically heated bimetal (6) to prevent over-stress. The bimetal members (6,12) are preloaded by a link actuator (22) having a positive temperature coefficient of expansion to minimize unloading of the bimetal members due to ambient temperature change thereby to prevent tripping motion. A screw (16) adjusts the preload and a screw (24) provides a coupling gap in the tripping linkage to prevent shock or vibration propagation therethrough. An insulating base (2) and carrier (14) provide thermal and electrical isolation of the bimetal members. Identical bimetal members (6,12) are used to prevent any actuator motion under ambient temperature changes.

Abstract: A contact arrangement includes an elongated striker reciprocable in direction of its elongation and a pair of movable contacts moved by the striker and cooperating with adjacent stationary contacts so that during reciprocation of the striker between two end positions one of said movable contacts engages the stationary contact adjacent thereto while the other movable contact is spaced from the adjacent stationary contact, and vice versa.In order to obtain during the reciprocation of the striker up to the moment of switching the contacts a high contact pressure, the striker is provided with a guide extending transverse to its reciprocation direction for a movable guide body. The movable guide body is mounted on one end of a link member the other end of which is articulately engaged with an angle lever in the region of the knee of the latter.

Abstract: A thermal relay construction capable of operating a pair of electrical contacts. The thermal relay includes an electrical heater of the self-regulating PTC type which is mounted upon and thermally coupled directly to a bimetal snap disc so that heat generated by the heater causes the bimetal snap disc to overcenter and operate the electrical contacts. The other electrical connection to the heater is made through a compensating blade which bears against the heater to compensate for ambient temperature effects on the thermal relay. An electric range oven control uses temperature sensitive electrical contacts in conjunction with the thermal relay to control the oven heaters.

Abstract: An electric choke assembly includes a heater to heat a coiled bimetallic spring which opens a choke valve. The heater comprises a double ring electroded thermistor for the purpose of generating two different heating rates which are controlled by a bimetallic thermostat blade located in the same chamber of the assembly as the thermistor.

Abstract: A thermostat assembly which includes therein two sets of thermostats connected in series with each other.