With Reclosing Or Reset Means Patents (Class 337/56)
  • Patent number: 8138879
    Abstract: A thermal overload relay includes main bimetals which bend upon detection of an overload current; a release lever displaced via movement of a shifter moved in response to the bending of the main bimetals; and a contact reversing mechanism for changing-over contacts responsive to a rotation of the release lever. The main bimetals, the release lever and the contact reversing mechanism are all disposed in a case. The contact reversing mechanism includes a pivotable movable plate; a reversing spring reversing the movable plate by coupling with a rotated release lever; and an interlock plate rotating around a support shaft together with the movable plate. Each contact has a normally opened contact piece and a normally closed contact piece and is disposed respectively in the vicinity of a front surface and in the vicinity of a back surface of the interlock plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yukinari Furuhata, Fumihiro Morishita, Takeo Kamosaki
  • Patent number: 7800477
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a thermal protector which is comprised of a bimetal blade, a moving electrical contact, a fixed electrical contact, and a electrical resistor, wherein the bimetal blade has a fixed end and a moving end, wherein the moving electrical contact is positional toward the moving end of the bimetal blade, wherein the moving electrical contact has a minimum volume of 0.0003 in3, wherein electrical resistor generates sufficient heat to keep the bimetal blade above a reset temperature and to maintain the bimetal blade in a bent position wherein the moving electrical contact remains away from the fixed electrical contact during periods of continued application of the electrical current, wherein the reset temperature is above ambient temperature, and wherein the thermal protector is capable of at least 60 cycles of operation at a peak amperage of at least 90 amps at 120 volts of alternating current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Thermtrol Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Komer
  • Patent number: 7688174
    Abstract: An overload protection switch includes a main body and a press button. Several terminals, a conductive plate and other components are arranged in the main body. By means of switching the press button, the switch is switchable between an on state and an off state. In case of overload, the conductive plate will separate from one of the terminals to switch off the switch. The components arranged in the main body will not hinder the conductive plate from separating from the terminal. When switching on the switch, the conductive plate resiliently contacts the terminal. In case of overload, the conductive plate separates from the terminal to switch off the switch so as to provide overload protection effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Zing Ear Enterprise Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tang-Yueh Hung
  • Patent number: 7589610
    Abstract: An over current cut-off switch has an electric insulating housing, a first conductive foot, a second conductive foot, a reed, an electric wire and a switch button. The housing received upper portions of the first and second conductive feet, the reed and the electric wire. The button is configured on a top of the electric insulating housing. One end of the reed uses a connecting conductor to rivet to the first conductive foot. The other free end of the reed is separately connected to a top of the second conductive foot. The electric wire is mounted between the reed and the first conductive foot to be used as current branch. The switch button is configured on a top of the electric insulating housing. One side of a bottom of the switch button has a bump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Inventor: Albert Huang
  • Patent number: 7317375
    Abstract: A switch device includes a body with a switch member pivotably engaged with a top opening of the body and a first terminal and a second terminal respectively extend through two slots in a bottom of the body. A connection member is fixedly connected to an inside of the body and an adjusting member movably extends through a wall of the body and contacts the connection member. A U-shaped biasing member has a first end connected to the second end of a bi-metallic plate and a second end of the biasing member is connected to the connection member. The biasing member provides the bi-metallic plate proper flexibility so as to ensure the deformation of the bi-metallic plate to cut off the switch device when it is overloaded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 7312687
    Abstract: A protective switch for protecting a circuit includes an operating element or rocker switch, contact connections projecting from a housing, a contact spring electrically connected to a first contact connection and having a free end covering a second contact connection for making contact. A bimetallic element in the housing runs transversely to a slider longitudinal direction and is electrically connected between the first contact connection and through the contact spring to the second contact connection. A slider slides in the housing and has a contact end bearing against and acting upon the contact spring counter to its restoring force in a contact position. The slider is latched by the operating element in a turned-on position. The bimetallic element is coupled to the slider for thermal tripping and has a first longitudinal section at least partly covering and unlatching the slider upon overcurrent to break contact, and a second longitudinal section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Ellenberg & Poensgen GmbH
    Inventor: Wolfgang Ullermann
  • Patent number: 7307506
    Abstract: A switch includes a switch member and an extension and a push rod respectively extended from two ends of an underside of the switch member. A bi-metallic contact plate has a first end fixed to one of two terminals and a contact portion splits from the contact plate. A first contact point is connected to an underside of the contact portion and a second contact point is connected to the other terminal. A free end of the contact portion is connected with a free first end of a spring member and a second end of the spring member is connected to the contact plate. When overload, the contact portion and the spring member move upward to cut off the circuit while the push rod extends through a through hole defined in the spring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2007
    Inventor: Tsung Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 7304560
    Abstract: A safety switch includes a switch member and a push rod is pivotably connected to an inside of the switch member. A biasing member pushes the push rod toward a stop rod extending from the inside of the switch member. A bi-metallic contact plate has a first end fixed to one of two terminals and a contact portion splits from the contact plate. A first contact point is connected to an underside of the contact portion and a second contact point is connected to the other terminal. A free end of the contact portion is connected with a free first end of a spring member and a second end of the spring member is connected to the contact plate. When overloaded, the contact portion and the spring member move clockwise to cut off the circuit while the push rod does not stop the clockwise movement of the spring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Inventor: Tsung Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 7283031
    Abstract: A breaker has a first conducting strip and a second conducting strip respectively mounted on a lower end of a shell; a first terminal mounted on the second conducting strip; a bimetal strip securely provided on a first conducting strip; a second terminal mounted on a tip of the bimetal strip and detachably connected to the first terminal; a button provided on an upper end of the shell; a finger pivotally provided under the curved spring; and a lever with a smooth surface provided between the bimetal strip and the finger wherein an end of the lever is bent to form an angle. Hence, the finger can slide on the smooth surface of the lever so that the button can completely return to an original status. Furthermore, when the angle is small, the finger counter clockwise rotates with a small stored power of the bimetal strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Inventor: Albert Huang
  • Patent number: 7248140
    Abstract: A switch device includes a body with switch pivotably connected to a top thereof and two terminals extend through an underside of the body. A first contact point is connected to one of the terminals and a bi-metallic plate has a first end fixed to the other terminal. A second contact point is connected to an underside of a second end of the bi-metallic plate and located above the first contact point. A pull member has an upper end pivotably connected to the switch member and a lower end of the pull member supports the underside of the second end of the bi-metallic plate. An upper end of a push member is pivotably connected to the switch member and a lower end of the push member is in contact with the bi-metallic plate. A spring is biased between the push member and the body so as to provide a push force to the push member. A board movably received in a recess in an inside of the body and movable by an adjusting member extending through a hole through the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2007
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 7236082
    Abstract: An improved structure of a circuit breaker is provided which comprises a housing, a rocker-switch, a push-shaft, a pull-shaft, a bimetallic strip, and other parts. There are three terminals under the rocker-switch inside the housing. A bimetallic strip embedded in a groove under the pull-shaft makes contact with that pull-shaft through a silver point at one end. The bimetallic strip also makes contact with the push-shaft at the other end using another silver point. Both the pull-shaft and the push-shaft are connected with a curved spring installed inside the V-shaped slot on an adjustment strip. The bimetallic strip, curved spring, and both the pull-shaft and the push-shaft constitute the main control mechanism that provides the circuit breaking action under overloading condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2007
    Inventor: Wan-Kuo Kuo
  • Patent number: 6992559
    Abstract: An overload protection switch has a conductor interconnecting the first primary leg and a second primary leg so that when current passes through the switch, the current not only raises the temperature of the bi-metal plate, but also raises the temperature of the conductor to enhance the deformation of the bi-metal plate such that the electrical appliance connected to the switch and having an ampere tolerance lower than that of the bi-metal plate is protected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Inventor: Albert Huang
  • Patent number: 6876290
    Abstract: A switch includes a casing and first and second conductive blades. A conductive strip made of a material that bends when subject to a temperature rise is fixed to the first blade and has a free end. A conductive plate is arranged inside the casing and in electrical connection with the second blade and movable between an engaged position where the conductive plate engages the conductive strip to form an electrical connection between the first and second blades and a disengaged position where the conductive plate disengages from the conductive strip to electrically disconnect the second blade from the first blade. When an overload occurs, an excessive current flows through the conductive strip, causing the strip to bend from a normal operation condition to a breaking condition that separates the conductive strip from the conductive plate. A link is coupled to the conductive plate and defines an elongated slot receiving the free end of the conductive strip therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2005
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6867672
    Abstract: A switching device includes a latching mechanism and is cheap to produce and easy to assemble. To this end, the construction is essentially formed from a three-part modular unit including metallic material, and has a spring which supports the back-latching of the latching mechanism, and forces which extend essentially in one plane in the latching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Winfried Vierling
  • Patent number: 6788186
    Abstract: A switch device includes a casing and a push member movably connected to a top of the casing. A path is defined in the casing and a guide pin is pivotably connected to the push member wherein the guide pin includes an insertion which is movably engaged with the path. A driving plate is pivotably connected to the casing and includes an aperture through which the insertion extends. A free end of a bimetallic plate is held by a hook portion of the driving plate. The bimetallic plate includes a contact point which contacts the other contact point on a terminal by pushing the push member and the insertion rotate the driving plate in the aperture. When the current is overload, the deformation of the bimetallic plate rotates the driving plate at the hook portion of the bimetallic plate. The aperture in the driving plate includes three recesses and the first recess and the third recess respectively receive the insertion when the switch device is in OFF and ON status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2004
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6744628
    Abstract: A multi-directional power distribution unit (PDU) provides flexibility in the configuration of a computer system, disk drive array or other enclosure. The power distribution unit may be installed in one orientation for a power feed having a first configuration (e.g., from the front of the enclosure), and may be installed in a second orientation for a power feed in a second configuration (e.g., from the rear of the enclosure). In either orientation, a set of external power connectors couples to one or more external power feeds. Depending on the orientation, either a first or second internal connector will interface with the system or enclosure (e.g., a midplane, a power supply). The PDU may include circuitry for filtering electrical power and may also include a heat sink.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2004
    Assignee: Sun Microsytems, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy W. Olesiewicz
  • Patent number: 6741157
    Abstract: An electric switch having a circuit breaker includes a manually operable actuator that moves one contact between a first and a second position. A bimetal member moves another contact between a first and a second position in response to an electric current above a given threshold passing therethrough, and the movement of this contact to the second position releases a catch that retains a spring loaded indicator in its retracted position. The two contacts abut one another closing the circuit when both contacts are in their first positions. An excessive current will therefore break the circuit and release the indicator to move to the extended position. The releasable catch resets after the bimetal member has cooled and it will again retain the indicator in the retracted position when it is subsequently manually depressed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2004
    Inventor: Jack Chen
  • Patent number: 6734779
    Abstract: A switch includes a casing having a bottom to which first and second conductive blades are mounted. The second blade has a top edge forming a notch for receiving a see saw plat and allowing seesawing of the seesaw plate. A conductive strip made of a material that bends when subject to a temperature rise has an end fixed to the first blade and an opposite, free end forming a cantilever. The seesaw plate is movable between an engaged position where a first end of the seesaw plate engages the free end of the conductive strip thereby forming an electrical connection between the first and second blades and a disengaged position where the seesaw plate disengages from the conductive strip thereby electrically disconnecting the second blade from the first blade. A control button is movably received in a top opening of the casing and has a driver assembly mounted thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2004
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6714116
    Abstract: A circuit breaker switch is disclosed, including a rocker, an actuator, and a dielectric separator element. The rocker is positionable between a first on position and a second off position. The actuator element is coupled to the rocker such that it causes a first electrically conductive contact portion to move into contact with a second electrically conductive contact portion when the rocker is in the on position. The dielectric separator element is urged between the first and second electrically conductive contact portions in the event of excess current being passed between the first and second electrically conductive contact portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2004
    Assignee: Rototech Electrical Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Li Chi Sang, Ng Chi Ho
  • Patent number: 6707368
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a nonconductive housing, a first breaker contact within said housing, and a trigger element having a second breaker contact located within said housing. The trigger element is thermally activated to separate the first and second breaker contacts in an overcurrent condition. A nonconductive reset mechanism is located in the housing and configured for sliding actuation to prevent electrical connection between the first breaker contact and the second breaker contact after the trigger element has activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2004
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Conrad Fresco Alfaro, Thomas James Stack
  • 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: 6674033
    Abstract: A press button type safety switch is constructed to include a switching mechanism for switching the circuit between on/off positions, a spring-supported press button, a push member pivoted to the spring-supported press button and controlled by the spring-supported press button to slide along two symmetrical sliding tracks and to switch the switching mechanism between on/off positions, and a retaining structure provided between the switching mechanism and the push member and adapted to hold the press button in “on” position when the switch switched on and to release the press button when the switching mechanism tripped off upon an overcurrent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventor: Ming-Shan Wang
  • Patent number: 6664884
    Abstract: A switch includes a casing inside which two electrically isolated circuits are arranged. Each circuit includes first and second conductive blades fixed inside the casing. A conductive strip made of a material that bends when subject to a temperature rise is fixed to the first blade and has a free end. A conductive plate is arranged inside the casing and in electrical connection with the second blade and movable between an engaged position where the conductive plate engages the free end of the conductive strip to form an electrical connection between the first and second blades and a disengaged position where the conductive plate disengages from the conductive strip to electrically disconnect the second blade from the first blade. When an overload occurs, an excessive current flows through the conductive strips, causing the strips to bend from a normal operation condition to a breaking condition that separates the conductive strip from the conductive plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 6642832
    Abstract: A circuit breaker (10) has a current carrying bimetallic element (18) which bends upon self-heating and upon being subjected to a selected overload current transfers motion to a connecting plate (32) which displaces a latch surface (42b) from a catch (34a) of a bell crank mechanism (34) allowing a spring biased operating member (28) to move movable contact means (12) out of contact engagement with stationary contact means (14) thereby tripping the circuit breaker. An arc sensing circuit (52) is coupled to the load circuit and upon sensing selected arcs causes an arc responsive actuator (56, 62) to be energized to transfer motion to the latch (42) to trip the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2003
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Christian V. Pellon, Peter G. Berg
  • Patent number: 6590489
    Abstract: A circuit breaker for protecting electrical circuits, particularly in motor vehicles, includes a flat housing, which comprises an insulating material and has two adjacent flat plugs. A bimetal that is embodied as a snap-action element and is fixed to a flat plug serves in contacting the flat plugs together, with the contact end of the bimetal being located in an overlapping position with the counter-contact. During a contact opening as stipulated by an overcurrent, a contact separator automatically travels into the space between the opened contacts, and can be returned from its contact-separating position by the external exertion of a force acting counter to the spring pressure. A manual release device, which diverts the contact end of the bimetal from its contacting position into its contact-opening position, protrudes from the breaker housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Ullermann, Ludwig Seiverth
  • Patent number: 6570460
    Abstract: A voltage-controlled oscillator including a dielectric resonator having a ferroelectric ceramic material placed between two metallized surfaces and biased by an electric field created by a difference in potential applied between the two surfaces as a function of a tuning frequency of the oscillator. Also included is a load impedance, and an active amplifier element coupled between the dielectric resonator and the load impedance. Further, the ceramic material is formed by metal oxides of the family: Bax;Sr(1-x) Ti(1-y)(A)y O3 (1) in which: A is a constituent configured to reduce dielectric losses of the material, and −0.4≲×≲0.9−0.001≲y≲0.2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Thomson-CSF
    Inventors: Marie-Pierre Dussauby, Daniel Peris, Jean-Pierre Ganne
  • Patent number: 6535377
    Abstract: A power distribution unit (PDU) for supplying power to at least one electrical device (APP1-APP12), comprises at least one distribution point (P) for the power supply, and at least one female outlet (J1-J12) on its accessible side. The outlet is adapted to receive a male connector of a cable of an electrical device (APP1-APP12). The point (P) is electrically connected by a respective electrical cable to at least one manually resettable circuit breaker (BRK1-BKR6). The at least one circuit breaker comprises a respective push button (POU1-POU6) for resetting the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker (BRK1-BRK6) is connected by a respective electrical cable to the at least one female outlet (J1-J12). The circuit breaker (BRK1-BRK6) is located inside the unit and at least one reset mechanism capable of resetting the at least one circuit breaker is provided. Several circuit breakers may be supported in line and the reset mechanism is capable of resetting all of the circuit breakers simultaneously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Bull S.A.
    Inventors: Daniel Carteau, Alain Leparoux
  • Patent number: 6472971
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes main circuit contact shoes disposed in a circuit breaker case and urged by a contact spring, a contact opening and closing mechanism located above the contact shoes and including an opening and closing lever, a toggle link, an opening and closing handle and a latch, and an overcurrent tripping device located above the contact shoes. The toggle link includes a first link extending between the opening and closing lever and a toggle shaft located above, and a second link extending between the toggle shaft and the latch to overlap the first link in the V-form, and an opening and closing spring extends between the toggle shaft and a tip of a handle lever coupled to the opening and closing handle to extend downward. As a result, a space occupied by the contact opening and closing mechanism section in the height direction can be reduced to make the circuit breaker more compact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kentaro Toyama, Naoshi Uchida, Koji Asakawa, Isamu Ohshima
  • Patent number: 6417756
    Abstract: A push-button switch with overload protection and automatic reset is disclosed. The switch comprises a housing, a conducting unit, and an actuating unit. The conducting unit comprises several terminals, a normal-opened first conducting leaf and a thermally deformed bimetal sheet. The bimetal sheet is of a U shape having a working end and an opening end. The working end can deform to an overload position from a normal position in response to overload occurred in the conducting unit. The actuating unit comprises a stem, a locating cantilever, a rocking lever, an enabling rest, a cantilever pusher, and a lever reseating member. By means of the above structure, even though the stem is jammed, a trip action is still exactly performed in case of overload. Moreover, the switch of this invention will automatically reset when overload occurs by virtue of the cantilever pusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Inventor: Tsung-Mou Yu
  • Patent number: 5742219
    Abstract: A switchable circuit breaker having a housing, stationary and moveable contacts, a switching member for actuating the contacts to assume a first condition in which the contacts are open and a second condition in which the contacts are closed, and a breaker is disposed within the housing to interrupt current flow through the contacts in response to the current flow exceeding a predetermined level. The switching member includes a pusher moveable between an advanced position in which the pusher acts on the contacts to assume a contact opening condition and a retracted position in which the pusher releases the contacts to assume a contact closing position. The pusher is guided within the housing so as to convert a linear motion of its drive end into a steplike motion of its active end in order to provide a snapping transition between the closing and opening conditions of the contacts, thus assuring "non-teaseability" in the switching operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 21, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Electromechanical Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Fred Moalem, John R. Joyce, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5633618
    Abstract: A fuseless plug with an overload safety circuit breaker having a thermal reactive spring leaf and an electric conductive sheet. When in normal use, the thermal reactive spring leaf and the electric conductive sheet are electrically connected by contacting mutually. If overloading or short circuiting occurs, the temperature will rise, while the thermal reactive spring leaf made of an alloy of two kinds of metal material has different coefficients of temperature, so that the spring leaf will be bent outwardly to release the electric conductive sheet to form a broken circuit state and to assure that no disaster such as a fire alarm will occur. After clearing, a push button can be pushed down to force the electric conductive sheet into engagement again with the spring leaf for use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Wen-Pin Chuang
  • Patent number: 5157370
    Abstract: A manually resettable trip free thermostat that has simple construction and a pivotable stationary contact arm that enables the thermostat to be reset while maintaining the contacts in an open condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated
    Inventors: Brian W. Engelbach, Douglas P. Versaw
  • Patent number: 5003282
    Abstract: A thermostat having an electrically insulating housing and a push button extending therein through a bottom wall thereof. Two normally closed contacts, one fixed and the other on a movable carrier with a projection are disposed within the housing. A spring member pivotable about its center portion has an end resting against the push button and an opposite end resting against the movable contact carrier. An electrically insulating sheet is disposed over an open end of the housing with a convex outwardly bimetallic disc over and external to the insulating sheet and a cap disposed over the disc to enclose the disc within the housing. In an alarm status, the disc becomes convex inwardly and pushes against the projection on the movable contact carrier to separate the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Henry J. Boulanger
  • Patent number: 4833439
    Abstract: A unitary switch and circuit breaker (10) includes a switch circuit (14, 16, 22, 24, 26, 56, 57, 58) with first and second contacts (28, 30), the switch circuit (14, 16, 22, 24, 26, 56, 57, 58) being actuable to assume a first condition (FIG. 4) in which the contacts (28, 30) are open and a second condition (FIG. 5) in which the contacts (28, 30) are closed, and a circuit breaker (24, 26, 32, 42, 56, 57) integrally formed with the switch circuit (14, 16, 22, 24, 26, 56, 57, 58) for actuating the contacts (28, 30) to interrupt current flow through the contacts (28, 30) in response to the current flow exceeding a predetermined level and for subsequently preventing the resumption of current flow through the contacts (28, 30) until reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1989
    Assignee: Slater Electric, Inc.
    Inventors: Wade R. Bowden, Emma Levin
  • Patent number: 4635020
    Abstract: A thermal-type over load relay having an improved contact operating mechanism whereby testing of the operation of the relay is made easy, malfunctions due to mechanical shock or the like are substantially eliminated, and the overall size of the relay is reduced. A thermal element is provided for opening normally closed contacts of the relay in response to heat produced by a heater through which a main circuit current flows. An operating rod is provided for closing the normally open contacts in response to the operation of a normally closed contact mechanism when the normally closed contacts are opened by the operation of the thermal element. The operating rod may be operated from the exterior of the housing of the relay for testing purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuji Sako
  • Patent number: 4510479
    Abstract: A PC-board mounted thermal breaker that opens with a snap action is disclosed. A bimetallic element, connected to the load terminal of the thermal breaker, rests on an insulated sawtooth surface when the breaker is in the closed position. A contact blade, connected to the line terminal of the breaker, is pivotably biased downward into electrical contact with the bimetallic element by the action of an overcenter spring. An overcurrent through the breaker heats the bimetallic element directly and causes it to bend upwardly, forcing the contact blade to pivot against the bias of the spring. When the contact blade has pivoted sufficiently to move the spring overcenter, the direction of spring bias reverses, pivoting the contact blade rapidly upward, and thereby opening the breaker with a snap action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Airpax Corporation
    Inventor: Donald K. Merchant
  • Patent number: 4363016
    Abstract: A circuit breaker with an electrical insulator slide interposable between two generally convex contacts thereof and a rocker button rotatably trap mounted on a protrusion extending from the inside wall of the case which interacts wtih pivot points at one end of the slide to translate the rocking motion of the button into a linear motion displacement of the slide. The slide includes generally parallel elongate spaced apart standoff protrusions adapted to maintain the operating electrical contact surface of the movable contact withdrawn from contact with the slide when in the tripped position and during a resetting of the circuit breaker. The slide also includes a contoured portion adapted to generally mate with curved portions of but be visually distinguishable from the rocker button to present a readily discernable indication that the circuit breaker is in the tripped condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1982
    Assignee: AMF Incorporated
    Inventor: Robert P. Unger
  • Patent number: 4325046
    Abstract: A current activated actuator formed from a flat sheet of metal has diverging legs mounted in a base, the legs extending from an upper portion of the actuator. A snap action element is mounted on the upper portion and is located between spaced apart contacts. Overload current through one of the legs via a connection on the leg bottom causes the actuator to become vertically offset, moving the snap action element from contact with one of the spaced apart contacts to the other. Reset current through the other leg causes the snap action element to return to its original position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1980
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1982
    Assignee: B/K Patent Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Hadley K. Burch
  • Patent number: 4157523
    Abstract: A U-shaped heater unit is surrounded by a U-shaped bimetal, the legs of which move in response to temperature variations. The motion of the bimetal is conveyed through a wall by a slidable pin which acts to rotate an L-shaped compensator element. This rotation lifts a link element which operates a switch when the trip point is reached. A reset mechanism includes a plunger which when manually depressed rotates a reset arm first in one direction to reset the switch after it has been tripped and then in the opposite direction to a neutral station in which it will not reset the switch. The reset mechanism thus cannot be defeated by jamming the plunger in its fully depressed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 1977
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1979
    Assignee: Allen-Bradley Company
    Inventors: Parker A. Bollinger, Jr., Norbert F. Frymark
  • Patent number: 4068203
    Abstract: A bimetallic circuit breaker with an electrical insulating slide interposed between the contacts thereof in the contacts open position in which the terminals, the bimetallic element, the insulator slide, the button (connected to the slide) and the spring biasing the button and the slide to the contacts open position of the circuit breaker are all carried by an insulator frame so that they may all be preassembled together and inserted into the housing for the circuit as one sub-assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1976
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1978
    Assignee: Heinemann Electric Company
    Inventor: Robert P. Unger
  • Patent number: 4048607
    Abstract: A circuit breaker has a bistable snap-acting mechanism including a bimetallic arm which renders the circuit breaker capable of actuation by either ambient temperature changes or temperature changes generated internally, as by an excessive electric current. An electromagnetic arrangement enables essentially instantaneous actuation in response to an electric current of predetermined amplitude greater than the excessive current which otherwise might actuate the circuit breaker thermally. An actuating lever assembly includes an actuating lever coupled to a link which is normally latched and is unlatched in response to movement of the bimetallic arm, and enables manual actuation, as well as manual reset of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1977
    Assignee: Amerace Corporation
    Inventor: Adam Smorzaniuk