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.

Abstract: An installation switching device includes a housing, a main contact point having an arc quenching chamber, an input terminal, an output terminal, an impact-style armature system configured to move the main contact point to an open position, a latching mechanism having a latching point and configured to open an isolating contact point disposed in a secondary current path parallel to a main current path, a main thermostatic bimetallic strip configured to act on the latching point to as to cause the main contact point to remain in the open position, a current limiting resistor disposed in the secondary current path, a selective thermostatic bimetallic strip disposed in the secondary current path and configured to act on the latching mechanism, a handle configured to act on the latching mechanism so as to open and close the main contact point, and a phase connecting rail.

Abstract: An aircraft circuit breaker includes a housing having an opening, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts, and a trip mechanism structured to cooperate with the operating mechanism to trip open the operating mechanism. The trip mechanism includes a first bimetal to trip open the operating mechanism responsive to a thermal fault, a second ambient compensation bimetal to compensate the first bimetal, and an arc fault trip circuit to trip open the operating mechanism responsive to an arc fault. An indicator includes an indicator portion and a leg disposed from the indicator portion. A spring biases the indicator portion. The second bimetal holds the leg of the indicator, thereby holding the indicator against the spring bias. The second bimetal releases the leg of the indicator responsive to the arc fault trip circuit and the arc fault, thereby releasing the indicator to the spring bias.

Abstract: An electrical receptacle has multiple thermal sensors, each of which can trigger automatic shut off when the temperature rises above a predetermined threshold. After automatically turning off, the receptacle remains permanently non-conducting.

Abstract: A process for making microswitches or microvalves, composed of a substrate and used for shifting between a first state of functioning and a second state of functioning by means of a bimetal-effect thermal sensor. The sensor includes a deformable element attached, at opposite ends, to the substrate so that there is a natural deflection without stress with respect to a surface of the substrate opposite it, this natural deflection determining the first state of functioning, the second state of functioning being caused by the thermal sensor which, under the influence of temperature variation, induces a deformation of the deformable element which diminishes the deflection by subjecting it to a compressive force which shifts it in a direction opposite to its natural deflection by buckling.

Abstract: The invention concerns a microsystem, in particular for producing microswitches or microvalves, constituted on a substrate (50) and used for producing a shift between a first operating state and a second operating state by means of a heat actuated device with bi-metal switch effect. The heat-actuated device comprises a deformable element (51) connected, by opposite ends, to the substrate (50) so as to present naturally a deflection without stress relative to the substrate surface which faces it, said natural deflection determining the first operating state, the second operating state being produced by the heat-actuated device which induces, by the effect of temperature variation, a deformation of the deformable element (51) tending to reduce its deflection and submitting it to a compressive stress by buckling effect in a direction opposite to its natural deflection.

Abstract: A remotely controlled circuit control device has first and second load contact assemblies movable into circuit engagement and circuit disengagement positions relative to one another in which one load contact assembly is operatively connected to a solenoid so that alternate forward strokes of the solenoid moves the one load contact assembly between reset and tripped positions through a push-push mechanism having an indexing portion and a latching portion. An overload mechanism cooperates with the latch portion to cause the load contact assemblies to move to the circuit disengaged position upon occurrence of a fault condition. The second load contact assembly includes pivotably mounted contact members which are linked to the first load contact assembly in such a way that circuit engagement during solenoid energization is precluded.

Abstract: A tripping device for a thermal protection relay, particularly a bimetal relay, has a pivoted U-shaped support bracket for a tripping lever, can be adjusted by means of an adjusting dog, and acts on a set of contacts. The U-shaped support bracket has a crosspiece which carries one end of U-shaped temperature compensation strip. The other end of the strip rests against the adjusting dog. The support bracket has support points for the support bracket and the tripping lever lying one behind another in the longitudinal direction of the bracket legs, starting at the crosspiece.This relay design results in reduced cost of assembly and in reduced overall relay size. Also, a heretofore required contact pressure spring for the temperature compensation strip is dispensed with.

Abstract: The following specification describes a bimetal in the limiter assembly of a circuit breaker to operate the trip crossbar for opening the main circuit breaker contacts. An arm is also provided on one blade of the current limiter contacts to also operate the trip crossbar for ensuring rapid opening of the main contacts of the circuit breaker in response to high fault currents. The bimetal is connected between the electromagnet winding and one of the current limiter contact blades in shunt with a path of selected resistance. The resistance is selected as desired by connecting pigtail conductors of desired size either in shunt with or to selected portions of the bimetal to control the current passing through the bimetal for controlling the heat of the bimetal in accordance with the rating of the breaker. A calibration assembly for the bimetal is carried by the electromagnetic assembly.

Abstract: A circuit breaker having a magnetic trip mechanism pivotally mounted on the bimetal actuating assembly. First and second flanges extend from the bimetal element and respectively include first and second co-axially aligned apertures. A magnetic trip arm is pivotally mounted in the first and second apertures and includes a first portion disposed in proximity to the bimetal element to be drawn thereto in response to a high overload current flowing therethrough and a second portion which engages a latch, upon movement of the magnetic trip arm, thereby tripping open the contacts of the circuit breaker.

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.

Abstract: A thermal overload relay characterized by a plurality of pole units, stationary and movable contacts, a slide within the housing for moving the movable contact between open and closed positions, a movable contact mounting arm on the slide, latch means on the slide for latching the slide in one of said positions, resetting means for moving the slides to the latched position, each pole comprising a bimetal element responsive to current flow to effect heating thereof, a crossbar associated with the bimetal element to effect unlatching of the latch means, and the housing being an integral single unit into which the several foregoing elements are inserted in place.

Abstract: An ambient-compensated, current-actuated circuit breaker, adapted to be miniaturized. In one embodiment, the device has a movable spring arm with contact portion mounted on a base; a plural-legged, current sensitive monometallic element is mounted on the base with the legs joined at an upper end and spread apart to form a rigid structure, the current-sensitive element having a combined contact and latch portion at one end which engages the spring arm in a contact-closed position, the force of the spring arm being in a direction in which the current sensitive element is rigid. Upon heating a proper one or more of the legs by electrical current, the heated leg or legs elongate and move the upper end portion and latch portion in a direction to release the spring arm and open the contacts. An equal change in temperature of all the legs will not trip the latch.

Abstract: Electric circuit breaker alternately providing overcurrent and/or over temperature protection by means of temperature responsive bimetal elements, whereby an increase in pressure as between electrical contacts is effected as the temperature may be increased up to the point of break, resulting in improved contact life and more effective contact when the device is subjected to external vibration.

Abstract: A circuit interrupter having a magnetic trip element which is integral with the latch. The disclosed circuit interrupter is provided with a bimetal and a magnetic trip element directly connected to the latch of the circuit interrupter which is drawn towards the bimetal, unlatching the circuit interrupter when current flow therethrough exceeds a high overload level. The disclosed circuit interrupter is particularly adaptable for use on a distribution transformer. A movable bridging contact for completing a series circuit between two stationary contacts is provided. The movable bridging contact is spring biased towards an open position separated from the stationary contacts, but with the circuit interrupter in the normally closed position is held in engagement with the stationary contacts by a latching mechanism which is responsive to the bimetal or magnetic trip element to allow the circuit breaker to trip open during overload conditions.

Abstract: A circuit breaker has a contact member with a pair of arms which extend from the member in spaced side-by-side relation. The contact member also has a thermostatic portion which moves in response to an increase in temperature to move the distal ends of the arms away from each other. A latching plate has a pair of spaced latch surfaces engaged with the distal ends of the respective contact member arms for manually moving the contact member into closed circuit position. The latch surfaces permit the distal arm ends to slide from the latch surfaces as the arms move apart when the thermostatic portion is heated to a selected temperature in response to the occurrence of an overload current in the breaker circuit, thereby to allow the contact member to move automatically to an open circuit position under a spring bias.