Controllable electronic switch

• US 10,074,498 B2
• Filed: 11/23/2016
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Original Assignee: I/O Controls Corporation
• Inventors: Ying, Jeffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US15/360,609
• Publication Number:
  US 20170076895A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• Field of Search: 337 14, 337 16, 337 36, 337102, 337 85, 337107, 337 86, 337105, 337113, 337140, 337333, 337362, 337377, 337 9535- 41, 337335, 337336, 337363, 337370, 337371
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 37/52 actuated due to deflection of bimetallic element
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 61/02 wherein the thermally-sensitive member is heated indirectly, e.g. resistively, inductively
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/32 Insulating body insertable between contacts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00022 using wireless data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0068 Battery or charger load switching, e.g. concurrent charging and load supply H02J7/0013 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/345 using capacitors as storage or buffering devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/126 using wireless data transmission

Abstract

A controllable electronic switch for, e.g., controlling power distribution comprises a deformable member such as a bimetal arm that can be deformed to break an electrical path. The deformable member may be anchored at one end and in controllable contact with an electrical conductor at the other end. A heating element, such as a coil, can be used to selectively heat the deformable member. The controllable electronic switch can alternatively comprise a deformable member that is terminated in a wedge-shaped member. When the deformable member bends in response to being heated, the wedge-shaped member forces apart a pair of contacts thus breaking an electrical path. The wedge-shaped member and/or associated structures may be configured as a cam mechanism with multiple latching positions.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electronic switch and thereby connecting and disconnecting an incoming power signal from a load, comprising:

providing a pair of electrical contacts;

positioning a pair of opposing elongate heat-deformable members on opposing sides of a resting member disposed therebetween, said elongate heat-deformable members each associated with one of the pair of electrical contacts and oriented such that the electrical contacts are electrically coupled when the elongate heat-deformable members are at rest,

wherein the resting member comprises a semi-circular rotatable cam having a first end and a second end, wherein when the rotatable cam is in a first unrotated position the opposing elongate heat-deformable members are separated if either of them is deformed such that an electrical connection is broken between the pair of electrical contacts, and wherein when the rotatable cam is in a second rotated position the non-deformed elongate heat-deformable member is permitted to bend towards the deformed elongate heat-deformable member and re-establish the electrical connection between the pair of electrical contacts; and

controllably separating the pair of electrical contacts by allowing either of the elongate heat-deformable members to bend while inhibiting the opposing elongate heat-deformable member from following the bending elongate heat-deformable member by virtue of the resting member, and the inhibited elongate heat-deformable member remaining stationary while the other heat-deformable member bends and thereby connecting and disconnecting the incoming power signal from the load.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the elongate heat-deformable members each have a fixed end and a free end, and wherein said pair of electrical contacts are respectively disposed at the free ends of said pair of elongate heat-deformable members.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

coupling an incoming power signal line terminating to a fixed end of a first one of said pair of elongate heat-deformable members; and

coupling an output power signal line proximate to the electrical contact disposed on a second one of said pair of elongate heat-deformable members, such that power from said incoming power signal line flows through said first elongate heat-deformable member, across said pair of electrical contacts, and through the output power signal line to the load but does not flow through said second elongate deformable member.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein one of said elongate heat-deformable members acts as a safety arm which breaks circuit connection upon an over-current condition while the other arm remains stationary, and wherein the other one of said elongate heat-deformable members acts as a control arm breaking circuit connection in response to an electronic control signal while the other arm remains stationary.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising heating the elongate heat-deformable member acting as a control arm in order to cause it to break circuit connection in response to said control signal.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said heating is carried out by applying a current through resistive tape disposed upon said elongate heat-deformable member acting as a control arm but not to the heat-deformable elongate member acting as a safety arm.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said heating is carried out using a heating coil disposed proximate to said elongate heat-deformable member acting as a control arm but not to the heat-deformable elongate member acting as a safety arm.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said resting member moves and thereby overrides the operation of either elongate heat-deformable member by controllably allowing the elongate heat-deformable members to reconnect.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising rotating said rotatable cam from a normal operating position to an override position in order to cause said opposing elongate heat-deformable members to move towards one another and reconnect power to the load.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein rotation of said rotatable cam is responsive to a manual switch.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said elongate heat-deformable members each comprise a bimetal arm.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each of said bimetal arms has a top side comprised of a first metallic substance and a bottom side comprised of a second metallic substance having different thermal properties than the first metallic substance.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising conveying power from the incoming power signal to the load through an electrical conductor when said pair of electrical contacts are in contact with one another, and avoiding the conveyance of power to the load when said pair of electrical contacts are separated from one another.

14. A method of selectively providing power to a load, comprising:

positioning a pair of elongate bimetallic members in an opposing relationship, said elongate bimetallic members coupled to a pair of separable electrical contacts which can be moved to connect and disconnect an incoming power signal to or from a load;

disposing a resting member between said elongate bimetallic members such that when either elongate bimetallic member bends in response to being heated, the opposing elongate bimetallic member is inhibited from following the bending elongate bimetallic member and thereby remains stationary,

wherein the resting member comprises a semi-circular rotatable cam having a first end and a second end, wherein when the rotatable cam is in a first unrotated position the opposing elongate heat-deformable members are separated if either of them is deformed such that an electrical connection is broken between the pair of electrical contacts, and wherein when the rotatable cam is in a second rotated position the non-deformed elongate heat-deformable member is permitted to bend towards the deformed elongate heat-deformable member and re-establish the electrical connection between the pair of electrical contacts;

controllably separating the pair of electrical contacts in an over-current condition that causes the first one of said pair of elongate bimetallic members to bend away from the second elongate bimetallic member but which does not affect the second elongate bimetallic member; and

controllably separating the pair of electrical contacts by heating the second one of said pair of elongate bimetallic members, causing it to bend away from the first elongate bimetallic member which remains stationary.