THERMAL SWITCH WITH SELF-TEST FEATURE
First Claim
1. A thermal switch testing system for detecting switch operation, comprising:
- a housing;
a heating element disposed within the housing;
a switch device disposed within the housing;
a test box coupled with the switch device and the heating element, the test box comprising;
a heater component for causing the heating element to apply heat within the housing; and
a sensing component for sensing when the switch device toggles.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A normally open thermal switch (200) having a bimetallic disk (18) is configured for operational testing in its installed position when exposed to a changing temperature by a test box (400) having a power source (400a). The in-place testing advantageously confirms triggering action of the switch by an event indicator (400c) at the operational temperatures designed into the switch (200). The temperature of the triggering action is presented on a temperature display (400b) and recorded by a data recorder (400d) of the test box (400). The switch (200) incorporates a heating element (24c) to heat changing the bimetallic disk (18) to snap activate at the operative temperatures. The thermal switch (200) is coupled with the test box (400) to confirm its operation without having to remove the switch from its installed location.
28 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A thermal switch testing system for detecting switch operation, comprising:
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a housing;
a heating element disposed within the housing;
a switch device disposed within the housing;
a test box coupled with the switch device and the heating element, the test box comprising;
a heater component for causing the heating element to apply heat within the housing; and
a sensing component for sensing when the switch device toggles. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A thermal switch comprising:
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a housing;
a thermal actuator located within the housing, the thermal actuator being coupled to a first pair of contacts having one end located external to the housing; and
a heater located within the housing, the heater coupled with a second pair of contacts having one end located external to the housing. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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12. A device comprising:
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a housing;
a heater component disposed within the housing for causing a heating element within a thermal switch to apply heat within the thermal switch; and
a sensing component for sensing when a switch device of the thermal switch toggles. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method comprising:
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coupling a test box to a thermal switch;
applying power to a heater within the thermal switch via the test box; and
determining temperature within the thermal switch at which the thermal switch toggles. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification