Balanced snap action thermal actuator
First Claim
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1. A thermal switch comprising:
- a thermally responsive bimetallic actuating member thermally actuatable between a first and a second position;
a resiliently biased armature mechanically coupled to said actuating member for actuation thereby, said armature being operative when actuated to exert a biasing force on said actuating member; and
means including a resilient biasing member mechanically coupled to said actuating member for exerting a biasing force on said actuating member opposing the force exerted by said armature, said actuating member being disengaged from said biasing force exerting means when said actuating member is in said first position and said actuating member being disengaged from said armature when said actuating member is in said second position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal actuator utilizes a bimetallic snap action member such as a disc to actuate a member such as the armature of a switch to effect opening and closing of the switch. A resilient biasing member, such as an elongated curved spring member or a compressible member, engages the bimetallic member on a side opposite that of the actuated member to oppose the force exerted by the actuated member during the operation of the actuator.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A thermal switch comprising:
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a thermally responsive bimetallic actuating member thermally actuatable between a first and a second position; a resiliently biased armature mechanically coupled to said actuating member for actuation thereby, said armature being operative when actuated to exert a biasing force on said actuating member; and means including a resilient biasing member mechanically coupled to said actuating member for exerting a biasing force on said actuating member opposing the force exerted by said armature, said actuating member being disengaged from said biasing force exerting means when said actuating member is in said first position and said actuating member being disengaged from said armature when said actuating member is in said second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A thermal actuator comprising:
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a thermally responsive bimetallic actuating member, said actuating member being movable between a first position and a second position in response to temperature; a resiliently biased actuated member mechanically coupled to said actuating member for actuation thereby, said actuated member being operative to exert a force on said actuating member when said actuating member is moving from said second position to its first position in a direction tending to retard the movement of said actuating member to said first position; and means including a resilient member mechanically coupled to said actuating member for exerting a force on said actuating member when said actuating member is in said second position in a direction tending to move sad actuating member to said first position, said actuating member is disengaged from said actuated member when said actuating member is in said second position and wherein said actuating member is disengaged from said force exerting means when said actuating member is in said first position. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A thermal switch comprising:
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a thermally responsive snap action bimetallic disc actuator having first and second stable states, said disc actuator being responsive to temperature for switching between said first and second stable states; a resiliently biased armature disposed on one side of said disc actuator and mechanically coupled thereto and actuated thereby, said armature being operative to exert a biasing force on said disc actuator when said disc actuator is in its first stable state in a direction tending to bias said disc actuator toward its second stable state; and second biasing means disposed on the opposite side of said disc actuator and mechanically coupled thereto for exerting a biasing force on said disc actuator when said disc actuator is in said second stable state in a direction tending to bias said disc toward its first stable state, said disc actuator being disengaged from said second biasing means when said disc actuator is in said first stable state and said disc actuator being disengaged from said armature when said disc actuator is in said second stable state. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A thermal actuator comprising:
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a first bistable bimetallic member having an upper set point defining a high temperature stable state and a lower set point defining a low temperature stable state; a second bistable bimetallic member having an upper set point defining a high temperature stable state and a lower set point defining a low temperature stable state, the upper set point of said second bistable bimetallic member being between the upper and lower set points of the first bistable bimetallic member and the lower set point of said second bistable bimetallic member being below the lower set point of said first bistable bimetallic member, said first and second bistable bimetallic members being mechanically coupled to form a bistable thermal actuator having a high temperature stable state determined by the upper set point of said second bistable bimetallic member and a low temperature stable state defined by the lower set point of said first bistable bimetallic member; and means including a third disc shaped member and a ring shaped member surrounding said third disc shaped member interposed between said bimetallic disc shaped members for mechanically coupling said disc shaped bimetallic members. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A thermally actuated switch comprising:
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means for controlling the flow of current therethrough having first and second conditions of operation; means including a first bimetallic member for changing the condition of operation of said current controlling means from its first condition of operation to its second condition of operation upon heating of said first bimetallic member; means including a second bimetallic member for changing the condition of operation of said current controlling means from its second condition of operation to its first condition of operation upon cooling of said second bimetallic member; and means including a third disc shaped member and a ring shaped member surrounding said third disc shaped member interposed between said bimetallic disc shaped members for mechanically coupling said disc shaped bimetallic members. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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Specification