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Safety switch with overload protection circuit

  • US 5,694,106 A
  • Filed: 12/16/1996
  • Issued: 12/02/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
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Petitions
42
Forward Citations
1
Assignment
First Claim
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1. An improved safety switch with overload protection circuit, comprising:

  • a housing, said housing being substantially hollow and provided with an elastic stop hook at a front side and a rear side thereof respectively, and a positioning hole at either lateral side thereof;

    a lamp cover, said lamp cover having a nose at either lateral side thereof for engaging said positioning hole of said housing, so that said lamp cover may be pivotally mounted on an upper side of said housing for pressing purposes, said lamp cover further having a through hole at an upper side thereof;

    a receptacle, said receptacle having a plurality of lugs at either laterals side thereof for engaging a plurality of retaining slots correspondingly provided at each lateral side of said housing when said receptacle is inserted into the interior of said housing via a bottom side thereof, said receptacle having provided thereon three insert grooves for receiving three connecting plates;

    an upper end of that connecting plate at the side being bent and connected to a bi-metal plate by means of a rivet, .a central portion of said bi-metal plate being punched so that it projects upwardly in the shape of a saucer, said bi-metal plate having a front end extending forwardly to form a hook element, and a platinum contact being secured at a bottom side of said front end;

    that connecting plate in the middle also having a bent upper end and being provided with a platinum contact at a position corresponding to said platinum contact on said bi-metal plate 6;

    said three connecting plates each being provided with a punched out fork-shaped connecting portion at a lateral side thereof;

    said receptacle further having a front side and a rear side thereof extending upwardly to form respective vertical portions each of which is provided with a protrusion at either corner, and a first metallic elastic piece being fitted onto the respective front and rear sides of said receptacle, while a second metallic elastic piece of a bent shape is disposed above the respective front and rear sides of said receptacle such that an upper portion of said second metallic elastic piece is retained in a recess at an inner side of the respective front and rear sides of said housing;

    a circuit board, said circuit board having four round holes at four corners thereof for engaging said protrusions at the top side of said receptacle and having arranged thereon a neon light, an LED indicator and a resistor, three electrical wires from said circuit board being respectively connected to said three connecting portions of said three connecting plates such that when said connecting plates at the right side and in the middle are connected, the neon light will be on to indicate electrical connection; and

    an electrically insulating baffling plate disposed between said platinum contacts, wherein a plurality of horizontal ribs and a plurality of vertical ribs are arranged at a middle section of the inner side of each lateral side of said housing for positioning said baffling plate and said connecting plates respectively;

    said lamp cover has a block disposed inside said front end thereof for pivotally mounting a control hook having a bottom end located at a bottom edge of said hook element of said bi-metal plate, and said lamp cover further has a leg extending downwardly from one lateral side thereof; and

    said baffling plate is located between said two vertical portions of said receptacle such that it may displace thereon;

    the upper portions of the lateral sides thereof are positioned by said horizontal ribs of said housing;

    said baffling plate is further provided with an indentation at its front end for accommodating said control hook and an elongated notch at a suitable position for insertion of said leg of said lamp cover therethrough;

    the center of the rear end of said baffling plate is further provided with two guide grooves on either side of a projection onto which a spring fits; and

    said baffling plate is provided with matching notches at positions corresponding to those of said vertical ribs of said housing so that its forward and rearward displacement may not be hindered by said vertical ribs, whereby when power is overload, said bi-metal plate may trip off so that said baffling plate may automatically slip in between said platinum contacts, or said lamp cover may be utilized to control said baffling plate to displace to cut off power supply.

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