Motor protector device

• US 5,995,351 A
• Filed: 03/04/1998
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation), Sensata Technologies Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Mori, Yuji, Katsumata, Hiromi, Miura, Kenichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Gaffin, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, KIM NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/036,664
• Time in Patent Office: 636 Days
• Field of Search: 361/23, 361/24, 361/25-27, 361/31, 361/32, 361/103-106, 337/298, 337/300, 337/333, 337/338, 337/365
• US Class Current: 361/105
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2037/5463 the bimetallic snap element forming part of switched circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/001 Means for preventing or breaking contact-welding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 37/54 wherein the bimetallic element is inherently snap acting
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 37/76 Contact member actuated by melting of fusible material, actuated due to burning of combustible material or due to explosion of explosive material
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/16 with bimetal element combined with detection of imbalance of two or more currents H01H83/223

Abstract

A motor protector (1, 1A) for connection in a circuit for supplying electrical power to a motor (36) to be protected includes first (S1), second (S2) and third (S3) switches in a housing member (2, 3). Each switch (S1, S2, S3) uses a snap-acting bimetallic member (8, 11, 13) for opening and closing electrical contacts (4a and 5a, 8a and 8b; 17 and 27; 18 and 30) of the respective switch. The switches (S1, S2, S3) in the housing member (2, 3) are connected as part of the circuit supplying electrical power to the motor (36) being electrically connected in series with one another so that the opening of any one of them will stop the flow of power to the motor (36) to be protected.

Claims

1. A motor protector for monitoring a motor to be protected connected in a circuit for supplying electrical power to said motor comprising a first switch including an actuation means, said first switch connected in said circuit for supplying power to the motor and upon movement of said actuation means, the first switch opening and closing said circuit, a second switch connected in said circuit for supplying power to the motor including an actuation means for opening and closing said circuit and a third switch connected in said circuit for supplying electrical power to said motor including an actuation means for opening and closing said circuit, said actuation means of said first, second and third switches comprising a snap-acting bimetallic member responsive to temperature change each with a selected predetermined first temperature at which it snaps over center and a second lower selected predetermined temperature in which it snaps back to its original state, the selected predetermined first temperature of at least one switch of said first, second and third switches being different from the first selected predetermined temperature of the other switches of the first, second and third switches, and said first, second and third switches maintain said motor and being electrically connected in series.

2. A motor protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said second and third switches include a switch arm movable in response to the snap action bimetallic member of each respective switch.

3. A motor protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said snap-acting bimetallic member of the first switch is a current carrying member of the circuit for supplying current to the motor thereby being responsive to environmental temperature surrounding it and the amount of current passing through it, and said snap-acting bimetallic members of the second and third switches are not current carrying members of the circuit for supplying current to the motor and therefore are responsive only to environmental temperatures surrounding them.

4. A motor protector as set forth in claim 3 wherein said snap acting bimetallic members of the second and the third switch having different first selected predetermined snap temperatures with the first selected predetermined snap temperature for the bimetallic member of the third switch being higher than that of the bimetallic member of the second switch and the second selected predetermined snap temperature for the bimetallic member of the third switch being below the temperature of the motor protector during normal operation of the motor to be protected.

5. A motor protector as set forth in claim 4 wherein the second selected predetermined snap temperature for the bimetallic member of the third switch is about -30°

C.

6. A motor protector as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first, second and third switches are all contained in a housing.

7. A motor protector as set forth in claim 6 wherein said housing comprises an upper first base member containing the first switch and a lower second base member containing the second and third switches.

8. A motor protector as set forth in claim 7 wherein the second and third switches are positioned in the housing closer to the motor to be protected than the first switch.

9. A motor protector as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second and third switches are contained in a cavity portion of said lower second base member to provide quicker and more accurate response to heat generated by the motor to be protected.

10. A motor protector for monitoring a motor to be protected connected in a circuit for supplying electrical power to said motor compromising a first switch including an actuation means, said first switch connected in said circuit for supplying power to the motor and upon movement of said actuation means, the first switch opening erred closing said circuit, a second switch connected in said circuit for supplying power to the motor including an actuation means for opening and closing said circuit and a third switch connected in said circuit for supplying electrical power to said motor including an actuation means for opening and closing said circuit, said actuation means for said first and second switches comprising a snap-acting bimetallic member responsive to temperature change for opening said circuit and said actuator means for said third switch comprising meltable fuse member responsive to temperature change for opening said circuit, the temperature of actuation of said actuation means of at least one switch of said first, second and third switches being different from the temperature of actuation of said actuation means of said other switches of the first, second and third switches, and said first, second and third switches maintain said motor and being electrically connected in series.

11. A motor protector as set forth in claim 10 wherein said first, second and third switches are all contained in a housing.

12. A motor protector as set forth in claim 11 wherein said housing comprises an upper first base member containing the first switch and a lower second base member containing the second and third switches.

13. A motor protector as set forth in claim 12 wherein the second and third switches are positioned in the housing closer to the motor to be protected than the first switch.

14. A motor protector as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second and third switches are contained in a cavity portion of said lower second base member to provide quicker and more accurate response to heat generated by the motor to be protected.