Thermal actuator

• US 6,184,768 B1
• Filed: 12/19/1998
• Issued: 02/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cheng Chao Hsu
• Original Assignee: Cheng Chao Hsu
• Inventors: Hsu, Cheng Chao
• Primary Examiner(s): Picard, Leo P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vortman, Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US09/216,069
• Time in Patent Office: 780 Days
• Field of Search: 337/363, 337/77, 337/78, 337/100, 337/101, 337/102, 337/107, 337/141, 337/333, 337/370, 337/377, 337/381, 337/318, 337/365, 337/390, 337/89, 337/131, 337/362
• US Class Current: 337/363
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 37/5418 using cantilevered bimetallic snap elements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 61/02 wherein the thermally-sensitive member is heated indirectly, e.g. resistively, inductively

Abstract

A thermal actuator includes a thermal detector, an actuator unit and a connecting circuit for electrically connecting the thermal detector in parallel with the actuator unit. The thermal detector includes a first contact member and a second contact member normally remained in contact with the first contact member. However, the second contact member will bend to uncontact with the first contact member when an overheated or over-cold temperature occurred around the thermal detector, so that the current normally flowing through the thermal detector will flow to the actuator unit too. Therefore, a heat wire wrapped around an actuating piece of the actuator unit generates heat to increase the temperature around the actuating piece. When the temperature around the actuating piece increases to a predetermined extent, the actuating piece bends so as to provide an actuating action. If the actuator unit is installed close to a switch or a breaker, the actuating action of the actuating piece can activate the switch to turn off or the jumper of the breaker to cut the electric supply.

Claims

1. A thermal actuator, comprising:

at least one thermal detector for breaking a first current flowing therethrough when a surrounding temperature around said thermal detector changes from a normal temperature to a predetermined temperature;

at least one actuator unit which comprises an actuating piece made of thermostatic metal, a conducting terminal piece connected to said actuating piece, an insulating sleeve covering a portion of said actuating piece, and an electrical heat element wrapping around said insulating sleeve which has one end connected to said actuating piece; and

a connecting circuit for electrically connecting said thermal detector in parallel with said actuator unit, wherein said connecting circuit comprises a first terminal, a second terminal, a first connecting wire electrically connected said thermal detector between said first and second terminals, and a second connecting wire which is extended between said first and second terminals in parallel with said first connecting wire to electrically connect said actuator unit between said first and second terminals by connecting another end of said electrical heat element to said first terminal and connecting said conducting terminal piece to said second terminal, wherein a main current flowing through said input terminal and said output terminal is divided into said first current flowing through said thermal detector and a second current flowing through said actuator unit;

whereby when said first current of said first connecting wire flowing through said thermal detector breaks, said main current completely flows through said second connecting wire via said electrical heat element of said actuator unit so as to increase temperature around said actuating piece until said actuating piece provides an actuating action.

2. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 1, wherein said thermal detector enables said first current to flow therethrough again when said surrounding temperature around said thermal detector returns to said normal temperature, said thermal detector comprising a first contact member made of electrical conducting material, a second contact member made of thermostatic metal and an insulating connector connected between a connecting end of said second contact member and said first contact member, wherein said second contact member is normally remained in contact with said first contact member, however when said surrounding temperature around said thermal detector reaches said predetermined temperature, said contact member bends away from said first contact member to uncontact with said first contact member.

3. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 2, wherein on said second contact member, a circular convex groove is formed, so that when said second contact member is heated by a hot surrounding, said circular convex groove ensures said contact end of said second contact member bending away from said first contact member.

4. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 3, wherein an end of said first contact member protrudes a first contact point facing to said second contact member and said second contact member has a contact end which protrudes a contact point arranged to normally in contact with said first contact point.

5. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first current contains more than 50% of said main current said second current contains less than 50% of said main current.

6. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 2, wherein said first current contains more than 50% of said main current said second current contains less than 50% of said main current.

7. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 3, wherein said first current contains more than 50% of said main current said second current contains less than 50% of said main current.

8. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 1, wherein said first current contains 90% or more than said main current said second current contains 10% or less than said main current.

9. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 2, wherein said first current contains 90% or more than said main current said second current contains 10% or less than said main current.

10. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 3, wherein said first current contains 90% or more than said main current said second current contains 10% or less than said main current.

11. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 4, wherein said first current contains 90% or more than said main current said second current contains 10% or less than said main current.

12. A thermal actuator, comprising:

a plurality of thermal detectors electrically connected in series for breaking a first current flowing therethrough when one of said thermal detectors has a surrounding temperature there around changing from a normal temperature to a predetermined temperature;

a plurality of actuator units electrically connected in series, wherein each of which comprises an actuating piece made of thermostatic metal, a conducting terminal piece connected to said actuating piece, an insulating sleeve covering a portion of said actuating piece, and an electrical heat element wrapping around said insulating sleeve which has one end connected to said actuating piece; and

a connecting circuit for electrically connecting said thermal detectors in parallel with said actuator units, wherein said connecting circuit comprises a first terminal, a second terminal, a first connecting wire electrically connected said thermal detectors between said first and second terminals, and a second connecting wire which is extended between said first and second terminals in parallel with said first connecting wire to electrically connect said actuator units between said first and second terminals, wherein a main current flowing through said input terminal and said output terminal is divided into said first current flowing through said thermal detectors and a second current flowing through said actuator units;

whereby when said first current of said first connecting wire flowing through said thermal detectors breaks, said main current completely flows through said second connecting wire via said electrical heat elements of said actuator units so as to increase temperature around said actuating pieces until each of said actuating pieces provides an actuating action.

13. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 12, wherein each of said thermal detectors enables said first current to flow therethrough again when said surrounding temperature around said respective thermal detector returns to said normal temperature, each of said thermal detectors comprising a first contact member made of electrical conducting material, a second contact member made of thermostatic metal and an insulating connector connected between a connecting end of said second contact member and said first contact member, wherein said second contact member is normally remained in contact with said first contact member, however when said surrounding temperature around said respective thermal detector reaches said predetermined temperature, said contact member bends away from said first contact member to uncontact with said first contact member.

14. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 13, wherein on said second contact member of each of said thermal detectors, a circular convex groove is formed, so that when said second contact member is heated by a hot surrounding, said circular convex groove ensures said contact end of said second contact member bending away from said respective first contact member.

15. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 14, wherein an end of said first contact member protrudes a first contact point facing to said second contact member and said second contact member has a contact end which protrudes a contact point arranged to normally in contact with said first contact point.

16. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 12, wherein said first current contains more than 50% of said main current said second current contains less than 50% of said main current.

17. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 15, wherein said first current contains more than 50% of said main current said second current contains less than 50% of said main current.

18. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 12, wherein said first current contains 90% or more than said main current said second current contains 10% or less than said main current.

19. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 13, wherein said first current contains 90% or more than said main current said second current contains 10% or less than said main current.

20. A thermal actuator, as recited in claim 14, wherein said first current contains 90% or more than said main current said second current contains 10% or less than said main current.