Pressure and temperature responsive switch assembly
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A temperature and pressure responsive switch assembly comprising:
- a temperature responsive switch member having open and closed positions, said switch member being in one of said positions at normal temperature and automatically being moveable to the other of said positions responsive to an elevated temperature;
a pressure responsive snap-acting diaphragm co-operable with said switch member to move said switch member from said one position to said other position responsive to an elevated pressure;
an electrically insulating support member supporting said switch member; and
a force transfer member comprising a bumper interposed between said switch member and said diaphragm, said force transfer member is integral with said support member and connected thereto by at least one flexible arm.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A switch having closed and open positions moves from one position to the other in response to either an elevated temperature or an excessive pressure. A switch member of bimetal material or shape memory alloy operates in response to an elevated temperature, and a foil diaphragm that cooperates with a bumper operates the switch member in response to elevated pressure. The diaphragm may rupture to vent excessive pressure in the event pressure continues to rise despite operation of the switch member or due to failure of the switch member to operate.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. A temperature and pressure responsive switch assembly comprising:
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a temperature responsive switch member having open and closed positions, said switch member being in one of said positions at normal temperature and automatically being moveable to the other of said positions responsive to an elevated temperature;
a pressure responsive snap-acting diaphragm co-operable with said switch member to move said switch member from said one position to said other position responsive to an elevated pressure;
an electrically insulating support member supporting said switch member; and
a force transfer member comprising a bumper interposed between said switch member and said diaphragm, said force transfer member is integral with said support member and connected thereto by at least one flexible arm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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3. The switch assembly of clam 2 wherein said bubble is bistable and remains in said operational position to maintain said switch member in said other position following dissipation of the elevated pressure that caused said bubble to move from said passive position to said operational position.
- 15. A pressure responsive switch assembly including a switch member having open and closed positions, said switch member being in one of said positions at normal pressures, a pressure responsive snap-acting diaphragm cooperable with said switch member to move said switch member to the other of said positions responsive to an elevated pressure, and a moveable dielectric force transfer member interposed between said switch member and said diaphragm, said diaphragm having a passive position in which it is concave relative to said switch member and an operational position in which it is convex relative to said switch member, and said diaphragm being responsive to an elevated pressure to snap from said passive position to said operational position to move said switch member from said one position to said other position.
- 20. A pressure and temperature responsive switch comprising a fixed contact, said fixed contact comprising an electrically conductive foil, a temperature responsive switch blade comprising a moveable end portion and a fixed end portion, said switch blade having a closed position engaging said fixed contact and an open position out of engagement with said fixed contact, said switch blade normally being in one of said positions under normal pressure and temperature conditions, a flexible diaphragm having a bumper side facing toward said switch blade and an opposite side, and a bumper positioned between said switch blade and said bumper side of said diaphragm, said switch blade being moveable from said one position to the other of said positions responsive to an elevated temperature, said diaphragm being deformable toward said switch blade responsive to an elevated pressure acting on said opposite side thereof, and said bumper being moveable with said diaphragm to place said switch blade in said open position responsive to an elevated pressure and said diaphragm and said bumper being located intermediate said moveable and fixed end portions of said switch blade.
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27. An insulator for a switch assembly comprising a body portion having an inner periphery and top and bottom surfaces, said inner periphery being oval, having opposite opening ends and circumscribing an opening in said insulator, a bumper extending into said opening and being connected with said inner periphery by at least one bendable arm to provide movement of said bumper in a direction between said top and bottom surfaces by bending of said arm, said arm being connected with said body portion at one of said opening ends.
- 28. A pressure and temperature responsive switch assembly comprising a housing member having a hole therethrough, a foil diaphragm closing said hole and having a bumper side and an opposite side, a bumper carried by said diaphragm on said bumper side thereof, an conductive temperature responsive member having a central portion aligned with said bumper and having an outer periphery, said temperature responsive member having a first bowed position in which it is concave away from said bumper and a second bowed position in which it is concave toward said bumper, an electrically conductive plate carried by said housing member on the opposite side of said temperature responsive member from said bumper, a fixed contact carried by said housing member adjacent said hole therein, said thermally responsive member being in engagement with both said metal plate and said fixed contact in one of said bowed positions thereof and being out of engagement with at least one of said metal plate and said fixed contact in the other of said bowed positions thereof, said foil diaphragm being responsive to pressure on said opposite side thereof to move toward said metal plate and apply force centrally on said temperature responsive member while said periphery of said temperature responsive member is in engagement with said metal plate to cause said temperature responsive member to move from said first bowed position to said second bowed position, and said temperature responsive member being in said first bowed position at normal temperatures and moving to said second bowed position responsive to an elevated temperature.
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31. A pressure and temperature responsive switch assembly comprising a housing member having a hole therein, a foil diaphragm closing said hole, said diaphragm having a bumper side and an opposite side, a movable bumper on said bumper side of said foil diaphragm, a fixed contact on the opposite side of said bumper from said foil diaphragm, a temperature responsive switch blade extending between said bumper and said fixed contact, said switch blade having a normally open position out of engagement with said fixed contact and being movable to a closed position in engagement with said fixed contact responsive to an elevated pressure or temperature, said switch blade having a normal temperature configuration wherein it is in said open position and having an elevated temperature configuration wherein it is in said closed position, and said foil diaphragm being responsive to pressure acting on said opposite side thereof to move said bumper toward said switch blade and place said switch blade in said closed position in engagement with said fixed contact.
- 32. A pressure and temperature responsive switch assembly comprising a housing member having a fixed contact attached thereto, a metal plate supported on said housing member in spaced relationship to said fixed contact, a temperature responsive conductor positioned between said plate and said fixed contact, said conductor having a bowed configuration with a central portion engaging said fixed contact and an outer portion engaging said plate, said temperature responsive conductor being responsive to an elevated temperature to move out of engagement with said fixed contact, and a moveable pressure responsive device that responds to excessive pressure to move said central portion of said conductor out of engagement with said fixed contact, said moveable pressure responsive device including a moveable actuator having an actuator hole therethrough, said fixed contact extending through said hole into engagement with said central portion of said thermally responsive conductor, and said actuator being moveable relative to said fixed contact toward said conductor to disengage said central portion of said conductor from said fixed contact in response to excessive pressure.
- 35. A battery including a battery case having a case interior, a pressure port communicating with said case interior, a pressure responsive snap-acting diaphragm closing said port, a moveable switch member having open and closed positions comprising a switch blade having a moveable end portion and a fixed end portion, said diaphragm having a passive position extending in a direction away from said switch member and an operational position extending in a direction toward said switch member and being positioned for applying force to said switch blade intermediate said fixed and moveable end portions, said switch member being in one of said open and closed positions when said diaphragm is in said passive position and being moved to the other of said open and closed positions responsive to movement of said diaphragm to said operational position by an elevated pressure within said case interior and wherein said diaphragm is bistable and remains in said operational position following dissipation of the pressure within said battery case that caused movement of said diaphragm from said passive position to said operational position.
Specification