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Changing the state of a switch through the application of power

  • US 9,520,249 B2
  • Filed: 10/11/2011
  • Issued: 12/13/2016
  • Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2011
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A switch comprising:

  • a spring;

    a collapsing element;

    the spring having a first spring state in which it is being held in tension by a restraining element;

    the spring having a second spring state in which it is not being held in tension because the restraining element has failed;

    the collapsing element being situated such that when sufficient power is applied to the collapsing element heat from the collapsing element will cause the restraining element to fail;

    a first A contact coupled to the spring;

    a second A contact coupled to the spring;

    the first A contact and the second A contact having a first 1-2 electrical connection state when the spring is in the first spring state; and

    the first A contact and the second A contact having a second 1-2 electrical connection state different from the first 1-2 electrical connection state when the spring is in the second spring state;

    wherein;

    the spring is C-shaped, having a first end, a second end, and an arced element coupled to and between the first end and the second end;

    the first contact is coupled to the first end of the spring;

    the second contact is coupled to the second end of the spring;

    a first elongated tension element is provided that has a proximate end coupled to the first end of the spring;

    a second elongated tension element is provided that has a proximate end coupled to the second end of the spring;

    a first B contact is coupled to a distal end of the first elongated tension element;

    a second B contact is coupled to a distal end of the second elongated tension element, such that the first B contact is coupled to the second B contact when the spring is in the first spring state and the first B contact is not coupled to the second B contact when the spring is in the second spring state;

    moving the distal end of the first elongated tension element toward the distal end of the second elongated element causes the first end of the spring to separate from the second end of the spring; and

    the restraining element is coupled between the distal end of the first elongated tension element and the distal end of the second elongated tension element such that the first end of the spring is separated from the second end of the spring.

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