Controlled cycling thermal protector

• US 4,823,104 A
• Filed: 07/15/1988
• Issued: 04/18/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Control Devices Incorporated (Sensata Technologies Holding Plc)
• Original Assignee: GTE Products Corporation
• Inventors: Watson, Richard C., Ekowicki, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Broome, H.
• Application Number:
  US07/219,116
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 337/102, 337/103, 337/104, 337/105, 337/106, 337/107, 219/505, 219/511, 361/105, 361/106
• US Class Current: 337/102
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/504 by thermal means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 37/68 sealed in evacuated or gas-filled tube

Abstract

A controlled cycling thermal protector device is provided comprising a snap blade and a PTC resistive heater disposed outside of a bulbous envelope in which the snap blade thermal protector is housed. The snap blade thermal protector and the resistive PTC heater are wired and constructed so as to prevent cycling of the snap blade thermal protector. The PTC heater is disposed upon a sleeve which encircles the bulbous envelope so as to radiate heat onto the snap blade thermal protector to keep it open once the circuit has been broken.

Claims

1. A protective device comprising:

a thermally conductive sealed envelope and a pair of electrodes disposed therein, one of said electrodes being stationary and the other being movable, said movable electrode having a heat responsive element, said electrodes further being disposed in an opposed relationship to each other whereby to open the contact between said electrodes when a predetermined temperature level is reached; and

a PTC heater comprising a ceramic body and a pair of electrodes disposed on each side of said body, said PTC heater being disposed external of said sealed envelope and in a heat-transmitting relationship therewith; and

a pair of electrical contact means attached to the exterior of said envelope; and

means connecting each of said contact means to each of said lead-in wires, and connecting each side of said PTC heater in parallel with said electrodes.

2. The protection device according to claim 1 wherein the contact means comprises sleeves that are disposed about said envelope.

3. The protection device according to claim 2 wherein said PTC heater is attached to one of said sleeves whereby to transmit heat thereto and to the interior of said envelope.

4. The protection device according to claim 1 wherein the envelope contains a bulbous portion and a seal portion, and at least one of said sleeves being disposed about said bulbous portion and the other said sleeves is disposed about said seal portion, said PTC heater being attached to the sleeve that is disposed about said bulbous portion whereby to transmit heat form said PTC heater to the electrodes disposed in said bulbous portion.

5. The protection device according to claim 1 wherein each of said electrical contact means further include arms which extend from said sleeves whereby to provide electrical contact with an external source.

6. The protection device according to claim 5 further including a case disposed about said sealed envelope and said sleeves.