Thermally Activated Electrical Interrupt Switch
AssigneeThermal Interrupt Devices, Ltd.
InventorsWilliam C. Neilly, Kevin L. Gabrey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A thermally activated electrical interrupt device incorporates a thermally activated portion (110) engaging with an electrical interrupt portion (120). The thermally activated material (114) expands when heated, causing an interrupt control rod (140, 180) to open an electrical contact (123, 125, 126/132, 134). When the interrupt device is placed into an interrupt state, a reset mechanism maintains the interrupt control rod (140) in the interrupt state until specifically reset.
Claims20
A thermally activated electrical interrupt switch, the switch comprising:
- an electrical contact configuration operated by an axial motion of an interrupt control rod;
- a thermally activated material in operational communication with said interrupt control rod, wherein said thermally activated material expands when heated and thrusts said interrupt control rod axially;
- and
- a reset mechanism that engages with a feature in said interrupt control rod, securing the electrical contact configuration in an interrupt state requiring an external action to release the reset mechanism and reset the switch from the interrupt state.
A thermally activated electrical interrupt switch, the switch comprising:
- an electrical contact configuration operated by an axial motion of an interrupt control rod;
- a thermally activated material encapsulated within a thermal transfer housing having a mechanically adjusting interface in operational communication with said interrupt control rod, wherein said thermally activated material expands when heated and thrusts said interrupt control rod axially;
- and
- a reset mechanism that engages with a feature in said interrupt control rod, securing the electrical contact configuration in an interrupt state requiring an external action to release the reset mechanism and reset the switch from the interrupt state.
A thermally activated electrical interrupt switch, the switch comprising:
- an electrical contact configuration operated by an axial motion of an interrupt control rod;
- a thermally activated material in operational communication with said interrupt control rod, wherein said thermally activated material expands when heated and thrusts said interrupt control rod axially;
- and
- a reset mechanism that engages with a notch in said interrupt control rod, securing the electrical contact configuration in an interrupt state requiring an external action to release the reset mechanism and reset the switch from the interrupt state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.