Thermal cut-off device
AssigneeTherm-O-Disc, Incorporated
InventorsTruong Nguyen, George Clark
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermal cut-off device can include a case, a first electrically conductive lead disposed at a first end of the case, a thermally responsive pellet housed within the case, a second electrically conductive lead disposed at a second end of the case and having a distal end including a contact surface, an electrically conductive contact disposed between the pellet and the second lead, a first biasing member disposed between the pellet and the contact, and a second biasing member disposed between the contact and the second end of the case.
Claims16
A thermal cut-off device, comprising:
- a case extending along a longitudinal axis from a first end to a second end;
- a first electrically conductive member disposed at the first end of the case and extending from the case in a direction along the longitudinal axis;
- a thermally responsive member comprising a non-electrically conductive material that transitions from a solid physical state to a non-solid physical state at or above a threshold temperature;
- a second electrically conductive member disposed at the second end of the case, extending from the case in a direction along the longitudinal axis, and comprising a contact surface at a distal end thereof;
- an electrically conductive, moveable contact disposed between the thermally responsive member and the second electrically conductive member;
- a first biasing member disposed between the thermally responsive member and the moveable contact, the first biasing member biasing the moveable contact in a direction along the longitudinal axis toward the second electrically conductive member;
- and
- a second biasing member disposed between the moveable contact and the second end of the case, the second biasing member biasing the contact in a direction along the longitudinal axis away from the second electrically conductive member;
- wherein the distal end of the second electrically conductive member comprises a concave portion and the contact surface comprises a generally flat, annular portion that encircles a periphery of the distal end;
- and
- wherein below the threshold temperature, the annular portion of the contact surface directly engages the moveable contact.
A thermal cut-off device for interrupting an electric circuit at a threshold temperature, comprising:
- a case extending along a longitudinal axis;
- a first lead disposed at a first end of the case and extending from the case in a direction along the longitudinal axis;
- a second lead disposed at a second end of the case and extending from the case in a direction along the longitudinal axis, and comprising a contact surface at a distal end thereof;
- a current interruption assembly comprising a moveable, electrically conductive contact engaging an interior wall of the case and biased against the contact surface of the second lead at a temperature below the threshold temperature;
- and
- wherein the distal end of the second lead comprises a concave portion and the contact surface comprises a generally flat portion about a perimeter of the distal end of the second lead.
A thermal cut-off device for interrupting an electric circuit at a threshold temperature, comprising:
- a case having a longitudinal axis;
- a first electrically conductive lead disposed at a first end of the case and extending from the case in a direction along the longitudinal axis;
- a second electrically conductive lead disposed at a second end of the case, extending from the case in a direction along the longitudinal axis, and comprising a distal end comprising a contact surface;
- a current interruption assembly comprising a moveable, electrically conductive contact disposed adjacent to the second lead and biased into engagement with the contact surface at a temperature below the threshold temperature and biased out of engagement with the contact surface at a temperature above the threshold temperature;
- wherein the contact surface comprises a convex portion and the contact comprises a concave portion;
- and
- wherein the convex portion and the concave portion have substantially the same radius of curvature so that the convex portion and the concave portion closely correspond to one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.