Nonresettable thermally actuated switch
AssigneeTexas Instruments Incorporated
InventorsRichard T. Audette, Frederick G. Perry
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A nonresettable thermally actuated switch comprising a case of electrically conductive material, a first power lead connected to the case, a second power lead electrically insulated from the case, a deformable connector of conductive material in electrical contact with an inside surface of the case and with the second lead thereby to complete a circuit. The switch further includes an insulator biased toward the connector by a spring but separated therefrom by a body of fusible material. When heated above a predetermined temperature the fusible material melts and the insulating member moves against the connector mechanically deforming the connector away from the inside surface of the case and electrically insulating the connector from the case thereby to break the circuit.
Claims14
A nonresettable thermally actuated switch comprising a case of electrically conductive material, a power lead means electrically insulated from the case, deformable connector means of electrically conductive material in electrical contact with an inside surface of said case and with said lead means thereby to complete a circuit, an electrically insulating member movable for deforming said connector means away from said inside surface of said case and for electrically insulating said connector means from said case thereby to break said circuit, means resiliently biasing said insulating member for movement to deform said connector means away from said inside case surface, and a normally solid body of material fusible at a selected temperature disposed within said case to prevent said insulating member movement while said body is solid and to permit said insulating member movement when said body is heated to said selected temperature.
A nonresettable thermally actuated switch comprising a case of electrically conductive material, a power lead means electrically insulated from the case, deformable connector means of conductive material in electrical contact with an inside surface of said case and with said lead means thereby to complete a circuit, said deformable connector means having an outer surface engageable with said inside surface of said case and a center portion engageable with said lead means, an insulating member of rigid insulating material having a portion adapted to engage said connector means for deforming said connector means away from said inside surface of said case and for electrically insulating said connector means from said case thereby to break said circuit, means resiliently biasing said insulating member toward said connector means for deforming said connector means away from said inside case surface, and a solid body of material fusible at a selected temperature disposed between said insulating member and said connector means normally spacing said deforming portion of said insulating means relative to said connector means, said body being fusible at a selected temperature for permitting said resilient biasing means to move said deforming portion of said insulating member into engagement with said connector means to deform said connector means away from said inside surface of said case and to electrically insulate said connector means from said case.
A nonresettable thermally actuated switch comprising a case of electrically conductive material, a first power lead electrically connected to the case, a second power lead electrically insulated from the case, deformable connector means of conductive material in electrical contact with an inside surface of said case and with said second lead thereby to complete a circuit, and means actuable in response to being heated above a predetermined temperature for deforming said connector means away from said inside surface of said case and for electrically insulating said connector means from said case thereby to break said circuit, said deformable connector means having an outer surface engageable with said inside surface of said case and a center portion engageable with said second lead, said deforming and insulating means comprising a body of fusible material engaging the center portion of said connector means, an insulating member of rigid insulating material having an edge adapted to engage said connector means, and means resiliently biasing said body of fusible material via said insulating member into engagement with said connector means to hold the latter in positive current-carrying engagement with said second lead, said body of fusible material being adapted to melt upon being heated above the predetermined temperature thereby to permit movement of said insulating member under the bias of said biasing means from a retracted position in which it is clear of said connector means to a circuit-breaking position in which it deforms said connector means away from said inside surface of the housing thereby to break said circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.