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US 4,906,962 AGranted
Fuse wire switch
AssigneeBabcock, Inc.
InventorFrederick A. Duimstra
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring powered switching mechanism in which the energy required to complete switching is stored in a spring (or springs) which are constrained in a "cocked" or stressed condition by a fuse wire. The fuse wire has the characteristic of having a relative flat coefficient of resistivity over a large temperature range. The mechanism is operative to close (or open) electrical circuits permanently upon receipt of the appropriate electrical signal to the "fuse" or "bridge" wire which is caused to break as a result of the receipt of the electrical signal.
Claims17
A spring powered switch mechanism comprising;
- a first pair of electrically conductive terminals which are spaced apart from each other,
- a second pair of electrically conductive terminals which are spaced apart from each other and from said first pair of electrically conductive terminals,
- contact means adapted to be selectively moved into electrical contact with said first pair of electrically conductive terminals to effect electrical connection between said first pair of electrically conductive terminals via said contact means,
- spring means adapted to selectively exert force on said contact means to move said contact means,
- said spring means includes a leaf-spring which is selectively flexed to apply force to move said contact means,
- said spring means further includes a coil spring which is flexed to apply a force to move said leaf-spring, and
- a fusible link connected between said second pair of electrically conductive terminals,
- said fusible link adapted to restrain said spring means and said contact means in a position separated from said first pair of electrically conductive termainals.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.