Thermal switch
AssigneesUlrika Hofsass, Marcel P. Hofsass, Denis P. Hofsass, Henrik P. Hofsass, Carola R. Hofsass, Benjamin M. Hofsass
InventorsPeter Hofsass, deceased, by Henrik P. Hofsass, heir, by Carola R. Hofsass, heir, by Benjamin M. Hofsass, heir, Jens Radbruch, Guenter Kruck
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Abstract
An easily and preferably fully automatically manufacturable thermal switch having a minimum number of parts is disclosed. The thermal switch has two connecting parts fixed to a support part. One connecting part carries a fixed contact and the other connecting part is connected through a high resistance to a movable contact switchable by a bimetallic element. The support part is a ceramic part forming the high resistance from a PTC material and the connecting parts are almost completely frictionally engage support part.
Claims20
A thermal switch comprising:
- a switching unit and two connecting parts, the switching unit having a movable contact and a bimetallic element, the movable contact being switched by the bimetallic element;
- a support part with the support part being a PTC resistor having a shape of one of a block or a parallelepipedic with an outside surface of the PTC resistor frictionally engaging the connecting parts;
- and wherein
- one connecting part has a fixed contact of the switching unit and the other connecting part is electrically connected to the movable contact;
- and
- the PTC-resistor is connected in electrical parallel with the switching unit to heat the PTC resistor causing the bimetallic element when in the open position of the movable contact to be held in a high-temperature position causing the bimetallic element to continuously hold the movable contact open.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.