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OwnerEdwin C. Ballard, Andrew A. Amatruda, Jr. +1inventors
InventorsEdwin C. Ballard, Andrew A. Amatruda, Jr., Sheldon S. White
Estimating the term…
A snap acting control member (10, 10b) having high actuating temperatures comprises metal layers metallurgically bonded together with a low expansion (12) and a relatively high expansion layer (14) each having similar moduli of elasticity and the low expansion layer being formed of a precipitation hardenable stainless steel so that after forming into a dished shaped configuration to make the member snap acting the low expansion layer is heat treated to increase the strength. The control member can be used solely to sense temperature or it can be used as an electrical current carrying member. When used in the latter manner, the electrical resistivity of the member can be adjusted by interposing a selected layer (16) between layers (12) and (14) to thereby increase or decrease the resistivity of the member (10b) depending on the particular metal chosen for the interlayer. An electrical switch (24) is shown in which a snap acting member is used as a sensor and another electrical switch (48) is shown in which the snap acting member is a current carrying member.
A temperature-responsive dished shaped metal control member comprising a plurality of metal layers metallurgically bonded together including a first outer layer of metal of relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion and a second outer layer of metal of relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion of a precipitation hardenable stainless steel for forming a composite thermostat metal in which the first and second layers have similar moduli of elasticity, the composite thermostat metal having a dished configuration formed therein to provide the member with snap acting characteristics whereby the member will move to an oppositely dished configuration at a selected actuating temperature.
An electric switch having first and second terminals and a temperature-responsive dished shaped metal control member having a plurality of metal layers metallurgically bonded together including a first outer layer of metal of relatively high coefficient of thermal expansion and a second outer layer of metal having a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion of a precipitation hardenable stainless steel, both first and second layers having similar moduli of elasticity, the dished shaped metal control member being movable from a first dished shaped configuration to a second, oppositely dished shaped configuration upon reaching a selected actuation temperature, the switch mounting a movable and a stationary electrical contact, the movable electrical contact movable between a position of engagement with the stationary contact and a position of disengagement with the stationary contact, the dished shaped metal control member coupled to the movable contact to move the movable contact into one of its engagement and disengagement positions upon moving the control member from its first dished shaped configuration to its second dished shaped configuration.
A method for forming a temperature-responsive dished shaped metal control member comprising the steps of:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.