US 6,184,768 B2Granted

Thermal actuator

OwnerCheng Chao Hsuinventor

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Abstract

A thermal actuator includes a thermal detector, an actuator unit and a connecting circuit for electrically connecting the thermal detector in parallel with the actuator unit. The thermal detector includes a first contact member and a second contact member normally remained in contact with the first contact member. However, the second contact member will bend to uncontact with the first contact member when an overheated or over-cold temperature occurred around the thermal detector, so that the current normally flowing through the thermal detector will flow to the actuator unit too. Therefore, a heat wire wrapped around an actuating piece of the actuator unit generates heat to increase the temperature around the actuating piece. When the temperature around the actuating piece increases to a predetermined extent, the actuating piece bends so as to provide an actuating action. If the actuator unit is installed close to a switch or a breaker, the actuating action of the actuating piece can activate the switch to turn off or the jumper of the breaker to cut the electric supply.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A thermal actuator, comprising:

at least one thermal detector for breaking a first current flowing therethrough when a surrounding temperature around said thermal detector changes from a normal temperature to a predetermined temperature;
at least one actuator unit which comprises an actuating piece made of thermostatic metal, a conducting terminal piece connected to said actuating piece, an insulating sleeve covering a portion of said actuating piece, and an electrical heat element wrapping around said insulating sleeve which has one end connected to said actuating piece;
and
a connecting circuit for electrically connecting said thermal detector in parallel with said actuator unit, wherein said connecting circuit comprises a first terminal, a second terminal, a first connecting wire electrically connected said thermal detector between said first and second terminals, and a second connecting wire which is extended between said first and second terminals in parallel with said first connecting wire to electrically connect said actuator unit between said first and second terminals by connecting another end of said electrical heat element to said first terminal and connecting said conducting terminal piece to said second terminal, wherein a main current flowing through said input terminal and said output terminal is divided into said first current flowing through said thermal detector and a second current flowing through said actuator unit;
whereby when said first current of said first connecting wire flowing through said thermal detector breaks, said main current completely flows through said second connecting wire via said electrical heat element of said actuator unit so as to increase temperature around said actuating piece until said actuating piece provides an actuating action.

2 more elements

A thermal actuator, comprising:

a plurality of thermal detectors electrically connected in series for breaking a first current flowing therethrough when one of said thermal detectors has a surrounding temperature there around changing from a normal temperature to a predetermined temperature;
a plurality of actuator units electrically connected in series, wherein each of which comprises an actuating piece made of thermostatic metal, a conducting terminal piece connected to said actuating piece, an insulating sleeve covering a portion of said actuating piece, and an electrical heat element wrapping around said insulating sleeve which has one end connected to said actuating piece;
and
a connecting circuit for electrically connecting said thermal detectors in parallel with said actuator units, wherein said connecting circuit comprises a first terminal, a second terminal, a first connecting wire electrically connected said thermal detectors between said first and second terminals, and a second connecting wire which is extended between said first and second terminals in parallel with said first connecting wire to electrically connect said actuator units between said first and second terminals, wherein a main current flowing through said input terminal and said output terminal is divided into said first current flowing through said thermal detectors and a second current flowing through said actuator units;
whereby when said first current of said first connecting wire flowing through said thermal detectors breaks, said main current completely flows through said second connecting wire via said electrical heat elements of said actuator units so as to increase temperature around said actuating pieces until each of said actuating pieces provides an actuating action.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.