Back to results
US 6,294,977 B1Granted
Thermal switch assembly
AssigneeTherm-O-Disc, Incorporated
InventorsJames B. Kalapodis, William F. Quinn
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A thermal switch assembly has a contact member of shape memory alloy sandwiched between a pair of electrically conductive outer members. A contact arm on the contact member has a deformed shape at normal temperatures and a recovered shape at elevated temperatures. The contact arm occupies two different positions in its deformed and recovered shapes, and provides a current path between the outer members in one position while interrupting the current path in the other position.
Claims18
A thermal switch assembly comprising:
- a current-carrying actuator made from a shape memory alloy, said actuator being generally E-shaped in plan view and comprising a plurality of legs, at least one of said plurality of legs comprising a peripheral portion and at least another of said plurality of legs comprising a contact portion;
- first and second conductive members oriented in a spaced-apart relationship;
- said peripheral portion of said actuator being electrically isolated from one of said first and second conductive members;
- said actuator having a deformed shape below a transformation temperature range wherein said contact portion is electrically isolated from the other of said first and second conductive members;
- and
- said actuator having a recovered shape above said transformation temperature range wherein said contact portion is electrically contacting the other of said first and second conductive members.
3 more elements
A thermal switch assembly comprising:
- a current-carrying actuator made from a shape memory alloy, said actuator being generally E-shaped in plan view and comprising a plurality of legs, at least one of said plurality of legs comprising a peripheral portion and at least another of said plurality of legs comprising a contact portion;
- first and second conductive members oriented in a spaced-apart relationship;
- said peripheral portion of said actuator being electrically isolated from one of said first and second conductive members;
- said actuator having a deformed shape below a transformation temperature range wherein said contact portion is electrically isolated from the other of said first and second conductive members;
- and
- said actuator having a recovered shape above said transformation temperature range wherein said contact portion is electrically contacting the other of said first and second conductive members.
3 more elements
A thermal switch assembly comprising;
- an actuator made from a shape memory alloy, said actuator comprising a base portion and a plurality of leg portions extending from said base portion, at least one of said plurality of leg portions comprising a peripheral portion and one of said plurality leg portions comprising a contact portion, said contact portion having a deformed shape at a first temperature and a recovered shape at a second temperature;
- a pair of metal outer members oriented in a relationship to define a space therebetween, said actuator being disposed within said space, said peripheral portion being in electrical contact with one of said outer members;
- an insulator at least partially disposed within said space, said insulator insulating said peripheral portion from electrical contact with the other of said outer members;
- and
- said contact portion being in electrical contact with the other of said outer members and providing a current path between said outer members in one of said deformed shape and said recovered shape.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.