Fail-safe assembly for coacting contacts in a current-carrying system, apparatus or component
OwnerRobert A. Kuczynskiinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fail-safe assembly for an electronic or electrical component, device, system or apparatus with coacting operatively associated contacts has an impact member, normally maintained in a stressed and disengaged portion, and a meltable or fusible member for holding and for actuating the release of the impact member to guard against the danger of fire and damage due to current overload and/or unacceptable increases in the temperature in the current-carrying members for operating the coacting contacts or the ambient temperature for any reason and assures, on melting of the meltable or fusible member, that there are sufficient forces created to open and maintain the coacting contacts in the open position.
Claims34
A fail-safe assembly for any electrical component, device, system and apparatus having coacting contacts to enable the flow of electrical current therethrough comprising a resilient impact assembly having an impact section disposed for movement from a stressed and disengaged position to impact and engage at least one of said coacting contacts to open and maintain the coacting contacts open for stopping the flow of electrical current, and a meltable member for holding the impact end of the impact member in the stressed and disengaged position under normal operating electrical current flow and temperature conditions of said electrical component, device, system and apparatus and to melt and release the impact end of the impact member to terminate electrical current flow when current overload and temperature changes create a dangerous condition therein.
A fail-safe assembly for any electrical component, device, system and apparatus having coacting contacts and a current-conducting movable arm for opening and closing said coacting contacts to enable electrical current to flow therethrough comprising:
- a. an impact assembly including a resilient impact section,
- b. said impact section disposed for movement from a stressed and disengaged position and movable to impact and so engage said movable arm to open and maintain open the coacting contacts for stopping the flow of electrical current, and
- c. a meltable member for holding the impact section in the stressed and disengaged position under normal operating electrical current flow and temperature conditions of said electrical component, device, system and apparatus and to melt and release the impact section of the impact member to terminate electrical current flow when current overload and temperature changes create a dangerous condition.
The combination of an electronic component, device, system and apparatus having a first contact connected to a first current-carrying terminal and a second contact spaced from said first contact connected to a second current-carrying terminal in spaced relation to said first current-carrying terminal and a current-carrying movable arm connected to said first current-carrying terminal and having said first contact mounted thereon for coaction with the second contact with a fail-safe assembly comprising:
- a. an impact assembly including a resilient impact section,
- b. said impact section disposed for movement from a stressed and disengaged position and movable to impact and so engage said movable arm to open and maintain open the coacting contacts for stopping the flow of electrical current, and
- c. a meltable member for holding the impact section in the stressed and disengaged position under normal operating electrical current flow and temperature conditions of said electrical component, device, system and apparatus and to melt and release the impact section of the impact member when current overload and temperature conditions create a dangerous condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.