Duplex thermal switch with au-shaped bi-metal member each leg of which being individually operable and adjustable

Claim 1

A DUPLEX THERMAL SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING A PAIR OF ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS COMPRISING: (A) A TUBULAR HOUSING OF HIGH HEAT CONDUCTIVE METAL HAVING AN OPEN END AND A CLOSED END ADAPTED FOR IMMERSION IN A FLUID; (B) A TERMINAL CAP OF INSULATING MATERIAL SECURED IN THE OPEN END OF SAID HOUSING; (C) TWO CONTACT TERMINAL MEMBERS SECURED IN SAID TERMINAL CAP AND EXTENDING IN SPACED APART RELATION INTO SAID HOUSING TOWARD SAID CLOSED END; (D) A TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE ELEMENT POSITIONED WITHIN SAID HOUSING AND COMPRISING A FLAT STRIP OF BIMETAL MATERIAL BENT INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS TO FORM A GENERALLY U-SHAPED MEMBER HAVING A BASE SECTION AND TWO LEG SECTIONS; (E) SAID CLOSED END OF THE HOUSING HAVING AN END WALL TO WHICH SAID BASE SECTION IS SECURED IN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO PROVIDE CANTILEVER MOUNTING OF SAID TWO LEG SECTIONS IN SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL, LATERALLY EXTENDING SPACED RELATIONSHIP, SAID LEG SECTIONS EXTENDING LENGTHWISE WITHIN SAID HOUSING ADJACENT OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE INNER WALLS THEREOF TOWARD SAID TERMINAL CAP AND BEING INDIVIDUALLY MOVABLE INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER IN RESPONSE TO TEMPERATURE CHANGE; (F) ONE OF SAID LEG SECTIONS HAVING A FREE CONTACT END PORTION ADAPTED TO MOVE INTO AND OUT OF ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH ONE OF SAID CONTACT TERMINAL MEMBERS IN RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE OF SAID ONE LEG SECTION; (G) THE OTHER OF SAID LEG SECTIONS HAVING A FREE CONTACT END PORTION ADAPTED TO MOVE INTO AND OUT OF ELECTRICAL CONTACT WITH THE OTHER OF SAID CONTACT TERMINAL MEMBERS IN RESPONSE TO CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE OF SAID OTHER LEG SECTION; (H) EACH OF SAID OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID HOUSING ADJACENT THE SUPPORTED ENDS OF SAID LEG SECTIONS HAVING A PERMANENT INDENTATION EXTENDING TOWARD AND ENGAGING A RESPECTIVE LEG SECTION OF SAID U-SHAPED MEMBER TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL ADJUSTMENT OF THE CONTACT-OPERATING TEMPERATURES OF SAID LEG SECTIONS INDEPENDENTLY OF EACH OTHER; AND (I) MEANS ON SAID HOUSING FOR PROVIDING AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION TO SAID HOUSING END WALL.