Snap-action magnetic switch employing a flexible bimetal switch arm

Claim 1

A SNAP-ACTION ELECTRICAL SWITCH, COMPRISING: MEANS DEFINING A PLURALITYOF INDIVIDUAL SWITCHING STATION EACH INCLUDING A MAGNETICALLY ACTUATABLE SWITCHING ELEMENT MOUNTED FOR SWITCHING MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT TO A COOPERATING CONTACT; MAGNETIC MEANS FOR ACTUATING SAID ELEMENT; TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE MEANS CONSTRUCTED AND ARRANGE FOR FLEXURAL MOVEMENT ON HEATING THEREOF, AND ADAPTED TO CARRY SAID MAGNETIC MEANS INTO ACTUATING PROXIMITY WITH SAID SWITCHING ELEMENTS SUCCESSIVE AS A RESULT OF SUCH MOVEMENT; AND MOTIVE MEANS FOR H EATING SAID TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE MEANS TO PROVIDE SUCH FLEXURAL MOVEMENT, THE SPACING BETWEEN SAID MAGNETIC MEANS AND SAID MAGNETICALLY ACTUATABLE SWITCHING ELEMENT AT INDIVIDUAL SWITCHING STATIONS BEING SUCH THAT MOVEMENT OF SAID MAGNETIC MEANS PAST A SWITCHING STATION IS TEMPORARILY RETARDED BY THE FORCE OF MANGETIC ATTRACTION BETWEEN SAID MAGNETIC MEANS AND ITS ASSOCIATED SWITCHING ELEMENT TO PERMIT FLEXURE OF SAID TEMPERATURE-SENSITIVE MEANS BY SAID MOTIVE MEANS AND AN ELASTIC FORCE BUILDUP SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME SAID FORCE OF MAGNETIC ATTACTION, WHEREBY TO PROVIDE SNAP-ACTION ADVANCE OF SAID MANGETIC MEANS BETWEEN SUCCESSIVE SWITCHING STATION.