Modulating thermostat with positive action electrical contacts

Claim 1

A MODULATING THERMOSTAT FOR SUPPLYING A VARIABLE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL PROPORTIONAL TO THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE EXISTING AMBIENT TEMPERATURE AND THE DESIRED CONTROL TEMPERATURE INCLUDING IN COMBINATION: A THERMOSTATIC ELEMENT FOR SENSING AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE COMPRISING A CORRUGATED BIMETALLIC MEMBER SUPPORTED AT ONE END AND HAVING AN ELECTRIC CONTACT AT THE OTHER END THEREOF; AN AMBIENT COMPENSATED THERMOSTATIC ELEMENT INCLUDING A CYCLING BIMETAL ELEMENT HAVING A PREFERENTIALLY HEATED PORTION, SAID PORTION INCLUDING A RELATIVELY SLOW TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE BIMETAL SEGMENT AND A RELATIVELY FAST TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE BIMETAL SEGMENT, SAID SEGMENTS BEING FLEXED IN RESPECTIVELY OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS WHEN PREFERENTIALLY HEATED; A SWITCH CONTACT CARRIED BY THE FAST TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE SEGMENT OF SAID AMBIENT COMPENSATED ELEMENT; AN ELECTRICAL HEATER MEANS LOCATED PROXIMATE TO BOTH SAID SLOW TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE BIMETAL SEGMENT AND SAID FAST TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE BIMETAL SEGMENT OF SAID AMBIENT COMPENSATED ELEMENT FOR PROVIDING SAID PREFERENTIAL HEATING; AND ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MEANS FOR ENERGIZING SAID HEATER INCLUDING SAID SWITCH CONTACT CARRIED BY SAID AMBIENT SENSING ELEMENT AND SAID CONTACT CARRIED BY THE FAST TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE SEGMENT OF SAID AMBIENT COMPENSATED ELEMENT, SAID FAST TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE SEGMENT FLEXING THE SWITCH CONTACT WHICH IT CARRIES TOWARD SAID OUTER CONTACT WHEN SAID CONTACTS CLOSE AND ENERGIZE SAID HEATER TO PROVIDE INCREASED CONTACT CLOSURE WHEN SAID CONTACTS ARE CLOSED, SAID FAST TEMPERATURE RESPONSIVE SEGMENT FLEXING THE SWITCH CONTACT WHICH IT CARRIES AWAY FROM SAID OTHER CONTACT WHEN SAID CONTACTS OPEN AND DE-ENERGIZE SAID HEATER TO PROVIDE INCREASED CONTACT GAP WHEN SAID CONTACTS ARE OPEN.