Electrical switch panel having thermally responsive actuating means

Claim 1

IN COMBINATION, AN ACTUATOR COMPRISING (A) A HOUSING, (B) A HEAT SENSITIVE MEMBER HAVING ONE END CONNECTED TO SAID HOUSING AND HAVING ITS OTHER END FREE TO FLEX (C) AN ELECTRICAL HEATING COIL WRRAPPED ABOUT SAID STRIP TO IMPACT HEAT THERETO TO EFFECT DISPLACEMENT OF SAID FREE END WHEN SAID COIL IS ENERGIZED, (D) A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED AT ONE END TO SAID HOUSING AND HAVING ITS OTHER END SPACED FROM THE FREE END OF SAID STRIP, (E) A LINKAGE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO AND BETWEEN THE OTHER END OF SAID LEVER AND SAID FREE END OF SAID BI-METALLIC STRIP SO THAT SAID LEVER PIVOTS ABOUT ITS CONNECTED END AS SAID STRIP FLEXES WHEN HEATED WHEREBY SAID FREE END OF SAID LEVER IS DISPLACED IN A GIVEN DIRECTION AS SAID HEAT SENSITIVE MEMBER FLEXES (F) AN OPERATOR CONNECTED TO SAID LEVER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDS THEREOF, SAID OPERATOR BEING ADAPTED TO OPERATE A MECHANISM CONNECTED THERETO, (G) AND A SWITCH MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH SAID LEVER FOR ENERGIZING A CIRCUIT WHEN SAID OPERATOR IS ACTUATED, (H) SAID SWITCH MEANS INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SANDWICHED CONDUCTING SAID NON-CONDUCTING ELEMENTS CARRIED ON SAID LEVER, (I) AND AN ENERGIZING CIRCUIT, (J) SAID CIRCUIT INCLUDING A PAIR OF CONTACTS WHEREBY MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER IN SAID GIVEN DIRECTION CAUSES SAID CONTACTS TO ENERGIZE SAID CIRCUIT WHEN SAID CONTACTS ENGAGE THE CONDUCTING ELEMENTS OF SAID SWITCH AND TO DEENERGIZE SAID CIRCUIT ON A CONTINUED MOVEMENT OF SAID LEVER IN A GIVEN DIRECTION WHEREBY SAID CONTACTS ENGAGE THE NON-CONDUCTING ELEMENTS OF SAID SWITCH.