Temperature responsive control device with snap acting switch

Claim 1

A HYDRAULIC THERMOSTAT COMPRISING A HOUSING THAT INCLUDES AN EXPANSIBLE MEMBER COOPERATING WITH A SNAPACTING SPRING MECHANISM OF AN ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MEANS, SAID EXPANSIBLE MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO BE CONNECTED BY A FLUID-FILLED CAPILLARY TUBE TO A REMOTE TEMPERATURE SENSOR, AND A SHAFT MOUNTING MEANS EXTENDING THROUGH ONE WALL OF THE HOUSING FOR SUPPORTING THE EXPANSIBLE MEMBER THRERFROM, SAID EXPANSIBLE MEMBER BEING ADAPTED TO EXPAND AND CONTRACT ACCORDING TO THE DIRECTION AND EXTENT OF THE TEMPERATURE CHANGE EXPERIENCED BY THE TEMPERATURE SENSOR, THE SAID SNAP-ACTING SPRING MECHANISM COMPRISING A SLOTTED SPRING BLADE TO FORM THREE LONGITUDINAL STRIPS, THE TWO SIDE STRIPS BEING FORMED DOWNWARDLY AT OPPOSITE POINTS TO ESTABLISH BEARING POINTS AND SHORTEN THE EFFECTIVE LENGTHS OF THE SIDE STRIPS SO AS TO APPLY A COMPRESSIVE FORCE ON THE CENTER STRIP, THE SPRING BLADE HAVING RETAINING MEMBERS AT ONE END MATING WITH COOPERATING PORTIONS OF THE HOUSING SO AS TO ALLOW FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT THEREBETWEEN WHILE PREVENTING HORIZONTAL DISPLACEMENT, AND THE POINT OF AN ADJUSTABLE SUPPORTING SCREW MEANS LOCATED BENEATH THE RETAINED END OF THE SPRING BLADE, THE SPRING BLADE HAVING A THREE POINT SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT FORMED BY THE SAID SCREW MEANS AND THE PAIR OF BEARING POINTS OF THE BLADE RESTING ON THE HOUSING, THE EXPANSIBLE MEMBER BEARING ON THE CENTER STRIP AT A POINT WITHIN THE THREE POINT SUPPORT ARRANGEMENT, AND AN ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MEANS INCLUDING FIXED CONTACT MEANS AND MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS FOR MAKING AND BREAKING AN ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT, AND CONNECTOR MEANS BETWEEN THE END OF THE SPRING BLADE OPPOSITE THE RETAINED END AND THE MOVABLE SWITCH CONTACTS, THE HOUSING INCLUDING SUPPORTING AND GUIDING MEANS FOR THE SAID CONNECTOR MEANS.